Windsor Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Windsor Castle |
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| Windsor, Berkshire, in England | |
Round Tower and Upper Ward viewed from the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park
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 Windsor Castle
Location within Berkshire
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| Coordinates | 51°29′0″N 00°36′15″W / 51.48333°N 0.60417°W |
| Type | Three bailey wards with a round keep |
| Site information | |
| Owner | King Charles III in right of the Crown |
| Operator | Royal Household |
| Open to the public |
Limited access |
| Site history | |
| In use | Late 11th century – present |
| Materials | Bagshot Heath stone |
| Events | |
| Official name | Windsor Castle |
| Reference no. | 1006996 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Windsor Castle Including All The Buildings Within The Walls |
| Designated | 2 October 1975 |
| Reference no. | 1117776 |
| Official name | The Royal Estate, Windsor: Windsor Castle and Home Park |
| Designated | 31 August 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1001434 |
Windsor Castle is a royal home in Windsor, England. It has strong ties to the British royal family. The castle shows nearly 1,000 years of building history.
William the Conqueror built the first castle in the 11th century. This was after the Normans invaded England. Since King Henry I (who ruled 1100–1135), it has been used by the ruling monarch. This makes it the longest-occupied palace in Europe.
Inside the castle walls is the 15th-century St George's Chapel. Historian John Martin Robinson calls it "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.
The castle was first built to show Norman power near London. It also watched over an important part of the River Thames. Windsor Castle began as a motte-and-bailey castle. It had three areas, called wards, around a central mound. Stone walls slowly replaced the wooden ones. The castle survived a long attack during the First Barons' War in the early 13th century.
King Henry III built a fancy royal palace inside the castle in the mid-1200s. King Edward III went even further. He rebuilt the palace to create grander buildings. This became "the most expensive secular building project of the entire Middle Ages in England". Edward's main design lasted through the Tudor period. During this time, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I used the castle more often. It became a royal court and a place for important meetings.
Windsor Castle survived the English Civil War. During this time, it was a military base for Parliamentary forces. It also held King Charles I as a prisoner. After the monarchy returned in 1660, King Charles II rebuilt much of the castle. He worked with architect Hugh May. They created amazing Baroque interiors.
After being neglected in the 18th century, George III and George IV renovated the palace. This cost a huge amount of money. They created the current look of the state rooms. These rooms are filled with Rococo, Gothic, and Baroque furniture. Queen Victoria made some small changes. The castle became a main spot for royal events during her reign.
During the First World War, the castle inspired the royal family's new name: the House of Windsor. In George VI's reign, the royal family used it as a safe place during World War II bombings. A big restoration of several state rooms happened after a fire in 1992. Today, it is a popular tourist spot. It hosts state visits and was the main home of Elizabeth II from 2011 to 2022.
Contents
- Castle Design and Layout
- A Look at Castle History
- Early Days: 11th and 12th Centuries
- The 13th Century Castle
- Edward III's Grand Vision: 14th Century
- Royal Life: 15th and 16th Centuries
- War and Restoration: 17th Century
- Royal Comeback: 18th Century
- Victorian Era and Modernization: 19th Century
- 20th Century and Beyond
- Windsor Castle Today: 21st Century
- See also
Castle Design and Layout
- A: The Round Tower
- B: The Upper Ward, The Quadrangle
- C: The State Apartments
- D: Private Apartments*
- E: South Wing
- F: Lower Ward
- G: St George's Chapel
- H: Horseshoe Cloister
- K: King Henry VIII Gate
- L: The Long Walk
- M: Norman Gate
- N: North Terrace
- O: Edward III Tower
- T: The Curfew Tower
- *to the right of "D" (not shown) is the East Terrace created in the 17th century
Windsor Castle covers 13 acres (5.3 hectares). It combines a fortress, a palace, and a small town. The castle we see today was built in stages. This ended with repairs after the 1992 fire. It is mostly a Georgian and Victorian design. This design is built on a medieval structure. It has Gothic features made new again.
Since the 14th century, the castle's architecture has often copied older styles. This gives it a "fictive quality," meaning it looks like a theatrical set. Despite this, the castle's design and history make it one of Europe's "greatest European palaces".
The Middle Ward
The Middle Ward is at the heart of Windsor Castle. It is a bailey built around a motte, or artificial hill. The motte is 50 feet (15 m) high. It is made from chalk dug from the ditch around it.
