Join us for a visit a the official home of Charles and Camilla - a place with tons of history including Elizabeth's tomb.
With a millennium of architectural history, the Windsor Castle in Berkshire is is a key part of the English and British royal family. It was originally built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the 13th century the reigning monarchs have used it as their principal residence which makes it Europe’s longest-occupied and the world’s largest inhabited castle - and a functioning royal home at the same time.
The castle's lavish early 19th-century state apartments have been described as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste”. Queen Victoria made the castle her principal residence although she complained that it was dull and tiresome and prison-like.
Since the times of Elizabeth I already, the castle has been a centre for diplomatic entertainment but the growing British Empire made Windsor a real hub for many diplomatic and state visits assisted by the new railways seeing invitations to numerous prominent figures to “dine and sleep” at the castle, served by a large staff of over 600 persons.
During WWI, the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha chose the historic estate as the name of the royal House of Windsor as the German sounding original was politically not too good. (Mind you, the Windsor kept their German customs like celebrating Xmas on the 24th like the Germans do, and not on Christmas day like the rest of the brits!)
Inside the castle walls you will find the 15th-century St George’s Chapel, a great example of the English perpendicular Gothic design. The chapel is still in use with daily services open to all. Interestingly the chapel is not subject to a bishop or archbishop but owes its allegiance directly to the Sovereign. The chapel has seen many weddings, including those of Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones, Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle.
The castle was the main residence of Elizabeth II from 2011 to 2022 and she lies buried in the Chapel with Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, King George V and Princess Margaret. The chapel is also the place for royal funerals including those of the former Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Margaret and Princess Alice, and Duchess of Gloucester.
The castle is fully accessible.
The Undercroft Café serves meals and quick bites, as well as teas and sweet treats. There is a water fountain for refillable water bottles in the outdoor area after you exit the Security Hall.
Toilets, baby care facilities and accessible toilets are available after the Security Hall near the start of the visit and next to the Undercroft Café. Accessible toilets are locked with a Radar key, so please ask a member of staff to unlock them if you do not have your own key.
Windsor Castle
Windsor