Royal Palaces - Windsor Castle
The Largest Occupied Castle in the World
Windsor Castle is the oldest royal residence in Britain. The site on which the current castle is built was chosen by William the Conqueror in 1066 for a fortress. He chose to site for strategic purposes. The area, located on a hill, was near the river Thames and a Saxon hunting ground. The Tower of London, William’s London fortress, was a day’s walk away. The Windsor fortress was intended to guard against any western attacks on the capital.
Building on the fortress began in the 1070s. The outer walls of the present castle and the central mound that supports the Round Tower and the Upper Ward are in the same position as William’s fortress.
Improvements and Expansion
Successive monarchs expanded and improved the castle through the years. During his reign, King Henry II rebuilt the Round Tower, the outer walls and royal apartments of the Upper Ward and the Lower Ward using stone to replace the original wood. In the late 1360, Edward III extended the castle.
During the Civil War, Oliver Cromwell captured the castle in 1642 after the Battle of Edgehill. Windsor Castle became a prison and the headquarters of the parliamentary forces for the remainder of the war. In 1648 King Charles I was held at the castle before being transferred to London for his trial. After his restoration to the throne, King Charles II commissioned new State Apartments and made additions to the grounds.
Much of the present appearance of the castle is because of the improvements made by King George IV. George’s architect, Sir Jeffry Wyatville, refashioned the buildings in the Gothic style and included turrets and towers. Today the castle covers 13 acres.
Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, spend much of their time at Windsor Castle. In 1861 Prince Albert died of typhoid at Windsor. In 1845 the State Apartments were first opened to the public. During World War II, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were sent to Windsor Castle for their safety.
A Destructive Fire
The most dramatic event of the twentieth century for the castle occurred on November 20, 1992. A spotlight in the private chapel ignited a curtain and started a fire that soon spread. Fifteen house later the fire was extinguished, but nearly one-fifth of the castle was destroyed. Restoration took five years. It was completed on November 20, 1997, and cost over $59 million. To celebrate the occasion, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the castle.
St. George's Chapel
One of the buildings within the complex is St. George’s Chapel. Work on St. George’s Chapel was begun by King Edward IV in the 1480s and completed by King Henry VIII in the early sixteenth century. The chapel is dedicated to the patron saint of the Order of the Garter. The Order of the Garter is Britain’s highest order of chivalry. Each June, the members of the Order gather at the chapel. St. George’s Chapel is also the burial site for ten British monarchs: Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII, Charles I, George III, George IV, Edward VII, George V, and George VI.
St. George’s Chapel is known as a Royal Peculiar. This means that it is not governed by a bishop, but is subject to the sovereign. It is still a place of worship and offers daily services. In addition, the chapel has been the site of many royal weddings, including Queen Elizabeth II’s son, the Earl of Wessex, and grandson, Peter Phillips.
Windsor Castle Today
Queen Elizabeth II is very fond of Windsor Castle. She spends most of her weekends at the castle. She also stays at the castle for a month during Easter. This is known as Easter Court. She also stays for a week in June to attend the service of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Ascot Races. In addition, Windsor Castle is often used to host foreign dignitaries for state visits.
Sources:
The Official Website of the British Monarchy. “Royal Palaces: Windsor Castle” (accessed October 7, 2009)
Windsor Castle: Official Guide. Andover: Pitkin Guides, 1992.
The Round Tower, Windsor Castle
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