The Royal Family's best Christmas moments in 21 pictures

  • A laughing Princess Anne sits with her mother, the Queen, and Prince Charles in a car taking them from Buckingham Palace on their way to Sandringham for the Christmas holidays in 1956. (PA)
    1/21

    On the way to Sandringham

    A laughing Princess Anne sits with her mother, the Queen, and Prince Charles in a car taking them from Buckingham Palace on their way to Sandringham for the Christmas holidays in 1956. (PA)
  • Christmas at Windsor Castle with the Queen and Prince Philip putting finishing touches to Christmas tree in 1969. (PA/The Royal Family)
    2/21

    Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

    Christmas at Windsor Castle with the Queen and Prince Philip putting finishing touches to Christmas tree in 1969. (PA/The Royal Family)
  • The Queen, together with her grandson Peter Phillips, and his mother, Princess Anne, during the 1978 Christmas Day broadcast. (PA Images)
    3/21

    The Christmas Day Television Broadcast

    The Queen, together with her grandson Peter Phillips, and his mother, Princess Anne, during the 1978 Christmas Day broadcast. (PA Images)
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  • Members of the Royal Family, including Princess Margaret, outside St George's Chapel when Christmas was held in Windsor in 1980. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
    4/21

    Royal Family Attending Christmas Service

    Members of the Royal Family, including Princess Margaret, outside St George's Chapel when Christmas was held in Windsor in 1980. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
  • The Royal family pictured at St George's Chapel, Windsor, after the church service on 25 December 1983. Traditions moved to Sandringham in the 1990s. (Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
    5/21

    Royal family at St George's Chapel, 1983

    The Royal family pictured at St George's Chapel, Windsor, after the church service on 25 December 1983. Traditions moved to Sandringham in the 1990s. (Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
  • The Princess of Wales, Princess Diana, at Sandringham on a very windy Christmas Day 1990. (Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
    6/21

    Princess Diana at church in Sandringham

    The Princess of Wales, Princess Diana, at Sandringham on a very windy Christmas Day 1990. (Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
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  • The Duchess of York with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (left), chatting with Santa Claus at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children party. (John Stillwell - PA Images)
    7/21

    Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie meet Santa

    The Duchess of York with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (left), chatting with Santa Claus at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children party. (John Stillwell - PA Images)
  • Princes William (far right) and Harry, clutch gifts from wellwishers as they leave Sandringham Church with their father, Prince Charles, after attending morning service in 1997. (John Stillwell/PA)
    8/21

    Princes William and Harry with presents from well-wishers

    Princes William (far right) and Harry, clutch gifts from wellwishers as they leave Sandringham Church with their father, Prince Charles, after attending morning service in 1997. (John Stillwell/PA)
  • Who can forget Prince William's beard as he attended the Christmas day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2008. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    9/21

    William tries out a beard

    Who can forget Prince William's beard as he attended the Christmas day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2008. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
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  • Kate trying out some drumming 'music therapy' at the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party in 2015. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
    10/21

    Kate's Christmas party

    Kate trying out some drumming 'music therapy' at the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party in 2015. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
  • The Queen at a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in 2015, not put off by the rain. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
    11/21

    Queen in red on a rainy Christmas Day

    The Queen at a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in 2015, not put off by the rain. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
  • The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte had Christmas with Kate's family in 2015. Here at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire. (Andrew Matthews/PA Images)
    12/21

    Cambridges have Christmas with the Middletons

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte had Christmas with Kate's family in 2015. Here at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire. (Andrew Matthews/PA Images)
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  • In this adorable moment, William passed on Prince George's Christmas Wish List to Santa Claus as he visits Esplanade Park's Christmas market in Helsinki. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Images)
    13/21

    William passes on George's wishlist

    In this adorable moment, William passed on Prince George's Christmas Wish List to Santa Claus as he visits Esplanade Park's Christmas market in Helsinki. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Images)
  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended her first Christmas lunch for members of the Royal Family hosted by the Queen in 2017. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
    14/21

    Meghan's first royal Christmas

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended her first Christmas lunch for members of the Royal Family hosted by the Queen in 2017. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
  • All eyes were on the fab four of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Christmas Day Church service in 2017. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
    15/21

    The fab four

    All eyes were on the fab four of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Christmas Day Church service in 2017. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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  • The Duchess of Cambridge throws a mock snowball as she takes part in a children's pretend snowball fight during a Christmas party to deliver a message of support to deployed personnel serving in Cyprus and their families over the festive period in 2018. (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
    16/21

