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Queen Elizabeth II's most memorable moments at Christmas

  • <p>Christmas was a time for family, faith and royal duty for Queen Elizabeth II, as millions welcomed Her Majesty into their homes to watch her reflections on the year.</p><p>Behind the screen, The Queen was able to enjoy some of the festive period in private with her family. As a young woman, the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, would dress up and perform pantomimes together. In their later years, they continued to spend Christmas Day with each other, attending annual church services along with their mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.</p><p>Church was always an important part of The Queen’s Christmas. As her children married and grandchildren were born, she welcomed her growing family into the services she’d always held so close to her heart.</p><p>Here, we take a look back at some of Her Majesty's Christmas memories from across the years.</p>
    1/13

    Queen Elizabeth II's most memorable moments at Christmas

    Christmas was a time for family, faith and royal duty for Queen Elizabeth II, as millions welcomed Her Majesty into their homes to watch her reflections on the year.

    Behind the screen, The Queen was able to enjoy some of the festive period in private with her family. As a young woman, the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, would dress up and perform pantomimes together. In their later years, they continued to spend Christmas Day with each other, attending annual church services along with their mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

    Church was always an important part of The Queen’s Christmas. As her children married and grandchildren were born, she welcomed her growing family into the services she’d always held so close to her heart.

    Here, we take a look back at some of Her Majesty's Christmas memories from across the years.

    Fox Photos - Getty Images
  • <p>Growing up, Princess Elizabeth often performed in plays and Christmas pantomimes alongside Princess Margaret. Here, the young princesses star in their own production of Aladdin at Windsor Palace in 1943, wearing full costume.</p>
    2/13

    1943: A royal performance

    Growing up, Princess Elizabeth often performed in plays and Christmas pantomimes alongside Princess Margaret. Here, the young princesses star in their own production of Aladdin at Windsor Palace in 1943, wearing full costume.

    Lisa Sheridan
  • <p>The Queen was known for her deep love of animals. Horses held a special place in her heart and she rarely missed an opportunity to attend horse shows and racing events. The Queen also owned her own horses and, here, she is captured taking a winter’s ride in the snow during the New Year’s holiday of 1979, at Sandringham.</p>
    3/13

    1979: Her Majesty’s horses

    The Queen was known for her deep love of animals. Horses held a special place in her heart and she rarely missed an opportunity to attend horse shows and racing events. The Queen also owned her own horses and, here, she is captured taking a winter’s ride in the snow during the New Year’s holiday of 1979, at Sandringham.

    Mirrorpix - Getty Images
  • <p>Her Majesty was head of the Church of England and her faith was very important to her, so religious traditions around Christmas remained a staple of the royal festive calendar. She often attended the Church of St Mary Magdalene at Sandringham (pictured left in 1989) as well as St George’s Chapel at Windsor, her final resting place alongside Prince Philip.</p>
    4/13

    1989: Faith and The Queen

    Her Majesty was head of the Church of England and her faith was very important to her, so religious traditions around Christmas remained a staple of the royal festive calendar. She often attended the Church of St Mary Magdalene at Sandringham (pictured left in 1989) as well as St George’s Chapel at Windsor, her final resting place alongside Prince Philip.

    Getty
  • <p>The Royal Family attend church on Christmas Day every year. Here, in 1994, The Queen attends a service at Sandringham with family members, including her sister, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Diana.</p>
    5/13

    1994: The Christmas Day service

    The Royal Family attend church on Christmas Day every year. Here, in 1994, The Queen attends a service at Sandringham with family members, including her sister, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Diana.

    Getty
  • <p>Her Majesty’s love of bright colours was evident from the vibrant outfits she wore during public engagements, which ensured she always stood out in a crowd. Christmas Day was no exception and, in 1996, The Queen wore an orange coat and matching hat by designer John Anderson to meet members of the public.</p>
    6/13

    1996 The Queen in colour

    Her Majesty’s love of bright colours was evident from the vibrant outfits she wore during public engagements, which ensured she always stood out in a crowd. Christmas Day was no exception and, in 1996, The Queen wore an orange coat and matching hat by designer John Anderson to meet members of the public.

