Many of us will have taken down our Christmas tree and decorations by no later than 6th January, but the same tradition doesn't apply for Her Majesty the Queen.
The Queen leaves her Christmas decorations up at the family's Sandringham estate until 6th February (one whole month later), to mark the anniversary of her father's death.
She stays at Sandringham with Prince Phillip from the beginning of the festive period (the Queen travels up to the estate by train) spending time together celebrating with family and remembering his life, before heading back to Buckingham Palace in London in early February, where she resumes all royal duties, reports Hello!.
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Her Majesty's late father, King George VI, died in his sleep at Sandringham on 6th February 1952, when the Queen was just 25. To honour and commemorate his life in private, she chooses to keep the trees and decorations up to mark the anniversary. While the rest of the country would have long packed theirs away by the time February arrives, Her Majesty's decorations stay up for this very sentimental reason.
The Queen made a touching reference to her father in her annual Christmas broadcast, The Queen's Speech, as she spoke about the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings which was marked in 2019.
'This year we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On June 6, 1944, some 156,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in northern France,' she explained. 'It was the largest ever seabourne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather.
"I well remember the look of concern on my father’s face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one."
This year, the decorations at Buckingham Palace were remarkably grand. We saw twinkling fairy lights and tree decorations including red and gold crowns, royal carriages and velvet bows. Meanwhile, over at Windsor Castle, there were over 20,000 lights, a 20-foot-high Nordmann Fir tree and beautiful red baubles. Although, the decorations at Sandringham are thought to be far more understated.
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