It’s been a while since any of the Royal palaces and estates were open, but now they’re on, there’s a whole spread of events tog et excited about this Christmas.
Christmas decorations will transform the State Apartments at Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and a special display at Windsor Castle will bring together costumes worn by Her Majesty The Queen and Princess Margaret during wartime pantomimes.
Not to mention at Royal HQ, Buckingham Palace will give guests and visitors a behind-the-ropes experience for kids and adults.
Here’s what’s on at Windsor Castle, Holyrood House and Buckingham Palace
Christmas at Windsor Castle
From 25 November 2021 – 31 January 2022
See the Princesses’ Pantomimes: During the Second World War, Her Majesty The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and Princess Margaret spent much of their time in Windsor, safely away from the bombing in London. Between 1941 and 1944 they performed in and helped to stage a series of Christmas pantomimes to raise money for the Royal Household Wool Fund, which supplied knitting wool to make comforters for soldiers fighting at the Front.
Visitors to Windsor Castle this Christmas will have the unique opportunity to see six rare surviving costumes worn by the teenage Princesses during these wartime performances. Brought together for the first time, the costumes will be displayed in the Waterloo Chamber where the pantomimes were originally performed 80 years ago.
And if that trip down memory lane’s not enough, from 25 November and 3 January, the State Apartments will be decorated with shimmering Christmas trees, twinkling lights and festive garlands.
What’s on at Hollyrood House this Christmas
3 December 2021 – 3 January 2022
Up north in Scotland, the festive decorations at the Palace of Holyroodhouse will include a 15-foot-high Christmas tree in the Great Gallery, adorned with shimmering decorations and sparkling lights, while the Great Stair leading to the historic State Apartments will be draped with twinkling velvet garlands, glistening berries and seasonal foliage.
In the Royal Dining Room, the table will be laid with pieces from a silver service presented to King George V and Queen Mary in 1935 to mark their Silver Jubilee, and decorated with flowers, wreaths and spires of faux candied sugared fruits.
What’s on at Buckingham Palace
5 November 2021 – 30 January 2022
A Buckingham Palace Guided Tour, will be available from 5 November and 30 January that gives visitors the opportunity to explore rooms used by members of the Royal Family for official entertaining, including the Ballroom, Throne Room, White Drawing Room and Music Room. Tours are available to book now at www.rct.uk.