    Getty
  • <p>As The Queen’s children grew up and got married, her family expanded. In 1999, Her Majesty’s youngest son married Sophie Rhys-Jones, now The Countess of Wessex. The Queen and Countess were photographed smiling on Christmas Day in 2002, as Her Majesty reached up to fix her daughter-in-law’s hat.</p>
    7/13

    2002: The Queen and The Countess of Wessex

    As The Queen’s children grew up and got married, her family expanded. In 1999, Her Majesty’s youngest son married Sophie Rhys-Jones, now The Countess of Wessex. The Queen and Countess were photographed smiling on Christmas Day in 2002, as Her Majesty reached up to fix her daughter-in-law’s hat.

    MAX NASH
  • <p>The Queen had a busy work schedule and her public engagements continued throughout the year into late December. In 2006, Her Majesty met school children at Southwark Cathedral and helped them complete a nativity collage featuring the baby Jesus.</p>
    8/13

    2006: Royal duties

    The Queen had a busy work schedule and her public engagements continued throughout the year into late December. In 2006, Her Majesty met school children at Southwark Cathedral and helped them complete a nativity collage featuring the baby Jesus.

    Anwar Hussein Collection - Getty Images
  • <p>The Queen met regularly with the Prime Ministers and governments. In 2012, the year of her Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty was captured leaving a festive 10 Downing Street after attending her first ever Cabinet meeting, as part of the jubilee celebrations.</p>
    9/13

    2012: The Cabinet at Christmas

    The Queen met regularly with the Prime Ministers and governments. In 2012, the year of her Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty was captured leaving a festive 10 Downing Street after attending her first ever Cabinet meeting, as part of the jubilee celebrations.

    Chris Jackson - Getty Images
  • <p>Her Majesty was generous with her time and loved meeting members of the public, who would often present her with small gifts. Here, children line up to present The Queen with flowers on Christmas Day, after a church service in 2013.<br></p>
    10/13

    2013: Meeting The Queen

    Her Majesty was generous with her time and loved meeting members of the public, who would often present her with small gifts. Here, children line up to present The Queen with flowers on Christmas Day, after a church service in 2013.

    Chris Jackson - Getty Images
  • <p>The Queen had a large family and Christmas was always an important time to spend with her husband, Prince Philip, and their four children, eight grandchildren and, later, 12 great-grandchildren. In 2014, Her Majesty and members of her extended family were photographed chatting together as they left a Christmas Day church service.</p>
    11/13

    2014: Family time at Christmas

    The Queen had a large family and Christmas was always an important time to spend with her husband, Prince Philip, and their four children, eight grandchildren and, later, 12 great-grandchildren. In 2014, Her Majesty and members of her extended family were photographed chatting together as they left a Christmas Day church service.

    Getty Images
  • <p>As anyone who has tuned in to The Queen’s Christmas Day speech will know, Her Majesty’s residences were always dressed. In 2018, The Queen helped a little girl decorate a Christmas tree at the opening of the new Queen Elizabeth II centre for the children’s charity, Coram.</p>
    12/13

    2018: Christmas festivities

    As anyone who has tuned in to The Queen’s Christmas Day speech will know, Her Majesty’s residences were always dressed. In 2018, The Queen helped a little girl decorate a Christmas tree at the opening of the new Queen Elizabeth II centre for the children’s charity, Coram.

    WPA Pool
  • <p>At Windsor Castle in December 2020, members of The Royal Family thanked local volunteers and key workers for their incredible contributions during the pandemic. From a distance, Queen Elizabeth II was able to speak with her eldest son, King Charles III, and Camilla, now The Queen Consort.</p>
    13/13

    2020: Giving thanks

    At Windsor Castle in December 2020, members of The Royal Family thanked local volunteers and key workers for their incredible contributions during the pandemic. From a distance, Queen Elizabeth II was able to speak with her eldest son, King Charles III, and Camilla, now The Queen Consort.

