As Queen Elizabeth gets ready for the holiday season, the first photos of her breathtaking Christmas trees have been released—and, as expected, they’re just as spectacular as ever.
The Windsor Castle staff has been busy decorating. As per royal tradition, a 15-foot tree has been placed in front of the windows in the Crimson Drawing Room as well as a 20-foot version in St. George’s Hall. (This is the same place where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first introduced baby Archie to the world.)
The Nordmann fir trees from Windsor Great Park have been decorated with red, gold, and mirrored ornaments, as well as with ribbons, hundreds of twinkling lights, miniature crowns, and an angel topper.
In the photos, staff can be seen climbing ladders to decorate the higher branches of the enormous Christmas trees, before the Queen and members of her family add the final touches.
Meanwhile, other members of the staff can also be seen adding decorations to the State Dinning Room, which has been laid with “silver-gilt pieces from the Grand Service” used by past royals, and are “still used today by the Queen and her guests at state banquets,” according to The Royal Collection Staff.
This year, the Queen will celebrate the holidays without the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who are reported to be spending the holidays with their baby and Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland.
The royal couple announced their plans in a statement on November 13.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to extended family time toward the end of this month. Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, Their Royal Highnesses will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the Duchess’s mother Doria,” a spokesperson said. “This decision is in line with precedent set previously by other members of the royal family, and has the support of her Majesty the Queen.”
Little Archie will just have to wait until next year to see his great-grandmother’s magical holidays decorations.