The keep, called the Round Tower, sits on top of the motte. It is based on a 12th-century building. It was made 30 feet (9 m) taller in the early 1800s. This gave it a more impressive look. The inside of the Round Tower was changed in 1991–1993. This created more space for the Royal Archives. The Round Tower is not perfectly round. This is because of the shape of the mound underneath it.
The western entrance to the Middle Ward is now open. A gateway leads north from the ward to the North Terrace. The eastern exit is guarded by the Norman Gatehouse. This gatehouse is from the 14th century, despite its name. It has strong arches and carvings. These include medieval lion masks. It forms an impressive entrance to the Upper Ward.
The Upper Ward
The Upper Ward of Windsor Castle has many main buildings. These are surrounded by the upper bailey wall. They form a central square. The State Apartments are along the north side. Other buildings are along the east wall. The private royal apartments are to the south. The Edward III Tower is in the south-west corner. The motte and the Round Tower form the west edge.
A bronze statue of King Charles II on horseback sits near the Round Tower. The Upper Ward connects to the North Terrace. This terrace overlooks the River Thames. The East Terrace overlooks the Home Park. Hugh May built both terraces in the 17th century. The East Terrace has a private rose garden. George IV first designed it in the 1820s. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh updated the garden after World War II. It was used for growing food during the war. In 2020, the garden was opened to the public for a short time. This was the first time in 40 years.
The walls of the Upper Ward are made of Bagshot Heath stone. The inside is covered with bricks. Yellow Bath stone is used for Gothic details. The buildings use small pieces of flint in the mortar. This was done in the 17th century. It made stonework from different times look similar. The skyline of the Upper Ward looks dramatic from far away. It has tall towers and battlements. This look was inspired by the picturesque art movement of the late 1700s.
The State Apartments
The State Apartments are a main part of the Upper Ward. They are along the north side of the square. The modern building follows the medieval plans by King Edward III. The ground floor has service rooms and cellars. The much grander first floor is the main part of the palace. The western end of the State Apartments was mostly designed by architect Hugh May. The eastern side follows Jeffry Wyatville's plans.
Jeffry Wyatville designed most of the State Apartments' interiors in the early 1800s. He wanted each room to show a specific architectural style. It would also display matching furniture and art from that time. This idea still guides the apartments today. Different rooms use Classical, Gothic, and Rococo styles. Some parts also have a Jacobethan feel.
Many rooms on the eastern side were restored after the 1992 fire. They were made to look like their original appearance. But they used modern materials and hid new structural improvements. These rooms were also partly redesigned to fit modern tastes. Art historian Hugh Roberts called the State Apartments "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms". He said they were the "finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste".
Wyatville's most famous work includes rooms in a Rococo style. These rooms use the flowing, playful look of this mid-18th century art movement. They include many original pieces of Louis XV style furniture. But they are on a much larger scale. After the 1992 fire, it was found that many Rococo features were 19th-century copies. They were made of plasterwork and wood. They were designed to blend with older pieces.
The Grand Reception Room is the most important Rococo design. It is 100 feet (30 m) long and 40 feet (12 m) tall. This room was restored after the fire. It has a huge French Rococo ceiling. The room is decorated with restored Gobelins French tapestries. Even with less gold leaf than in the 1820s, it is still "one of the greatest set-pieces of Regency decoration".
The White, Green, and Crimson Drawing Rooms have 62 trophies. These are carved, gilded wooden panels. They show weapons and war spoils. Many have Masonic meanings. These trophies were restored or replaced after the fire. They are known for their "vitality, precision and three-dimensional quality". They were brought from Carlton House in 1826.
Wyatville's design kept three rooms built by May in the 17th century. These were made with painter Antonio Verrio and carver Grinling Gibbons. The Queen's Presence Chamber, Queen's Audience Chamber, and King's Dining Room are in a Baroque, Franco-Italian style. They have "gilded interiors enriched with florid murals". These rooms aimed to show a new English "baroque fusion" of architecture, painting, and carving.
Some rooms in the modern State Apartments show 18th-century or Victorian Gothic design. For example, the State Dining Room was badly damaged in the 1992 fire. It was restored to its 1920s look. Anthony Salvin's Grand Staircase is also a mid-Victorian Gothic design. It leads to a tall hall lit by an 18th-century Gothic vaulted lantern tower. This tower is called the Grand Vestibule.
