Christmas arrives at Edinburgh’s royal residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse

From today (Thursday, 20 November), visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse will see the State Apartments decked with glistening Christmas trees, garlands, and a magnificent table display to celebrate the festive season. 

This year marks 100 years since King George V first opened the grand State Apartments to the public, providing the opportunity for visitors to explore the suite of 17th-century rooms in the monarch’s official residence in Scotland.

This festive period, visitors will see two majestic 12-foot-high Christmas trees decorating the atmospheric wood-panelled Throne Room, their branches adorned with sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights, alongside dramatic mantle garlands above the fireplace.

In the Great Gallery, the longest room in the Palace where grand balls were once held, a 15-foot-high Nordmann fir tree features glass ornaments echoing the room’s glittering chandeliers. This Christmas, visitors can take photographs in front of the tree as a special memento of their visit – usually photography inside the Palace is not permitted.

In the Royal Dining Room, first used as a dining room by Queen Victoria, the table is laid with a silver service, sugared fruits and seasonal foliage.

Further highlights include garlands decorating the stone arches in the Quadrangle and adorning the Great Stair.

As part of Royal Collection Trust’s charitable aim to ensure that as many people as possible can access and enjoy the royal residences, £1 tickets are available for visitors receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. Further concessions, including discounted Young Person tickets for 18–24-year-olds, are also available.

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.

Winter Exclusive Guided Tours

November and December

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

Festive Events

Carols at the Palace, 9 and 10 December

Over two evenings, visitors will experience the beautifully decorated State Apartments before a festive concert of carols in the Great Gallery. Each evening will conclude with a glass of wine and mince pies. 

Christmas Activity Day, 13 December

The Palace will host a Christmas activity day with arts and crafts activities and a festive music performance for all the family to enjoy. 

Ends

Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse is from 20 November 2025 to 5 January 2026. 

Images: A selection of images can be downloaded from Dropbox. Credit line: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Jane Massey. 

Photos will also be available via the agencies Getty and PA.

£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. Further details about the £1 ticket scheme can be found here.

For more information, please contact the Royal Collection Trust Press Office, +44 (0)20 7839 1377, [email protected].

Tickets and visitor information: www.rct.uk, +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.