15 must-watch Hallmark Channel Christmas movies

Christmas at the Palace

Cast: Merritt Patterson, Andrew Cooper, India Fowler, Brittany Bristow

Year: 2018

There’s nothing like a royal family Christmas story…but this time it features ice skating. Katie (Merritt Patterson) is a choreographer who goes to the lovely European country of San Senova to help ice skater Jessica (Brittany Bristow) prepare for her performance.

One day Katie is out exploring the town when she runs into a man named Alexander (Andrew Cooper) as he wanders through the town practicing a speech. Kate doesn’t realize that Alexander is the king of San Senova. (She doesn’t notice how the people of the town hurry to make sure he has everything he needs even though he’s trying to hide his identity from her)

Alexander’s demeanor, particularly at the holidays, has earned him the nickname “The Grinch King” but he’s largely misunderstood. He’s a doting father who is struggling with his role and being a good single father. So when Christina asks her father to host a Founder’s Day pageant with skating, he’s all too willing to agree. What he doesn’t plan on is falling hard for Katie as she works to create a magical experience for his daughter at Christmas.

Royal Christmas romances are always fun because they’re entirely fictional. There aren’t dozens of principalities hiding in the mountains. (Europe is big, but it isn’t that big!) The holidays are a magical time, so it’s fun being swept off your feet by these enchanting stories.