Some parts of the State Apartments were destroyed in the 1992 fire. This area was rebuilt in a style called "Downesian Gothic". This style is named after the architect, Giles Downes. It mixes modern clean lines with a new Gothic look. Downes says the style avoids "florid decoration". It focuses on a natural, flowing Gothic structure.
Three new rooms were built or remodeled by Downes. St George's Hall has a new hammer-beam roof. It is the largest green-oak structure built since the Middle Ages. It is decorated with colorful shields. These celebrate the Order of the Garter. The Lantern Lobby welcomes guests. It has flowing oak columns forming a vaulted ceiling. The new Private Chapel is small. It combines parts of St George's Hall roof and the Lantern Lobby. The Great Kitchen also shows changes after the fire. It has a newly uncovered 14th-century roof lantern.
The ground floor of the State Apartments has famous medieval features. The 14th-century Great Undercroft still exists. It is 193 feet (59 m) long and 31 feet (9.4 m) wide. It is divided into 13 sections. After the 1992 fire, this area was opened up into one large space. The "beautifully vaulted" 14th-century Larderie passage runs next to the Kitchen Courtyard. It is decorated with carved royal roses. This shows it was built by Edward III.
The Lower Ward
The Lower Ward is below and to the west of the Round Tower. You reach it through the Norman Gate. Most of the Lower Ward was updated or rebuilt in the mid-Victorian period. This was done by Anthony Salvin and Edward Blore. They created a "consistently Gothic composition". The Lower Ward holds St George's Chapel. It also has most of the buildings linked to the Order of the Garter.
On the north side of the Lower Ward is St George's Chapel. This huge building is the spiritual home of the Order of the Knights of the Garter. It dates from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It is designed in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The fancy wooden choir stalls are from the 15th century. They were restored by Henry Emlyn in the late 1700s. They have unique brass plates. These show the coats of arms of the Knights of the Garter from the last six centuries.
The west side of the chapel has a grand Victorian door and staircase. These are used for special events. The east stained glass window is Victorian. The oriel window to the north was built by Henry VIII for Catherine of Aragon. The vault in front of the altar holds the remains of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, and Charles I. Edward IV is buried nearby. Historian John Robinson calls the chapel "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.
At the east end of St George's Chapel is the Lady Chapel. King Henry III originally built it in the 13th century. It was changed into the Albert Memorial Chapel between 1863 and 1873. This was done by George Gilbert Scott. It was built to honor Prince Albert. The chapel has rich decorations and works in marble, glass mosaic, and bronze. The east door of the chapel has original ironwork from 1246.
At the west end of the Lower Ward is the Horseshoe Cloister. It was built in 1480 to house the chapel's clergy. This curved brick and timber building is said to look like a fetlock. This was one of Edward IV's badges. George Gilbert Scott heavily restored the building in 1871. Not much of the original structure remains. Other buildings from Edward III's time are next to the Horseshoe. They have stone perpendicular tracery. Today, they are used as offices, a library, and homes for the Dean and Canons.
Behind the Horseshoe Cloister is the Curfew Tower. It is one of the oldest parts of the Lower Ward. It dates from the 13th century. Inside, the tower has a former dungeon. It also has parts of a sally port, a secret exit. The top floor has the castle bells from 1478. It also has the castle clock from 1689. The French-style conical roof was added in the 19th century. This was an attempt to make the tower look like Carcassonne.
On the other side of the chapel are buildings for the Military Knights. This includes the home of their Governor. These buildings are from the 16th century. The Knights still use them. They represent the Order of the Garter every Sunday. On the south side of the Ward is King Henry VIII's gateway. It has the coat of arms of Catherine of Aragon. It is the castle's second entrance.
Park and Landscape
Windsor Castle is on steep ground. This means its gardens are not very large. The castle gardens stretch east from the Upper Ward. They cross a 19th-century terrace. Windsor Castle is surrounded by large parkland. The area just east of the castle is the Home Park. It was created in the 19th century. The Home Park has parkland and two working farms. It also has many cottages for employees.
The Long Walk is a double avenue of trees. It runs for 2.65 miles (4.26 km) south of the castle. It is 240 feet (73 m) wide. The original 17th-century elm trees were replaced. Now there are alternating chestnut and plane trees. After 1945, many trees were replanted due to Dutch elm disease.
The Home Park is next to the larger Windsor Great Park. This park covers about 2,020 hectares (5,000 acres). It has some of Europe's oldest broadleaved woodlands. In the Home Park, north of the castle, is St George's School. This private school trains choristers for the chapel. Eton College is about half a mile from the castle. It is across the River Thames. It was founded by King Henry VI.
