Windsor Castle

Contents Introduction Plan of Windsor Castle

The Medieval and Tudor Castle

8 10

The Order of the Garter

14

St George’s Chapel

16

Treasures of Windsor Castle

20

The Restoration Castle

22

Treasures Lost and Found

28

The Georgian Castle

33

The Royal Parks at Windsor

42

The Victorian Castle

44

The Twentieth-Century Castle

52

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

The Long Walk.

4

56

The Castle Today

58

The Fire of 1992

62

The Castle Community

63

Contents Introduction Plan of Windsor Castle

The Medieval and Tudor Castle

8 10

The Order of the Garter

14

St George’s Chapel

16

Treasures of Windsor Castle

20

The Restoration Castle

22

Treasures Lost and Found

28

The Georgian Castle

33

The Royal Parks at Windsor

42

The Victorian Castle

44

The Twentieth-Century Castle

52

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

The Long Walk.

4

56

The Castle Today

58

The Fire of 1992

62

The Castle Community

63

Introduction

THE STATE AND SEMI-STATE ROOMS State rooms are those where The Queen carries out official duties as Head of State. Today, ceremonies such as investitures or formal banquets to welcome foreign heads of state still take place in the state rooms, which at Windsor Castle include the Waterloo Chamber, St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room.

The apartments at Windsor now known as the semistate rooms were originally decorated by George IV for his private use. They are open to the public during the winter and provide an impressive setting for less formal functions, such as receptions hosted by members of the

above

left

4

introduction

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex emerging from St George’s Chapel following their wedding ceremony on 19 May 2018.

Her Majesty The Queen with her two youngest grandchildren and her five great-grandchildren in the Green Drawing Room in 2016. overleaf

Changing the Guard in the Castle’s Lower Ward.

But Windsor Castle is about much more than preserving the past. This has always been a working palace, with a thriving community within its precincts. It is not a museum; the rooms at Windsor Castle are used for state occasions and for official entertaining. Guests sit on the furniture, and the tables at formal lunches and dinners are decorated with pieces from the exceptional collections of porcelain and silver kept at the Castle.

It is also one of Her Majesty’s private residences. Windsor Castle was The Queen’s childhood home, and it is still where she and The Duke of Edinburgh spend most of their weekends when not attending official functions. A royal residence since the early 1100s, the Castle has been the setting for many Royal Family occasions from the Middle Ages to the present day.

This souvenir guide explores the history of Windsor Castle through the monarchs who have transformed it from a simple wooden fortification into one of the most famous castles in Europe, highlighting along the way some of the remarkable features and treasures that can still be seen by visitors to the Castle today.

introduction

Royal Family, to this day.

5

and largest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle has remained in almost continuous use since it was built by William I in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. For nearly a thousand years it has been a symbol of monarchy and its long and extraordinary history is inextricably entwined with that of the nation as a whole.

Windsor Castle is one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s three official residences (with Buckingham Palace and, in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse), where she carries out her duties as Head of State of the United Kingdom and as Head of the Commonwealth. It is home to the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious order of chivalry in Britain, and to St George’s Chapel, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Much of the Royal Collection, among the world’s greatest collections of paintings, furniture and other treasures, can be seen on display in the magnificent state and semi-state rooms. The Castle makes a spectacular backdrop to ceremonial occasions and traditions, many of which date back to the Middle Ages. It welcomes more than a million visitors each year to learn about its history and admire its collections of art. the oldest

Introduction

THE STATE AND SEMI-STATE ROOMS State rooms are those where The Queen carries out official duties as Head of State. Today, ceremonies such as investitures or formal banquets to welcome foreign heads of state still take place in the state rooms, which at Windsor Castle include the Waterloo Chamber, St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room.

The apartments at Windsor now known as the semistate rooms were originally decorated by George IV for his private use. They are open to the public during the winter and provide an impressive setting for less formal functions, such as receptions hosted by members of the

above

left

4

introduction

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex emerging from St George’s Chapel following their wedding ceremony on 19 May 2018.

