King Charles III and Queen Camilla have officially kicked off the festive season by releasing their 2025 Christmas card. The card, made public on Saturday, features a special photograph taken during their landmark visit to Italy earlier this year.
A Portrait from the Eternal City
The image selected for the greeting was captured by renowned photographer Chris Jackson at the scenic Villa Wolkonsky in Rome. This portrait holds extra significance as it was originally taken in April 2025 to mark the couple's 20th wedding anniversary. In the picture, Queen Camilla, 78, is seen wearing a sophisticated white and beige coat dress designed by Anna Valentine, accessorised with a delicate lily of the valley brooch. King Charles, 77, complements her in a classic blue striped suit.
The interior of the card carries a simple yet warm message from the monarchs: "Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year." This same photograph was first shared with the public back in April as part of their anniversary celebrations.
Celebrating Two Decades of Marriage
The royal couple's journey to Italy was a dual-purpose trip, combining official duties with personal celebration. Just two days before their April 9 anniversary, they released additional photos taken beside the historic Neronian spur of the Aqua Claudia, an ancient Roman aqueduct. They expressed their excitement in a note, stating, "As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people! A presto, Roma e Ravenna!" The note was signed personally as "Charles R." and "Camilla R."
King Charles and Queen Camilla married in a civil ceremony near Windsor Castle in 2005, a union that followed years of intense public scrutiny. The intimate wedding was attended by only 28 guests, including Prince William, Prince Harry, and Camilla's children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
Reflections on a Royal Milestone
To commemorate their platinum relationship milestone, the King's office shared a nostalgic video on Instagram. The clip featured cherished moments from their 2005 wedding day and highlights from their numerous engagements across the UK and overseas over the years. It was captioned succinctly, "20 Happy Years!" followed by a white heart emoji.
While in Rome, Queen Camilla herself reflected on the achievement with characteristic warmth. Speaking to Hello! Magazine, she remarked, "Twenty years, who could believe it was 20 years? What is the secret? I don’t know … well… I suppose it's just sort of friendship, really." Her words underscore the foundation of their long-standing partnership, which has now been beautifully encapsulated in their official Christmas greeting for 2025.