    Kate's snowballs at Christmas party

    The Duchess of Cambridge throws a mock snowball as she takes part in a children's pretend snowball fight during a Christmas party to deliver a message of support to deployed personnel serving in Cyprus and their families over the festive period in 2018. (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
  • The second outing of the fab four at Sandringham in 2018 would turn out to be the last. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    17/21

    The Sussexes and Cambridges at Christmas

    The second outing of the fab four at Sandringham in 2018 would turn out to be the last. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
  • Kate helped by children picks a Christmas tree during activities with families and children to mark her Family Action patronage in 2019. (Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
    18/21

    The Duchess Of Cambridge picks a Christmas tree

    Kate helped by children picks a Christmas tree during activities with families and children to mark her Family Action patronage in 2019. (Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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  • In 2019, George and Charlotte attended church in Sandringham with their parents, the first time they had been part of the tradition. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press)
    19/21

    George and Charlotte's first Sandringham Christmas

    In 2019, George and Charlotte attended church in Sandringham with their parents, the first time they had been part of the tradition. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press)
  • In an unusual Christmas event, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge socially distance from his grandmother outside Windsor Castle, in 2020. (Glyn Kirk - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
    20/21

    Queen's Christmas carol service

    In an unusual Christmas event, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge socially distance from his grandmother outside Windsor Castle, in 2020. (Glyn Kirk - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
  • In the nick of time before London entered Tier 4, the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge took their children to the panto. (Aaron Chown/AFP)
    21/21

    Cambridges trip to the panto

    In the nick of time before London entered Tier 4, the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge took their children to the panto. (Aaron Chown/AFP)
A laughing Princess Anne sits with her mother, the Queen, and Prince Charles in a car taking them from Buckingham Palace on their way to Sandringham for the Christmas holidays in 1956. (PA)
Christmas at Windsor Castle with the Queen and Prince Philip putting finishing touches to Christmas tree in 1969. (PA/The Royal Family)
The Queen, together with her grandson Peter Phillips, and his mother, Princess Anne, during the 1978 Christmas Day broadcast. (PA Images)
Members of the Royal Family, including Princess Margaret, outside St George's Chapel when Christmas was held in Windsor in 1980. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
The Royal family pictured at St George's Chapel, Windsor, after the church service on 25 December 1983. Traditions moved to Sandringham in the 1990s. (Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
The Princess of Wales, Princess Diana, at Sandringham on a very windy Christmas Day 1990. (Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
The Duchess of York with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (left), chatting with Santa Claus at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children party. (John Stillwell - PA Images)
Princes William (far right) and Harry, clutch gifts from wellwishers as they leave Sandringham Church with their father, Prince Charles, after attending morning service in 1997. (John Stillwell/PA)
Who can forget Prince William's beard as he attended the Christmas day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2008. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Kate trying out some drumming 'music therapy' at the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party in 2015. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The Queen at a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in 2015, not put off by the rain. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte had Christmas with Kate's family in 2015. Here at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire. (Andrew Matthews/PA Images)
In this adorable moment, William passed on Prince George's Christmas Wish List to Santa Claus as he visits Esplanade Park's Christmas market in Helsinki. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended her first Christmas lunch for members of the Royal Family hosted by the Queen in 2017. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
All eyes were on the fab four of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Christmas Day Church service in 2017. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Duchess of Cambridge throws a mock snowball as she takes part in a children's pretend snowball fight during a Christmas party to deliver a message of support to deployed personnel serving in Cyprus and their families over the festive period in 2018. (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The second outing of the fab four at Sandringham in 2018 would turn out to be the last. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Kate helped by children picks a Christmas tree during activities with families and children to mark her Family Action patronage in 2019. (Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
In 2019, George and Charlotte attended church in Sandringham with their parents, the first time they had been part of the tradition. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press)
In an unusual Christmas event, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge socially distance from his grandmother outside Windsor Castle, in 2020. (Glyn Kirk - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
In the nick of time before London entered Tier 4, the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge took their children to the panto. (Aaron Chown/AFP)
Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent

After a tumultuous year, Christmas 2020 won’t be like any other for many people in Britain.

And for royal watchers, there will be no crowds outside the church at Sandringham, no new photos of Prince George and Princess Charlotte going to the service, and no pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen’s annual Christmas broadcast will still go ahead, showing across various stations at 3pm on 25 December.

There will also likely be some special festive messages from the royals.

Yahoo UK takes a look back at some of the best Christmas moments from the Royal Family.

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