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Inside Royal Family’s lavish Christmas – extravagant baubles 'the size of footballs' to hilarious novelty presents


EXCLUSIVE: An army of employees is drafted in to help make the royal palaces sparkle at Christmas. But the royal family have many of their own traditions, too

Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh are the focuses for the festive transformations and the complex preparations are overseen by a vast ‘bling’ squad, involving florists, exhibition staff and curators from the Royal Collection Trust (RCT). One visitor to Windsor during Charlotte’s reign recalled: “In the middle of the room stood an immense tub with a yew tree placed in it, from the branches of which hung bunches of sweetmeats, almonds and raisins in papers, fruits and toys… each child obtained a portion of the sweets it bore, together with a toy and all returned home quite delighted.” A huge 25ft fir is annually craned into place outside Kensington Palace, while in 2022, a tree was delivered to Clarence House on a cart pulled by shire horses – Joey and William had the honour that year.

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