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It seems a memo was shared among various monarchial residences, as many this year's Yuletide messages display strikingly similar photographs of relatives holding on to one another gently.

Making contact, interlocking elbows, hand in hand, enveloping—these poses uniformly communicate messages about the intimacy these families are to each other.

It appears a monarchial adhesive was used, binding them in their seasonal images. We are in the era of the down-to-earth royal family.

The Prince and Princess Pioneer the Trend

The Wales couple have been setting the tone, with a seasonal message featuring a casual, informal family group drawing close to each other in the Norfolk countryside.

Similar to the prior year's image, they maintain a aesthetic that is a world apart from a formal, ceremonial photograph, instead presenting a parental unit having fun together on a springtime afternoon, brimming with warmth, dressed in denim and sweaters.

The Prince of Wales has discussed making changes in his approach to the monarchy.

This image conveys an image that they're like any other household, with gazes not peering down at the viewer, truly down to earth, sitting on the grass.

A Different Era: The Stiffness of Past Years

Set that against to the 1969 seasonal card, which features the monarchs smiling, grinning and assembled near a boat. It is assumed this was designed to appear informal and up-to-date.

But they're fairly rigidly clothed, they're all positioned separately and it seems they've just been given an award on a television contest.

Charles and The Queen: A Display of Unity

Back to 2025 and King Charles and Queen Camilla are side by side in their holiday greeting—a symbol of unity in what's been a busy year.

The picture is a mix of the amicable and the ceremonial, captured on the first day of the diplomatic tour to Italy, when the couple were celebrating their 20th year of matrimony.

Queen Camilla is adorned with a convallaria brooch, a token of abiding love.

That journey was in April, which is the reason for the seasonal background for this Christmas card. The setting is an ambassador's residence in Rome, the elegant residence of the UK's ambassador to Italy.

The Duke and Meghan: A Seasonal Image

The Duke of Sussex and Meghan are clasping hands in their Christmas card—or in fact, a "Season's Greetings" card.

Differing from other cards they've included the time of year right, with some festive snow shown in a picture from the adaptive sports event in Canada in February.

They look like a trendy couple, beaming positively from behind their sunglasses. It conveys a feeling of dynamism.

Although the presentation of the sentiment is not particularly close: "Issued by the staff of Prince Harry and Meghan, the couple."

European Royals: A Range of Approaches

Examining the Belgian monarchy to Spain and the microstate, various monarchial houses have opted for varied approaches for their holiday cards.

• Belgium's family presented a more polished family group portrait, wearing formal wear amidst a bit of plants.
• The Spanish monarchs merged aesthetics, conveying a casual, approachable domestic picture in a rural location that champions traditional heritage.
• Monaco's card is much grander, featuring a blazing hearth, oil paintings, formal clothes, and a small canine next to the Princess.
• The Luxembourg family chose a informally elegant look, filled with joyful moments, a festive fir, and holiday colors for a genuinely holiday vibe.

The Undisputed Champion

But there was little debate for this year's winner. The abdicated monarch, who relinquished the throne in 2014, released an utterly charming monarchial seasonal message.

Five small dogs stand in front of an holiday fir, looking regal in a quasi formal dynastic image. However, it's less about classical music than Bach.

What does it mean? Illumination glints on the dogs' tags. They peer with crumpled faces. 'Tis the season and that's a time for reflection.

This year's crop of monarchial seasonal messages collectively paints a portrait of the contemporary Crown: leaning into affection, relatability, and domestic connections above rigid ceremony.