Queen's heartbreaking motive for keeping Christmas tree up until February

03 January 2024 , 11:57

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It is not clear if the King sticks to the same tradition as his late mother (Image: Getty Images)

Now the New Year is finally here, people up and down the country will be packing away their Christmas decorations for another year.

But the long-standing tradition in one royal residence used to be very different to that of the rest of the country. That's because under the reign of the late Queen, the decorations at Sandringham, where the Royal Family nearly always spends Christmas, would stay up until at least February - for a heartbreaking reason.

The late Queen always used to decamp to Sandringham for the Christmas holidays and would stay there throughout January until early February, when she would mark the anniversary of her father George VI's death. He died in his sleep at the estate on February 6, aged just 56.

The late Queen would keep her Christmas decorations at Sandringham up until February (Getty Images)

And the estate's festive decorations stayed up until the Queen left - which was often a few days after the anniversary. Under the reign of King Charles, who has had two festive seasons as monarch, it is still unknown if he adheres to this tradition.

However, it seemed one centrepiece decoration that Charles used at Buckingham Palace this year has already been removed - even before Christmas finished. During his second-ever Christmas broadcast, the King delivered his message from a Palace room decorated with a living Christmas tree.

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It was the first time a living tree had been used as part of the backdrop for Charles' annual festive address to the nation and Commonwealth. From its branches hung natural and sustainable decorations including hand-turned wood, dried oranges, glass baubles, pine cones and paper. And as it was a living tree with its roots still attached, it was replanted after the broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day.

It is believed Charles and Queen Camilla are still at Sandringham after they waved at a crowd of onlookers as they arrived for a New Year's Eve church service. The couple were greeted by the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham Usher, and Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Sunday morning.

Members of the public were photographed being searched by police as they waited to catch a glimpse of the royals. Charles and Camilla, who was wearing a light blue coat and hat and black gloves, were both clutching unopened umbrellas and smiled and waved at royal fans. The late Queen regularly attended Sunday services while staying at Sandringham.

Jennifer Newton