‘In memory of happy days’: Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex pay tribute to the late Queen and Prince Philip with their 2022 Christmas card

• Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex share Christmas card with image of Queen
• Three are stood together in the photograph, with the women holding bouquets
• Edward and Sophie are expected to join the King in Sandringham for Christmas

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex have paid a sweet tribute to the late Queen in their Christmas card for 2022, which was unveiled this afternoon.

The annual card – sent to family, friends, charities and organisations the Wessexes are associated with – features a photograph of the couple with Her Majesty.

In it, both Sophie and the late Queen are holding bouquets of flowers, while Edward stands between them. It was taken at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh in June.

A second image on the inside of the card shows the late Duke of Edinburgh and Her Majesty in the Scottish Highlands in 2003 – a photograph released by Buckingham Palace shortly after Prince Philip died in April 2021.

The image was taken by the Countess of Wessex during a family summer holiday.

A caption on the inside of the Christmas card reads: ‘In memory of happy days’.

The latest comes as King Charles today departed Windsor Castle ahead of travelling to Sandringham in Norfolk, where the Royal Family traditionally spend Christmas.

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex paid a sweet tribute to the late Queen in their Christmas card, which was unveiled this afternoon

A second image on the inside of the card shows the late Duke of Edinburgh and Her Majesty in the Scottish Highlands in 2003

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to bring all three of their children to church for the first time – Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four. 

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Mike and Zara Tindall are also expected to be there. 

The release of Edward and Sophie’s Christmas card comes shortly after the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a family photograph for their annual holiday greeting.

The Waleses’ picture for 2022, taken in private on the royals’ Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this year, was shot by one of their favourite – and trusted – photographers, Matt Porteous.

The Waleses’ picture, taken in private on the royals’ Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this year, was shot by one of their favourite – and trusted – photographers, Matt Porteous

King Charles III released his first Christmas card since ascending to throne earlier in December. It features a photo of the King and Queen Consort on September 3 – five days before the Queen died – at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering

The picture shows the family hand-in-hand on a country walk in the summer sun. Causally dressed in jeans, trainers and an open-necked shirt, William holds the hand of his eldest son George who, like his little brother Louis is sporting shorts, polo shirts and trainers. 

Louis, the stand-out star of his great-grandmother’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations back in June, has the same slightly mischievous grin and dark, tousled hair.

Between them is Princess Charlotte sporting a blue denim playsuit embroidered with strawberries and red pom-poms and a pair of blue laceless canvas pumps. 

Buckingham Palace released the image selected for the couple’s first historic Christmas card, saying it was taken by award-winning photographer Sam Hussein

This year’s cards have been a stark contrast to last year, which were released amid Covid lockdowns and tough travel restrictions 

The Princess of Wales is elegantly casual in ankle-grazer jeans with a white broderie anglaise shirt.

Releasing the picture, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales are delighted to share a new photograph of their family.’  

The King also shared his first Christmas card as monarch this month, choosing a photograph taken of himself and the Queen Consort at a Highland Gathering just days before the Queen died.

Buckingham Palace released the image, taken by award-winning photographer Sam Hussein, selected for the historic seasonal card.

The photograph shows Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, smiling at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on September 3, five days before the Queen died.

It captures the King from a side profile, dressed in a tweed suit with a red, green and beige tie.

Meanwhile, Camilla is seen wearing a green suit and matching hat with a pheasant motif, and pearl earrings.

This year’s cards have been a stark contrast to last year, which were released amid Covid lockdowns and tough travel restrictions.  

William and Kate had opted for a family holiday photo while Charles made a nod to the pandemic by wearing a mask.

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