<P> A decisive factor in winning general popularity was the German army's decision to place Christmas trees in its barracks and military hospitals during the Franco - Prussian War . Only at the start of the 20th century did Christmas trees appear inside churches, this time in a new brightly lit form . </P> <P> In the early 19th century, the custom became popular among the nobility and spread to royal courts as far as Russia . Princess Henrietta of Nassau - Weilburg introduced the Christmas tree to Vienna in 1816, and the custom spread across Austria in the following years . In France, the first Christmas tree was introduced in 1840 by the duchesse d'Orléans . In Denmark a Danish newspaper claims that the first attested Christmas tree was lit in 1808 by countess Wilhemine of Holsteinborg . It was the aging countess who told the story of the first Danish Christmas tree to the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen in 1865 . He had published a fairy - tale called The Fir - Tree in 1844, recounting the fate of a fir - tree being used as a Christmas tree . </P> <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> <P> After dinner...we then went into the drawing - room near the dining - room...There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments . All the presents being placed round the trees...</P>

When were christmas trees first introduced to england