Glorious royal residences

WINDSOR CASTLE

Windsor, Berkshire

Founded around 1070 by William the Conqueror, and extensively enlarged and improved by succeeding sovereigns, Windsor is arguably the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle. It has been home to 39 monarchs including the Queen, who spent most of her childhood and the majority of the war years there, as well as much of the Covid-19 pandemic. She stays at the castle most weekends and visits for a week each June, when she attends the Royal Ascot horseracing event nearby (some of her horses have won there). The Queen uses Windsor for official business too: she hosts overseas heads of state and holds court there for a month every Easter.

Many royal marriages are held at the castle, and in 1997 the Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary there with a ball.

A number of British royals are buried in the 15th-century St George’s Chapel, including the Queen’s father, George VI, her mother and her sister’s ashes. In April 2021 the funeral of Prince Philip took place here, and he is buried in the chapel’s Royal Vault.

Windsor, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England, is open to visitors. The Changing of the Guard ceremony (above, the Coldstream Guards in a guard of honour) takes place frequently throughout the year. rct.uk/visit ´

HOLYROODHOUSE

Edinburgh

The Queen’s official residence in Scotland was originally founded as a monastery in 1128. The palace has been home to royalty for more than five centuries, with Scottish monarchs choosing to live in its parkland setting rather than in Edinburgh Castle. The street running between the two royal buildings is called the Royal Mile.

Much of the current building dates from 17th-century redevelopments by Charles II, including magnificent royal apartments. In the 20th century, King George V and Queen Mary continued restoration work on the palace, which they enjoyed as a family home.

The palace has been associated with some of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures. These include Mary, Queen of Scots, whose 16th-century apartments can be visited, and Bonnie Prince Charlie, who set up court there for six weeks in 1745 when he arrived in Scotland to claim the throne of Great Britain for his father.

Queen Elizabeth lives at Holyroodhouse each summer during Holyrood Week, starting with a ceremony in which she is given the keys to the city. Her visits celebrate Scottish culture, achievement and community, and she entertains around 8,000 guests, including at a garden party (shown, left, in 2017). The palace is open to the public five days a week. Perhaps its most striking space is the Great Gallery, lined with portraits of Scottish kings commissioned by Charles II. n ¼rct.uk/visit