This festive season, Christmas decorations have transformed the State Apartments at Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and a special display at Windsor Castle brings together costumes worn by Her Majesty The Queen and Princess Margaret during wartime pantomimes. In addition, exclusive tours give visitors an unmissable behind-the-ropes experience at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Windsor Castle at Christmas (Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021)

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 have the unique opportunity to see six rare surviving costumes worn by the teenage Princesses during these wartime performances, including the gold brocade and turquoise jacket (pictured below) worn by Princess Elizabeth to play 'Aladdin' in 1943.

Aladdin costume worn by Princess Elizabeth (Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021)

Also, on display in the Waterloo Chamber, where the pantomimes were originally performed, are the 16 large-scale and colourful pictures of fairy-tale characters that were pasted around the walls to decorate the space for the pantomimes. The pictures have been revealed for visitors to see 75 years after they were covered up at the end of the war, when paintings by Sir Thomas Lawrence that had been removed for safekeeping were returned.

The colourful pantomime pictures (Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021)

Windsor at Christmas

Visitors to Windsor Castle will also see the State Apartments decorated with shimmering Christmas trees, twinkling lights and festive garlands. A highlight is the magnificent 20-foot-high Christmas tree in St George's Hall (pictured above), taken from Windsor Great Park and dressed with hundreds of iridescent glass and mirrored ornaments.

The Semi-State Rooms, created as opulent private apartments for George IV and now used by members of the Royal Family for official entertaining, are now open to visitors for the winter months and will feature a spectacular Christmas tree in the Crimson Drawing Room (pictured below).

Windsor Castle at Christmas (Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021)

Throughout December, Exclusive Evening Tours offer a behind-the-ropes experience in the State Apartments. Led by an expert guide, visitors will discover more about the castle’s 1,000-year history, enjoy a glass of champagne and receive a complimentary copy of the official souvenir guidebook.

In addition, Great Kitchen Tours give visitors a guided tour of the oldest working kitchen in the UK, which is not usually open to the public. Built in the reign of Edward III, the Great Kitchen has remained in use for over 750 years and is still used today for State occasions hosted by The Queen.

Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

The festive decorations at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh 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 is draped with twinkling velvet garlands, glistening berries and seasonal foliage.

In the Royal Dining Room, the table is 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 (pictured below).

Exclusive Evening Tours offer a private view of the State Apartments after hours, including the West Drawing Room, which is used by members of the Royal Family as a private sitting room and not usually open to the public.

Holyroodhouse at Christmas (Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021)

Winter Guided Tours at Buckingham Palace

With their gilded ceilings and glittering chandeliers, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace in London provide a magnificent setting for many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. A Buckingham Palace Guided Tour this winter 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, when the Palace is not usually open to the public.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made winter tour of the UK in 2022, including visits to the magnificent royal palaces in the run up to Christmas, please do contact us.