As every year, and just one month before Christmas Eve, members of the Royal Collection Trust of the United Kingdom, official caretakers and guardians of the extensive collection of works of art and decorative objects of the British crown, have unveiled the careful Christmas decoration that will adorn the interiors of Windsor Castle during all the festivities, in the first Christmas season of the reign of Carlos III and without Elizabeth II, who died last September.
As many royalists have been able to appreciate, among the traditional red and gold ornaments, several in purple stand out, the favorite of the queen of England for seven decades.
From November 25 to January 2, visitors will be able to tour the rooms of Windsor Castle for the festive display, which includes the magnificent centerpiece: a 20-foot-tall tree in St George's Hall. , taken from one of the surrounding parks and dressed in hundreds of lights and decorations.
A large table will be on display in the Waterloo Chamber with a display of decorative household items from the Royal Collection, garnished with fruit and chandeliers.
For a few selected days, in front of the tree in St. George's Hall—the heart of the castle,
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Staff from the Royal Collection Trust decorating the Christmas tree which, this year, stands out among the traditional red and gold decorations, several in purple, the favorite of Elizabeth II.PETER NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
Christmas plans will continue with the tradition established by Elizabeth II.
Although Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret enjoyed Christmas in Windsor as children (particularly during World War II), for years family members have usually spent the holiday period at their country residence, Sandringham, in Norfolk, the Elizabeth II's favorite vacation property, and will do the same this year, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
During the pandemic alone, Elizabeth II celebrated two consecutive Christmases at Windsor Castle.
The Queen wanted to return to Sandringham for her last Christmas—as usual;
she always came from mid-December to early February—but she stayed in Windsor, as a precaution against omicron.
The recently released decorations of Windsor Castle. PETER NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
However, and despite maintaining the expected scenarios, specialist informants in the British crown, such as the BBC journalist Jennie Bold, assure that, under the orders of Carlos III, this Christmas will be "less formal" and will include some small changes.
One of them is on the menu: as of this year Buckingham, Balmoral, Windsor, Hillsborough and Sandringham castles have removed
foie gras
from the menu, a delicacy that Elizabeth II was fond of, by express order of the British monarch, firm animal advocate.
For a few days, in front of the tree in St George's room, a choir of children belonging to the local school will sing Christmas carols. PETER NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
The Christmas Residence
Sandringham Castle has belonged to the British royal family since 1862, when it was acquired by King Edward VII, Elizabeth II's great-great-grandfather, while he was still Prince of Wales.
Located in the county of Norfolk, in the east of England, it has been a house much loved by the kings of England.
King George V wrote: "It is the place I love most of all places in the world."
His son, King George VI, father of Elizabeth II, also wrote that he was always very happy there and that he "loved that place."
Sandringham is best known for being the location of Sandringham House, the venue for Christmas.
Very close to there is the royal stable, which houses many of the royal horses for which Elizabeth II and her daughter, Princess Anne, always felt special devotion.
It is at Sandringham House where some of the particular Christmas traditions of the British royal family take place, such as the traditional football match between Princes Henry and William and members of the service, the traditional annual mass on December 25 in the church of Santa Mary Magdalene (to which all active members of the British royal family usually go) or the place from which, in the 52 states of the Commonwealth, the Christmas message that this year will give, for the first time after more than 70 years old, a king and not a queen.