104 thoughts on “Royal Round Up: Merry Christmas from the royals”

1. Thank you for a blog that keeps it “real” and shines a spotlight on other royals around the world! I use KMR as my go to source for all things royal and enjoy the banter that often takes place 🙂 Merry Christmas and I look forward to many more great posts in the new year!!

   First time commenter, but long time reader!

   1. Welcome Cynthia!
      And Happy Christmas to you too!

   2. Thank you, Cynthia, and welcome! Merry Christmas to you!

      1. KMR, when are you going to take a break? I hope you schedule some well-deserved R&R soon here! You’ve already got a lot scheduled going into the new year.

         1. I’m trying to bank a few articles so I can take some time off in the next week.

            1. Good to hear! With this blog growing, I’m sure it’s hard to just put it down and take a well-deserved breather, but I’m pretty sure I speak for most of us that we want you to have some peace and quiet, and will be here ready to go when you’re ready to jump back in. Glad you enjoyed your Friday!

2. Thank you for the great round up KMR and for all your hard work this year. You’ve worked really hard this year and the time you’ve spent researching and putting together this blog is much appreciated. I do check in each day to see what’s new, who has commented and what news the regulars have shared.
   It’s nice to see the cards the different royals are sending. Some I love (Victoria and Daniel and Estelle) , some grab your heart (I’m talking about Harry’s card here!) and then there is the card from the Spanish princesses which is just CUTE!
   Have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year KMR and all the regular commentors! 🙂

   1. Thank you, Cathy. Happy Christmas!

      I like Charles and Camilla’s card because it’s nice to see some affection from them. And I like Charlene and Albert’s card and Victoria, Daniel, and Estelle’s photos.

3. Best wishes to you KMR for the holiday season, and many thanks for your tireless work in constructing such a great space to share thoughts about royal families, but also provide support, and sometimes have a laugh. I hope 2016 will be wonderful for you and also for everyone who reads and contributes to this blog. We will be celebrating in projected 39C (102+F) weather so it’s prawns, salads, and pavlova here.

   1. Happy Holidays, Jen, and wow that is hot. Where are you from, if you don’t mind my asking? I’m in Florida and it’s going to be in the 80s here. It got down to the 40s for about a day.

      1. I’m in Adelaide, which is the capital city of South Australia. Last week temperatures reached above 40 degrees on each of the four days from December 16 to 19. This was the first occasion (and it’s very early in the summer season) that four consecutive days of 40C degrees or above had occurred in Adelaide in December. Even at nights it was hot: at 10PM it was around 30C (86F). There are complete fire bans in force, as we now entered bush fire season.

         Ooh, I envy JL’s chilly Sussex winter, being a winter girl at heart!

         Re. royal Christmas cards: I loved the abundant affection in Charles and Camilla’s card – these two are real soulmates. And Harry’s was a sensitive, respectful and thoughtful bow to those who served, and continue to do so: bravo, Harry.

         1. Another Aussie Jen!

            1. Yep, we’ll need to have KMR jackets made!

         2. Wow, over 80 at night is hot. It was over 80 degrees F here in Florida during the day and in the 70s at night on Christmas.

            1. I live in an (alleged) energy efficient building. But in the recent heat, even chocolate I had tucked away in the pantry melted!

               Yep, your nights sound the same. Here is is a dry heat, little humidity, but hard to get decent rest all the same.

      2. Where in Florida are you, I’m enjoying a cloudy but still warm holiday on the Space Coast. Love the work you do, one of the first sites I log into each morning. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas or Friday.. 😉

         1. Ah, thanks, Cloudycat! I’m in Northeast Florida; so a few hours north of you.

4. Best wishes to you KMR for the holidays and Thank you for your wonderful work on the blog.

   I adore the pic of Harry and the one of the Spanish Princess’s. They are going to be heartbreakers when they get older.

   It is Xmas Eve in Australia and I am just about to put an excited 4 year old in the bath and then watch a movie and then bed. Hubby has to work Xmas Day but he should be home around midday. Until then I have to keep Miss 4 from going outside to see the Trampoline that Santa has bought her. Should be interesting.

   Happy Holidays to you all and a safe and Happy 2016 xxxx

   1. Good luck child-wrangling! I’m sure she’ll be up at 5AM tomorrow. I hope she enjoys her trampoline. Happy Holidays to you, Tanya, and your family.

   2. I hope you have a great day with Miss 4, kid’s really make the season special!!

      1. It does. Should I read anything into the picture of a crown my eldest niece gave me. It was the best present. Merry Christmas everybody!

