From festive celebrations being cancelled to the first Christmas tree… MailOnline takes a look back at tales of royal Christmases from days gone by

From festive celebrations being cancelled to the first Christmas tree… MailOnline takes a look back at tales of royal Christmases from days gone by

The festive season for the Royal Family has varied greatly over centuries. 

Luxurious Christmas feasts and parties were enjoyed, particularly by Richard III, until Oliver Cromwell put a stop to the celebrations. 

Fortunately, the joy returned alongside the crowning of Charles II – who became known as the Merry Monarch. 

Since then, Yuletide traditions that still exist today were created by the monarchs that followed – including Christmas trees and cards.

Read on below as MailOnline takes a look back at the tales of royal Christmases from days gone by.

Richard III’s festive party

Richard III, whose lost remains were found in a car park in Leicester back in 2012, enjoyed festive celebrations. 

He only reigned for just over two years before his defeat and death at the Battle of Bosworth, in Leicestershire, in August 1485.

The monarch seemed to have commemorated Christmas in 1484 with a great celebration.

It didn’t impress everyone, however, and a writer at the time, the Croyland Chronicler, wrote how they disagreed with how much dancing and cheer there was, according to Royal.uk.

King Richard III, who reigned for just over two years from 1483 to 1485, depicted in a painting

An artistic impression of a peacock arriving at a feast in the 15th century

An artistic impression of a peacock arriving at a feast in the 15th century

Turkey for Henry VIII’s dinner

Henry VIII can be thanked for the tradition of eating turkey on Christmas day.

The festive poultry first appeared at the feast table of Henry VIII in the 1540s and became a Noel dish.

However, the rise in popularity across the country in the late 19th century is down to Queen Victoria’s eldest son, the future Edward VII, for whom it was a personal favourite. 

The year Christmas was cancelled

After Oliver Cromwell won the civil war between King Charles I and Parliamentarians in 1646, he set about to restructure the country as ‘Lord Protector’.

Cromwell and his Puritans saw Christmas celebrations as sinful and by 1647 they passed an ordinance in the Long Parliament for the abolition of Christmas.

However, this was met with outcry and protest.

Christopher Wilson wrote on MailOnline how there were riots at Christmastime in 1647 and 1648 and parties became acts of rebellion. 

Christmas church services still took place at St Margaret’s in Westminster which led to the arrest of churchwardens. An annual Christmas football game was also still played in Canterbury and people defiantly put holly bushes outside their homes. 

Oliver Cromwell, who was known as Lord Protector, refusing the crown of England

Oliver Cromwell, who was known as Lord Protector, refusing the crown of England 

The festive joy returned

Despite the protests, festive cheer was banned for 11 years until it was reinstated in 1660 when King Charles II was crowned.

Cromwell had died in 1658 and Parliament decided to restore the monarchy.

Once on the throne, Charles II went on to seek blood-soaked revenge on the men who had put his father to death. 

Aside from his quest to take vengeance, he brought back religious festivals, including the celebration of Christmas, and overturned the previous legislation.

Charles II later became known as the ‘Merry Monarch’ due to his love for parties and entertainment.  

Charles II riding through London after the restoration of the monarchy in Britain in 1660

Charles II riding through London after the restoration of the monarchy in Britain in 1660

A portrait of King Charles II after being crowned King of Great Britain and Ireland

A portrait of King Charles II after being crowned King of Great Britain and Ireland 

First Christmas tree 

Though Christmas had been celebrated across the country for centuries, festive trees were not introduced until the 1790s.

The first royal Christmas tree is thought to have been set up at Queen’s Lodge, Windsor by Queen Charlotte, the Consort of King George III.

Charlotte was of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – a duchy in Northern Germany and brought the tradition from her home country. 

A yew tree was used, rather than a fir that is typically seen now. 

However, the Christmas tree wasn’t popularised across the country until Queen Victoria.

In 1848, she was depicted in an engraving posing with her beloved husband Prince Albert and their children around their own tree, which was decked out with decorations. The Christmas tree as we know it today became a staple in Britain after this.

Queen Charlotte, who introduced the Royal Family to Christmas trees in the 1790s

Queen Charlotte, who introduced the Royal Family to Christmas trees in the 1790s

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, with a Christmas tree in the background, in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, with a Christmas tree in the background, in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Victoria had written about the festive decorative tree in her diary long before that. According to Royal.co.uk, an entry in 1832 read: ‘There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed around the tree.’

The scene in 1848 proved hugely popular and led to newspapers documenting the royal tree each year.

Albert also sent decorated trees to schools and army barracks around Britain.

Queen Victoria’s baubles

Now a staple for any Christmas tree, baubles did not become popular until the 1840s when Queen Victoria’s tree was seen adorned with the decorations.  

Up until the First World War, baubles were largely imported from Germany. Popular designs depicted pieces of fruit, flowers and bells.

They then became more readily available from the 1950s onwards as production methods made them cheaper.  

An artistic depiction of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert admiring a Christmas tree with their children in the 1840s

An artistic depiction of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert admiring a Christmas tree with their children in the 1840s 

Royal Christmas cards

Though a yearly tradition of the Royal Family now, Christmas cards were not sent until the 1800s around the time the ‘penny post’ was introduced.

Royals today still send cards each year. Archives show the Duke and Duchess of York – later crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – with Princess Elizabeth on a card in 1929.

Another card, sent by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1954, showed the couple sat outside with five-year-old Prince Charles and two-year-old Princess Anne.

Prince Charles sent a card in 1978 that featured a photograph of himself and a dog with Balmoral Castle in the background.

A Christmas card from Duke and Duchess of York - later crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth - with Princess Elizabeth in 1929

A Christmas card from Duke and Duchess of York – later crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – with Princess Elizabeth in 1929

Queen and Prince Philip sat outside with five-year-old Prince Charles and two-year-old Princess Anne on a Christmas card in 1954

Queen and Prince Philip sat outside with five-year-old Prince Charles and two-year-old Princess Anne on a Christmas card in 1954

Prince Charles pictured on a card with Balmoral Castle in the background in 1978

Prince Charles pictured on a card with Balmoral Castle in the background in 1978

Queen Mary’s dolls house

Queen Mary’s dolls house was built between 1921 and 1924 as a gift to the wife of King George V after the First World War.

It is a 1:12 scale model of an Edwardian residence and is fully working – with electricity, running water and lifts.

Inside, there is a library complete with miniature books penned by authors including Sherlock Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Hardy and Rudyard Kipling. 

A reception room inside Queen Mary's dolls house pictured in 1974

A reception room inside Queen Mary’s dolls house pictured in 1974

100 years ago, in 1924, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – only 5cm high – was given to the expansive but small library.

Earlier this year, 20 new works were created and added to the house to celebrate its 100-year anniversary including stunning miniature manuscripts.

One of the 4cm books was written by the Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman.

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