King George VI Memorial Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King George VI Memorial Chapel |
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The chapel abutting the exterior of St George's Chapel
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Year consecrated | 1969 |
| Known for | Burial place of George VI, Elizabeth II and their immediate family |
| Location | |
| Location | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Municipality | Windsor |
| Country | England |
 Location in Berkshire
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural style | Modernist Perpendicular Gothic |
| Funded by | Elizabeth II |
| General contractor | John Mowlem & Co. Ltd. |
| Completed | 1969 |
| Construction cost | GB£25,000 GB£437,754 (2021 inflation adj.) |
The King George VI Memorial Chapel is a special part of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. It was built for Queen Elizabeth II in 1962. She wanted a burial place for her father, King George VI. The chapel was finished in 1969. It is the final resting place for King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The ashes of Princess Margaret are also there. George Pace designed this chapel.
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History of the Chapel
Queen Elizabeth II asked for this chapel to be built in 1962. She wanted a specific place for her father, King George VI, to rest. After his funeral service, King George VI's remains were in the royal vault. This is an underground burial chamber beneath the chapel. His death was sudden, so no special resting place had been planned.
The Queen's request was put on hold for five years. She did not want her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to go through the pain of burying her husband again. The Queen also preferred simple stone slabs on the floor instead of large marble tombs with statues.
There was no room for a new vault inside St George's Chapel. So, a solution was found: building a new small chapel, called a chantry chapel, outside the main chapel. This was the first time a new part had been added to St George's Chapel since 1504.
Design of the Chapel
The first idea for the new chapel was not approved. It suggested building a small rectangular chapel into the north wall of the main church. This plan was made by Paul Paget and John Seely, 2nd Baron Mottistone.
The second plan was approved. It was proposed by the architect George Pace. His design placed the new chapel between two existing parts of St George's Chapel. The chapel is about 18 feet (5.5 meters) high, 10 feet (3 meters) wide, and 14 feet (4.3 meters) deep. It was finished in 1969.
The chapel is made from stone from Clipsham in Rutland. Its red and blue stained-glass windows were designed by John Piper. The roof is painted black and white and has gold leaf decorations. Inside, there is an altar with a bronze portrait of King George VI. This portrait is a copy of one found in a church on the royal estate of Sandringham.
The chapel's design mixes modern style with the older Perpendicular Gothic style of the main chapel. Below the chapel, there is an underground room where the royal remains are placed.
Royal Burials
King George VI (1969)
King George VI's remains were moved to his new memorial chapel on March 24, 1969. The chapel cost £25,000, which Queen Elizabeth II paid for herself.
The chapel was officially opened on March 31, 1969. Many important people attended, including King George's widow, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and their daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. Her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and their children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, were also there.
The chapel has special wrought iron gates. They are carved with words from a poem called "The Gate of the Year" by Minnie Louise Haskins. King George VI famously quoted these words in his Christmas message in 1939. The words say: "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown'."
Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (2002)
The ashes of King George VI's younger daughter, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, were placed in the royal vault on February 15, 2002. Princess Margaret chose to be cremated. This was so her remains could fit into the small burial chamber beneath the chapel.
King George's widow, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, was buried in the chapel on April 9, 2002. This happened after her funeral at Westminster Abbey. Princess Margaret's ashes were placed in her parents' tomb at the same time.
Princess Margaret's tombstone is now in the right-hand corner of the chapel. It has her royal symbol carved below the words. The stone reads:
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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (2022)
On September 19, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II was buried beneath the memorial chapel. This was a private service with only royal family members. It happened after her state funeral at Westminster Abbey earlier that day.
Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had died in 2021. His remains were first placed in the royal vault after his funeral. He was then moved and buried with his wife in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
After their burials, a new stone slab was placed on the chapel floor. It has an extra metal star symbol of the Order of the Garter between the couples' names. The stone now reads:
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GEORGE VI |
See also
In Spanish: Capilla memorial de Jorge VI del Reino Unido para niños
