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History and HeritageCHRISTMAS: “A RIGHT ROYAL CHRISTMAS”
History and HeritageCHRISTMAS: THE ORIGINS OF OUR ENGLISH CHRISTMAS
History and HeritageOUR NATIONAL HERITAGE: “THE CELTS, ART AND IDENTITY”
History and HeritageOUR NATIONAL HERITAGE: “THE VIKINGS, A 21st REAPPRAISAL”
History and HeritageOUR NATIONAL HERITAGE: THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON 1666
History and HeritageOUR NATIONAL HERITAGE: THE TAPLOW BURIAL
History and HeritageROYALTY: “GILT AND GORGEOUSNESS” A Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Reign of King George IVth (1820-1830)
History and HeritageROYALTY: “VICTORIA AND ALBERT, ART AND LOVE”
History and HeritageROYALTY: THE ROAD TO THE CROWN – GREAT BRITAIN AND THE HANOVERIAN DYNASTY
History and HeritageWINDSOR GREAT PARK, PAST AND PRESENT
History and HeritageWINDSOR: "King Charles I, King and Collector"
History and HeritageWINDSOR: “BRITAIN’S LOST BAROQUE PALACE” – WINDSOR CASTLE IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES II
History and HeritageWINDSOR: “THE NEW CAMELOT” – WINDSOR CASTLE IN THE REIGN OF EDWARD III
History and HeritageWINDSOR: “WINDSOR, A CASTLE RESTORED”
History and HeritageWINDSOR: WINDSOR CASTLE, FROM MEDIEVAL FORTRESS TO ROYAL PALACE

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History and Heritage
CHRISTMAS: “A RIGHT ROYAL CHRISTMAS”

Our royal families have celebrated Christmas throughout their long history, from William the
Conqueror making sure of his claim to the English throne by being crowned in Westminster
Abbey on Christmas Day 1066. Feasting on a spectacular scale characterised medieval
Christmases – we read of extraordinary culinary delicacies served to Henry II, crane’s flesh,
peacocks and herons. Present-giving always marked the season, from the extravagant – the
City of London presented Richard II with a camel and a pelican – to the witty – Mrs. Thatcher
sent the Queen a pair of yellow washing-up gloves having seen Her Majesty doing the dishes
without any. The Royal Christmas Broadcast is now an established part of our celebrations
and we shall hear extracts from George V’s, George VI’s and our present Queen’s addresses.

This lecture explores these Royal traditions, many of which we have adopted as a necessary
part of our own celebrations.