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The castle is used regularly for ceremonial and state occasions, including state visits from overseas monarchs and presidents. The Waterloo ceremony is carried out in the presence of the Queen or King each year, and the annual ceremony of the Order of the Garter takes place in St George’s Chapel.
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Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest castle in the world, a royal home and fortress for more than 900 years, also serving as a prison during the Civil War in the mid-17th century, a social centre for political figures and nobility, and a fortress during several major wars. The castle was Queen Elisabeth II’s favourite weekend home and one of her majesty’s official residences
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Originally built in the 11th century, following the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror, the castle has been home to monarchs since Henry I
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Although Windsor Castle has experienced additions and renovations under every new monarch, it still maintains its original plan. The complex includes Saint George’s Chapel, the tombs of eleven British monarchs, a magnificent library, and an art collection. Fine artworks that have their home here include An Old Woman by Rembrandt, Holy Family with Saint Francis by Rubens, Charles I in Three Positions by Van Dyck, as well as numerous works by Canaletto, countless other paintings, and a remarkable collection of drawings by such renowned artists as Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer, and Leonardo Da Vinci.
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Windsor Castle grounds cover 52,609 square metres and combine the features of a fortification, a palace, and a small town. The present-day castle was created during a sequence of phased building projects, culminating in the reconstruction work after a fire in 1992 lasting for 15 hours. The fire spread quickly and destroyed nine of the principal state rooms and severely damaged more than 100 others
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The UK has a rich and diverse history that has witnessed the rise and fall of tribes, kingdoms, empires, and nations. From stone-age cultures to the Ancient Romans and Norman conquerors to the achievements of the British Empire, the UK’s historic sites a
