most regal pen-pal

How to send a Christmas card to the British Royal Family (and get one back)

Your card can come from anywhere on Earth

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: (EDITORIAL USE ON (L-R) Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales pose for a photograph ahead of The Diplomatic Reception in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace on December 05, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images For Buckingham Palace)

DECEMBER 8, 2025 11:05 AM ESTDEC 8, 2025, 11:05 AM EST

Reaching out to the British royals for Christmas isn’t some velvet-roped, crown-jewels-only affair. It’s wonderfully old-school, charming, and open to anyone with a pen, a card, and a functioning post office. The royal households receive mountains of Christmas mail each year, but they still send something back. Not handwritten, not dipped-in-ink-by-candlelight, but a delightful pre-made postcard or folded card featuring a photo of the royal you wrote to, along with a printed thank-you message. Think of it as the world’s most regal pen-pal situation… at scale.

Your card can come from anywhere on Earth. Whether you’re writing from New Zealand or Honduras, it all funnels neatly into the royal mailroom.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attend The "Together At Christmas" Carol Service at Westminster Abbey.

Timing Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect

There’s no royal buzzer that goes off if your card arrives after Christmas. Even January mail makes it into the sorting pile. The royal replies don’t usually land until February or March. Sometimes later.

What To Write in Your Royal Christmas Card

This is the fun part. There are absolutely no rigid rules about what must go into your card. You can be short, sweet, chatty, personal, or slightly starstruck. The message won’t change the type of reply you receive, so write what actually feels real to you.

Queen Camilla speaks with Father Christmas as she welcomes children and families supported by Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity.

A few ideas that add heart without feeling forced:

Talk about a cause the royal you’re writing to has championed this year. The royals spend a lot of time pushing meaningful projects, so a quick nod to something they highlighted can feel thoughtful. Share something you admire. Maybe it’s their public service, their charity work, their resilience, or a specific moment you found inspiring.

Introduce yourself. You don’t need your full life story, but you can mention where you’re from and what your holiday season looks like. Human touches go a long way. Acknowledge anything significant that happened in their world this year. For example, if you’re writing to The Princess of Wales, you could also slip in a warm birthday wish for her 44th on January 9.

A series of handwritten letters and cards sent by Diana, Princess of Wales, to housekeeper Violet Collison.

Whatever you write, the royals aren’t grading it. Their staff doesn’t tally sentiment points. The real reward is the interaction itself: you send a little festive cheer across continents; a couple of months later, a glossy royal postcard arrives at your door, reminding you that snail mail still has magic.

Where To Send Your Card

Here are the official mailing addresses for the main members of the British royal family. Keep them exactly as written, and always add your return address so the postcard can find its way home.