Christmas spirit has taken over the Queen’s official home in Scotland. The halls of Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh have been decked, the tree is trimmed, and the royal residence is ready for its festive close-up.
The Christmas season at the palace, which has been home to royalty for centuries, gets under way on 7 December when visitors will find themselves surrounded by glittering festive decorations. At the centre of the celebrations is a fifteen feet high fir tree covered in white and silver fruits and flowers. It will stand in the Great Gallery until Twelfth Night.
The Great Stair, which takes visitors to the State Apartments, will be covered in garlands as well as sparkling lights while the table in the Royal Dining Room will be laid with pretend candied fruits and wreaths. A silver service presented to the Queen’s grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, will also be laid out for the festive season.
Meanwhile, the palace, which was founded in by King David I in 1128, will put on Christmas entertainment as the big day approaches. On 15 December 2018, visitors will get the chance to take part in a Christmas festival which will include a special trail through the royal residence as well as the chance to make a decoration for the ‘Family Christmas Tree’. There will also be music, dancing and some special festive stories; all included in ticket price for the day. Those who want to enjoy the palace after dark can buy tickets for special carol performances (£13.50 for adults and available via the palace’s website) taking place next week. The Scottish Vocal Ensemble will put on evenings of seasonal songs in the Great Gallery.
The Christmas season at Holyroodhouse Palace, in the centre of Edinburgh, runs for a month, between 7 December 2018 and 6 January 2019.