    Getty Images
<p>Christmas was a time for family, faith and royal duty for Queen Elizabeth II, as millions welcomed Her Majesty into their homes to watch her reflections on the year.</p><p>Behind the screen, The Queen was able to enjoy some of the festive period in private with her family. As a young woman, the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, would dress up and perform pantomimes together. In their later years, they continued to spend Christmas Day with each other, attending annual church services along with their mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.</p><p>Church was always an important part of The Queen’s Christmas. As her children married and grandchildren were born, she welcomed her growing family into the services she’d always held so close to her heart.</p><p>Here, we take a look back at some of Her Majesty's Christmas memories from across the years.</p>
<p>Growing up, Princess Elizabeth often performed in plays and Christmas pantomimes alongside Princess Margaret. Here, the young princesses star in their own production of Aladdin at Windsor Palace in 1943, wearing full costume.</p>
<p>The Queen was known for her deep love of animals. Horses held a special place in her heart and she rarely missed an opportunity to attend horse shows and racing events. The Queen also owned her own horses and, here, she is captured taking a winter’s ride in the snow during the New Year’s holiday of 1979, at Sandringham.</p>
<p>Her Majesty was head of the Church of England and her faith was very important to her, so religious traditions around Christmas remained a staple of the royal festive calendar. She often attended the Church of St Mary Magdalene at Sandringham (pictured left in 1989) as well as St George’s Chapel at Windsor, her final resting place alongside Prince Philip.</p>
<p>The Royal Family attend church on Christmas Day every year. Here, in 1994, The Queen attends a service at Sandringham with family members, including her sister, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Diana.</p>
<p>Her Majesty’s love of bright colours was evident from the vibrant outfits she wore during public engagements, which ensured she always stood out in a crowd. Christmas Day was no exception and, in 1996, The Queen wore an orange coat and matching hat by designer John Anderson to meet members of the public.</p>
<p>As The Queen’s children grew up and got married, her family expanded. In 1999, Her Majesty’s youngest son married Sophie Rhys-Jones, now The Countess of Wessex. The Queen and Countess were photographed smiling on Christmas Day in 2002, as Her Majesty reached up to fix her daughter-in-law’s hat.</p>
<p>The Queen had a busy work schedule and her public engagements continued throughout the year into late December. In 2006, Her Majesty met school children at Southwark Cathedral and helped them complete a nativity collage featuring the baby Jesus.</p>
<p>The Queen met regularly with the Prime Ministers and governments. In 2012, the year of her Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty was captured leaving a festive 10 Downing Street after attending her first ever Cabinet meeting, as part of the jubilee celebrations.</p>
<p>Her Majesty was generous with her time and loved meeting members of the public, who would often present her with small gifts. Here, children line up to present The Queen with flowers on Christmas Day, after a church service in 2013.<br></p>
<p>The Queen had a large family and Christmas was always an important time to spend with her husband, Prince Philip, and their four children, eight grandchildren and, later, 12 great-grandchildren. In 2014, Her Majesty and members of her extended family were photographed chatting together as they left a Christmas Day church service.</p>
<p>As anyone who has tuned in to The Queen’s Christmas Day speech will know, Her Majesty’s residences were always dressed. In 2018, The Queen helped a little girl decorate a Christmas tree at the opening of the new Queen Elizabeth II centre for the children’s charity, Coram.</p>
<p>At Windsor Castle in December 2020, members of The Royal Family thanked local volunteers and key workers for their incredible contributions during the pandemic. From a distance, Queen Elizabeth II was able to speak with her eldest son, King Charles III, and Camilla, now The Queen Consort.</p>

We look back at moments of Queen Elizabeth II at Christmas over the years, from performing pantomimes with Princess Margaret to church with her growing family.

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