Christmas Day around the world – in pictures
From patriarchs to a prince and the pope, at beaches, zoos and army bases, people from all walks of life across the globe celebrate Christmas
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate in Sandringham, Norfolk, UK
Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA
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Pope Francis greets the faithful after delivering the Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day message from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City
Photograph: Ettore Ferrari/EPA
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Santa Claus holds a beer as he watches children open their Christmas presents on Christmas Day at Brighton Beach in Melbourne, Australia
Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
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Bulgaria's newly elected Orthodox church patriarch, Neophyte, leads the Christmas mass in the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky cathedral in central Sofia. Bulgaria, unlike some other fellow Orthodox countries, celebrates Christmas on 25 December
Photograph: Nikolay Doychinov/AFP/Getty Images
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A volunteer dressed as Santa Claus distributes presents on Christmas Day to children who survived typhoon Haiyan in Leyte province, the PhilippinesPhotograph: Ted Alijbe/AFP/Getty Images
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A Father Chrismas is followed by children in a dusty street in Ambohibary in Madagascar
Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images
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Indian Christians offering prayers at the Infant Jesus church during a Christmas mass in Bengaluru, India
Photograph: Jagadeesh Nv/EPA
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The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, leads a Catholic mass at the Church of St Catherine, which is connected to the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem
Photograph: Mohamad Torokman/Reuters
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Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the annual Christmas Day swim in Hyde Park, London, UK
Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
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Children surround Ded Moroz (Father Frost), who has arrived at Moscow Zoo in Russia
Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP
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Santa rides the waves off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USPhotograph: MCT/Landov/Barcroft Media
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A meerkat looks for meal worms hidden in Christmas baubles after staff from the Blair Drummond Safari Park decorated the tree in their enclosure at the park
Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
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US troops from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force celebrate Christmas in Kabul, Afghanistan
Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters
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The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivers his Christmas Day sermon at Cantebury Cathedral, UK
Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images