A Look at Castle History
Early Days: 11th and 12th Centuries
William the Conqueror built Windsor Castle after the Norman conquest in 1066. William created a ring of motte and bailey castles around London. Each was a day's march from the City and the next castle. This allowed for quick help in a crisis. Windsor Castle was important because it was near the River Thames. The Thames was a key route into London. It was also near Windsor Forest, a royal hunting area.
Windsor was not first used as a royal home. Early Norman kings preferred a palace in Old Windsor. King Henry I was the first to use Windsor Castle as a residence. He celebrated a holiday there in 1110. Henry's marriage to Adela happened at the castle in 1121. During this time, the keep partly collapsed. The old wooden keep was replaced with a new stone shell keep.
King Henry II became king in 1154. He built a lot at Windsor between 1165 and 1179. Henry replaced the wooden fence around the upper ward with a stone wall. He also built the first King's Gate. The first stone keep was sinking. Henry replaced it with another stone shell keep. He moved the walls inward to ease pressure on the mound. He added strong foundations for support. Inside, Henry changed the royal living areas.
The 13th Century Castle
King John did some building at Windsor. But it was mostly on the living areas, not the defenses. The castle was attacked in 1214. John used it as his base before signing Magna Carta nearby in 1215. In 1216, the castle was attacked again. But John's constable, Engelard de Cigogné, successfully defended it.
Damage from the second attack was quickly fixed by Henry III. He also made the defenses stronger. The walls of the Lower Ward were rebuilt in stone. This included a gatehouse where the Henry VIII Gate would be. Three new towers were built: the Curfew, Garter, and Salisbury towers. The Middle Ward was also made much stronger with a stone wall.
Windsor Castle was one of Henry III's favorite homes. He spent a lot of money on the royal living areas. He spent more at Windsor than any other property. Henry built a fancy palace in 1240–1263. It was for the queen and his children. In the Lower Ward, the king built rooms for himself. This included a 70-foot (21 m) long chapel, later called the Lady Chapel. Henry's work was known for its rich, religious decorations. This created a split in the castle. The Upper Ward was more private. The Lower Ward was for the public side of the monarchy.
Edward III's Grand Vision: 14th Century
King Edward III was born at Windsor Castle. He used it a lot during his rule. In 1344, the king announced the new Order of the Round Table at the castle. Edward started building a new structure for this order. It was never finished. It was described as a round building, 200 feet (61 m) across. It was probably in the center of the Upper Ward.
Soon after, Edward started the Order of the Garter. Windsor Castle became its headquarters. Edward decided to rebuild the castle, especially Henry III's palace. He wanted a castle that showed royal power and chivalry. Edward spent £51,000 on Windsor Castle between 1350 and 1377. This was the most any English medieval king spent on one building. It was more than one and a half times Edward's usual yearly income. Some money came from ransoms after Edward's victories in battles. The castle was "the most expensive secular building project of the entire Middle Ages in England".
Edward's new palace had three courtyards. These were along the north side of the Upper Ward. They were called Little Cloister, King's Cloister, and Kitchen Court. At the front was the St George's Hall area. It had a new hall and chapel. This area had two matching gatehouses. The Spicerie Gatehouse was the main entrance. The Kitchen Gatehouse led to the kitchen courtyard. The great hall had many large windows. The Rose Tower was for the king's private use. The result was a "great and apparently architecturally unified palace".
Edward built more fancy living areas for his court. These were around the east and south edges of the Upper Ward. This created the modern square shape. The Norman gate was built to protect the west entrance. In the Lower Ward, the chapel was made larger. Grand buildings for the canons were built next to it. England's earliest mechanical clock was put in the Round Tower in 1354.
The new castle held French prisoners from the Battle of Poitiers in 1357. This included King John II, who was held for a large ransom. Later in the century, Richard II also liked the castle. Richard had St George's Chapel restored. This work was done by Geoffrey Chaucer, who was a diplomat and Clerk of The King's Works.
Royal Life: 15th and 16th Centuries
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Kings continued to favor Windsor Castle in the 15th century. This was despite growing political violence. Henry IV took the castle in 1399. But he failed to catch Richard II, who had escaped. Under Henry V, the castle hosted a visit from the Holy Roman Emperor in 1417. This was a huge diplomatic event. It pushed the castle's space to its limits.
