Here are some photos of the British royal family as they went to church on Christmas morning. We’ve already seen some of them in the video. But that was such a short clip that I think you’ll also enjoy seeing them better here:

images via Zuma Press

Happy happy birthday to the following royals, nobles and friends of royals!

December

28 – Princess Vittoria Cristina Adelaide Chiara Maria of Savoy (2003)

29 – Princess Kako of Japan (1994)

30 – Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Crown Prince of Nepal of Nepal (1971)

31- Carlos Morales Quintana (1970), husband of Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark

January

1 – Maria Chiara of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (2005)

via Royal Forums

In keeping with tradition, Queen Elizabeth and the British royal family are spending the Christmas break in Sandringham estate. The royals attended Christmas services at the church of St Mary Magdalene yesterday. Below is a video of their arrival:

The Queen was accompanied in the car by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Before entering the church, Queen Elizabeth, in a red coat and hat, acknowledged the crowd that had gathered outside. Also seen in this video are Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Camilla, Peter and Autumn Phillips, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie. Bringing up the rear were Prince Harry, Prince William and Zara Phillips.

After services, the British royals had lunch and gathered to watch the Queen’s annual Christmas broadcast. This article on the Daily Mail says that the Queen watched by her lonesome, since she is too shy to watch herself on screen with company around.

Chelsy Davy and Prince Harry have been elfed! The prince’s once-again girlfriend has sent her friends a video greeting which features themselves and some friends, dancing as Christmas elves.

You’ve probably seen one of these Christmas videos, made by JibJab. Cropped photos are electronically pasted over the bodies of elves, who dance to “Jingle Bells”. It’s a short video, and you might have to look closely to spot Prince Harry (who makes a hilarious elf!). But he does take center stage a few times. The other elves are Chelsy’s brother Shaun and friends Kirsten Rogers and Lyndon Miller Pegs.

Reports say that the couple will spend the New Year in Mauritius with Chelsy’s family, and plan to watch the World Cup in South Africa in June 2010. Prince Harry and Chelsy seem to have found new legs for their relationship. And, from this video, their sense of humor is much a part of the mix!

Spain’s King Juan Carlos’s traditional Christmas message was aired on Christmas eve, from the Spanish royal family’s official residence in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. A video of the speech (in Spanish) is below.

The Spanish monarch’s speech covered a wide range of topics, including the economy and calls for unity during challenging times.

image via Zuma Press

Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas message, which was recorded earlier in Buckingham Palace, was broadcast today. It is her 57th message, in what has become a popular part of public Christmas celebrations in the U.K. You can watch the broadcast in the video below, via The Royal Channel on YouTube.

Queen Elizabeth called 2009 “a difficult year for many”. She touched on the major themes of the war in Afghanistan, the global recession, and the unity and strength of the Commonwealth of nations.

Here are some important about the history of this Christmas tradition:

1932 – King George V issued the monarch’s annual Christmas message

1952 – Queen Elizabeth’s first Christmas broadcast, after the death of her father King George VI

1957 – first televised broadcast (live)

1960 – pre-recording of the broadcast began

2007 – Queen Elizabeth’s message was first broadcast on YouTube

image via Zuma Press

The Spanish royal family has released their Christmas cards for 2009. The cards are a tradition for the royals, and feature photos of the children, as well as greetings for a merry Christmas.

These two images immediately below show the card from King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia:

Click through the gallery for a look at the cards from the families of Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia, Infanta Elena, and Infanta Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarín.

images via the House of His Majesty the King

Spain’s royal family has closed out the year with final audiences at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain.  King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia attended the last meetings with Spanish nobility and members of the Spanish National Heritage Board.

As the year winds down, we get to see one more outfit from Princess Letizia. This is all-lavender, from her fitted jacket, dress and shoes. I love the details on the bottom part of her dress.

It’s been a good year for the Spanish royals, and I wish that 2010 will be one as well. Enjoy these photos and then some later on when I post their Christmas photos.

images via Zuma Press

The movie ‘The Young Victoria’, starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend, has opened in select theaters on December 18, 2009, plus more on Christmas Day!

The reviews for the movie have been very positive (I can hardly expect anything else!). There’s even talk of the Golden Globes! This is really a must-see movie for all royal-watchers. For now, it’s on limited release, but I’m hoping more theaters will pick it up. You can see if it will be showing in a city near you in this release schedule.

While you’re waiting for a royal Christmas Day movie, enjoy these photos!

images used with permission via BLT & Associates

Japan’s Emperor Akihito celebrated his 76th birthday today!

The Emperor’s birthday is a national holiday, which is marked by a public ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Crowds of flag-waving well-wishers gather to see the royals and greet the emperor. It’s a special day for the Japanese people. It is only one of the few days during the year that the public is allowed to enter the inner grounds of the palace.

The emperor made his traditional speech from the palace balcony. He was accompanied by his wife Empress Michiko, his sons Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino and their wives, Crown Princess Masako and Princess Kiko.

images via Zuma Press