Windsor Castle’s Christmas tree is set to feature “recycled” decorations as King Charles continues his focus on environmental protection.
Monarchs first began celebrating Christmas at Windsor Castle in the 12th century, with the unveiling of the grand tree being a highlight of the royal calendar.
Kathryn Jones, Senior Curator of Decorative Arts at the Royal Collection Trust, has revealed that they are recycling decorations to help the environment.
She said: “The decorations are recycled and reused as much as possible.
“We switch decorations between the residences to provide variety, and we source recycled and recyclable tinsel made in the UK.
“There are no historic Christmas decorations in the Royal Collection; probably because they were used and replaced when worn, or they were edible – for example, sweets and nuts were often tied to the branches in the 19th century.”
She also revealed that the halls were designed as perfect frames to fit the extravagant trees.
She continued: “The state apartments at Windsor were designed as magnificent backdrops for ceremony and entertaining.
“Many of the spaces have high ceilings and plenty of gilding, which act as perfect frames for the Christmas trees.”
The Nordmann fir tree is traditionally brought in from Windsor Great Park, with a second on display in the Crimson Drawing Room”.
The tree stands at over two stories tall
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The selection is usually made in September and the trees are installed in November,” explains Ms Jones. “By selecting the trees ourselves, we can guarantee we pick healthy ones.
“Some of the foil decorations we use on the St George’s Hall tree are 50cm or more in diameter, and many of the baubles are larger than footballs.
“We also use stems of fake foliage of all different colours and textures, sparkling wired branches, snowflake decorations, ribbons, wreaths, garlands and faux fruit.”
Windsor Castle became the focal point of the Christmas period for the royals, thanks to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who resided there in the mid-1800s.
“They celebrated Christmas together there and the popularisation of the Christmas tree in Britain is largely due to them,” Ms Jones concluded to The Mirror.
Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl also added: “It really comes into its own and is just magical for the public at Christmas time.
Some of the decorations are bigger then footballs
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“Although the royal family are more focused on Sandringham for their own festivities, Windsor is where visitors get to see the trees and decorations in all their glory.”
Last year, for the first time ever, the Trust added miniature decorations to the tiny rooms of Queen Mary’s doll’s house in Windsor.
These included miniature gilded-wood tree ornaments and designs inspired by 1920s embroidery.
As the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world, it was built between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary, consort of King George V, by leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.