King Charles and Queen Camilla. Photo / Getty Images
King Charles and Queen Camilla have unveiled their annual Christmas card.
The 77-year-old British monarch and his wife have turned a photograph from their official state visit to Italy earlier this year into a special card for royal fans.
The picture of the pair hand-in-hand was taken in the grounds of Rome’s Villa Wolkonsky by Chris Jackson.
The card was posted on the royal family’s official Instagram page with the caption: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
“The King and Queen are pleased to share this year’s Christmas card, featuring a photograph taken in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky in Rome during Their Majesties’ State Visit to The Republic of Italy in April.”
Charles and Camilla, 78, sharing their Christmas card comes days after his son, Prince Harry, quipped he is looking for a role in a Christmas movie.
The Duke of Sussex interrupted Late Show host Stephen Colbert’s opening monologue last week while the presenter was complaining about the festive TV films about royalty, such as “Crown Prince of Christmas”, “The Royal We” and “A Royal Icing Christmas”, and claimed he was looking for such a project himself.
Stephen joked to the audience: “Now, as a Catholic, I was always taught that the crown prince of Christmas was Jesus Christ.
“But apparently now, it’s TV movie actor Jilon VanOver. Sorry, Jesus. Shoulda booked that walk-on role in NCIS: Los Angeles. Now, folks, as much as I love these holiday movies, and I do, I think they’re problematic because they give people the unrealistic expectation that during the holiday season, they’re going to just bump into some prince at their job.”
At that point, Harry stepped on stage to applause.
Stephen exclaimed: “It’s Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales-Sussex! What are you doing here?”
His royal guest replied: “Sorry, I genuinely thought this was the audition for ‘The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska’.”
The 41-year-old prince – who lives in California with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children Prince Archie, 6, and 4-year-old Princess Lilibet – then joked about Americans’ being “obsessed” with royalty.
Stephen said: “That sounds fantastic, but you’re an actual prince. Why would you want to be in one of these movies?”
Harry replied: “Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies and you’re obsessed with royalty, so why not?”
The 61-year-old broadcaster insisted that wasn’t the case, but Harry said: “Really? I heard you ‘elected’ a king.”
Stephen replied: “That’s a fair point.”
Harry then continued to commit to the sketch and insisted he had all the skills needed to play a movie hero.
He said: “Listen, what’s a real prince got to do to get into a Hallmark movie? … I got skills. I can ride a horse. I can fly a helicopter. I can ride a horse and a helicopter.”
In a nod to Harry’s wife, former Suits star Meghan, Stephen reminded the prince Hollywood success often relies on connections and asked if he knew “any famous TV actresses”.
Harry replied: “I mean, I might know one. But listen, Stephen, I’ll do anything.”
The host suggested Harry “practice helping Americans reconnect with what they love about Christmas”, and then Christmas trees and a snowman appeared on stage as snow began to fall.
Harry said: “Do you see what’s happening? Can you hear the sleigh bells?”
Stephen replied: “Yeah, it’s probably one of those Central Park horses having a seizure.”
But Harry insisted: “Stephen, you just have to believe! Doesn’t this prove that anything can happen? I mean, minutes ago, you said it was impossible. But look, isn’t there a handsome prince standing in front of you, right now?”
Stephen then apologised to his royal guest and said: “I know you want this, but I’m afraid I have to say … I was testing you: You’ve got the role.”