Windsor Castle has unveiled its spectacular royal Christmas tree — a towering 20‑foot Nordmann fir in St George’s Hall — widely regarded as one of the world’s most famous Christmas tree displays. Sustainably grown in the Windsor Great Park, the tradition – which dates back more than 200 years – is decorated with more than 3,000 twinkling lights and shimmering green and gold ornaments, forming the centrepiece of seasonal displays across the State Apartments.
The History of the Christmas Tree in the United Kingdom
Last week, Wood Central spoke to Katie Fowden, General Manager of Corporate Affairs at the Hyne Group and newly appointed Vice Chair of Forest & Wood Products Australia, who was given a viewing of the tree yesterday. “We were informed that the President of Germany will be visiting the King later today, with the room being prepared for the visit,” Fowden said, adding that the tree is carefully managed to ensure sustainability, with heating turned off every night to keep it sufficiently hydrated for replanting after the festive season: “I believe the tree is already on its second year of display — and it simply looked magnificent.”
First introduced by Queen Charlotte in 1800, Prince Albert popularised Christmas trees across Britain in the 1840s, encouraging schools and barracks to adopt the tradition. Since then, the Windsor tree has been a mainstay of British festivities.
Fowden noted that King Charles III has a strong relationship with timber and sustainable forest management. In 2023, Charles toured one of James Jones & Sons’ Scottish mills – one of his first doorstop visits as King, which processes more than 150,000 tonnes of certified timber from the King’s 1200 hectares of productive forests at Balmoral.
Whilst last year, Charles joined Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns in touring the Prince’s Quarter in Sydney — the country’s largest timber‑based social housing project, built from cross‑laminated timber and glulam supplied by Xlam and Hyne Timber. “The guide who took us to visit the Christmas tree was taken aback by our shared history, and also the King’s passion for sustainable forest management,” Fowden said.
