NEED TO KNOW

  • The Royal Collection Trust shared photos of the Palace of Holyroodhouse being decorated for Christmas
  • This year’s holiday transformation included two 12-foot Christmas trees in the throne room
  • While visitors are welcome to view the decked-out royal residence, the royal family will be spending the holidays elsewhere

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is ready for a royal Christmas!

King Charles’ official residence in Scotland revealed its holiday decorations on Nov. 20, sharing photos of the throne room, dining room and more locations looking festive.

According to the Royal Collection Trust, which cares for artifacts in the Royal Collection and manages the public opening of royal palaces such as Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, this year’s holiday transformation includes two 12-foot Christmas trees and a mantle garland in the throne room, as well as seasonal garlands bringing extra grandeur to the Great Stair leading to the historic State Apartments.

The royal dining room has been readied for a holiday feast, with the grand table covered in fruit and foliage.

Members of staff putting the finishing touches to the Christmas decorations in the Great Staircase at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Robert Perry/Getty

Visitors are welcome to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to see the holiday splendor until Jan. 5, 2026. However, most members of the royal family likely won’t get to witness the festive decor themselves. King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family traditionally spend Christmas at their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England.

The British royals are known to exchange gag gifts on Christmas Eve, then attend church at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on Christmas Day. After mass, they head back to Sandringham House for a lunch of Norfolk turkey, followed by watching the annual Christmas broadcast delivered by the monarch at 3 p.m. U.K. time.

A visitor taking a selfie at the Christmas tree at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on November 20, 2025 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Robert Perry/Getty

Other royal residences will also be decorated for the holidays, with many open to the public.

Last year, King Henry VIII’s former home of Hampton Court Palace in London featured an outdoor ice skating rink, and visitors could take in a display of Tudor cooking enjoyed by Henry and his courtiers, “giving visitors the opportunity to explore the flavors and spices of the time,” CNN reported.

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A member of staff putting the finishing touches to the Christmas decorations in the Dining Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Robert Perry/Getty

While the Palace of Holyroodhouse was getting ready for the holidays, Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands had an unexpected closure due to early winter weather. The social media pages for the royal residence, where the royals gather each summer and where Queen Elizabeth died in 2022, announced on Nov. 19 that Balmoral Castle was closing early to the public due to weather, sharing whimsical images of the snow covering the grounds.

The residence remained closed to the public the following day before reopening on Nov. 21.