A single image of 'The Royal Family at Christmas' showing them with a decorated Christmas tree is credited with making the Christmas tree THE thing to have.

Published in the Illustrated London News in 1846 the image changed Christmas - a bit like the way many young women went blond and copied Lady Di's hairstyle, makeup and clothes as soon as her photo's were in every newspaper here.

Queen Victoria and her Consort and family were almost a cult - my grandmother could remember being alarmed by all the changes made for mourning the Old Queen - every shop window was dressed in purple crepe and black ribbons with a portrait of the queen on a cushion, the churches were darkened, the light woodwork and walls were varnished and painted, even the music halls and pubs were made somber.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: