Photos of the Royal Family celebrating Christmas through the years

It's the most wonderful time of the year, with the most magical photos to boot! As we gear up for the holiday season, we're reminiscing on Royal Family Christmases. From 1944 all the way up to 2017, the holiday season has always made for some incredible Kodak moments – from <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/queen-elizabeth-ii"><strong>the Queen</strong></a>'s first-ever televised Christmas address and performance of <em>Aladdin</em> with little sister <a href="/tags/0/princess-margaret/">Princess Margaret</a> to the <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/meghan-markle"><strong>Duchess of Sussex</strong></a>'s Sandringham debut. <p><strong>Click through to see all the best royal Christmas photos through the ages...</strong> <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images
<h2>1944</h2> On Dec. 23, a young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret posed during a beach scene with actors and actresses in "Old Mother Red Riding Boots," a pantomime that was playing at Windsor Castle. <p>Photo: &copy; Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images
<h2>1943</h2> Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth, both in costume, smiled for the camera during a royal pantomime production of "Aladdin" at Windsor Castle on Dec. 15. <p>Photo: &copy; Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images
<h2>1952</h2> Making history, Queen Elizabeth II made her first-ever Christmas broadcast to the nation from Sandringham House. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
<h2>1953</h2> Her Majesty and Prince Philip arrived at Government House after attending a youth rally in Auckland, New Zealand, during their coronation world tour. On this year, she delivered her Christmas message from Down Under. <p>Photo: &copy; Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
<h2>1957</h2> The Queen showed off her megawatt smile just before the end of her first televised Christmas Day speech to the nation. <p>Photo: &copy; Keystone/Getty Images
<h2>1969</h2> Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip took a look at their decorated Christmas tree during the filming of a television special exploring their life in the British Royal Family. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
<h2>1971</h2> Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Queen Elizabeth II looked through at a photo album. <p>Photo: &copy; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
<h2>1982</h2> Princess Diana and Prince Charles posed with baby Prince William during the Christmas season at Kensington Palace. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
<h2>1988</h2> Six-year-old Prince William enjoyed Christmas Day At Sandringham. The young royal looked smart in a maroon coat, blue shirt and tie. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham/Getty Images
<h2>1988</h2> Prince Harry, 4, dressed as a shepherd for his school's Christmas play. <p>Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images
<h2>1992</h2> The Princess of Wales – a patron of Headway, the National Head Injuries Association – attended a lunch hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce. The lucky princess posed between British author and politician Lord Jeffrey Archer and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Denis Healey, both dressed as Santa Claus. <p>Photo: &copy; THIERRY SALIOU/AFP/Getty Images
<h2>1993</h2> Princess Diana looked striking in a bright red coat and black netted hat while at Sandringham for the Christmas Day service. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
<h2>1995</h2> Too cute! The Duchess of York dazzled in red as she held the hands of her daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 7, and Eugenie, 5. The three were enjoying a mother-daughter date attending a pantomime of "Cinderella" in aid of Children in Crisis, of which Sarah is a patron. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham/Getty Images
<h2>1999</h2> At Sandringham for Christmas, the royal sisters looked sweet as ever in matching outfits, Eugenie in purple and Beatrice in green. The two held armfuls of presents given to them by admirers. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham/Getty Images
<h2>2001</h2> Prince Edward met backstage with dancers in a Northern Ballet adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" in Surrey. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
<h2>2004</h2> Dancers from the English National Ballet attended a Christmas tea with the Duke of York, a patron of the dance company. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham/Getty Images
<h2>2004</h2> Showing off his big heart, Prince Charles chatted with Thomas Willis, a four-year-old battling Leukaemeia, after helping to decorate the Christmas tree at Clarence House. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
<h2>2006</h2> The Prince of Wales scored a meeting with Father Christmas ... and gave a tug on his beard for good luck! The future king was at the Not Forgotten Association reception at St James's Palace. The Association acts on behalf of disabled and wounded service and ex-service personnel. <p>Photo: &copy; Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
<h2>2012</h2> Prince Harry donned a Christmas hat as he stood outside the VHR (very high readiness) tent at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province. The now dad-to-be said he was "thrilled to be back" in Britain as he returned home after serving a 20-week tour of duty. At the time, Harry was an Apache attack helicopter co-pilot <p>Photo: &copy; JOHN STILLWELL/AFP/Getty Images
<h2>2014</h2> The Duchess of Cambridge lent a hand wrapping holiday presents during a visit to the Northside Centre for Child Development in New York City. She and Prince William were on an official three-day visit to New York and later met then-US President Barack Obama in Washington D.C. <p>Photo: &copy; Mark Stewart - Pool/Getty Images
<h2>2016</h2> Prince William was deep in concentration while decorating a a gingerbread house during a visit to a Christmas party for volunteers at The Mix youth service in London. The charitable organization works with the Heads Together campaign. <p>Photo: &copy; Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images
<h2>2017</h2> Prince George had handwritten a letter to Santa and it’s adorable! His dad Prince William was able to deliver the letter to Father Christmas in person, and what did the little prince ask for? A police car! George, four, also circled that he had been "nice" this year in the line that read: "Dear Father Christmas, this year I have been naughty/nice." Prince William was on an official visit to Finland when he bumped into Santa, and grabbed the opportunity to hand him the letter. <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images
<h2>2017</h2> This year marked Duchess Meghan's first Christmas with the Royal Family as the future Duchess of Sussex. She attended the Christmas Day services at Sandringham along with Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince Philip, Duchess Kate, and her then-future-husband Prince Harry. Fans were delighted to see her curtsy to the Queen for the very first time! <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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