No-one celebrates the festive period quite like The British Royal Family with their annual traditions and lavish decorations. Let's take a look inside the royal residences and see what members of the British monarchy usually get up to at Christmas, and how they will be celebrating the festive season in a very different year... 

This is Windsor Castle, the original venue for the royal family Christmas until 1998 when the celebrations were moved to Sandringham while it was being re-wired. Every year a Christmas tree is installed outside Windsor Castle ahead of the Christmas lights switch-on and lantern procession, which sadly this year has been cancelled. 

Windsor Castle is decked out for the occasion with opulent decorations for the big day. A towering Christmas tree is erected in St George's Hall, which was the location of Meghan and Harry's wedding reception. 

The 20-foot tall Nordmann fir tree is usually put up at the end of November and in 2018 was decorated with fun royal-themed velvet baubles, including this mini crown. Usually empty over the Christmas period, things will be a bit different for the Queen this year... 

This winter, Windsor Castle has once again been transformed for Christmas. The Queen recently announced that herself and Prince Philip would be spending the festive period here and forming their own bubble, rather than travelling back to Sandringham to be with the rest of the Royal family. 

As Windsor Castle is open to the public near Christmas, with this year being no different, many of the rooms are decorated. This 15-foot Christmas tree sits in the Crimson Drawing Room and has been decorated in red to match the decor.

Buckingham Palace has got lots of festive spirit over the Christmas period. In fact, this is where the Queen delivers her annual speech, although this year it is expected to be from Windsor Castle. Usually recorded in the White Drawing Room in advance, the Christmas tradition reflects on highlights from the year and is broadcast on Christmas Day. Her majesty often sits at her desk surrounded by pictures of her family. 

At the beginning of December, it's time for the decorations to start arriving at Buckingham Palace. Each year, three trees are placed in the grand Marble Hall. Grown in Windsor, the trees are fixed in place by a specialist team and then decorated with festive baubles. 

The Windsors like to keep it classic when decorating the 15-foot trees. Towering tall, they twinkle with hundreds of lights and regal decorations including mini velvet crowns and state carriages, similar to those in Windsor Castle. While the trees are decorated by a dedicated team, members of the royal family will add the final bits and bobs. 

In 2018 a traditional garland was strung over the Grand Staircase. Buckingham Palace is where the Queen usually hosts her annual pre-Christmas lunch before everyone heads to Sandringham for Christmas Day, so it's important the palace looks the part. Although this year the Royal family will be separated due to the current pandemic. 

Of course, the royals can't forget Kensington Palace, which is home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children. This 30-foot tree was installed in December 2018 and was decked out with huge gold baubles and hundreds of lights. 

Staff at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, also get busy decorating in time for Christmas. The festive decorations at the palace include a 15-foot Christmas tree in the Great Gallery which is adorned with shimmering decorations and sparkling lights. 

With this year being an exception, the royal residence of Sandringham is usually host to the family's celebrations. The whole clan heads up for Christmas Eve to begin the celebrations, which last until the New Year. This Grade-II listed country house in Norfolk sits on a massive 20,000-acre estate that lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Norfolk coast.

The rest of the royal family arrives at Sandringham on Christmas Eve. Each family unit is given a specific time to arrive in ascending order of status. For example, junior members will make the first appearances and the most senior members, such as Prince Charles, will be the last to arrive.

This year will be the second Christmas for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on 6th May 2019. However, Harry, Meghan and Archie are expected to spend this Christmas in Los Angeles in their swanky new mansion. 

And let’s not forget Meghan's own holiday traditions: as an American, she has always celebrated Thanksgiving. This year it is thought that the family of three spent the holiday having a quiet dinner in their Montecito home with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. 

After the fun and games are complete and the kids are tucked in bed for Santa’s visit, Sandringham hosts a black-tie dinner. Gowns, glittering jewellery and twinkling tiaras are encouraged, and so is a little alcohol! The Queen starts things off with an exotic-sounding Zaza, while Prince Charles spices it up with a Christmassy cherry brandy. William and Harry, on the other hand, are known to enjoy an exclusive cider made with apples grown on the estate.

After the church service, the family are seated for their Christmas lunch at 1pm. The adults all settle down to a traditional meal of turkey in the dining room, which is also home to a 30-year-old silver artificial tree. This picture from the former royal chef Darren McGrady shows that tinsel and crackers are very much on the menu! The table itself is small and intimate, so the children are required to have their meal in the nursery until they are old enough to join the adults.

The family-oriented fun and games don’t stop there either: they stay up well past midnight playing charades and royal protocol insists that no one must retire to bed until the Queen does.

This year may be a little different for the Royal family as the Queen and Prince Philip prepare to spend a quiet Christmas in Windsor Castle, where they have been isolating away from their family like many others. We can't wait to see if the festive traditions return next year! 

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