Her Majesty The Queen with her two youngest grandchildren and her five great-grandchildren in the Green Drawing Room in 2016. overleaf

Changing the Guard in the Castle’s Lower Ward.

But Windsor Castle is about much more than preserving the past. This has always been a working palace, with a thriving community within its precincts. It is not a museum; the rooms at Windsor Castle are used for state occasions and for official entertaining. Guests sit on the furniture, and the tables at formal lunches and dinners are decorated with pieces from the exceptional collections of porcelain and silver kept at the Castle.

It is also one of Her Majesty’s private residences. Windsor Castle was The Queen’s childhood home, and it is still where she and The Duke of Edinburgh spend most of their weekends when not attending official functions. A royal residence since the early 1100s, the Castle has been the setting for many Royal Family occasions from the Middle Ages to the present day.

This souvenir guide explores the history of Windsor Castle through the monarchs who have transformed it from a simple wooden fortification into one of the most famous castles in Europe, highlighting along the way some of the remarkable features and treasures that can still be seen by visitors to the Castle today.

introduction

Royal Family, to this day.

5

and largest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle has remained in almost continuous use since it was built by William I in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. For nearly a thousand years it has been a symbol of monarchy and its long and extraordinary history is inextricably entwined with that of the nation as a whole.

Windsor Castle is one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s three official residences (with Buckingham Palace and, in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse), where she carries out her duties as Head of State of the United Kingdom and as Head of the Commonwealth. It is home to the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious order of chivalry in Britain, and to St George’s Chapel, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Much of the Royal Collection, among the world’s greatest collections of paintings, furniture and other treasures, can be seen on display in the magnificent state and semi-state rooms. The Castle makes a spectacular backdrop to ceremonial occasions and traditions, many of which date back to the Middle Ages. It welcomes more than a million visitors each year to learn about its history and admire its collections of art. the oldest

The Medieval and Tudor Castle

won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, it marked one of the most decisive moments in English history. Although William I (reigned 1066–87) seized the throne and established a dynasty of Norman kings, it took many years to overcome continued resistance from the defeated Anglo-Saxons.

Across the country, he built castles to assert his authority and subjugate the rebels. The wooden castle erected on a bluff above the River Thames at Windsor was one such, part of a ring of fortifications around London. It was established as a military garrison, as it has remained for nearly a thousand years.

The castle at Windsor followed a typical Norman design, with a central tower, or keep, constructed on an artificial earthen mound (motte). The original keep was probably wooden, rebuilt later in stone and, in around 1225, replaced by the present Round Tower. The motte was surrounded by a fortified enclosure or bailey, today known as the Middle Ward. Eventually two further enclosures were added as the castle grew. The Lower Ward and the Upper Ward were encircled by timber palisades at first, but gradually the defences were replaced by stone, and by the thirteenth century the circuit of curtain walls was complete. The essential outline of the Castle has remained the same ever since.

10

th e m ed i e val an d tudor c a stle

w h e n w i l l i a m o f n o r m a n dy

right

The fourteenth-century Great Kitchen is one of the oldest working kitchens in the world.

below left

The Moat Garden and the Norman Gate. below right

The thirteenth-century ‘Gilebertus’ door in the east end of St George’s Chapel, named after the medieval smith who signed the ironwork.

The Medieval and Tudor Castle

won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, it marked one of the most decisive moments in English history. Although William I (reigned 1066–87) seized the throne and established a dynasty of Norman kings, it took many years to overcome continued resistance from the defeated Anglo-Saxons.

Across the country, he built castles to assert his authority and subjugate the rebels. The wooden castle erected on a bluff above the River Thames at Windsor was one such, part of a ring of fortifications around London. It was established as a military garrison, as it has remained for nearly a thousand years.

