Here's how the Queen and her team decorate Windsor Castle at Christmas
She might spend Christmas at Sandringham, but the Queen still puts on a spectacular festive display at Windsor Castle each December.
Before they started retreating to their Norfolk estate in the late 1980s, the royal family would spend Christmases at the historic royal venue. The then Princess Elizabeth, and her younger sister Princess Margaret, would even perform pantomimes for the rest of the family.
Today, the castle is transformed with a variety of regal decorations to celebrate the festive season, but they also often mark an important anniversary in the landmark's history.
This year, the monarch's official residence is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the castle following the devastating fire in November 1992.
Over the last week, festive displays have been installed by the Royal Collection Trust in the Lantern Lobby, the State Dining Room, the Grand Reception and the castle precincts. Each display highlights the five years of recovery work that was needed to bring around 100 of the castle's rooms back to their former glory.
Florist Shane Connolly and Company, who have the royal warrant, has worked with the trust's team on the design for these installations.
"The team looked at the restoration work and have used that to inspire the decoration this year," Kathryn Jones, Senior Curator of Decorative Arts at the Royal Collection Trust told Country Living. "They picked out gold in particular because a lot of the state apartments had to be regilded after the fire."
The State Dining Room, which was badly affected in the fire, has been decked with glistening gold ornaments, including gilded ivy trails as well as silver gilt pieces with leaves and berries to bring the festive theme together.
The grand Christmas dining table also gives an insight into Victorian Christmas at Windsor.
"Victoria and Albert would usually spend every Christmas at Windsor and they used the dining service which we will have on show," Jones added. "Those traditions are very much in mind when we're decorating the castle."
One tradition which continues to take centre stage is the Christmas tree, which Jones says was "born" at Windsor.
"We know there were trees used before Victoria and Albert by Queen Charlotte, but it was Prince Albert in the 1840s who introduced the idea of the Christmas tree as we know today and they popularised it by giving trees to local schools and barracks," she said.
Each year, an "absolutely enormous" Nordmann Fir goes on display in St George's Hall. It's grown on the nearby Windsor Estate and this year, it has been decorated entirely in gold. Embellishments include miniature crowns, pine cone ornaments and twinkling fairy lights, finished with an angel sitting on the top of the tree.
Outside, wreaths have been placed around the castle's precinct and even the lampposts and lanterns will be decorated. But alongside the Christmas decorations, there is also a focus on the great survivals of the fire.
A malachite urn which took five years to restore to its former glory has been filled with flowers. In the Lantern Lobby, a dagger that was made by the Queen's armourer out of metal retrieved from the fire damage is being showcased, along with a piece of wood from one of the roof beams that was salvaged by the Duke of Edinburgh.
The display will no doubt bring back memories for the Queen, who referred to 1992 as her "annus horribilis" in a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her succession. But as Jones explains, the display aims to promote the "symbols of the restoration" which represent the long journey from disaster to revival.
Although the monarch won't spend Christmas at her Windsor residence, she does get to enjoy the festive transformation at the castle each year. "The Queen is always shown the display just before she goes off to Sandringham for her Christmas break," Jones added. There's no doubt these decorations have been given the royal seal of approval.
Windsor Castle at Christmas is open from 24 November 2017 to 5 January 2018.
You Might Also Like
