Windsor Castle decks the halls for Christmas

The halls of Windsor Castle were decked with Christmas decorations as the royal residence got into the festive spirit.

Royal Collection Trust staff decorated the castle’s state apartments with shimmering Christmas trees, twinkling lights and a special display marking the 200th anniversary of the births of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

One of the centrepieces was a 20ft Nordmann fir tree from Windsor Great Park standing at the end of St George’s Hall dressed with hundreds of iridescent glass and mirrored ornaments.

A second 15ft Christmas tree was decorated in the Crimson Drawing Room – one of the most ornate rooms in the castle and only open to visitors during the winter months.

Christmas at Windsor
Christmas at Windsor

In the State Dining Room the table was laid with silver-gilt pieces from the Grand Service used by Queen Victoria, and still used today by the Queen and her guests at state banquets.

In the Octagon Dining Room a special display of gifts exchanged between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during the many Christmases they spent together at Windsor Castle was set up.

Christmas at Windsor
Christmas at Windsor

This included a portrait of the couple’s four-year-old son, the future King Edward VII, by one of their favourite painters, Franz Xaver Winterhalter, and a gold and enamel bracelet comprising miniature portraits of their six eldest children, given by Albert to Victoria.

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