By the mid-15th century, England was divided. The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) were fought between rival royal families. Castles like Windsor did not play a key role. Henry VI was born at Windsor Castle. He became king at nine months old. His long childhood, and tensions between his supporters and rivals, drew attention away from Windsor.
Edward IV took power in 1461. He began building the current St. George's Chapel in 1475. This meant taking down older buildings in the Lower Ward. By building the grand chapel, Edward wanted to show his new family were the true rulers of England. He may also have wanted to compete with a similar chapel Henry VI had ordered at Eton College.
Henry VII used Windsor more often. In 1488, he held a huge feast for the Order of the Garter. He finished the roof of St George's Chapel. He also started to turn the older eastern Lady Chapel into a shrine for Henry VI. But Henry VI was not made a saint, so the project stopped. Henry VII also updated the King's Chamber in the palace. He rebuilt the roof of the Great Kitchen in 1489. He built a three-story tower for his own apartments. Windsor began to host international diplomatic events.
Henry VIII enjoyed Windsor Castle. As a young man, he liked "shooting, singing, dancing, wrestling". The Garter Feasts continued and became more lavish. The number of royal staff visiting Windsor had to be limited. During the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536, Henry used Windsor as a safe base. He managed his military response from there. Throughout the Tudor period, Windsor was also a safe place during plagues in London.
Henry rebuilt the main castle gateway around 1510. He built a tennis court in the Upper Ward. He also built a long wooden terrace, the North Wharf. It offered great views of the River Thames. This design included an outside staircase to the king's rooms. This made the king's life more comfortable. But it also made the castle's defenses weaker. Henry gave the eastern Lady Chapel to Cardinal Wolsey for his tomb. It was partly changed to an Italian Renaissance design. But Wolsey's fall from power stopped the project. Henry continued the project, but it was unfinished when he was buried there in 1547.
King Edward VI did not like Windsor Castle. His Protestant beliefs led him to simplify Garter ceremonies. He stopped the annual Feast of the Garter. He removed Catholic symbols from the Order. During the rebellions of 1549, Windsor was again a safe place for the king. Edward famously said he felt "in a prison" at Windsor. He said there were "no galleries, nor no gardens to walk in". Under Edward and his sister, Mary I, some building continued. Water was piped into the Upper Ward for a fountain. Mary also expanded buildings for the Knights of Windsor.
Elizabeth I spent much time at Windsor Castle. She used it as a safe place during crises. She knew it "could stand a siege if need be". Ten new brass cannons were bought for defense. It became one of her favorite places. She spent more money on it than any other palace. She made small changes, including many repairs. She turned the North Wharf into a permanent stone terrace. It had statues, carvings, and an outdoor dining house. A bridge was built over the ditch south of the castle. This made it easier to reach the park. Elizabeth built a gallery of buildings on the west end of the Upper Ward. Elizabeth used the castle more for diplomatic meetings. But space was still a challenge. The castle was not as large as newer royal palaces.
War and Restoration: 17th Century
King James I used Windsor Castle mainly for hunting. He also used it for socializing with friends. Many events involved big parties. One with Christian IV of Denmark in 1606 was famous for the kings' drunken behavior. Lack of space at Windsor was still a problem. James' English and Scottish staff often argued over rooms.
King Charles I loved art. He paid more attention to Windsor Castle's beauty. Charles had the castle surveyed in 1629. But little of the suggested work was done. Still, Charles hired Nicholas Stone to improve the chapel gallery. He also built a gateway in the North Terrace. A Dutch goldsmith made a baroque gold service for the St George's Chapel altar. In the last years of peace, Charles removed the fountain in the Upper Ward. He planned to replace it with a classical statue.
In 1642, the English Civil War began. It split the country into Royalists and Parliamentarians. After the battle of Edgehill in October, Parliament worried Charles might attack London. John Venn took control of Windsor Castle. He had twelve companies of soldiers. He became the castle's governor during the war. St George's Chapel's contents were valuable. Many Parliamentary forces saw them as too "high church". Looting began right away. Edward IV's jeweled armor was stolen. The chapel's organs, windows, and books were destroyed. The Lady Chapel was emptied of valuables. By the end of the war, much gold and silver plate had been stolen.
Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a Royalist general, tried to free Windsor Castle in November. Rupert's small cavalry force took Windsor town. But they could not get past the castle walls. Rupert had to retreat. Over the winter of 1642–1643, Windsor Castle became the headquarters for the Earl of Essex. He was a senior Parliamentary general. The Horseshoe Cloister became a prison for captured Royalists. The resident canons were forced out. The Lady Chapel became a magazine. Looting by the unpaid soldiers continued. 500 royal deer were killed in Windsor Great Park that winter. Fences were burned for firewood.
