Kensington Palace marks 190 years since Princess Victoria's Christmas at Claremont in Esher, dressing her rooms as the estate from 25 November to 3 January.
Princess Victoria spent Christmas 1836 at Claremont in Esher. This winter Kensington Palace is recreating it.
Victoria’s Countryside Christmas runs from Wednesday 25 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It marks 190 years since that festive stay. Her childhood rooms at the palace will be decorated to evoke Claremont’s state rooms and grounds, according to a release from Claremont Fan Court School, which now occupies the mansion.
“It is wonderful to see such an important part of Esher’s history being shared with a wider audience and celebrated at one of the country’s most iconic royal residences,” the school said.
Why Claremont
In 1836 Claremont was a royal residence. The future Queen Victoria stayed there with her uncle, Prince Leopold, who later became the first King of the Belgians.
Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for the State Apartments at Kensington Palace, has drawn on Victoria’s diary entries and personal recollections to recreate parts of that Christmas. “This year, the spotlight falls on Claremont in Esher, Surrey,” the school’s release says.
The release describes the plan in its own words:
“Through immersive design, decoration and storytelling, the experience will explore Victoria’s stay at the estate during the festive season.”
What visitors will see
The charity’s event page says the displays “capture the magical atmosphere of the young Princess’s outdoor surroundings”. On the route, it lists:
- snowy landscapes that “captured Victoria’s imagination”
- the people Victoria met on her trip
- decorations inspired by gifts the princess received
- a star of the stage whose dancing impressed Victoria and inspired her drawings
- floristry and trees hung with bespoke decorations, among period-style gifts
- a garden arbour where visitors can sit for a Christmas photo
The exhibitions and curatorial teams at Historic Royal Palaces are developing the display.
The display has not been installed yet, so there are no pictures of it. The palace has shared photographs of its earlier Christmas displays, which give a flavour of how the rooms are dressed.
How the palace found Esher
Historic Royal Palaces visited the school during the May half term to gather ideas. The school historian, Pamela Rider, met them to explore Victoria’s relationship with Claremont and the estate’s royal heritage.
The mansion has been a school since 1931. Claremont Fan Court is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 2 to 18. Its pupils still learn in the rooms and walk the corridors once frequented by royalty.
The school says Claremont’s story runs through its curriculum, from nursery to sixth form. That includes the estate’s time as the home of Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, and Victoria’s visits before and after she became Queen.
Pupils also act as guides at the school’s annual Heritage Open Day, which it runs with neighbouring Claremont Landscape Garden.
“By learning about the people and events that have shaped the estate over centuries, pupils recognise that they are the latest generation in a long and remarkable story,” the school said. “Pupils not only call Claremont their school, but they are becoming part of its history.”
It added: “Nearly two centuries on, Claremont’s story continues to unfold, a remarkable Surrey estate whose history forms part of the story of our nation.”
What it means for you
The display is at Kensington Palace in London, not in Esher. Entry is included in palace admission, and members go free, according to the Historic Royal Palaces listing checked on 2 November 2026. It is open in line with the palace’s normal hours.
Closer to home, the Claremont estate is part of Esher’s daily life. Last month the school put a 3D-printed Claremont mansion on a post box topper on Esher High Street. For more ideas nearer home this winter, see things to do in Elmbridge and the Elmbridge Christmas markets.
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