A Royal Christmas: Festive Celebrations at the Official Residences of His Majesty The King

This festive season, visitors are invited to experience Christmas at the official royal residences. From glittering decorations in the State Apartments to exclusive guided tours and the launch of a brand-new Christmas shop, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

At Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, visitors will see the historic rooms adorned with shimmering trees, foliage and garlands. For the first time, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace will host a pop-up Christmas shop, offering a curated selection of gifts, food and festive treats. In London, Windsor and Edinburgh, exclusive winter tours will provide special access when the residences are normally closed to visitors, making this a Christmas to remember. 

£1 tickets are available for visitors to Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits.

Windsor Castle

27 November 2025 – 5 January 2026 

• Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, will offer a festive experience steeped in royal history. In St George’s Hall, the largest room in the Castle, a towering, 20-foot-high Nordmann fir tree grown in Windsor Great Park will be decked with thousands of sparkling lights and shimmering green and gold ornaments, while dramatic garlands will adorn the room’s balconies beneath the famous vaulted ceiling.

• In the Crimson Drawing Room, one of the ornate Semi-State Rooms only open during the winter months, the rich red silk walls and gilded details will provide a sumptuous backdrop for another dazzling, 16-foot-high Christmas tree.

• Inside the miniature world of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, visitors will discover a tiny Christmas tree and festive garlands, complete with ornaments made from glass beads repurposed from vintage necklaces, and tiny candles made with real candle wax.

• St George’s Chapel will be open to visitors to the Castle on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and daily services are open to all, seven days a week. Advent, the period leading up to Christmas, begins on Sunday, 1 December. 

• The Undercroft Café, located in the oldest part of the Castle, will serve a special seasonal menu, perfect for warming up after a stroll around the Castle precincts. 

• Festive Family Fun activities during the Christmas holidays, inspired by Victorian traditions, will include arts and crafts activities where children can create a Christmas memento to take home.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

20 November 2025 – 5 January 2026 

• At the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse’s atmospheric rooms will be dressed with festive decorations in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the rooms first opening to the public. 

• The wood-panelled Throne Room will be the setting for two majestic 12-foot-high Christmas trees, their branches adorned with sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights, alongside dramatic mantle garlands. 

• In the Great Gallery, the longest room in the Palace where grand balls were once held, a 15-foot-high Nordmann fir tree will take centre stage, its glass and mirrored ornaments echoing the room’s glittering chandeliers. 

• The Great Stair leading to the historic State Apartments will be festooned with garlands, berries and winter foliage, while wreaths will adorn the windows along the enfilade of King’s Rooms, framing views of the Palace gardens against the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat.

• The Royal Dining Room, first used as a dining room by Queen Victoria, will be laid with a silver service, sugared fruits and seasonal foliage.

• Outside, festive wreaths and garlands will greet visitors at the Palace’s main entrance and Quadrangle.

• Two evenings of Christmas carol performances will take place at the Palace on 9 and 10 December. Guests can enjoy the beautifully decorated State Apartments before a concert of Christmas music in the Great Gallery. Each evening will conclude with a glass of wine and mince pies. 

• On 13 December, the Palace will host a Christmas activity day with arts and crafts activities and festive music performances for all the family to enjoy. 

The Royal Mews Christmas Shop

14 November 2025 to 5 January 2026

For the first time, the shop at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace will be transformed into a cosy pop-up Christmas shop, bringing together the best of Royal Collection Trust’s seasonal products. Visitors can browse official royal gifts and decorations while stocking up on Christmas treats.

Across the royal residences and online, the Royal Collection Trust Shops are brimming with inspiration for Christmas gifting. New this year are mini 20cl bottles of gin, infused with botanicals hand-picked from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and the Property of the Royal Kitchen range of kitchen accessories, inspired by the Great Kitchen at Windsor Castle – the oldest working kitchen in the country. 

Winter Exclusive Guided Tours

November to January

• Led by an expert guide, visitors can tour Buckingham Palace’s famous East Wing on select dates throughout the winter. 

• On select dates in November and December, visitors can enjoy an exclusive evening tour through the State Apartments at Windsor Castle.

• On dates in November and December, exclusive guided tours of the State Apartments at the Palace of Holyroodhouse will reveal the magic of the Palace when it is closed to other visitors.

The income from visitor admissions and purchases contributes to the care and conservation of the Royal Collection and helps Royal Collection Trust to share it with everyone, wherever they are.

Ends

Christmas at the official residences of His Majesty The King is from 27 November 2025 to 5 January 2026 at Windsor Castle, and 20 November 2025 to 5 January 2026 at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

Images: A selection of images from Christmas 2024 at Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, as well as images of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and retail products, can be downloaded from DropBox. Credit line: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust, plus the photographer’s name where it is included in the file name.

£1 tickets are available for those receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits and up to five additional members of the household for the full duration of the Christmas displays at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Windsor Castle. Further details about the £1 ticket scheme can be found here.

Exclusive Guided Tours are available on select dates from October to January at Buckingham Palace, in December at Windsor Castle and in November and December at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

More information on St George’s Chapel, including closure dates and information about services, can be found on their website here. 

For more information or to register interest for media facilities please contact the Royal Collection Trust Press Office, +44 (0)20 7839 1377, [email protected].

Tickets and visitor information: www.rct.uk, Windsor Castle +44 (030) 123 7304, Palace of Holyroodhouse +44 (030) 123 7306.

Notes to Editors 

Royal Collection Trust is a charity caring for the Royal Collection and welcoming visitors to the royal palaces. We bring our shared history to life through world-class experiences that involve and inspire people, wherever they are. Income from tickets and retail sales helps us to conserve the Collection so that it can be enjoyed by everyone for generations to come. 

The Royal Collection is one of the world’s great art collections, held in trust by The King for his successors and the nation. With over a million objects, from paintings, drawings and books to sculpture, furniture and jewellery, it is a unique record of the tastes of British kings and queens over the past 500 years, with many items still used today for their original purpose. The Collection can be seen in palaces, museums and galleries across the UK and around the world, and can be explored online at www.rct.uk.