Windsor Castle Christmas Decorations.Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Windsor Castle.
The home whereQueen Elizabethhas been staying for much of the past two years is all decked out for the holidays.The Royal Collection Trustshared new photos and videos of ornately decorated Christmas trees featuring red and gold ornaments in St. George’s Hall, whereMeghan MarkleandPrince Harryhad their royal wedding reception and memorablyintroducedtheir sonArchie, now 2, to the world.
The 20-foot tree was taken from Windsor Great Park — and it’s believed that Christmas trees have been sourced from the park for Windsor Castle since the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901).
The monarch, 95, isn’t the only one who can enjoy the festive decorations. Visitors can see the castle in full Christmas spirit firsthandthrough January 3. (Tourists can tour the State Apartments, which are separate fromQueen Elizabeth’s private quarters — although there’s a chance of seeing her taking herbeloved dogs on a walk!)
While it’s tradition for Windsor Castle to get dressed up for the holidays, this year’s display also includes a special link toQueen Elizabeth’s Christmases past.
The then-Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret helped stage and performed in a series of pantomimes from 1941 though 1944 to raise money for the Royal Household Wool Fund, which supplied knitting wool to make comforters for soldiers.
The pieces include outfits from anAladdinpantomime, where the future Queen played the title role wearing a gold brocade and turquoise jacket with turquoise dungarees and matching hat. Meanwhile, Princess Margaret wore a red silk dress and matching jacket to play Princess Roxana.
The Princesses' Pantomimes Display.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Pantomimes are a slapstick-style show, which is a family tradition around Christmas in Britain. Typically based on fairy tales, the farcical musicals can be laced with some innuendo-laden rhymes and songs and require frequent raucous interventions from the audience. They often have older men playing female parts, such as the Ugly Sisters inCinderella, or young women playing male leading roles likePeter Pan.
Queen Elizabeth.Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty
Queen Elizabethhas been resting up at Windsor Castle following herOctober 20th hospitalization. Since, she canceled several engagements, including a last-minute decision to not appear at the Remembrance Day event due to a sprained back earlier this month.
In addition to using a walking cane to get around at events last month, the Queen has also reportedly been advised togive up horse ridingandmartinis.
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Queen Elizabeth’s virtual audience.Dominic Lipinski WPA Pool/Getty Images
On Thursday, the Queen held a virtual audience from Windsor with High Commissioner for Nigeria Sarafa Tunji Isola and his wife as well as the ambassador of Malaysia Zakri Jaafar, who were present at Buckingham Palace.
Last year, the Queen spenther first Christmas in 33 years at Windsorafter deciding to cancel her traditional family gathering at Sandringham. No plans for this year’s holiday have been announced.
source: people.com