The castle at Windsor followed a typical Norman design, with a central tower, or keep, constructed on an artificial earthen mound (motte). The original keep was probably wooden, rebuilt later in stone and, in around 1225, replaced by the present Round Tower. The motte was surrounded by a fortified enclosure or bailey, today known as the Middle Ward. Eventually two further enclosures were added as the castle grew. The Lower Ward and the Upper Ward were encircled by timber palisades at first, but gradually the defences were replaced by stone, and by the thirteenth century the circuit of curtain walls was complete. The essential outline of the Castle has remained the same ever since.

10

th e m ed i e val an d tudor c a stle

w h e n w i l l i a m o f n o r m a n dy

right

The fourteenth-century Great Kitchen is one of the oldest working kitchens in the world.

below left

The Moat Garden and the Norman Gate. below right

The thirteenth-century ‘Gilebertus’ door in the east end of St George’s Chapel, named after the medieval smith who signed the ironwork.

right

The Order of the Garter

The Prince of Wales, The Queen and The Duke of Cambridge on Garter Day. Garter Day procession.

of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Edward III founded the Order of the Garter in 1348, with St George as its patron saint and a motto – Honi soit qui mal y pense (‘Shame on he who thinks evil of it’) – that has belonged to the Crown ever since. The Order consisted of the King himself, the Prince of Wales and twenty-four Knights Companion, most of whom had fought with him during his victorious campaigns in France.

Almost seven hundred years later, the Order is the oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry in Britain. The Queen is Sovereign of the Order and several senior members of the Royal Family are also Knights. Today, Knights or Ladies Companion are chosen largely from those who have contributed significantly to national life. Foreign monarchs invited to join the Order are known as Stranger Knights or Ladies Companion, and currently include the Queen of Denmark, the Kings of Spain, Sweden and Norway and the Emperor of Japan.

Originally, a feast and tournament were held at Windsor Castle every year on St George’s Day, 23 April, but the Garter Day procession now takes place in June and is one of the most colourful ceremonies in The Queen’s calendar. Accompanied by a marching band, members of the Order take part in a procession from the State Apartments in the Upper Ward to St George’s Chapel, wearing the velvet robes of the Order, glistening insignia and ostrich-plumed hats that echo medieval costume.

Members of the public can apply for tickets to watch the procession from inside the precincts of the Castle.

14

the order of the garter

i n s p i r e d b y ta l e s

top

The Garter stall plate of The Duke of Edinburgh in St George’s Chapel. The date on the plate (1947) indicates the year in which The Duke was created a Knight of the Garter. above

Part of the insignia of the Garter.

right

The Order of the Garter

The Prince of Wales, The Queen and The Duke of Cambridge on Garter Day. Garter Day procession.

of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Edward III founded the Order of the Garter in 1348, with St George as its patron saint and a motto – Honi soit qui mal y pense (‘Shame on he who thinks evil of it’) – that has belonged to the Crown ever since. The Order consisted of the King himself, the Prince of Wales and twenty-four Knights Companion, most of whom had fought with him during his victorious campaigns in France.

Almost seven hundred years later, the Order is the oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry in Britain. The Queen is Sovereign of the Order and several senior members of the Royal Family are also Knights. Today, Knights or Ladies Companion are chosen largely from those who have contributed significantly to national life. Foreign monarchs invited to join the Order are known as Stranger Knights or Ladies Companion, and currently include the Queen of Denmark, the Kings of Spain, Sweden and Norway and the Emperor of Japan.

Originally, a feast and tournament were held at Windsor Castle every year on St George’s Day, 23 April, but the Garter Day procession now takes place in June and is one of the most colourful ceremonies in The Queen’s calendar. Accompanied by a marching band, members of the Order take part in a procession from the State Apartments in the Upper Ward to St George’s Chapel, wearing the velvet robes of the Order, glistening insignia and ostrich-plumed hats that echo medieval costume.

Members of the public can apply for tickets to watch the procession from inside the precincts of the Castle.

