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9 Amazing Windsor Castle Facts
Housed in Berkshire, England, Windsor Castle covers 5.2 hectares of land and is the largest inhabited fortress in the world. The castle, the official residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is also home to the Royal Library and some famous fine art. These include An Old Woman by Rembrandt (c. 1609 CE), Holy Family with Saint Francis by Rubens (c. 1630 CE), Charles I in Three Positions by Van Dyck (c. 1635 CE), as well as numerous works done by Canaletto.
In November 1992, tragedy struck when a fire ignited in the private Chapel which raged for 15 hours straight spreading to destroy the north-east corner of the Upper Ward ruining the Grand Reception Room and Saint George’s Hall. After extensive repairs and renovation, the castle was restored to its original stature. Windsor Castle came into the spotlight again in May 2018 when St. George’s Chapel hosted the live telecast wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Today, Windsor Castle is one of the top things to do in Windsor. Read on for some interesting Windsor Castle facts.
Windsor Castle facts
1. King George III was known as 'Farmer George'
King George III was fond of the castle and the people who lived around it. He took great interest in getting to know the community and would frequently ride around Windsor countryside curiously inquiring about the well-being of his tenants. This gave him the nickname Farmer George.
Windsor Castle history
2. The castle has also witnessed royal burials
Believe it or not, about ten kings have been buried in Windsor Castle! The court convicted Charles I of treason in 1649, and he was beheaded at Whitehall Palace. The Parliament ordered him to be buried without “pomp or noise”. His body rests in Henry VIII’s burial vault in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Other buried Royal family members include Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, George V and Queen Mary, and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
3. Queen Mary’s Dollhouse - a mini-mansion
Don’t miss out on the world’s largest and most elaborate miniature dollhouse created just for Queen Mary. Displayed in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle, it was designed by renowned architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll in the 1920s. It includes running water, electricity, flush toilets, elevators, and a 1200-piece wine cellar filled with real wine and beer. It also has a pocket-sized library with original handwritten stories by authors like Rudyard Kipling and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What to see at Windsor Castle
4. The Royal family got their name from the castle
Before 1919, the Royal family’s last name was “Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.” Considering that the association with a German surname would give a bad name to the British during World War I, the Royal family's last name was changed to Windsor. The word originated from the Old English Windlesoren, which means 'winch by the riverbank'.
5. The castle has successfully overcome a few attacks
Windsor Castle is a fortress before anything else and has shown to be a strong one over time. Back in the day, guards on standby were alert at all times and would get rid of intruders by using boiling oil and heavy stones. Records show that during the 1200s Barons War, the castle successfully fought a two-month siege.
6. Queen Elizabeth II slept in the dungeon during World War II
Windsor Castle was never attacked during World War II because Adolf Hitler wanted to occupy this space as his British home. Knowing this, the Royals took advantage of the situation by secretly hiding within the castle. The girls, including the future Queen Elizabeth II, used to occasionally sleep in the dungeon with reinforced bedrooms, where all windows were blacked out and chandeliers removed.
7. Windsor Castle was home to James Holman, 19th-century blind traveler
James Holman was considered the greatest traveller in the 19th century beating the distance covered by Marco Polo, James Cook, and Ibn Battuta. Holman stood out from these veteran travelers by exploring countries blind and alone. When he was taking a break from globetrotting, Holman lived at the castle serving as an official Knight of Windsor.
8. Windsor Castle hosts Changing of the Guards ceremonies
Just like the Queen’s main residence at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle also has a Changing of the Guard ceremony! This signifies a new group of soldiers taking over responsibilities for guarding the palace at 11am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Don’t forget to witness this iconic military event if you're visiting the castle.
Windsor Castle timings
9. It has the oldest kitchen in the United Kingdom
Windsor Castle has the oldest working kitchen in the country, serving dishes since the days of Edward III around 1360. The Great Kitchen has fed the Royals and hundreds of their guests for over 750 years. It is believed that Prince Albert brought in the first gas range in 1890.