This watercolour by James Roberts, commissioned by Queen Victoria, shows the Queen’s Christmas tree in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle in 1850. The tree, beautifully decorated with candles and artificial snow, stands on one of several ‘Christmas tables’ displaying the Christmas presents from Queen Victoria’s family. Queen Victoria recorded this particular Christmas in her journal:

‘My beloved Albert 1st took me to my tree & table, covered by such numberless gifts, really too much, too magnificent.’