At Christmas time in 1914 British soldiers received this card from the King and Queen. The King, George V, was looking straight into the camera lens, creating the impression he was speaking directly to his army. It is a powerful image and the card, with a simple but warm message on the reverse (below), was greatly appreciated by the men.

At around the same time they also received a gift from Princess Mary who, in mid October, had appealed to the nation for funds^[1]. Even children contributed, sending money to the fund instead of receiving Christmas presents^[2]. My grandfather, writing home from France on 18 January 1915, refers to his gift and asks his wife if she has received it, as he had forwarded it to her for safe keeping. He was billeted with an elderly couple in a farm labourer's cottage at the time; the snow was almost knee-deep and his horses were outside in freezing conditions^[3].

References:

^[1] "The Times" 2 Nov, 1914 : Princess Mary's Fund. Christmas Gifts For The Soldiers And Sailors.
On 15 October 1914 Princess Mary had appealed for funds "to provide a Christmas gift for every soldier and sailor on active service" ... The King headed the list with £100". The article also said that by Christmas time 600,000 men would be eligible for the gift. "The gift will take the form of an embossed brass tobacco or cigarette box, on the lid of which will be a portrait of the Princess, with tobacco or cigarettes, a pipe and a tinder lighter". The Indian troops and none smokers were to receive a box of sweets and making the boxes was being done in areas where work had been scarce.

^[2] "The Times", 11 Nov, 1914

^[3] Letter from John Clay, 18 January 1915, Ann Andrews collection. Various newspapers, including "The Times", had suggested sending the boxes home before Christmas, as keepsakes for the families.