Lighted Christmas Tree - Octagon Dining Room at Windsor Castle
In 1844, long after the events in Notorious Vow and Notorious Match, Diana and Vivien attended the young Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, at Windsor Castle. The countess and marchioness were astonished to see a tree suspended from the ceiling of the Octagon Dining Room, where the chandelier is normally hung.
A Christmas tree, the Prince Consort explained.
This is from the Royal Collection’s website at :
In the German tradition, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve and presents were laid out on tables, each of which had a Christmas tree at its centre. Two gift tables will be recreated with presents exchanged by Victoria and Albert. Among the highlights is a painting by Sir Charles Eastlake commissioned by Victoria in 1844 as a gift for Albert, and a sculpture of Princess Beatrice as a baby lying in a shell, given to the Queen by Prince Albert for Christmas 1858.
In the Castle’s State Dining Room, the table will be laid for a Victorian Christmas feast with a magnificent porcelain dessert service by Minton of Staffordshire. Known as the Victoria Service, the set was purchased by the Queen at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and includes four porcelain figures of the four seasons, ice pails, cream and bon-bon dishes, and a pair of silver-gilt sauceboats shaped like sleighs.
This special display has been recreated for the public’s viewing and ends on January 8th.
Porcelain Dessert Service - State Dining Room at Windsor Castle
Angelyn's Blog 
How fun. I wish I could go see it. Windsor Castle was my favorite place I visited when we were in England. Thanks for sharing this!
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Oh–me, too. Once I was caught in Windsor Great Park during the rutting season. Nearly got run over by an anxious buck.
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I love these little lessons on history, and a glimpse of how people lived, loved and celebrated in the past. Fascinating.
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Thank you, Callie! Merry Christmas.
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How very interesting. I wonder why they decided to hang the tree from the ceiling. Thank you. Loved the china.
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Good question–I’ll try to find out. Thanks for commenting.
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Thanks for sharing this. That tree is absolutely gorgeous and I love that it hangs from the ceiling.
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There’s nothing like a Christmas tree to draw your eye upward! Of course, the vaulting in that particular room really needs nothing to draw attention to it. Thanks for commenting.
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Beautiful pics! We owe so much of our Christmas traditions to those shaped during Queen Victoria’s reign.
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You are so right, Susan. It is remarkable how powerful that era remains in our collective consciousness. Thank you for commenting.
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Oh–the Daily Mail reports that since the tree was lit with candles, it provided light in place of the chandelier. There is an old photograph at http://bit.ly/tHtUdG showing a much smaller tree in suspension and probably renders a more accurate picture of the effect Prince Albert was trying to achieve.
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I remember there were times I wished our Christmas tree could be hung from the ceiling…..four little children chasing each other, as well as two cats and two dogs!
Thanks for sharing Christmas at Winsor!
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Uh-oh. I can assure you Prince Albert and HM Queen Victoria would never have let Vicky or Bertie run in the Octagonal Dining Room! Thanks for stopping by.
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Wouldn’t it be lovely to have seen it in person? I sometimes wish for a portal to the past. Nothing permanent, mind you, but just to get a glimpse of things now and again. Your blog is pretty darn close! Marry Christmas!
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I feel the same way–just a glimpse or two. Your compliment is much appreciated!
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