King Charles will have Christmas trees in all his royal palaces this year and he’s already unveiled the first of his festive decorations.
Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is now decked for the season and The King has gone for a traditional red and gold look for the set of decorations in the most regal room of the palace.
The trees in the throne room are set with twinkling golden lights while elegant crimson decorations hang from the branches of the firs.
For as this is a royal home, there’s more than one tree.
The throne room actually has a pair of Christmas trees decorating its wood panelled walls. The fireplace in the room is also decked with a garland covered in lights.
The main tree stands next to a portrait of King Charles II while the other frames the thrones used by King George V and Queen Mary.
Elsewhere in the Palace, visitors to the Scottish royal residence can see another tree inside Holyrood, this time decorated in gold and white.
The Royal Dining Room also has special festive decorations including towers of flowers set across the table, above beds of sugared fruits.
The Christmas decorations are already on show to visitors who can see the festive designs until January 5.
And there are plenty to enjoy as the staircases of the palace are also festooned with pretty garlands of evergreen and foliage.
Other royal homes will follow suit with Windsor Castle set to be decorated in the coming days, in time for the State Visit of the President of Germany. Franz-Walter Steinmeier will enjoy a State Banquet in St. George’s Hall beneath a huge Christmas tree that will be sparkling in time for this important visit.
One set of royal decorations will remain private. King Charles will spend the season at Sandringham with Queen Camilla and the Royal Family. Although they will make the walk to church on Christmas morning, their celebrations will remain private and so the tree inside the grand Norfolk residence will stay secret.
Visitors to Holyroodhouse can see the Christmas decorations as part of their tour. The palace is open on Mondays and on Thursdays – Sundays. Adult tickets are £21 if booked online in advance or £25 on the door.
