Palaces in the Snow: Hampton Court

The trees of Hampton Court looking ready for Christmas

(photo Andrew Halliday via Flickr)

The scene of many a Tudor Christmas, Hampton Court is a picture perfect palace in the snow. Its red brick walls look particularly festive under a blanket of flakes. As Christmas week gets under way, here's a palace made for snow.

Royal Palaces in the Snow: Drottningholm

Drottningholm Palace in the snow

(photo by Holger.Ellgaard - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link)

As all royal roads seem to lead to Sweden right now (they've had a pretty good year and they're ending in style with the usual Nobel celebrations adding enough glitter to get any Christmas started), today's Palace in the Snow is one of the most famous royal residences there. Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of several members of the current family and a familiar sight in recent times as celebrations have taken place within its walls. And guess what, it looks about as fabulous as palace get when covered in snow.

Palaces in the Snow: Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle in the snow 

(photo Craig via Flickr)

Castle, palace, palace, castle. Let's not split hairs. The royal residences of modern times might have the more romantic title of palace but they follow in the direct footsteps of the castles that kept rulers of yore safe and warm and told everyone for miles around who was in charge. Windsor Castle has a long history and many of its winters have seen it cloaked in snow.

Palaces in the Snow: Versailles

Versailles in the snow

(photo By MaitéLab (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

It's about as famous as a royal palace gets, it's about as beautiful as architecture can be, it has oodles of royal romance attached to it - add snow for a fairytale. Versailles may no longer have a royal family to call its own but it is every inch the royal palace. Maybe it's the fact its royal residents are long gone that makes Versailles in the snow reminiscent of times past, eras gone and memories that linger. A palace in the snow that hides much beneath its icy depths.

Palaces in the Snow: Linlithgow

Linlithgow Palace, Scotland has a part in some of the most dramatic tales of royal history

(photo 4652 Paces via Flickr)

It's a palace steeped in history and linked to one of the most romantic and tragic queens of history as well as another whose name became forever linked to the cold of winter which brings the snow. Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, Scotland is now a tourist attraction but for centuries the tumultuous royal history of Scotland played out within its walls. Linlithgow Palace has no need of help when it comes to drama and dusted in snow, it is a palace of dreams once more.

Palaces in the Snow: Amalienborg

Frederick VIII's Palace at Amalienborg dressed in its winter best

(photo rosenborg_amalienborg Instagram)

What could be better than one royal palace, decked in snow? How about four all dusted in flakes. The Amalienborg in Copenhagen is made up of a quartet of identical palaces set around a sqaure and one of the best known royal statues in Europe.  It's a picture perfect setting at the best of times but in the snow, it takes on a fairytale quality all of its own.

Palaces in the Snow - Royal Palace, Stockholm

A snowy staircase fit for a fairytale at the Royal Palace, Stockholm

By Wooly Matt via Flickr

It takes a lot of snow to cover the whole of the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Its famous facade hides over 600 rooms while its baroque style adds an air of dominance. And yet even this huge, striking palace can look postcard pretty in the snow. Just don't expect a blanket of flakes, this is dusting territory.

Palaces in the Snow - Royal Palace, Brussels

Picture perfect - the Royal Palace in Brussels, covered in snow

(photo by Matthias Zepper (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

The Royal Palace in Brussels was made to be dressed in snow. It is a beautiful building that becomes even more enticing draped in flakes and dusted in white. Like a Christmas card makers dream, it sparkles beneath snow - it is a dose of pure festive spirit.

Palaces in the Snow - Rosenborg

Rosenborg Castle in Copenhan, stark and imposing against the winter snow

(photo By Leif Jørgensen (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

Roseborg Castle has plenty of royal history and carries an air of regal menace that is only slightly softened when the snow falls. Decked in flakes, it still looks as if its only place in a fairytale is as the home of a villain. It has majesty and mystery and covered in snow, it's a winter wonder.

Royal Palaces in the Snow: Palacio Real, Madrid

It's a rare sight but a beautiful one - the Palacio Real, Madrid in the snow

(pictureLuis García [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

It's not the royal building most associated with snow but when the Palacio Real in Madrid is decked in flakes, it's a thing of wonder. And just as likely to get us all in the festive spirit as any other. As the countdown to Christmas continues, December 3rd is all about snowfall at the Palacio Real in Madrid.

Royal Palaces in the Snow: the Royal Palace, Oslo

A carpet of snow leads to the Royal Palace in Oslo

(photo By Teri Jacobs /Gatsbyeffect.com - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link)

Royal palaces decked in snow don't have to be confined to regal Christmas cards. Throughout December, a different stately building with royal links will help countdown to Christmas Day. Today, it's the Royal Palace in Oslo that's come over all snowy - enjoy it's winter wonderland feel to get in the mood for the big day.

Palaces in the Snow: Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace in the snow

(photo By Oxyman - Own work, CC BY 2.5, Link)

It might never really snow at Christmas but nothing conjures up images of the festive season more than a few flakes. In the countdown to Christmas, every day we'll be looking at a palace, castle or stately home with royal links dressed in the festive fineness that is a covering of snow. We start, on December 1st, with Buckingham Palace.