In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany.

Christmas trees were introduced into the UK in 1800 by Queen Charlotte, the German wife of George III. Each year a large tree is given to the UK as a gift by the people of Oslo in Norway.

Her Elkton, Maryland, home was built with lumber cut from a former Rockefeller Center Christmas tree — which was processed into lumber and given to a charity group after delighting Manhattan ...