14

the order of the garter

i n s p i r e d b y ta l e s

top

The Garter stall plate of The Duke of Edinburgh in St George’s Chapel. The date on the plate (1947) indicates the year in which The Duke was created a Knight of the Garter. above

Part of the insignia of the Garter.

The Restoration Castle

between Crown and Parliament that tore England apart in the mid-seventeenth century led to the abolition of the monarchy. Windsor Castle was seized by the Parliamentarians and used as a prison for captured Royalist officers, including the King himself. Charles I (reigned 1625–49) spent his last Christmas at Windsor before his execution in Whitehall on 30 January 1649. On a bitterly cold, snowy day, his body was brought back to St George’s Chapel, where he was buried ‘in silence and in sorrow’ a few days later in a vault with the remains of Henry VIII. When Charles II (reigned 1660–85) was returned to the throne at the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, he was determined to make Windsor Castle a symbol of the restored power of the Crown. He appointed an architect, Hugh May, to transform Edward III’s old palace and design new royal apartments that would reflect the splendour of the Restoration court and impress upon any visitors the magnificence of the King.

In layout the state rooms we see today are largely as they were built for Charles II, although the staircases were altered in later centuries and some of the Queen’s rooms were incorporated into the Royal Library in the 1830s. t h e b i t t e r c i v i l wa r

above

Charles II, painted by Antonio Verrio on the plaster ceiling in St George’s Hall, c.1683. right

A watercolour of St George’s Hall as remodelled for Charles II

by Hugh May, painted by Charles Wild, c.1818.

22

t h e resto r at i o n c a st le

The Queen’s Audience Chamber.

left

The King’s Bedchamber.

The State Bed was made for George IV in the late eighteenth century and was reupholstered in the imperial colours for the State Visit of Napoleon III in 1855.

The Restoration Castle

between Crown and Parliament that tore England apart in the mid-seventeenth century led to the abolition of the monarchy. Windsor Castle was seized by the Parliamentarians and used as a prison for captured Royalist officers, including the King himself. Charles I (reigned 1625–49) spent his last Christmas at Windsor before his execution in Whitehall on 30 January 1649. On a bitterly cold, snowy day, his body was brought back to St George’s Chapel, where he was buried ‘in silence and in sorrow’ a few days later in a vault with the remains of Henry VIII. When Charles II (reigned 1660–85) was returned to the throne at the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, he was determined to make Windsor Castle a symbol of the restored power of the Crown. He appointed an architect, Hugh May, to transform Edward III’s old palace and design new royal apartments that would reflect the splendour of the Restoration court and impress upon any visitors the magnificence of the King.

In layout the state rooms we see today are largely as they were built for Charles II, although the staircases were altered in later centuries and some of the Queen’s rooms were incorporated into the Royal Library in the 1830s. t h e b i t t e r c i v i l wa r

above

Charles II, painted by Antonio Verrio on the plaster ceiling in St George’s Hall, c.1683. right

A watercolour of St George’s Hall as remodelled for Charles II

by Hugh May, painted by Charles Wild, c.1818.

22

t h e resto r at i o n c a st le

The Queen’s Audience Chamber.

left

The King’s Bedchamber.

The State Bed was made for George IV in the late eighteenth century and was reupholstered in the imperial colours for the State Visit of Napoleon III in 1855.

The opulent bed itself was part of the ritual of dressing and undressing the King in the presence of the most influential nobles. Officially, the King slept next door in what is now known as the King’s Dressing Room to which only his personal servants had access, although in the case of Charles II, he may often have slept somewhere else entirely. One of his mistresses, Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, was installed in a suite immediately below his bedchamber, while another, the actress Nell Gwyn, had a large house outside the Castle.

Beyond the King’s Dressing Room was the King’s Closet. This was originally a much smaller room, and was Charles II’s most private space where he kept his precious treasures. Only the King and his trusted servant, William Chiffinch, had keys to the Closet, which was later knocked into another room for George III (reigned 1760–1820) to make the larger King’s Closet we see today. From the Closet, the King could access his stool room, lined with stamped and gilded-leather hangings that were believed to be hygienic, with a ‘close stool’ upholstered in velvet, which covered a humble chamber pot. The same door opened onto a ‘back stair’, which led down to the King’s private apartments on the floor below.

All the rooms were lavishly decorated. The walls were panelled in oak over which colourful (and very expensive) tapestries were hung below ornately carved cornices. Some were carved with fruit, fish, flowers and game, while the ceilings were painted by Antonio Verrio with themes glorifying the restored monarchy and representing the King and Queen in mythological terms.

above

Sir Godfrey Kneller, The Chinese Convert, 1687. Michael Alphonsus Shen Fu-Tsung was a well-known figure at the court of James II, who commissioned this portrait. right

The King’s Drawing Room.

left

26

t h e resto r at i o n c a st le

The Queen’s Drawing Room.

The opulent bed itself was part of the ritual of dressing and undressing the King in the presence of the most influential nobles. Officially, the King slept next door in what is now known as the King’s Dressing Room to which only his personal servants had access, although in the case of Charles II, he may often have slept somewhere else entirely. One of his mistresses, Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, was installed in a suite immediately below his bedchamber, while another, the actress Nell Gwyn, had a large house outside the Castle.

Beyond the King’s Dressing Room was the King’s Closet. This was originally a much smaller room, and was Charles II’s most private space where he kept his precious treasures. Only the King and his trusted servant, William Chiffinch, had keys to the Closet, which was later knocked into another room for George III (reigned 1760–1820) to make the larger King’s Closet we see today. From the Closet, the King could access his stool room, lined with stamped and gilded-leather hangings that were believed to be hygienic, with a ‘close stool’ upholstered in velvet, which covered a humble chamber pot. The same door opened onto a ‘back stair’, which led down to the King’s private apartments on the floor below.

All the rooms were lavishly decorated. The walls were panelled in oak over which colourful (and very expensive) tapestries were hung below ornately carved cornices. Some were carved with fruit, fish, flowers and game, while the ceilings were painted by Antonio Verrio with themes glorifying the restored monarchy and representing the King and Queen in mythological terms.

above

Sir Godfrey Kneller, The Chinese Convert, 1687. Michael Alphonsus Shen Fu-Tsung was a well-known figure at the court of James II, who commissioned this portrait. right

The King’s Drawing Room.

left

26

t h e resto r at i o n c a st le

The Queen’s Drawing Room.

In 1789 George III was struck down by a mysterious illness that left him confused and disorientated. It is now believed that he was suffering from porphyria. Within a year he had recovered, but when he later relapsed the only solution seemed to be confinement at Windsor Castle or at Kew. In 1811 his eldest son assumed the Regency while the King remained isolated for another nine years, a sad, bewildered figure who was still saluted by guards when they saw him staring out of the window.

On his father’s death, the Prince Regent became George IV (reigned 1820–30). He was the British monarchy’s greatest royal collector and a major patron of the arts. Reacting against the simple domesticity of his father’s life, George IV created instead at Windsor Castle and at Buckingham House two magnificent palaces.

Estranged from his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, George IV chose not to use the traditional State Apartments at Windsor.

Instead, he brought in the best artists and craftsmen of the day to remodel the private apartments in the north-east and south ranges of the Upper Ward under the supervision of the architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville. The King took a close interest in the interior decoration and furnishings, and transformed the Castle into the principal seat of the British monarchy with rooms of dazzling splendour.

above

Sir Thomas Lawrence, King George IV, 1822. right

Detail of the curtains in the Crimson Drawing Room, meticulously restored to their original design after the fire in 1992.

below

36

the georgian castle

Morel & Seddon, Design for the Large Drawing Room (Crimson Drawing Room), c.1826.

The firm was commissioned

by George IV to fit out the Castle’s new interiors.

