Photos of Christmas at Buckingham Palace Through the Years
Queen Elizabeth loved a red and gold tree.
By 
Buckingham Palace is a special place year-round, but there's an extra magical air to it in December. Throughout history, the holidays have served as a time for the busy royal family to come together and celebrate. And though Christmastime has felt different for the Windsors following Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022, King Charles III and the royal family continue to cherish and honor her memory.
From lavish galas to annual broadcasts, take a look at these festive photos to see what the palace has looked like over the past eight decades and counting of celebrations. (You'll notice that in recent years, the royal family has instead shared photos of Windsor Castle decked out in its holiday best—and it might not be the Palace, but it sure is gorgeous.)
1936
Crowds gather outside of the Buckingham Palace gates to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony in December 1936.
1937
Queen Mary of Teck cuts through a cake at the annual Not Forgotten Christmas party for veterans in December.
1939
The Queen Mother poses at her desk following her Christmas broadcast for the BBC.
1942
The palace hosts a Christmas dinner for veterans in The Not Forgotten Association.
1942
Another snap from The Not Forgotten Association's Christmas event in 1942. Tables were lined with happy guests in festive hats.
1952
Not long before Christmas, Queen Elizabeth led the Economies Conference in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace.
1958
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's glamorous December 1958 portrait, in which the pair are dressed in royal attire, screams Christmas card material.
1962
It was a white Christmas in 1962, with the Queen Victoria statue glistening in the snow.
1964
Musical group The Beverley Sisters serves 95-year-old Walter Reed tea at the annual Not Forgotten Christmas party.
1970
The monarch prepares for her Christmas broadcast in the sitting room of Buckingham Palace.
1971
The Queen makes Christmas memories with her sons, sitting and looking through a photo album with them, as she records her annual holiday address to England.
1972
One month after celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary with Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth broadcasts her annual Christmas speech from Buckingham Palace.
1976
Sitting poised in the Regency Room, Her Majesty poses for a photo following her annual Christmas broadcast.
1977
There was a new addition to the royal family during the 1977 holiday season. Here, Princess Anne holds her 1-month-old son, Peter Phillips, at his baptism at Buckingham Palace in December.
1978
The monarch poses in the Regency Room with some very special items: The original microphones used by her grandfather, King George V, to broadcast the very first Christmas Day message in 1932.
1986
A gathering of white horses gives Queen Elizabeth a lovely backdrop to work with, as she films her annual Christmas address in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
1998
The Queen (right) and Queen Mother (left) take in the Queen's Christmas Tree in the Picture Gallery. Artists were invited to present the royal family with 500 handmade ornaments, which were later auctioned off for charity.
1998
The Queen (left) and Queen Mother (right) get a closer look at the ornaments at the same event.
1999
The Queen rings in the new millennium in a blue jacket and pearls, as she records her traditional Christmas Day message.
2000
Smiling by a cozy fireplace, Queen Elizabeth looks festive in red for her first Christmas broadcast of the new century.
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