Hello! Canada December 1, 2025

THE KING’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE One of the most anticipated moments of Dec. 25, the monarch’s festive broadcast has been a cherished tradition since George V delivered the first royal Christmas message over the radio in 1932. Today, millions tune in around the world to hear the sovereign reflect on the year gone by and share a message of hope and unity. King Charles has continued the custom with his own thoughtful touches. True to his environmental values, he chooses natural, understated décor (last year, he stood next to a living Christmas tree adorned with sustainable ornaments) and occasionally records his message outside Buckingham Palace – one of only a handful of monarchs to do so. THE CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE AT SANDRINGHAM For decades, the Royal Family have begun Dec. 25…

KING CHARLES MARKING MEMORABLE LIFETIME MILESTONES When it comes to royal yuletide correspondence, King Charles has quite the act to follow! His mother and predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II, would send out around 800 exquisitely printed cards every December, beginning the mammoth task of signing them in the summer. Featuring carefully posed portraits of herself, the Duke of Edinburgh and their growing family, the cards were eagerly anticipated by royal fans as they watched their journey unfold. Charles has upheld the tradition with his own distinctive missives, each offering a look at the celebrations and struggles of his personal life. In 1981, following his marriage to Diana, the newlyweds’ first greeting as husband and wife captured them in a post-ceremony portrait – a joyful symbol of global fascination. From then on,…

From visits with Santa to family board games to festive film nights, the Prince and Princess of Wales make the holidays as fun and down-to-earth as possible for their children. “Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year,” Kate revealed in a letter shared with guests attending her annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey last year. “It is a time for celebration and joy, but it also gives us the opportunity to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all.” While Prince William, Kate and their kids are very much in the spotlight for her Together at Christmas event in early December, behind the scenes they enjoy the same festive traditions as families everywhere. The children lend a hand with seasonal baking and cooking, plus…

Since relocating to California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have developed their own holiday traditions with their children, marking a break with the more formal celebrations of the rest of the Royal Family. Christmas in Montecito, Calif., is spent at their sprawling mansion alongside Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, joining in on the fun. It’s a quiet, relaxed affair designed to offer their kids the simple pleasures of the season. In an interview last year, Meghan described their Christmas Day as “including a great meal,” followed by games and fun – “just like any other family.” The duchess has spoken warmly about the joy of building new traditions as her children get older. “I love the holidays,” she said. “Every year, it gets better.…

While the Royal Family celebrate Christmas privately at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, their other residences embrace the season in spectacular style. From November to January, Windsor Castle throws open its magnificent State Apartments and other public areas to visitors. The showstopper is a 20-foot Nordmann fir, situated in St. George’s Hall and crowned with a specially commissioned Garter Star – a fitting choice since the vaulted ceiling is emblazoned with shields from the Knights of the Garter. Sourced from nearby Windsor Great Park, the evergreen is treated as a live specimen. “It’s a living tree, so during its time here, it will be watered carefully and then, after Christmas, it will be replanted,” Kathryn Jones, senior curator of decorative arts at the Royal Collection Trust, told Hello! Six staff members…

LA VIE EN VELVET THE EVENT COCKTAIL AFFAIR ’Tis the season for rich textures and royal flair. Channel your inner aristocrat like Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, who brought major festive polish to the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey last year in a wine-coloured two-piece by Veronica Beard. With only a gold clutch and jewelled earrings for frills, this shows that velvet and power suiting are a match made in holiday heaven. PAIR IT WITH SCARLET STATEMENT THE EVENT HOLIDAY GALA When in doubt, go bold – especially during the festive season! The show-stopping crimson Carolina Herrera gown worn by the Duchess of Sussex is a reminder that a head-to-toe red look is the ultimate holiday power move. Keep the silhouette sleek and the styling simple – think…