A multi-colored pixelated display comprising an image display element and a transparent display cover , wherein: the image display element comprises an array of display pixels, each display pixel divided into a plurality of display sub-pixels, each display sub-pixel associated with a respective dedicated display color component, wherein the sub-pixels of a given color component, across multiple display pixels, form a sub-pixel array of that given color component; the transparent display cover comprises a display surface that is susceptible to marking and a sparkle reduction surface positioned between the image display element and the display surface along an optical path of the pixelated display , which sparkle reduction surface is spaced from the image display element by an optical distance D ; the sparkle reduction surface is formed by a periodic diffraction element that diffracts the light emitted by sub-pixels in at least one direction (X) in plan view and that has a grating period T in said direction (X) in the order of microns to hundreds of microns, the light being diffracted in said at least one direction (X) by a lateral displacement distance Δx at the display surface which is larger than the size of a sub pixel in said at least one direction (X) and smaller than or equal to the pitch x of the array of display pixels in said at least one direction (X), characterised in that the diffraction element has a profile depth b and an index of refraction n 1 that are selected such that the phase modulation amplitude in reflection Φ R for reflections of light at the sparkling reduction surface approximates an integer multiple of a wavelength λ G between 490 nm and 570 nm to the inherent degree of uncertainty attributed to the measurement of said parameters, where Φ R = 2 n 1 b . the image display element comprises an array of display pixels, each display pixel divided into a plurality of display sub-pixels, each display sub-pixel associated with a respective dedicated display color component, wherein the sub-pixels of a given color component, across multiple display pixels, form a sub-pixel array of that given color component; the transparent display cover comprises a display surface that is susceptible to marking and a sparkle reduction surface positioned between the image display element and the display surface along an optical path of the pixelated display , which sparkle reduction surface is spaced from the image display element by an optical distance D ; the sparkle reduction surface is formed by a periodic diffraction element that diffracts the light emitted by sub-pixels in at least one direction (X) in plan view and that has a grating period T in said direction (X) in the order of microns to hundreds of microns, the light being diffracted in said at least one direction (X) by a lateral displacement distance Δx at the display surface which is larger than the size of a sub pixel in said at least one direction (X) and smaller than or equal to the pitch x of the array of display pixels in said at least one direction (X), characterised in that the diffraction element has a profile depth b and an index of refraction n 1 that are selected such that the phase modulation amplitude in reflection Φ R for reflections of light at the sparkling reduction surface approximates an integer multiple of a wavelength λ G between 490 nm and 570 nm to the inherent degree of uncertainty attributed to the measurement of said parameters, where Φ R = 2 n 1 b . <EOS>