Windsor Castle is a royal house in the English county of Berkshire.Associated with the British royal family, the gothic palace was built in the 11th century post the Norman invasion of England. The original purpose of the castle was to keep an eye on the Normans and oversee an important section of the river Thames.It is believed that the castle was erected upon the orders of William the Conqueror, or King William. Succeeding rulers kept adding sections to the castle and modifying its architecture. As a result, Windsor castle, as it is seen today, came to be. The castle is almost 1,000 years old today, and is the longest occupied royal residence globally!The sovereign queen, Queen Elizabeth II, likes to spend her weekends at Windsor Castle. Apart from housing around 39 rulers of England over the span of a millennium, the castle has also served as a social center for political figures. In fact, Windsor Castle had even been converted into a prison during the mid 17th century, to house prisoners of the Civil War!The Architecture Of Windsor CastleOriginally commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1970 as part of a motley of protective castles on the outskirts of London, Windsor castle took 16 years to be built. As the years went by and new monarchs came to rule, several modifications were done to the infrastructure of the castle, transforming it from a guarded castle to a palacious structure.Windsor castle was initially designed in the mount-and-bailey style; the castle was protected by a steep cliff on the north, which rose from the south bank of the Thames. Baileys defended slopes on the west, east, and south sides of the site.Members of the royal family developed an affinity for the castle. As a result, William’s grandson, King Henry II, developed it into a palace with two suites: a public one for state officials, and the other for the residence of the royal family.It was during the rule of King Edward III that the castle came to take its present ‘Gothic’ form. Under his instructions, the castle’s interiors were remodeled to create separate quarters for the King and Queen in the private suite. Furthermore, this period saw an intermixing of the state and personal sections of Windsor.The Great Kitchen of Windsor castle, which is still used to cater to events in the palace, was built during the reign of King Edward III.A long gallow that allowed you to take a stroll during any weather was added to the castle when Queen Elizabeth I took the throne during the mid 16th century. This is now a part of Windsor’s Royal Library.King Charles II designed a palace with extravagantly Baroque interiors after recapturing the Windsor castle post the Civil War.The dramatic 2.64 mi (4.3 km) driveway called the Long Walk was also commissioned by him. The Long Walk stretches from the castle to the Great Park, creating an impression of grandeur and glamour for visitors.According to historian John Martin Robinson, the infamous St. George’s Chapel within the castle is a fine example of English Perpendicular Gothic architecture.The only major architectural change during the Tudor era was the addition of St George’s Chapel, which was commissioned by Edward IV and completed by Henry III.The castle was subject to neglect and had been deteriorating in the 18th century. This is when George II and George III rebuilt Charles II’s palace at a huge cost. After this, the castle was a mix of Rococo, Gothic, and Baroque styles.Queen Victoria made minor revisions to the castle, including the restoration of a royal mausoleum originally constructed by Henry VII. She named it Albert Memorial Chapel in memory of her husband, Prince Albert.The Parks In Windsor CastleAlthough a majority of people visit Windsor, or the ‘city of roses’, to explore the castle, there are also quite a few rose parks in the town. Tourists inside Windsor castle often overlook attractions like the Royal parks too.Windsor Great Park is a royal park that spans an expanse of 5,000 acres (2,023.4 ha). It is visible from some of the top ramparts open to the public, but most miss the deer, lakes, and other sights the park has to offer.This park was originally a reserved hunting ground for the royals and supplied the castle with wood and fish.The southern edge of Windsor Great Park houses an area known as the Royal Landscape. Stretching across 1,000 acres (405 ha), this is where you will find the pet projects and fancies of several past rulers and their architects.Virginia Lake is a man-made lake in the Great Park. Before reservoirs were made, this lake was the largest man-made water body in all of Britain!Ringed by a mix of native and exotic trees, you can spot a Roman temple, an ornamental waterfall and a 100 ft (30.5 m) totem pole around the lake.There are several blooming gardens in the park, such as the Valley Garden. The Valley Garden is situated in the center of the Royal Landscape and has the likes of azaleas, magnolias, sweet gums, Asiatic rowans, and exotic oaks.Windsor Great Park also houses the infamous Savill Garden, which gives visitors a different mix of blooms throughout the year. The garden is a combination of contemporary and classical garden designs.The Home Park, originally called Lydecroft Park, is a private estate of the Crown separated from the castle’s gardens by Albert Road.Home Park includes features such as the Frogmore Estate, the playing fields of St. George’s school, and the grave of Dash, a favored gun dog of Queen Victoria.The Unique Features Of Windsor CastleDid you know that during World War II, Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth II would hide in the castle? This was because they knew Hitler loved Windsor castle and would never bomb it! Read on to unearth more unique features that make the castle so special.The State Apartments are the well-furnished rooms where diplomatic affairs take place today. Queen Elizabeth II conducts award ceremonies and hosts Heads of State from other nations here.The Grand Reception Room, with its stunning chandeliers and upholstery, is one of the main attractions among the State Apartments.The Grand Reception Room used to be the main ballroom back in the day, and showcases a rare malachite urn that was gifted to Queen Victoria by Tsar Nicholas. Such urns are rarely found outside of Russia.Another interesting room is the Waterloo Chamber. This chamber was built to celebrate Britain’s victory over Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo.The Waterloo Chamber is where the pantomime pictures are displayed. Originally, the chamber was lined with a series of portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence. The pantomime pictures were created by an art student to make up for their temporary removal during World War Two.St. George’s Hall is where State Banquets are held. The hall was destroyed in the fire of 1992 but has been completely restored since.The roof of the Hall features the coat of arms of every Knight of the Garter, an order established in 1348. You will also find the figure of a horseman atop a steed at its east end, known as the King’s Champion.The infamous St. George’s Chapel, over Westminster Abbey, is the preferred burial site for members of the royal family. This tradition came into effect during the reign of Queen Victoria.Things To Do At Windsor CastleNo visit to Windsor is complete without a tour of Windsor castle! Windsor castle became open to the public in 1925. The castle is not accessible to tourists on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you plan to visit the historic residence, tickets will have to be booked in advance.The first thing you should do when you arrive at Windsor Castle is book a Precincts Tour. This lasts about 30 minutes and gives you an overview of the castle’s history and present significance.Make sure to visit the stunning architectural marvel that is the St. George’s Chapel! This chapel has witnessed many royal weddings and burials. Some of its striking features are its stone ceiling and the marble memorial for Princess Charlotte.The Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays due to continuous services going on. However, worshippers are welcome to attend.Another visual display you should try to catch is the Changing of the Guard. This is the handover of duties between two sets of Household Troops, who have been the ‘guards’ of the monarchy since 1660.Queen Mary’s Dolls House is the world’s largest dollhouse. It was created by the architect Edward Lutyens as a present for Queen Mary, wife of King George V, and took over 1,500 artists and manufacturers to complete!The elaborate dollhouse has meticulously designed elements, including a full library of books handwritten by some of the most renowned writers of the time. It even has running water and electricity. You won’t find a better time capsule of ’20s Britain than this.If you have a flair for theater, be sure to book a viewing of the Princesses’ Pantomimes. These costumes were designed for teenage princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, to take part in war-time pantomimes. Currently, they are on display in the Waterloo Chamber.Apart from the unique features of the castle, a stroll of the parks and gardens would be a great addition to a family outing.If you have spare time, take a look around the quaint town of Windsor. The cobbled streets, colorful shops, and traditional pubs of this old town are a good escape from the bustle of daily life!
Windsor Castle is a royal house in the English county of Berkshire.