   3. Thankfully she slept in until nearly 7 and then Daddy was home at about 11. She LOVED the trampoline and her Aunt and Uncle went on it with her during the day and was exhausted last night.

      I hope that everyone else had a wonderful day.

      And yes Lauri C I think that there is something to read into the crown!

      1. It is good that your daughter enjoyed her trampoline. What a lovely surprise it must have been. Wrong way round I got the picture of the crown. Neices are such a delight.

         1. Oh Laura, I am so sorry my befuddled mind confused you two lovely ladies. I hope that you had a lovely rest of the days xxxx

            1. No worries Tanya. Thank you.x

      2. That’s great that she loved her trampoline!

5. Happy Christmas KMR & all readers. This is the best Royal blog, by far. Much love from me in chilly Sussex, England.

   1. Thanks, JL, Happy Christmas. Keep warm.

   2. Keep warm! I am in east coast U.S. area and I saw a runner out this morning in shorts and a sleeveless athletic top. It feels like Spring. No White Christmas for us this year (only in the movies).

      So LOVE Harry!

      All my best to everyone for a Happy Christmas ,or whatever holiday you celebrate, and a wonderful 2016.

      A huge thanks to KMR for all the fantastic royal information, photos and statistics on W&K. I have enjoyed KMR so much this past year!

      1. I’ve seen several jokes on Facebook that Florida winter lasted December 19-20, and that’s it. Which is so true. It’s always amusing when people can wear shorts in December. I used to live in Indiana and that was definitely not possible there.

         1. KMR, maybe, it’s the New Yorker in me, but I was surprised a while back when I found out you live in Florida. Of course, I think everyone is in the Empire State. And, now I find out you once lived in Indiana!

            Wanted to wish you the best and say thanks again for all your hard work and for the blog you created that has introduced so many good people to one another.

6. Charles and Camilla’s card and the Spanish princesses are my two favourites. Great Christmas send off, KMR!
   “Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night” – Santa, and “God bless us, every one”- Tiny Tim. Best wishes for the season from wintery Alberta to my fellow KMRers!

   1. I liked Charles and Camilla’s card as well. I liked that they went with a more personal photo than one from one of their engagements during the year.

      Merry Christmas, Ray.

7. The Christmas cards from the various royal families show what is important to them. I like Harry’s card it shows his empathy. The Scandinavian Christmas cards are my favourite, though the one with the two sisters hugging each other is sweet.
   Merry Christmas KMR.

   1. from a rainy part of the UK.

   2. I hope you had a great Christmas, Laura. And that it stopped raining!

8. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Thank you KMR for this blog and for all of the very interesting people who post here. I’ve learned so much about the different royal families.

   Here’s to a great 2016 for everyone! Enjoy your holidays and be safe!

   P.S. I really like the cards from PC & Camilla, Albert & Charlene and Harry.

   1. Thank you, Lisa. I hope you had a great Christmas. PS. I’m glad I’m not the only one who liked Albert and Charlene’s card.

9. Great round up KMR. I love Albert and Charlene Xmas card the best but seeing the other royals is great. Yea it’s a shame the British Royal family don’t release new pics for Xmas. Oh well. Have a good Christmas. Best wishes from the UK. 🙂

   1. Thanks Shiv! I, too, think it’s a shame that the BRF doesn’t release more Christmas-y photos.

10. Thanks so much for a wonderful holiday post KMR!! And thank you for all the heart and soul you put into this blog, as many have said, it’s the first one I check in the morning (and frequently throughout the day)! Even more than the coverage of the various royals I enjoy the interaction between the commenters and the sense of community that you’ve created here. I hope 2016 will be top filled with blessings for you KMR and all the wonderful people who comment here (even the occasional troll :)).

    I just love Chuck’s and Cam’s card, the easy affection they have for each other is palpable. And my goodness, how Nicholas has grown!! He is such a cutie and Lenore, celebrating her grandmother’s birthday,is adorable. Of course my Christmas season isn’t complete until I get my dose of Estelle, Dan and Vic cuteness!! And they didn’t disappoint this year, that hug on the video was so sweet.

    The little Spanish Infantas are just too cute for words, their parents will have their hands full when these two stunners grow up! I love how the Norwegian royal family has brought MM’s son into the fold as one of their own and wow he’s getting tall!

    Lastly, while it was great to see the two Monaco babies I hope next year they consider a more casual and fun family pose for their Christmas card, this one is a little to fashion-y for my taste (if that makes any sense).

