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. 

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 previous years has been decorated with fun royal-themed velvet baubles, including this mini crown.  However, this year, it has been decked out with hundreds of iridescent glass and mirrored ornaments and is open for public viewing until 3 January 2022. 

The senior royal members would usually spend Christmas at their Norfolk residence, Sandringham but the Coronavirus pandemic forced a change to tradition. The Queen and her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, spent the festive season at Windsor Castle for the first time in 33 years in 2020, and the Queen is set to spend Christmas at the castle again this year. Her first Christmas without her late husband, her majesty is set to be visited by close family over the festive season after cancelling Sandringham festivities, reportedly amid concerns about the rising levels of the Omicron variant.

2020 was also the year that the annual Queen's speech, which is usually filmed at Buckingham Palace, took place at Windsor Castle. Speaking from the Green Drawing Room in a speech that was filmed in advance, the British monarch spoke of the year that has kept people apart but “in many ways, brought us closer".

As Windsor Castle is usually open to the public near Christmas many of the rooms are lavishly decorated - and this year is no different. This 15-foot Christmas tree sits in the Crimson Drawing Room and has been decorated in red to match the décor. This year it sits alongside a special display of costumes worn by The Queen and Princess Margaret from when they performed pantomimes as young teens at the Castle between 1941-44.

Windsor Castle is also home to the Queen's Christmas shopping. With eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, it's no mean feat for her majesty, so the shops come to her. According to her former butler, Paul Burrell, the Queen gets a whole host of catalogues sent to her and is then provided with a shop setup in the drawing room, where she chooses her gifts at her own leisure. It's said that she always choose practical gifts, rather than things that won't get used. 

Buckingham Palace has always got lots of festive spirit over the Christmas period. In previous years the Queen's annual speech was delivered in the White Drawing Room of the palace, reflecting on highlights from the year. Though the speech is always broadcast on Christmas Day, it is usually pre-recorded and gives the public a glimpse of the monarch in her private quarters. Here, her majesty sits at her desk surrounded by pictures of her family. 

A huge amount of preparation goes into dressing the royal homes for Christmas. 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 their 15-foot trees. Twinkling with hundreds of lights, regal decorations including mini velvet crowns and state carriages, similar to those used at Windsor Castle adorn the branches. While the trees are decorated by a dedicated team, members of the royal family will add a final flourish. 

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. However, this year the plans have been cancelled due to the ongoing 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. 

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

The Queen usually heads to Sandringham earlier than the rest of the family to undertake preparations for the big day. It was a festive tradition that she caught a train with the late Prince Philip to King's Lynn, accompanied by their closest staff, in their very own carriage. 

Usually, 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 third Christmas for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, and the first for their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born 4th June 2021. Reports suggested that Harry and Meghan might head across the pond for the festive season to introduce their new daughter to the family, however, with the current pandemic picking up speed worldwide, their plans could hang in the balance.  

And let’s not forget Meghan's own holiday traditions: as an American, she has always celebrated Thanksgiving. This year the family of four spent the holiday at their Californian mansion. During her recent appearance on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, Meghan shared that she would make the dinner, adding; "I love to cook. We'll be home and just sort of relax and settle in. It's our second Thanksgiving at home in California, so it will be nice."

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.

There's no lounging around in pyjamas watching Home Alone for this family on Christmas morning: they take a brisk walk to St Mary Magdalene Church for a Christmas Day service, while the Queen is driven over to meet them.

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.

This year may be a little different for the Royal family as the Queen prepares to spend her first Christmas without her late husband. However, it seems as if her majesty will be visited by family at Windsor, welcoming the return of festivities, albeit a little different. 

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