What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most prestigious music venues in the world. Located in London, England, the Hall was inaugurated in 1871 by Queen Victoria and named for her late husband, Prince Albert. The venue has hosted some of the biggest names in show business, and has also staged exhibitions, political rallies, and sporting tournaments.
Click through for a look at some of the pivotal events and performances hosted at the Royal Albert Hall since 1871.
The Hall's design was influenced by the shape of ancient amphitheaters and eventually took on the appearance of a dome. The Hall was scheduled for completion on Christmas Day 1870, and the Queen visited the site a few weeks beforehand to inspect the building's progress. A pre-inaugural concert took place on February 25, 1871, to test the venue's acoustics.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, pictured in 1860. The royal couple had married in 1840. It was the prince's idea to create a facility for public benefit, but his death in 1861 meant that a memorial was instead proposed, to be sited in London's Hyde Park, with a Great Hall opposite.
The Royal Albert Hall was officially opened by Queen Victoria on March 29, 1871 as the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences.
In May 1877, Richard Wagner himself conducted the first half of each of the eight concerts that made up the Grand Wagner Festival.
Russian pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff performed at the Hall in 1911 as a part of the London Ballad Concert.
On October 3, 1933, Albert Einstein addressed an audience of more than 8,000 at a meeting hosted at the Hall to help raise funds for the Refugee Assistance Committee during which he expressed his gratitude to the Assistance Committee, which had helped him to escape from Nazi Germany.
From 1940 onwards, events were held at the Hall to fund the care of injured members of the armed forces and the families of those fighting. On November 23, 1944, Winston Churchill attended the 'To You, America, A Thanksgiving Day Celebration' to rally further support.
Boxing tournaments have been held at the Royal Albert Hall since 1918. The most famous fighter to have boxed under its roof is Muhammad Ali, who fought on three separate occasions at the venue in "exhibition" matches. He's pictured on October 21, 1971 during his first appearance.
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey made the first of nearly 60 live appearances at the Hall on April 25, 1971.
Eric Clapton has made more than 200 appearances at the Royal Albert Hall since 1964. The legendary guitarist is pictured here as a member of British rock group Cream, along with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, performing live on stage on November 26, 1968 during the last of the band's two farewell shows at the Hall. The concert was filmed for posterity.
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of the Who perform a benefit concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall on February 7, 2004. Daltrey has been instrumental in organizing the trust's charity concerts at the venue since their inception in 2000.
Between 1908 and 1918, the Royal Albert Hall hosted no less than 25 women's suffrage meetings. By doing so, the Hall played an essential role in the fight for women's right to vote in the UK. Pictured is a meeting taking place in January 1913.
Adele's September 22, 2011 debut performance at the Hall was filmed and released on both DVD and Blu-ray along with an accompanying CD as 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall,' and quickly became the best-selling music DVD of 2011.
Frank Sinatra easily sold out his September 18, 1980 Royal Albert Hall concert. He ended the gig with a rousing rendition of 'New York, New York.' In April 1989, he returned to the Hall along with Liza Minnelli and Sammy Davis Jr. for what billed as "The Ultimate Event."
Deep Purple shared the stage with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on September 24, 1969 to perform Concerto for Group and Orchestra, which was filmed.
Three years after sharing the bill with rivals the Beatles, the Rolling Stones had the Hall to themselves on September 23, 1966. Mick Jagger recently narrated a new film on the Royal Albert Hall in celebration of the iconic venue's 150th birthday.
The Proms is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall. The highlight is what's known as the Last Night of the Proms, a patriotic musical celebration that usually includes performances of Edward Elgar's 'Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1' (to part of which 'Land of Hope and Glory' is sung), and 'Rule Britannia!'
The Beatles' September 15, 1963 concert at the Hall was part of the Great Pop Prom and was the first time the Fab Four and the Rolling Stones performed together on the same bill. Paul McCartney later commented: "Up there with the Rolling Stones we were thinking, this is it—London! The Albert Hall! We felt like gods!"
The Royal Albert Hall has hosted numerous classical music concerts as well as film music tributes, when famous movie soundtrack composers conduct selections of their works in person. Pictured is Ennio Morricone, celebrated for his theme to 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,' among other music, at the podium during his 75th birthday concert event on November 11, 2003.
The Miss World beauty pageant was held at the Hall a total of 20 times between 1969 and 1988. In November 1970, Jennifer Hosten from Grenada (pictured) was crowned Miss World 1970 by comedian Bob Hope. That years' competition is also remembered for the disturbance by Women's Liberation activists who threw smoke and flour bombs on stage and heckled Hope.
On April 6, 1968, the Hall hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, which was broadcast in color for the first time. The winner was Spain with the song 'La, la, la,' performed by Massiel. Pictured is Cliff Richard singing the UK's entry, 'Congratulations.'
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour pictured at the Hall in May 2006 during the UK leg of his solo On an Island tour. On June 26, 1969, Pink Floyd played the Hall, but were subsequently banned from ever again performing at the venue after their disruptive onstage behavior.
The Australian singer appeared at the Hall on December 11, 2015 and December 9-10, 2016, as part of her A Kylie Christmas concert series.
In 2017, the Hall hosted the 70th British Academy Film Awards for the first time in 20 years. Among the winners that night was Viola Davis, who took home the Best Actress in a Supporting Role BAFTA for 'Fences.'
Tennis was first played at the Hall in March 1970–it was the Rothman's Professional Tennis Tournament. The ATP Champions Tour Masters has been played annually every December since 1997.
The Royal Albert Hall has hosted several movie premieres throughout the years, including three James Bond royal world premieres; 'Die Another Day' on November 18, 2002; 'Skyfall' on October 23, 2012; and 'Spectre' on October 26, 2015. Pictured is the Hall suitably illuminated for 'Die Another Day.'
Sir Peter Blake attends the unveiling of his mural 'Appearing at the Albert Hall' in the Café-Bar at the Royal Albert Hall on April 29, 2014. The piece is a Sgt. Pepper's-like montage of over 400 stars who have taken to the famous stage from its opening in 1871 to the present day, featuring everyone from music legends Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, to pivotal figures in world history such as Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein.
Sources: (Royal Albert Hall) (The Guardian) (UK Parliament)
See also: The most beautiful gig venues in the UK
Bob Dylan headlined the Hall for two nights in May 1965, and a further two nights in May 1966. The 1965 gig (pictured) included performances of 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' and 'Mr. Tambourine Man.'
Jimi Hendrix played three times at the Hall between 1967 and 1969. Here he is performing live on stage playing a black Fender Stratocaster guitar with drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding on February 24, 1969.
The Hall began life by hosting a number of national and international exhibitions. On May 8, 1872, the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society held a concert at the venue attended by Queen Victoria and the Empress Augusta of Germany. This performance was effectively the first public concert hosted by the prestigious new London landmark.
The Royal Albert Hall turns 150 years old
The esteemed concert venue was opened in 1871
LIFESTYLE United kingdom
The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most prestigious music venues in the world. Located in London, England, the Hall was inaugurated in 1871 by Queen Victoria and named for her late husband, Prince Albert. The venue has hosted some of the biggest names in show business, and has also staged exhibitions, political rallies, and sporting tournaments.
Click through for a look at some of the pivotal events and performances hosted at the Royal Albert Hall since 1871.