    Oh goodness, I completely forgot Harry’s card, thank god for the edit key!! Harry’s card just speaks volumes about his caring, compassion, empathy and I have to say…hotness!! I hope this is the last Christmas he’ll have to spend alone, we must get Rhiannon on a plane to the UK, stat!

    1. I’m ready. Now.

    2. Thank you, Lauri, you’re very sweet. I hope you had a good Christmas.

       I kind of hope Harry doesn’t get married next year. I think it would be too soon since he’s not even dating anyone right now. But maybe an engagement next year – we got to give Rhiannon and Harry time to get comfortable before we push marriage. 😉

11. What a beautiful post, KMR! The Spanish princesses are adorable. I love their inclusion in the card.

    I wish you a very Merry Christmas, KMR. I appreciate the thoughtful and tireless work you do for us. You’ve created a community of people that I adore. It is so.nice.to read commentary fromy the vets and new people. Your blog is amazing anday you should be quite proud of what you’ve accomplished here.

    1. Merry Christmas, Rhiannon! Thank you so much.

12. Hey everyone, My mom’s scan last week showed that some of the cancer spots on her liver have shrunk and she’s eating better and more variety. She start the next round of chemo Monday. The cancer’s still stage 4, it’s still incurable but it’s some good news for us. 🙂 Happy Christmas KMR and all my friends on this blog. It’s a sunny, snowless 62 degrees in western NY today. See you all in the New Year. 🙂

    1. Glad to hear that there’s some good news for your mother, Seth!

    2. Sending you good thoughts and strength; please tell your mother hello and let her know we wish her a very Merry Christmas. She has you, so she must be very happy and proud (I have two boys that are good to me too so I know how grateful I am). Hopefully NY won’t be a madhouse with the warm weather beckoning twice the crowds to see the ball drop. It must be a nightmare to be anywhere near (although I may be coming up so who am I to talk?) 🙂

       1. I’m 350 miles north and west from Manhattan, haha. I’m closer to Cleveland than N.Y.C. The closest I’ll get to the ball drop is on TV while I play card games with my sister and our friends. However the sentiments behind it are warmly appreciated. 🙂

       2. I always say I want to watch the ball drop on New Years until I see the crowds on TV and think there is no way my aversion to being touched would let me do that.

          1. You’re right to feel like that; it is literally like being in a pen stuffed next to each other- you can barely move. The only good thing is if it is freezing cold, all the surrounding body heat keeps you warmer. Not a good choice if you like personal space, but I have to say, the crowd has always been friendly so far. And once you leave the main holding areas, you can’t come back in (no bathroom runs). Amazing that so many can stand all that year after year.

    3. That sounds fantastic news, Seth. I hope that you enjoy your Christmas and its blessings.

       1. You and yours too Rhiannon. 🙂

    4. What great news Seth!!! I hope 2016 will bring you and your family peace, joy and love!

    5. Such good news, Seth. My best to your Mom. I survived Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, so I know all about chemo.

       1. Fantastic news Seth

       2. I hope all that’s behind you now and that you’re feeling good, BamaLynn.

       3. Yes, Seth, this is welcome news. All best wishes to you and your family. I hope your Mother’s health continues to improve. She is fortunate to have such a loving and caring son. Happy Holidays to you and your family. May 2016 be a positive time for you and those you love.

          1. BamaLynn, good for you. I wish you good health and much joy as we welcome the New Year. I hope you are continuing to do well.

          2. Thank you Jenny. Enjoy Madeleine and your relatives this season. Now never comes again. 🙂

    6. Hi Seth,

       Season’s Greetings to you and hope your mom will continue to do well in the new year.

    7. That’s great news, Seth! It’s good that she is feeling better and can eat better.

13. Hi KMR, and wishing you along with all the great people here Happy Holidays from overcast VA. Thank you for all you do. I appreciate how you share your ideas and point of view on these families, along with allowing us all to gather for open discussion. We probably wouldn’t know as much about Cam’s work with sexual abuse victims, Max’s crusade to help women throughout the world, Mary’s efforts for WHO, and I hope the York girls do some charity work in 2016 you can cover. They probably drop in shock from positive media coverage. I really think this blog has the power to help Kate, because you started covering other royals from W&K’s lack of public activities especially charity support. This has the potential to push Kate (and hopefully Will at some point) to start really getting involved in her charities rather than posing for pictures or being there for a Q&A. There’s a point where she knows what they do and can go out to push new endeavors or raise money for needed projects. So congratulations for helping the effort to get these two out from behind Anmer walls and engaging the public more. There are too many things that need advocacy, and I believe you’ve added an important voice to demand they use the position that makes them different (“I am a Prince”). That’s right Will, you are. Now get out there and lead. All my best KMR, and like I said upthread, please take some vacation time for yourself too.

