As the festive season envelops the nation, a poignant look back at the Royal Family's Christmas albums reveals a time of closer bonds, particularly between the now-estranged Prince William and Prince Harry. The collection of photographs, spanning decades, captures not only the pomp and tradition of a royal Yuletide but also intimate, playful moments that show a brotherly relationship vastly different from today.
A Brotherly Bond Captured in Festive Moments
The images serve as a stark reminder of the once-typical sibling relationship shared by the two princes. From 1981 until her divorce from then-Prince Charles in 1996, their mother, the late Princess Diana, would spend Christmas at the Sandringham Estate with William and Harry. Despite reportedly disliking the formality of the royal festivities, Diana fully embraced the magic of the season for her sons, often taking them to meet Father Christmas.
One charming snapshot from 1990 shows a young William and Harry, dressed smartly in shirts and ties, clambering into a horse-drawn carriage for a sleigh ride with Saint Nicholas. William can be seen clutching a present on his lap. These joyful encounters stand in contrast to the brothers' current estrangement, which deepened following Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle and the subsequent revelations in his memoir, Spare, and their interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Royal Encounters with Saint Nicholas
The festive album highlights that the royals' relationship with Father Christmas is a long-standing and cherished tradition. Princess Diana was perhaps photographed with Santa more than any other royal, frequently meeting him during her numerous hospital and charity visits. In 1987, she was pictured spreading cheer alongside the legendary figure at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The tradition has continued with the younger generations. In a viral moment from 2019, Prince Harry dressed up as Father Christmas to support the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which aids families of fallen soldiers. He had also worn a Santa hat while deployed in Afghanistan in 2012. Meanwhile, in 2017, Prince William personally delivered a handwritten note from his son, Prince George, to Santa during a visit to a festive market in Helsinki, Finland. The note, which circled the word "nice," requested a toy police car.
Festive Traditions Across the Generations
The photographs and stories span the reign of three monarchs, showcasing both the continuity and evolution of royal Christmas customs. The late Queen Elizabeth II was photographed meeting a Santa after the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church in 2004, gracefully accepting bouquets of flowers.
King Charles III, during a tour of a London festive market in 2023, appeared amused when told by Father Christmas he was at the "very top" of the good list. Queen Camilla, too, has had her share of festive surprises, including a visit from Santa and his reindeer at Clarence House in 2022. Before becoming Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton shared a warm hug with a child in a Santa hat at a Christmas party for a children's mental health charity in 2015.
These captured moments, from the late Princess Diana's heartfelt visits to King Charles's jovial market interactions, paint a rich tapestry of royal life during the most wonderful time of the year. They remind the public that behind the grandeur of state occasions, the family has, for generations, shared in the simple, joyful belief in festive magic—a magic that once bound two young princes closely together.
