The King and Queen have officially revealed their Christmas card for 2025, selecting a special portrait taken to mark their twentieth wedding anniversary. The image offers a warm and personal glimpse of the royal couple as they prepare to send festive greetings to hundreds of recipients worldwide.
A Roman Backdrop for a Milestone Moment
The photograph featured on the card was captured earlier this year during a visit to Villa Wolkonsky, the official residence of the British Ambassador in Rome, Italy. In the portrait, taken by renowned royal photographer Chris Jackson, the couple are seen arm-in-arm, sharing a smile. The King is dressed in a blue pinstripe suit complemented by a grey tie and a silk pocket handkerchief, while the Queen wears a white and beige coat dress designed by Anna Valentine, adorned with a delicate lily of the valley brooch.
The card itself is elegantly framed with a dark red border, with a matching printed message inside that reads: "Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year".
An Anniversary Coinciding with Historic Events
The timing of the portrait is particularly poignant. Charles and Camilla's 20th wedding anniversary fell on 9 April 2025, the very same day they had an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The Pontiff passed away less than two weeks later at the age of 88, making the anniversary and the associated visit a significant moment in the royal calendar.
This year's card marks the fourth Christmas card released by the couple since King Charles III ascended to the throne. The tradition sees hundreds of copies dispatched annually to a wide-ranging list that includes family, friends, world leaders, diplomats, charities, and various organisations.
The Evolution of a Royal Tradition
The selection of an anniversary portrait continues a pattern of the couple choosing meaningful images for their festive greetings. For their 2024 card, they opted for a cheerful picture of themselves smiling in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The previous year, in 2023, the card showcased a formal coronation portrait taken in the Palace's Throne Room by photographer Hugo Burnand, depicting the King in full regalia alongside the Queen Consort.
The release of the card comes just after the Prince and Princess of Wales attended their 'Together at Christmas' carol service at Westminster Abbey, an event that highlighted community volunteers and featured appearances by celebrities including Kate Winslet.
