Visitors are invited to celebrate Christmas at the official royal residences of His Majesty The King. At Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, visitors will see the historic rooms with sparkling trees, foliage and garlands.
A new display at the Palace of Holyroodhouse will evoke the medieval legend that gave the Palace its name, and at Windsor Castle, the highlight will be the 20-foot-high tree in St George’s Hall. In London, visitors will once again be able to visit the Christmas pop-up at the Royal Mews Shop, offering a curated selection of gifts, food and festive treats.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
19 November 2026 to 4 January 2027
- This year, visitors will see a new Christmas display inspired by the person that gave the Palace its name. The atmospheric display will include illuminated life-size models of stags, does and fawns in the Palace’s central Quadrangle, which visitors will have the rare chance to walk all the way around.
- Legend has it that the 12th-century King David I of Scotland had a vision of a stag with a glowing cross (or rood) between its antlers while hunting beneath what is now known as Arthur’s Seat. It is believed that, interpreting it as a message from God, he built Holyrood Abbey – which gives the Palace its name and now sits in ruin in the grounds – on the spot where he had seen the stag.
- Over the Christmas period, the Palace’s façade, gates and forecourt fountain will be lit up, which visitors to the city will be able to see each evening at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
- Inside the Palace, the rooms will be dressed with festive decorations including a 15-foot-high Nordmann fir tree in the Great Gallery, the longest room in the Palace, which is lined with portraits of real Scottish monarchs.
- Two 12-foot-high Christmas trees will decorate the wood-panelled Throne Room, their branches adorned with sparkling lights and twinkling ornaments alongside a garland decorating the fireplace mantel.
- The Great Stair leading to the historic State Apartments will be decorated 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 and Holyrood Park.
- The Royal Dining Room, first used as a dining room by Queen Victoria, will be laid with seasonal foliage, and objects from the Royal Collection.
- In the Café at the Palace in the historic Mews courtyard, visitors can enjoy a festive menu surrounded by wreaths and garlands.
- On the evenings of 8 and 9 December, members of the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, will perform Christmas carols in the Great Gallery.
- On 10 December, the Palace will host a hands-on festive wreath-making workshop.
- On 19 December, the Palace will host a Christmas activity day with arts and crafts activities for all the family to enjoy.
Windsor Castle
26 November 2026 to 4 January 2027
The centrepiece of this year’s decorations at the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle will be a towering, 20-foot-high Nordmann fir tree. Grown in the nearby Windsor Great Park, the magnificent tree will be decorated with thousands of lights and shimmering green and gold ornaments.
Over Christmas, the Crimson Drawing Room, one of the ornate Semi-State Rooms only open in the winter months, will be decorated with a sparkling tree complementing the room’s rich red silk walls and gilded details. Garlands will decorate the Grand Staircase and mantels in the Waterloo Chamber, featuring new hand-carved golden plaster fruits modelled on the Grinling Gibbons wood carvings that can be spotted by visitors throughout the Castle. Miniature decorations will once again be added to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world.
Visitors will see a tiny, scaled-down Christmas tree in the Hall of the house, decorated 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, 29 November. The Castle’s café, located in the oldest part of the Castle, will serve a special seasonal menu. On 12 and 13 December, there will be festive wreath-making workshops in the Castle’s Learning Centre, taking inspiration from the decorations around the historic rooms. On 12 and 13 December, there will be a weekend of festive Victorian-themed family activities with arts and crafts activities also available throughout the school holidays.
The Royal Mews Christmas Shop
13 November 2026 to 4 January 2027
- The Royal Mews Christmas Shop returns for a second year, transforming the gift shop of the historic stables into a festive boutique while the Mews is closed to the public for the winter.
- The seasonal shop will bring together official royal gifts, food and drink from Royal Collection Trust in a joyful space that will blend the elegance of the royal residences with a warm, seasonal atmosphere.
- Across the royal residences and online, visitors from around the world will be able to browse gift ideas for collectors of royal decorations, plush toys and British-made chinaware, or stock up on party food and drink.
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 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.
- On select dates in November and December, visitors can enjoy an exclusive evening tour through the State Apartments at Windsor Castle.
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.
For more information on Royal Collection Trust, click here.
Image credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust, Jane Massey.
