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Detail showing decorated christmas trails on tables

Christmas in the Royal Collection

The Christmas Tree

The custom of displaying Christmas trees was introduced to Britain in the late eighteenth century by Queen Charlotte, consort of George III, although it was a yew tree rather than a fir that was used. The Christmas tree was popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the nineteenth century, with images of their family gathering around the Christmas tree being published in the Illustrated London News in 1848.