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Dazzling photos show royal castles and palaces decorated for Christmas

Royal staff members decorated a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle.
Royal staff members decorated a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

  • UK royal staff decorated residences like Windsor Castle for the holidays.
  • The British royals have a slew of famous properties, from Windsor to Holyroodhouse to Buckingham Palace.
  • Buckingham Palace is being renovated β€” and we've not seen any photos so far of it being decked out.

The British royal family is getting in the holiday spirit.

It's a festive tradition for staff from the Royal Collection Trust to decorate the family's residences around the UK.

This year, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh were the first residences to be decked out with Christmas trees and garlands.

Take a look at all the festive touches.

In Windsor Castle, a 20-foot Christmas tree was erected in St George's Hall.
Windsor Castle's St George's Hall has been decorated with a 20-foot Christmas tree.
Windsor Castle's St George's Hall has been decorated with a 20-foot Christmas tree.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The tree was sourced from the nearby Windsor Great Park and will be replanted after the Christmas display closes.

For the first time, Queen Mary's Dolls' House is decorated.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House in Windsor Castle.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House was adorned with holiday decorations for the first time.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The Queen Mary's Dolls' House in Windsor Castle was designed between 1921 and 1924 as a "gift to the nation" from Queen Mary following World War I.

The doll house β€” often called the largest and most famous in the world β€” replicates an aristocratic Edwardian home and has electricity, working elevators, and running water.

This close-up image shows a mini 1920s Christmas tree.
A close-up image of the Christmas decorations in Queen Mary's Doll's House
A close-up image of the Christmas decorations in Queen Mary's Doll's House.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

To commemorate its 100th anniversary, the doll house has been decorated for Christmas for the first time with a miniature 1920s-style Christmas tree and garlands.

Meanwhile, festive garlands were on the castle's grand staircase.
A staff member decorates Windsor Castle with festive garlands.
A staff member decorates Windsor Castle with festive garlands.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The staircase leads to the State Apartments, which are open for the public to visit.

A 15-foot-high Christmas tree stands in the castle's crimson drawing room.
A close-up image shows a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle's Crimson Drawing Room, with two sofa chairs and a sparkling chandelier.
A close-up image shows a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle's Crimson Drawing Room.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

A Nordmann Fir Christmas tree was erected in the crimson drawing room, which the royal family uses for official entertaining.

Photos of the decorations at Buckingham Palace have not been released.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla listen as members of the Military Wives Choirs perform a Christmas song at Buckingham Palace.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla listen as members of the Military Wives Choirs perform a Christmas song at Buckingham Palace.

Yui Mok/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Buckingham Palace is decorated β€” but there aren't any pictures available.

A palace spokesperson told Business Insider that imagery of the interior decoration hasn't been released since the palace is closed to the public.

They said there were Christmas trees, garlands, and other festive flowers in the palace, the official London residence of the royals.

The photo above shows an event on December 11 at the palace, without any obvious decoration.

The palace is undergoing a Β£369 million ($466 million) refurbishment, which will see the royal household closed to state visits until 2027.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh was also decorated with trees and garlands.
A Christmas tree surrounded by paintings in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is decorated with a Christmas tree.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

A 15-foot-high tree was erected in the Great Gallery, the largest room in the palace.

Here's a close-up shot of staff decorating the tree with baubles.
Staff members decorated the Christmas tree in the Palace of Holyroodhouse's Great Gallery.
Staff members decorated the Christmas tree in the Great Gallery.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The room is adorned with portraits of legendary kings of Scotland.

Two 12-foot-high Christmas trees stand in the palace's Throne Room.
Two 12-foot-high Christmas trees and a mantle garland decorate the Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Two Christmas trees and a mantle garland decorate the palace's Throne Room.

A staff member decorates a Christmas tree in the royal family's Scottish residence.

The Throne Room is used for receptions, state banquets, and other formal events.

Here's a closer look at one of the trees.
A staff member decorates a Christmas tree in the royal family's Scottish residence.
A staff member decorates a Christmas tree in the royal family's Scottish residence.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The tree was decorated predominantly with red baubles and ribbons.

