Merry Christmas from the House of Windsor

Merry Christmas from the House of Windsor

For more than a century, members of the royal family have sent Christmas cards to their subjects. Today, the royal family (seemingly singlehandedly) upholds the snail mail tradition. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sent over 750 Christmas cards worldwide every year, starting her writing as early as July. At Apr 57 gallery, we have in our possession the official Christmas card from 1960 signed by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It has twin gilt embossed Royal ciphers which cover a black and white photograph of a relaxed Royal Family. The family of five (plus a Corgi) are seen seated on a blanket in front of Balmoral Castle. Under the photograph are signatures in ink: 'Philip Elizabeth R 1960'. Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. Looking at the backdrop of this card today is particularly poignant. On 8th September 2022 The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral, which remains in a period of official Royal Mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, the longest-serving female head of state in world history, Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne at the age of 25, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was proclaimed queen by her various privy and executive councils shortly afterwards. Queen Elizabeth II loved Scotland. The following is from her address to the Scottish Parliament in 2021: “I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country. It is the people that make a place and there are few places where this is truer than Scotland.”