Dazzling photos show royal castles and palaces decorated for Christmas

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By: Mikhaila Friel，Eve Crosbie

19 December 2024 at 04:50

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 — 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.
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.

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 — often called the largest and most famous in the world — 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.
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.
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.
Yui Mok/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Buckingham Palace is decorated — 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 £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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

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