In the palace's dining room, giant festive garlands are displayed.
Two royal staff members add festive decor in the royal dining room.
Two royal staff members add festive decor in the royal dining room.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

Staff members can be seen adding the finishing touches to the display.

The table was set with sugared fruits and foliage.
A staff member decorates a table for Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
A staff member decorates a table for Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

Clarence House has also been decorated for the holidays.
Queen Camilla speaks to a person dressed as Santa Claus at Clarence House.
Queen Camilla speaks to a person dressed as Santa Claus at Clarence House.

Mina Kim AFP

The London residence, which remains the primary residence of King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, also got a festive makeover in the run up to Christmas.

The property was decorated to resemble a Christmas grotto ahead of an annual festive tradition.
Queen Camilla and a child place a decoration on a Christmas tree during an event at Clarence House.
Queen Camilla and a child place a decoration on a Christmas tree during an event at Clarence House.

Mina Kim/ AFP via Getty Images

The Queen welcomed children to Clarence House to help decorate the Christmas tree in the household's library.

Highgrove, the King's former family residence, was decorated with towering nutcrackers.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress huge nutcrackers on the terrace.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress huge nutcrackers on the terrace.

Ben Birchall/PA via Getty Images

Highgrove is in the English countryside some 85 miles west of London.

The two nutcrackers, which stand at over 10 feet tall, have been placed outside the Orchard Room, the estate's dedicated entertaining space.

Inside, a Christmas tree has been placed on a table.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress a Christmas tree in the Ante Room.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress a Christmas tree in the Ante Room.

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

The tree is in the Ante Room and will be visible to the public who visit Highgrove's gardens during the festive period.

Garlands of dried fruit have been displayed on the windows.
Garlands of dried fruit have been hung on the windows at Highgrove.
Garlands of dried fruit have been hung on the windows at Highgrove.

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Staff members can be seen decorating the tree beyond the windows.

The table in the garden room was decorated with tall candelabras and seasonal colors.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens prepare place settings in the Garden Room.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens prepare place settings in the Garden Room

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Staff at Highgrove Gardens can be seen preparing place settings in the garden room.

If we see more royal Christmassy photos, we'll add them.
windsor castle christmas tree
Crown decorations on the 2018 Windsor Castle Christmas tree.

AP

Read the original article on Business Insider

It happened again: Delta passengers endured a 5-hour flight to nowhere, ending up back at JFK

Boeing 767-332(ER), from Delta Air Lines company, landing at Barcelona airport, in Barcelona on 10th January 2023
The flight to nowhere involved a Delta Boeing 767 (not pictured.)

Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images

  • A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 U-turned before crossing the Atlantic on November 24.
  • Delta said the flight crew observed a potential engine issue and returned to JFK Airport.
  • The 212 passengers departed again some 12 hours after they first took off.

Hundreds of passengers endured a five-hour flight to nowhere as their Delta Air Lines plane turned back.

The Boeing 767 left New York's JFK Airport for Edinburgh, Scotland, at about 10 p.m. ET on November 24.

FlightAware shows that Flight 208 had just reached the Atlantic Ocean when it turned back over the coast of Newfoundland.

Delta said the flight crew observed a potential engine issue and followed established procedures to return to JFK.

The 767 landed back in New York at about 3 a.m., some five hours after departing.

Delta said 212 passengers and 11 crew members were on board. Passengers were given accommodations and meals before leaving New York again at 10 a.m.,Β about 12 hours after their initial departure.

"Delta apologizes to our customers for the delay in their travels and we appreciate their patience," the airline said in a statement shared with Business Insider. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people."

It's not the only example of a flight to nowhere in recent weeks.

On Sunday, a KLM Boeing 777 U-turned over the Atlantic, leaving passengers with a four-hour flight to nowhere.

In late October, a British Airways Boeing 777 that experienced a problem over the Atlantic turned back to London and landed at Heathrow nine hours after takeoff.