In 1647, Charles, then a prisoner, was brought to the castle. He was held there before moving to Hampton Court. In 1648, there was a Royalist plan to seize Windsor Castle. But it was never carried out. The Parliamentary Army Council moved into Windsor in November. They decided to try Charles for treason. Charles was held at Windsor for the last three weeks of his rule. After his execution in January 1649, his body was taken back to Windsor. It was buried without ceremony in the vault under St George's Chapel.
The return of the monarchy in 1660 brought big changes to Windsor Castle. The civil war had caused much damage to royal palaces. Also, royal tastes for palaces were changing. Windsor was the only royal palace fully modernized by Charles II.
During the time without a king, people had lived in Windsor Castle. The "King's house was a wreck". Soon after returning, Charles made Prince Rupert the Constable of Windsor Castle in 1668. Rupert immediately began fixing the castle's defenses. He repaired the Round Tower and rebuilt the real tennis court. Charles tried to bring deer from Germany to Windsor Great Park. But the herds never returned to their old size. Rupert made apartments for himself in the Round Tower. They were decorated with many weapons and armor.
Charles was inspired by Louis XIV Style from France. At Windsor, Charles created "the most extravagantly Baroque interiors ever executed in England". Much of the building work was paid for by royal money from Ireland. French court rules needed many connected rooms. This need for space made architect Hugh May expand onto the North Terrace. He rebuilt and widened it. This new building was called the Star Building. Charles II put a huge gilt Garter star on its side. May took down and rebuilt the walls of Edward III's hall and chapel. He added larger windows. May's work was sympathetic to the existing castle. It was a deliberate attempt to create a 17th-century "neo-Norman" castle.
King William III asked Nicholas Hawksmoor and Sir Christopher Wren to do a final classical redesign of the Upper Ward. But the king's early death stopped the plan. Queen Anne liked the castle. She tried to add a formal garden. She also created the racecourse at Ascot. She started the tradition of the annual Royal Ascot procession from the castle.
Royal Comeback: 18th Century
King George I was not very interested in Windsor Castle. He preferred other palaces. King George II rarely used Windsor either. Many rooms in the Upper Ward were given to friends of the Crown. By the 1740s, Windsor Castle was a tourist spot. Wealthy visitors could pay to enter. They could see things like the castle's narwhal horn. By the 1750s, the first guidebooks to Windsor were sold. As the State Apartments got worse, even the public could visit often.
King George III changed this when he became king in 1760. George did not like Hampton Court. He liked the park at Windsor Castle. George wanted to move into the Ranger's House. But his brother, Henry, was living there. So, George moved into the Upper Lodge. He began a long process of fixing up the castle and parks. At first, the castle was very informal. Local children played games in the wards. The royal family often walked around the grounds. But over time, public access became more limited.
George's taste in architecture changed. At first, he liked Classical styles. But he came to prefer a more Gothic style. He worked with architect James Wyatt. George tried to "transform the exterior of the buildings in the Upper Ward into a Gothic palace". But he kept the feel of the Hugh May state rooms. The outside of the building was restyled with Gothic features. This included new battlements and turrets. Inside, repairs were done. Several new rooms were built. This included a new Gothic staircase. New paintings were bought. Collections from other palaces were moved there. The work cost over £150,000. The king also did a lot of work in the Great Park. He created new farms and restored Virginia Water Lake.
At the end of this period, Windsor Castle became a place of royal confinement. In 1788, the king first got sick at Windsor Castle. He was diagnosed with madness. He was moved for a time to the White House at Kew. He got better for a while. But after getting sick again in 1801 and 1804, his condition became permanent from 1810. He was confined in the State Apartments. Building work on the castle stopped the next year.
Victorian Era and Modernization: 19th Century
George IV became king in 1820. He wanted to create royal palaces that showed his wealth and power. His earlier homes were too small for grand court events. George expanded the Royal Lodge in the castle park. Then he began to modernize the castle itself.