    1. Happy Holidays, Sunny! And thank you for the encouragement.

       I rolled my eyes at William’s “I am a Prince” thing. I mean, yes it’s true, but he’s the one who keeps trying to be “normal”.

14. Ah, I love the Victoria/Daniel/Estelle baking shots, and Charles and Camilla make for a sweeter card than I would have expected. Leonor and Sofia are a pair of adorable bookends!

    Merry Christmas to all from Michigan, where the only thing warmer than today’s forecasted temperatures are our hearts!

    1. Hello ABKM fellow Michigander! I’m loving this weather! Hope you have a great holiday!

    2. Merry Christmas to Michigan! It seems like the majority of us had warm Christmases.

15. Loved the queen and philip’s card and also the one by charles and camilla… they look happy! Merry Xmas from my lovely Italy.

    1. Merry Christmas, Emma!

16. Merry Christmas to all from Alabama. We have the windows open – it’s 73F. Thanks, KMR, for a wonderful blog and for creating such a nice community. I check in every day and enjoy all the information and great comments. I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2016. Roll Tide!

    1. Merry Christmas, BamaLynn!

17. Has anyone noticed that the daily mail has compared the Xmas cards of the Monaco royals & the cambridges. The newspaper praised Charlene & Albert’s card! The Cambridge card is criticized beyond belief!

    1. Goodness I must read that…

18. Merry Christmas, KMR! This is my first time commenting, although I have been reading your blog for about 2 months now after coming across it back in early October. I had only been on sugar blogs and the Daily Mail before I found this site, and the polar extremes of opinions were very overwhelming and difficult to relate to. I am in no way a Kate hater, but I feel like my opinions align generally with the opinions on this blog, which is super refreshing. Anyway I really appreciate all the hard work you put into your frequent blog posts and that you allow healthy & polite, critical discussion of Kate when it’s deserved. Most of all I enjoy seeing the other Royal families of Europe, since I had never really thought to start researching them before. I hope you and all the posters on this site have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    1. PS: I called myself “Charlotte” because I am from Charlotte, NC. No relation to the Princess Charlotte 🙂

    2. I know what you mean… Welcome to this corner of the Internet!

    3. Merry Christmas, Charlotte, and welcome!! I’m so glad this blog fulfills your need for a more balanced, though still critical, view of Kate. I’m sure you’ll be very welcome here.

19. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! 😀

    1. Happy Christmas, Snowsie!

20. Merry Christmas KMR! And thank you for your wonderful blog that is endlessly amusing and informative. As well I like all the interesting and funny comments that your writing always brings about.

    All the royal Christmas cards were wonderful. I especially liked Charles and Camilla’s because of the genuine warmth and love that it radiated.

    1. Merry Christmas, Geri!

21. KMR,your posts are always a bright spot. Thanks for this lovely Christmas post. Like others, I found Harry’s card stood out from the rest, moving, so thoughtful and moving. It’s also a treat to see how the other European royals present themselves; I was especially taken with the Spanish princesses and their signatures.

    1. Thank you for you kind words, Constance. Happy Holidays!

22. Merry Christmas, KMR! Cold here in California–was in the 50s! Cold for me, anyway.

    Had a pretty bad day as it looks like we may have to put my 20 year old cat to sleep. 🙁 I’m so so sad.

    1. Ellie, it is the hardest thing in the world to say farewell to a much-loved family member, if this is the time to do so. If it is, I’m sure you and your vet will know the right thing to do for kitty. There is something quite beautiful about an aged cat or dog, a lovely strength and fragility combined; as his/her caregiver and companion, I am sure you will do what is best but enjoy whatever time is left. You will both have experienced so much together over 20 years, the memories of which will always be with you, believe me. Getting to 20 cat years is pretty special; you must be a loving caregiver. My heart and thoughts are with you.

    2. Ellie, I worked for many years as a volunteer for animal shelters. For animals to find a home where they were loved, warm, safe, fed, unafraid and enjoyed the rest of their life, was all any of us volunteers wanted for the dogs and cats.

       Keep in mind the great gift you gave to your cat. I am sorry you are going through this, because it is never, ever easy. All your cat knows it they were very loved and had a great life. I wish I could give you words of comfort, but this is always a painful time. All my best.

    3. Thinking of you, Ellie. Having to put down a family pet is heart wrenching, whether for age or illness. But 20 years…obviously very much loved and cared for, so a very good life for your kitty.

