Windsor Castle: Difference between revisions
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[[Henry II]]: rebuilding of the large Round Tower in the 1170s | [[Henry II]]: rebuilding of the large Round Tower in the 1170s | ||
[[Edward III]]: construction of St George’s Hall (used by the [[Order of the Garter|Knights of the Garter]]) | [[Edward III]]: construction of St George’s Hall (used by the [[The Order of the Garter|Knights of the Garter]]) | ||
[[Edward IV]]/ [[Henry VIII]]: building of St George’s Chapel (15th and 16th centuries) | [[Edward IV]]/ [[Henry VIII]]: building of St George’s Chapel (15th and 16th centuries) | ||
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Today the Queen uses Windsor Castle as a private home (usually at the weekend) and as a royal residence. State visits are often held here. The Queen officially takes residence in Windsor twice a year. Between March and April she is staying for a month over Easter (known as Easter Court) and in June she is attending the service of the [[Order of the Garter]] and the Royal Ascot race. | Today the Queen uses Windsor Castle as a private home (usually at the weekend) and as a royal residence. State visits are often held here. The Queen officially takes residence in Windsor twice a year. Between March and April she is staying for a month over Easter (known as Easter Court) and in June she is attending the service of the [[The Order of the Garter|Order of the Garter]] and the Royal Ascot race. | ||
Despite being a working royal palace, the castle is open to the public. | Despite being a working royal palace, the castle is open to the public. | ||
Revision as of 11:22, 11 May 2010
Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It is the oldest royal residence and the largest occupied castle in the world. In its 900-year history the castle has been expanded, modified and rebuilt many times by several monarchs. The most significant constructions/ changes were made by:
Henry II: rebuilding of the large Round Tower in the 1170s
Edward III: construction of St George’s Hall (used by the Knights of the Garter)
Edward IV/ Henry VIII: building of St George’s Chapel (15th and 16th centuries)
George IV: adding the Waterloo Chamber in the 1820s (dedicated to the defeat of the French emperor Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815)
Elizabeth II: restoration of nine main rooms and about 100 smaller rooms (after the castle caught fire in 1992)
Today the Queen uses Windsor Castle as a private home (usually at the weekend) and as a royal residence. State visits are often held here. The Queen officially takes residence in Windsor twice a year. Between March and April she is staying for a month over Easter (known as Easter Court) and in June she is attending the service of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Ascot race.
Despite being a working royal palace, the castle is open to the public.
Sources:
Wilkinson, Philip. The British Monarchy for Dummies. West Sussex: John Wiley, 2006.
The Official Website of The British Monarchy: http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/WindsorCastle/WindsorCastle.aspx