George convinced Parliament to give him £300,000 for restoration. Under his advisor, Charles Long, architect Jeffry Wyatville was chosen. Work began in 1824. Wyatville liked Gothic architecture. But George preferred a mix of styles. He applied this taste to Windsor. The terraces were closed to visitors for more privacy. The outside of the Upper Ward was completely changed to its current look. The Round Tower was made taller. Many rooms in the State Apartments were rebuilt. Many new towers were created, much taller than the old ones. The south side of the ward was rebuilt for the king's private rooms. The statue of Charles II was moved. The work was not finished when George IV died in 1830. But it was mostly done by Wyatville's death in 1840. The total cost for the castle was over one million pounds.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made Windsor Castle their main royal home. This was even though Victoria at first found it "dull and tiresome" and "prison-like". She preferred Osborne and Balmoral for holidays. The growth of the British Empire and Victoria's family ties to Europe made Windsor a center for diplomatic visits. This was helped by new railways and steamships. Windsor reached its social peak during the Victorian era. Many important people were invited to "dine and sleep" at the castle. Victoria was very interested in how Windsor Castle was run. Few visitors found these events comfortable. This was due to the castle's design and strict royal rules.
Prince Albert died in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle in 1861. He was buried in the Royal Mausoleum at nearby Frogmore. The prince's rooms were kept exactly as they were when he died. Victoria kept the castle in a state of mourning for many years. She became known as the "Widow of Windsor". The Queen avoided Buckingham Palace after Albert's death. She used Windsor Castle as her home when doing official business near London. Later in her reign, plays, operas, and other entertainment slowly returned to the castle.
Several small changes were made to the Upper Ward under Victoria. Anthony Salvin rebuilt Wyatville's grand staircase. Edward Blore built a new private chapel in the State Apartments. Salvin also rebuilt the State Dining Room after a serious fire in 1853. Blore and Salvin also did a lot of work in the Lower Ward. This included the Hundred Steps leading to Windsor town. They rebuilt the Garter, Curfew, and Salisbury towers. They also rebuilt the houses of the Military Knights and created a new Guardhouse. George Gilbert Scott rebuilt the Horseshoe Cloister in the 1870s. The Norman Gatehouse became a private home. Windsor Castle did not get many small improvements of the time. Victoria did not like gaslight, preferring candles. Electric lighting was only put in some parts of the castle late in her reign. The castle was famously cold and drafty in Victoria's reign. But it was connected to a nearby reservoir. Water was reliably piped into the interior for the first time.
Many changes under Victoria were to the parklands and buildings. The Royal Dairy at Frogmore was rebuilt in a mock Tudor style in 1853. George III's Dairy was rebuilt in a Renaissance style in 1859. The Long Walk was planted with new trees. The Windsor Castle and Town Approaches Act of 1848 allowed old roads through the park to be closed. This allowed the royal family to enclose a large area of parkland. This created the private "Home Park" with no public roads. The Queen gave more public access to the rest of the park.
20th Century and Beyond
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Edward VII became king in 1901. He quickly started modernizing Windsor Castle. Many rooms in the Upper Ward were tidied and redecorated. Electric lighting was added to more rooms. Central heating and telephone lines were installed. Garages were built for new cars. The marathon was run from Windsor Castle at the 1908 Olympics. In 1911, the first airplane landed at the castle.
George V continued a slower modernization. His wife, Queen Mary, was very interested in furniture and decoration. Mary found and bought back items that had been lost or sold from the castle. She also bought many new artworks for the state rooms. Queen Mary loved miniatures. A famous dolls' house was made for her at Windsor Castle. It was designed by architect Edwin Lutyens. George V wanted to keep a high standard of court life at Windsor Castle. He said everything should be "of the best". A large staff still worked at the castle. Around 660 servants were there during this time. During the First World War, anti-German feelings grew. The royal family changed their name from the German House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. George decided to take the new name from the castle. The royal family became the House of Windsor in 1917.
Edward VIII did not spend much time at Windsor Castle. He preferred Fort Belvedere in the Great Park. Edward created a small aerodrome at the castle. It is now a golf course. Edward's reign was short. He gave his abdication speech from the castle in December 1936. He then became the Duke of Windsor. His successor, George VI, also preferred his own home. This was the Royal Lodge in the Great Park. But he moved into Windsor Castle with his wife Elizabeth. As king, George brought back the annual Garter Service at Windsor.