    4. Oh Ellie, I’m so sorry that you are faced with such a heart wrenching decision. I know no words to ease your heart and dry your tears but my thoughts and prayers are with you.

    5. Happy Christmas Ellie! I’m so sorry to hear you have to put your cat down. We had to put my 14-year-old Baby down just before St. Patrick’s Day; she had a brain tumor. Her older “brother” Boots is a doddering senile 18-year-old tuxedo with progressive kidney disease. We take it day by day. It’s so hard, especially this time of year but at least you have had them for as long as you have and have loved and cared for them. 🙂

    6. So sorry, Ellie. A piece of our heart goes with them to the Rainbow Bridge. I’ve said goodbye to six beloved cats over the years. It’s very sad, and I wish you comfort. You gave your kitty 20 amazing years of love and care.

    7. Sorry to hear that Ellie, strength to you as you take the necessary decisions.

    8. Merry Christmas, Ellie! I agree, 50s is cold!

       I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. It is so hard to lose a pet. They become such a part of the family.

    9. Oh, Ellie, I am so sorry about your loss. I, too, had a cat for 20 years and his passing is still mourned greatly. Be kind to yourself and know you gave a special cat a loving and special home!

23. Season’s Greetings KMR and to everyone, have a happy and healthy holiday season which will continue in the new year.

    1. Seasons Greetings, Beatrice!

24. Ellie I am sorry about your beloved cat.

25. Cathy and Bill weren’t holding hands this year. Cathy wore a matronly flower print under her coat. I still love her but she’s really getting frumpy. The hair, the flower prints, she’s losing it.

    1. That dress wasn’t even that cute for her to buy the exact one in a different color… I understand she needs the pleats to create a hip illusion but it does seem like something Carole should be wearing, not Kate…

    2. Bill’s face looked weird. As if he’d eaten spaghetti and the sauce sat on his face and stained it a bit before being wiped away.

26. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! We had a relaxing and warm day in NYC.

    I think I liked all of them but Victoria, Daniel and Estelle have a special place in my heart, they are my favorites. Harry is second best with his thoughtful picture, I’m sure all veterans truly appreciate and value Harry ‘s work.
    Maddie is also cool to share both of her adorable kiddies 🙂
    I also like Charlene and Albert’ s because they are another couple letting the world see those cuties grow.

    Finally, Charles and Camilla’s picture shows them as I’ve never seen them before? So that’s cute of them… After all the years…

    1. Merry the-day-after Christmas to NYC, Beatrix!

       1. Thank you KMR, now to get ready for 2.0.1.6!!!!!
          (btw , santa brought me a new tablet – my old one was constantly crashing and even my keyboard app didn’t work – so I am happy I am now able to post more. I really love the comments’ section of the blog, but it got frustrating on that other device so I was limited to reading)

27. A Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful New Year to all!

    KMR, special thanks for all your hard work on this amazing blog . I hope you get time off for good behavior and outstanding work. You deserve it and more!

    Busy here and Christmas was close to 70 in New York. Great, after last year, if you ask me!

    Both my family and my husband’s are in town for the week, so again, I have great built-in baby-watchers to give me a bit of free time from Madeleine. Thank goodness, my aunt, who lives 20 minutes away, has a huge house, so there was plenty of room at her “inn” to put up many family members from out of town.

    I loved the Christmas Card of Charles and Camilla. So much for the Royals being so “stuffy” in many other previous holiday photos. They look in love and very happy! Also loved the Swedes — every one of them!

    Albert and Charlene with their darling babies has an old world Hollywood feel to it.

    The Spanish Princesses are adorable. And, I guess I said enough in a previous post about the photo-shopped Cambridge card.

    Harry continues to shine. His card made such a powerful statement about his respect and caring thoughts for veterans and others who currently serve. Next year, Rhiannon needs to be on his arm.

    Good news from my family as my wonderful sister and her boyfriend got engaged on Christmas Eve. They are such a great couple and I am thrilled for them. They hope to get married later this spring, or early in the summer. Madeleine will be too young to be a flower girl! My sister insists she be part of the wedding, though. Good luck with that. Babies, though adorable, can wreck havoc on any celebration by just being babies.

    Happy wishes to all!

28. Oh, I forgot to say that I loved the fact that Harry’s photo is in Black and White. So suited for the WWII vet! What a special moment for that brave gentleman to have been given the seat in the plane thanks to PH and for being in Harry’s Christmas card! In the hearts of many, Prince Harry rules!

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