King Charles and Queen Camilla have officially unveiled their first Christmas card since the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
However, this time, the couple chose a photo that was an unusual choice for them. Taken by photographer Millie Pilkington, the image used was a stark contrast to the portrait used for the 2023 Christmas card.
Charles and Camilla held an informal ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The pair pose side-by-side in the portrait on a sunny day in April this year. Charles, dressed in a gray suit and blue tie, holds his hand in his pocket, while Camilla, in a blue wool crepe Fiona Claire dress, smiles at the camera.
The card read, “Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Last year’s Christmas card featured a ceremonial photo taken by photographer Hugo Bernand after the coronation, showing the couple in regalia and their crowns.
A few months after the card was unveiled, the king announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer as he was undergoing a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.
Compared to the formal-looking cards of previous years, King Charles appears to be changing the tone of the monarchy, focusing on his marriage and family.
According to the Telegraph, the choice of image this year is “further evidence of a deliberate decision to emphasize family ties in the Christmas message”.