The British royal family has a long list of Christmas traditions [1], from multiple church services to a rowdy gift exchange — and while we'll soon get a glimpse of this year's family Christmas cards [2] and hear fun details about Prince Louis's first holiday [3], we also wanted to take the time to look back at some of the best royal holiday pictures from past years. See major moments like the queen's broadcasts and Prince William's first Christmas when you scroll through now.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II made her first Christmas broadcast from her Sandringham holiday residence.
Princess Diana carried flowers while celebrating Christmas at Sandringham in 1993.
Kate Middleton attended the Anna Freud Centre Christmas Party in 2015.
In 2014, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attended the Maggie's Christmas Carol concert at St Paul's Cathedral.
Meghan Markle [4] gave a curtsy to the queen as she celebrated her first Christmas with then-fiancé Prince Harry's family in 2017.
Prince William showed off sexy scruff [5] while attending the Christmas church service with his family back in 2008.
In 1994, Charles, Diana, William, and Harry left church service near Sandringham.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip admired their Christmas tree at Buckingham Palace in 1969.
A young Princess Beatrice and her sister, Eugenie, carried handfuls of presents while heading to church on Christmas Day in 1997.
Prince Harry made an adorable shepherd in his school Christmas play in 1988.
Camilla chatted with a man dressed as Father Christmas while backstage at the Horse of the Year show in 2014.
In 1941, then-Princess Elizabeth and her little sister, Princess Margaret, put on a Christmas production of Cinderella at the palace.
Prince Philip gave his granddaughter Eugenie's hat a playful tap as they left church in 1998.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles posed with baby William during his first Christmas at Kensington Palace back in 1982.
Kate Middleton celebrated her first official Christmas with the royal family after marrying William in 2011. She attended the traditional church service at Sandringham and greeted fans with flowers and gifts.
Queen Elizabeth II recorded her Christmas message to the Commonwealth in 3D for the first time from Buckingham Palace in 2012.
In 2014, we were treated to Prince George's official Christmas picture, taken in a courtyard at Kensington Palace.
Kate's arms were full of flowers as she attended church in Sandringham in 2017.
Camilla helped decorate the tree with members of the Starlight Children's Foundation at Clarence House in 2009.
In 2014, during a visit to the Northside Center for Child Development in NYC, Kate Middleton helped wrap Christmas gifts with kids and teachers.
Prince Harry posed with a group of kids in Christmas hats at the Mants'ase Children's Home in 2014. His visit to Lesotho, South Africa, was part of a tour of his charity, Sentebale, which provides health care and education to vulnerable children in the area.
William and Harry shared a laugh together on Christmas Day in 2003.
Diana was wedged between two Father Christmases during a charity visit in 1992.
Queen Elizabeth II looked festive as ever for Christmas service in 2015.
Prince Harry knelt to greet well-wishers outside of church in 2016.
Prince George nibbled on a candy cane while leaving church in 2016.
William and his cousin Zara Phillips walked side by side together on Christmas Day in 1988.