When World War II began in 1939, the castle was made ready for wartime. Many staff from Buckingham Palace moved to Windsor for safety. Security was increased. Windows were blacked out. There was worry the castle might be damaged by bombs. Important artworks were moved to safety. Valuable chandeliers were lowered to the floor. Paintings were commissioned to record the castle's look. The king and queen and their children, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, lived safely in the castle. The roof above their rooms was specially strengthened. The king and queen drove to London daily. They returned to Windsor to sleep. This was a secret at the time. For morale, it was reported the king was still living full-time at Buckingham Palace. The castle was also used for storage. For example, the only purified heavy water at the time was rescued from France. Most of it was sent to the castle basement. It was stored with the Crown Jewels. After the war, the king brought back "dine and sleep" events at Windsor. This was because the castle had become "almost like a vast, empty museum". Still, it took many years to restore Windsor Castle.
In February 1952, Elizabeth II became queen. She decided to make Windsor her main weekend home. The private apartments had not been properly used since Queen Mary's time. They were renovated and modernized. The Queen, Prince Philip, and their two children moved in. By the early 1990s, the Upper Ward was showing wear. Especially the State Apartments. Repairs and replacements over generations had made them less rich in decoration. A repair program to replace heating and wiring began in 1988. Work was also done to support the Round Tower's mound. New sinking was found in 1988. This threatened the tower's collapse.
The 1992 Fire
On 20 November 1992, a big fire happened at Windsor Castle. It lasted 15 hours. It caused widespread damage to the Upper Ward. The Private Chapel was being renovated. It is believed a spotlight used in the work set fire to a curtain. The fire spread quickly. It destroyed nine main state rooms. It badly damaged over 100 others. Firefighters used water to stop the blaze. Castle staff tried to save precious artworks. Many rooms near the fire had been emptied for renovation. This helped save most of the collection.
The fire spread through the roof spaces. Firefighters worked through the night to stop it. This was very risky for the 200 firefighters. The blaze began to be controlled late in the afternoon. But the fire continued through the night. It was officially put out the next morning. Besides fire and smoke damage, there was also a lot of water damage. Over 1.5 million gallons of water were used. This caused more complex restoration problems than the fire itself.
After the fire, two main issues came up. The first was about who should pay for repairs. Traditionally, the British government paid for Windsor Castle. This was because it belonged to the Crown. It was not insured to save money. But the British press argued the Queen should pay from her own money. A solution was found. Repairs would be paid for by opening Buckingham Palace to the public. New charges for public access to Windsor's parkland were also added.
The second issue was how to repair the castle. Some wanted to restore rooms to their original look. Others wanted to add modern designs. The decision was made to mostly follow the pre-fire architecture. Some changes were made for modern tastes and cost. Modern methods were used to make the castle look like it did before the fire. This was partly due to cost. The restoration was finished in 1997. It cost £37 million.
Windsor Castle Today: 21st Century
Windsor Castle is part of the Occupied Royal Palaces Estate. Charles III owns it as part of the Crown. The Royal Household manages it daily. Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world. It is also the longest-occupied palace in Europe. It is still a working royal home. As of 2006, about 500 people lived and worked there.
Before her death, Elizabeth II used the castle more as a royal palace and weekend home. In recent years, Windsor Castle has hosted visits from world leaders. This includes presidents from the United States. The castle is still an important ceremonial place. The Waterloo ceremony happens there each year. The annual Order of the Garter ceremony takes place in St George's Chapel. When the Queen was there, the Guard Mounting ceremony happened daily. The Royal Ascot procession leaves the castle each year.
During Elizabeth II's reign, much was done to restore the building. It was also made into a major British tourist attraction. It holds a large part of the Royal Collection of art. Archaeological work has continued at the castle. In 2007, 993,000 tourists visited the castle. This has been done while keeping security tight. In late 2011, two large water turbines were installed upstream on the River Thames. They provide hydroelectric power to the castle.
In April 2016, the Royal Collection Trust announced a project. It would bring back the castle's original entrance hall for visitors. It would also add a new café in the 14th-century undercroft. The new entrance opened in late 2019. From March 2020, the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh stayed at Windsor during the COVID-19 pandemic. They had a small staff. This was known as 'HMS Bubble'. They celebrated Christmas at Windsor Castle for the first time since 1987. Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021.
On Christmas Day 2021, a 19-year-old entered the gardens. He was arrested before he could enter any buildings. He had posted a video online. He later admitted to charges related to his actions.
On 7 May 2023, the Home Park lawn hosted the Coronation Concert. This celebrated the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. It was the first open-air concert at the castle. It included performances by famous artists. Members of the royal family attended. An audience of 20,000 members of the public also came.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Windsor para niños
- Constables and Governors of Windsor Castle
- The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter
- Windsor Festival International String Competition
