Christmas trees and decorations have been going up in homes across the country this month, including the Queen's London residence, Buckingham Palace. Much like every year, the festive display inside the royal abode is absolutely breathtaking.
A post shared by The Royal Family's social media accounts this week announced, 'Royal Residences have been transformed for the festive season with the arrival of Christmas Trees, including this one at Buckingham Palace' with a video showing the decorating process from start to finish.
The Christmas tree was introduced to Britain in the 18th Century by Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III, before Queen Victoria and Prince Albert helped to start the trend throughout the country. The beloved festive tradition has continued to be embraced by the royal households ever since.
As usual, the Queen's trees have a strong royal theme (and yes, she has more than one to think about, including this spectacular display that was unveiled at Windsor Castle last year).
The trees are grown in Great Windsor Park before they are fixed in place inside the palace's Marble Hall in early December. Once in position, they are adorned with twinkling fairy lights and decorations including red and gold crowns, royal carriages and velvet bows.
The gilt bronze balustrade on the Grand Staircase is also covered with a striking garland, which is decorated with colourful baubles. It's safe to say there's no 'less is more' approach in this household.
Meanwhile, over at Clarence House, the Duchess of Cornwall invited children from Helen & Douglas House and the Roald Dahl children's charity to help her decorate the tree — something the Duchess delights in every year.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
17 baubles that deserve a spot on your Christmas tree this year
If you want some gorgeous beaded baubles, head to Accessorize. We love their collection this year and this pineapple design is one of our favourites, perfect for bringing some tropical vibes to the festivities.
For the best range, nothing beats John Lewis. You'll find quirky, traditional, and everything in between. Our top pick though, and a current top seller, are these metal bells. It's the perfect nod to the nostalgic Christmas decorating trend this year.
Gift your green-fingered friend this cute greenhouse bauble. Look closely on the outside and it features handpainted details of a watering can, wellington boots, spade, and more.
Foodie-themed baubles are big news this year. If you're partial to Noëllo's large, juicy olives from Seville, then treat yourself to this miniature 'non-edible' version.
This knitting ball is a must for crafty creatives – and the pair of knitting needles is the perfect finishing touch.
We told you foodie-themed baubles were big this year, and here's more proof. If you love pretzels (we're partial to a sweet cinnamon flavour) then you need to buy this beautifully crafted glass bauble for your tree.
If personalisation is more your thing, grab this beautiful embroidered alphabet decoration from Fortnum & Mason. It screams elegance, and would look perfect on a white and gold-themed tree.
Sometimes less is more, and we absolutely love these handcrafted woollen snowflake baubles from The White Company. We'll certainly be buying a few of these to hang all over the tree.
It's all in the details! Dog lovers will no doubt adore this cute Dalmatian-beaded tree decoration.
Haven't you heard? All things disco is back in the spotlight this Christmas. Disco and mirror balls, alongside glitter, sequins and tassels are key to the retro trend. Oliver Bonas' twist is this multicoloured design that is sure to suit an eclectic-themed tree.
Rockett St George is our go-to for one-of-a-kind Christmas decorations. We love this Converse-style bauble – it's one that will take pride of place in any sneaker aficionado's bauble collection.
A bauble to make you smile, this mince pie felt hanging decoration will be loved by both children and adults. Better still, it's all for a good cause – between 30th October and 24th December, Argos will donate £200,000 to Comic Relief from its sales profit from the Christmas Comic Relief collection.
Dunelm's beaded red lobster has made our list. It's adorned with shimmering beads for a playful, nautical touch at Christmastime. How could you resist?
Handpainted and personalised, these baubles will add an effortless charm to any Christmas tree. You can choose from several designs including holly, pine branches and berries.
We're just a tad obsessed with these shell baubles from Nkuku. Made from recycled glass with a rustic distressed finish, they take inspiration from natural treasures found while beachcombing – perfect for homes with a coastal scheme.
A bestseller for the high-end department store, this afternoon tea cake stand – full of macaroons, sandwiches and scones – is just too adorable. Be warned though, it will give you a seriously intense craving for some baked goods...
Another Rockett St George gem. If you love indulging in a cheese board then add this decoration to your shopping basket immediately. Positioned to hang horizontally from the branches of your Christmas tree, the design reveals a wooden-look serving board with a selection of cheeses, finished with a light dusting of glitter.
