<P> Although the tradition of decorating the home with evergreens was long established , the custom of decorating an entire small tree was unknown in Britain until some two centuries ago . At the time of the personal union with Hanover , George III 's German - born wife , Charlotte of Mecklenburg - Strelitz , introduced a Christmas tree at a party she gave for children in 1800 . The custom did not at first spread much beyond the royal family . Queen Victoria as a child was familiar with it and a tree was placed in her room every Christmas . In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832 , the delighted 13 - year - old princess wrote : </P>
who introduced the first chrismas tree to the uk
, Charlotte of Mecklenburg - Strelitz