Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree was hoisted into place today ahead of the first-ever virtual lighting ceremony amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The magnificent Norwegian spruce was transported 700 miles via ship and lorry from Nordmarka Forest in Oslo, Norway, to take pride of place in the capital for the 73rd year running.
Today cranes could be seen lifting the four-tonne tree – which rises up to 25m – into place next to Nelson’s Column, as Brits start counting down the days until Christmas.
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been an annual gift to the people of London by Oslo each year since 1947, as a token of gratitude for British support for Norway during the Second World War.
The coronavirus pandemic has moved the lighting ceremony of Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree online. It will be streamed over YouTube and Facebook at 6pm on Thursday
Cllr Glanz hopes the tree’s annual return is a chance ‘to bring everyone some festive cheer at the end of a difficult year,’ following months of lockdown brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. At 25m tall, it stands just under half the height of Nelson’s Column (52m)
Crowds traditionally gather at the base of the tree for an annual lighting ceremony in the first few days of September, attended by both Lord Mayor of Westminster and the Mayor of Oslo.
However, with international travel restrictions in place and London set to enter Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions from Wednesday, the traditional lighting ceremony has been shifted online.
Anyone wishing to get into the Christmas spirit will be able to watch the tree light up Nelson’s Column and the nearby National Portrait Gallery via a stream on Facebook and YouTube.
The stream, which will begin at 6pm on Thursday, will feature messages from the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Jonathan Glanz, and and the Mayor of Oslo.
Cllr Glanz said: ‘This is the first time since 1947 that we have had to do things differently, but the public’s safety comes first.
‘I look forward to hosting a brilliant virtual ceremony for the public to enjoy safely from the comfort of their own homes, to say thank you to our friends in Oslo for their gift of this tree and to properly mark the nation’s Christmas Tree arriving to take pride of place in Trafalgar Square.
‘Now more than ever it is important to come together and celebrate this much-loved Christmas tradition, to bring everyone some festive cheer at the end of a difficult year.’
Lord Mayor of Westminster Jonathan Glanz said this year’s service was ‘the first time we’ve had to do things differently,’ since Britain’s tradition with Norway began in 1947, but he reminded people ‘public safety must come first’
The tree, which usually stands at around 25m tall, arrived at Trafalgar Square on the back of an extended lorry, under cover of darkness, in the early hours of Monday morning
The magnificent Norwegian spruce was transported 700 miles via ship and lorry from Nordmarka Forest in Oslo, having been felled on November 17 in a ceremony attended by Richard Wood, Britain’s ambassador to Norway
Covid-19 restrictions meant the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Jonathan Glanz, could not attend the felling of the spruce last month, but he will give a speech at a virtual ceremony when its lights are switched on come Thursday evening
After arriving in the capital on Monday morning, workers quickly gathered to remove the tree from the back of a lorry and hoist it into position in Trafalgar Square
This year’s tree weighs four tonnes and took two weeks to transport from the Norwegian capital of Oslo to London, before arriving earlier today
Crews had to remove the towering spruce from the back of an extended lorry, before they could get to work hoisting it into place
Thursday’s stream will also include footage of the tree’s journey since it was felled and background on the decades-old tradition.
The Salvation Army, Poetry Society and the St Martin-in-the-Fields Choir will also perform to viewers.
After arriving in the capital under cover of darkness this morning, a specialist rigging team quickly got to work to raise the tree using a hydraulic crane.
Every year the tree is decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion, with vertical strings of energy-efficient lights.
The famous tree is around 90-years-old and was given to Britain by Norway as a thank you for support during the Second World War – a tradition that has been ongoing since 1947.
The tree is chopped down in Norway at the end of November, from a PEFC certified forest, before being transported to London via boat and lorry.
A specialist rigging team quickly got to work to raise the tree using a hydraulic crane on Monday morning, traffic around the landmark remained quiet, as England remains under lockdown due to Covid-19
Jonathan Glanz, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, said it was important ‘now more than ever,’ that people came together to celebrate the traditional lighting up of Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree
After making the two-week trip from Norway, experts had to remove some of the lower branches of the spruce, in order to get it ready before it lights up Trafalgar Square on Thursday evening
While Trafalgar Square would normally expect a rush of visitors to see the tree, this year will see a lower amount of footfall
The decision to light up the tree via virtual ceremony was agreed upon by the Mayor of Oslo, the Norwegian Embassy in London, the Greater London Authority and Westminster City Council
The tree, which has travelled from Nordmarka Forest, is thought to be around 90-years-old. It is around 25m tall and weighs around four tonnes. Despite its height and weight, crews were able to get it into place with ease on Monday morning
Norway has donated a spruce to Britain as thanks for its help during the Second World War since 1947 – but this year will be the first time crowds will not be able to gather to see it lit up
Usually the Lord Mayor of Westminster will attend the felling, but England’s national lockdown put an end to that tradition, for this year at least.
Instead the British Ambassador to Norway, Richard Wood, joined the Mayor of Oslo and local schoolchildren on November 17, to chop down the 90-year-old spruce.
Ongoing Covid-19 restrictions will remove some of the fanfare around the landmark in the run up to Christmas too.
While Trafalgar Square held its first Christmas market last year, the stalls are not expected to return.
The decision to move to a virtual ceremony was agreed following consultations with the Mayor of Oslo, the Norwegian Embassy in London, the Greater London Authority and Westminster City Council