In 1789 George III was struck down by a mysterious illness that left him confused and disorientated. It is now believed that he was suffering from porphyria. Within a year he had recovered, but when he later relapsed the only solution seemed to be confinement at Windsor Castle or at Kew. In 1811 his eldest son assumed the Regency while the King remained isolated for another nine years, a sad, bewildered figure who was still saluted by guards when they saw him staring out of the window.

On his father’s death, the Prince Regent became George IV (reigned 1820–30). He was the British monarchy’s greatest royal collector and a major patron of the arts. Reacting against the simple domesticity of his father’s life, George IV created instead at Windsor Castle and at Buckingham House two magnificent palaces.

Estranged from his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, George IV chose not to use the traditional State Apartments at Windsor.

Instead, he brought in the best artists and craftsmen of the day to remodel the private apartments in the north-east and south ranges of the Upper Ward under the supervision of the architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville. The King took a close interest in the interior decoration and furnishings, and transformed the Castle into the principal seat of the British monarchy with rooms of dazzling splendour.

above

Sir Thomas Lawrence, King George IV, 1822. right

Detail of the curtains in the Crimson Drawing Room, meticulously restored to their original design after the fire in 1992.

below

36

the georgian castle

Morel & Seddon, Design for the Large Drawing Room (Crimson Drawing Room), c.1826.

The firm was commissioned

by George IV to fit out the Castle’s new interiors.

The Castle Today

is The Queen’s official residence in London, where she lives during the working week. Most of Her Majesty’s private weekends, however, are spent at Windsor where she keeps horses for her personal use and where she still enjoys riding in the Great Park. The Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower whenever Her Majesty is in residence.

Twice a year The Queen takes up official residence at the Castle. For a month at Easter, the conduct of official business shifts to Windsor for what is known as Easter court, when key members of the Royal Household move from Buckingham Palace to the Castle. In June The Queen returns for a week to attend Royal Ascot and the service of the Order of the Garter.

When officially in residence, Her Majesty may hold private audiences at the Castle and investitures take place in the Waterloo Chamber. Foreign heads of state on official visits will also be welcomed to Windsor Castle at these times. The Queen hosted the Emir of Kuwait at Windsor during his 2012 State Visit to Britain. Other heads of state who have been The Queen’s

b u c k i n g h a m pa l a c e

right

The Queen grants a private audience to leaders of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II (second left) and His Grace Bishop Angaelos (right), and the Dean of Windsor The Right Reverend David Conner (left) at Windsor Castle.

Ceremonial presentation of the Guidon to the Royal Lancers in St George’s Hall in 2017.

left

58

t h e c a s t l e to day

The Queen keeps her personal horses at Windsor.

The Castle Today

is The Queen’s official residence in London, where she lives during the working week. Most of Her Majesty’s private weekends, however, are spent at Windsor where she keeps horses for her personal use and where she still enjoys riding in the Great Park. The Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower whenever Her Majesty is in residence.

Twice a year The Queen takes up official residence at the Castle. For a month at Easter, the conduct of official business shifts to Windsor for what is known as Easter court, when key members of the Royal Household move from Buckingham Palace to the Castle. In June The Queen returns for a week to attend Royal Ascot and the service of the Order of the Garter.

When officially in residence, Her Majesty may hold private audiences at the Castle and investitures take place in the Waterloo Chamber. Foreign heads of state on official visits will also be welcomed to Windsor Castle at these times. The Queen hosted the Emir of Kuwait at Windsor during his 2012 State Visit to Britain. Other heads of state who have been The Queen’s

b u c k i n g h a m pa l a c e

right

The Queen grants a private audience to leaders of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II (second left) and His Grace Bishop Angaelos (right), and the Dean of Windsor The Right Reverend David Conner (left) at Windsor Castle.

Ceremonial presentation of the Guidon to the Royal Lancers in St George’s Hall in 2017.

left

58

t h e c a s t l e to day

The Queen keeps her personal horses at Windsor.