The queen spends several weekends in Windsor Castle throughout December, and the property is dotted with 20- to 24-foot Nordmann fir trees from Windsor Great Park. There is a different theme every year, such as "Victorian" or "Regency," but no historic ornaments are used. Decorations are recycled where possible and added to by the curator of the display with purchases from Christmas markets.
In 2014, the "Waterloo bicentenary" display featured miniature Napoleons and Dukes of Wellington, golden bugles, lamé tassels, and wreaths. A cherry picker was used from the estate to put the angel on top, and 1,500 lights were used.
In the year which they celebrated Victorian Christmases, a tree was suspended from the ceiling, as it was when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent the festive season at the castle. It was Prince Albert who popularized having a Christmas tree as we know it in our homes. Before that, it was tradition to bring in a potted yew tree, and Queen Charlotte had hers decorated with oranges, cloves, and sugared almonds.