For carriers flying over the Atlantic, returning to the airport is often the best decision when something goes wrong: It's typically simpler for airlines to reroute passengers and fix planes back at their hub airports than abroad.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I visited 13 major European cities in 6 months. Here are 2 I can't wait to visit again and 2 I probably won't return to.

Emily and her husband take a selfie in Amsterdam, with a canal and buildings behind them.
My husband and I spent six months moving around Europe.

Emily Pogue

  • I spent six months moving around Europe and visited 13 major cities along the way.
  • I was blown away by Edinburgh and Amsterdam and can't wait to return.
  • Though I enjoyed my time in Zurich and Cardiff, I'd like to explore other cities in the future.

During a six-month trip around Europe, I embraced the "slow travel" mindset, which encourages travelers to spend quality time in each destination they visit. This was important to me because I really wanted to get to know the places I was staying in.

I explored 13 major cities in countries including the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Here are the two European cities I can't wait to visit again and the two I'm glad I checked off my bucket list.

I'm most excited to visit Edinburgh again.
Edinburgh Castle, located near the side of a cliff, at dusk.
Edinburgh is a beautiful medieval-feeling city.

Emily Pogue

If you're looking for a truly medieval-feeling city in the UK, you can't choose a better spot than the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

I was mesmerized by the city's stunning mix of architectural styles, which makes the buildings appear larger than life. Most notably, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city and is visible from many different spots in town.

Edinburgh is also a treasure trove of history, whether it's Mary King's Close, a preserved 17th-century alley, or a whiskey tour in which I learned about the distinctive regional varieties of Scotch.

When the colder weather started getting to me, I was able to find a surprising number of hot-chocolate shops. I found that hot cocoa paired with a doughnut from one of the countless bakeries around town made for the perfect afternoon snack.

I can’t wait to explore more of Amsterdam.
A canal in Amsterdam, lined by houseboats, trees, cars, and buildings. There are pink and white flowers in a flower box in the foreground.
I love the layout of Amsterdam.

Emily Pogue

Amsterdam has a reputation as a party city, particularly its proclivity for marijuana and the Red Light District. Though Amsterdam is definitely a good place to have a great time, there is so much more to the city.

During my stay, I tried to avoid the tourist hot spots, favoring the local neighborhoods instead. One particularly enchanting walk along the canals led me to Foodhallen, a lively food market where I got to enjoy sushi, a corndog, and the Dutch snack of bitterballen β€” which can best be described as a deep-fried stew ball.

When I did venture to busier places, it was to tour the art and history museums. My favorites were the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, which were each powerful and moving in their own right.

I also enjoyed how much the city's layout differed from the other European cities I visited. Bikes and boats reign supreme, which make for lovely ways to explore the city.

Though I enjoyed visiting Zurich, I'll probably skip it on my next trip to Switzerland.
Buildings in Zurich near a river on a partly-cloudy day.
Zurich was beautiful, but next time I'd like to explore other parts of Switzerland.

Emily Pogue

Zurich is a gorgeous city, and sitting on the banks of the lake with a plate of currywurst was a top-tier European experience for me.

Though I found the city to be expensive compared with the other places I visited, the main reason I wouldn't return is because of Zurich's enviable neighbors: the villages of the Swiss Alps.

In just a few hours, you can leave the urban environment and arrive in towns like Wengen and MΓΌrren, which look straight out of a storybook.

Next time, I’ll visit other parts of Wales over Cardiff.
A castle with a flag on a greenery-covered hill.
One of the biggest reasons I wanted to visit Cardiff was to see the castle.

Emily Pogue

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit the capital of Wales was to tour Cardiff Castle, and the complex didn't disappoint. I learned about 2,000 years of history, from ancient ruling families to an underground bunker used in World War II.

But in my opinion, the rest of Cardiff wasn't quite as impressive.

Though I enjoyed the Victorian and Edwardian arcades (glass-roofed alleys with various shops), the city center felt a bit grungier than the others I visited because of some loose trash lying around. I also felt as if there weren't a ton of other activities to do in the vicinity.

But with 400 castles scattered throughout the country, I'll be sure to explore the more remote parts of Wales on my next visit.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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