Fact Check: London Mayor Sadiq Khan Hasn’t ‘Tampered With Design’ Of Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan unveiled and lit up the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree on December 7. Some social media users have since criticised the design of the tree.
- The Verdict: False The decoration of the tree is a hallmark of the gift and has remained unchanged for decades; the mayor does not select or alter the decorations.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan unveiled and lit up the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree on Saturday, December 7, 2024. While many admire its traditional design, others have criticised it as “embarrassing”. Some social media users have shared a comparison of the Trafalgar Square tree with the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City, sarcastically crediting Mayor Khan.
Others (archived here) have attributed its appearance to the mayor’s personal religious beliefs, with one remarking, “What does anyone expect from London, with a Muslim mayor? I don’t imagine he’s the biggest supporter of Christmas.”
However, these claims fail to consider the historical and cultural significance of the tree’s design, which predates Khan’s tenure and has remained unchanged over the years.
Context
Since 1947, the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been a gift from the people of Norway, expressing gratitude for Britain’s support during World War II. The tree is decorated in the traditional Norwegian style, with vertical strings of lights, and its lighting marks the start of London’s festive season.
The decoration of the tree is a hallmark of the gift and has remained unchanged for decades. The mayor does not select or alter the decorations. During Boris Johnson's mayoralty, the Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square looked exactly the same.
On Saturday, Mayor Khan posted on Facebook: “London’s iconic Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is now lighting up the heart of London. It’s a symbol of our friendship with Norway — a wonderful tradition bringing Londoners together to share this time of joy and unity.”
A closer look
The claim that the Mayor of London’s religious beliefs influence Christmas traditions and the city’s appearance during holidays lacks factual basis. For example, every year, Mayor Sadiq Khan sends official Christmas cards to dignitaries across the city and worldwide. He invites London schoolchildren aged 4 to 14 to take part in the competition and design the card under the theme ‘Together at Christmas’.
Since 2016, Khan has hosted an annual carol service at Southwark Cathedral.
During the 2023 Christmas season, Khan’s administration provided over 1.3 million free meals to low-income families as part of a broader initiative that has delivered more than 10 million meals since April 2023.
London's Christmas lights and markets draw tourists from around the world each year. In 2021, Sadiq Khan inaugurated the world’s largest Christmas lights switch-on, illuminating 20 streets, including Oxford Street and Regent Street, with over a million LED lights. This initiative contrasts with claims that a Muslim mayor would disregard Christmas traditions or decorations.
We have contacted the Mayor of London’s office for comment and will update this fact-check as soon as we receive a response.
The verdict
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree’s design is rooted in tradition and has not changed since 1947. Its appearance is not influenced by the mayor’s religious beliefs. Therefore, we have marked the claim as false.
This report first appeared on logicallyfacts.com, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.
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