It is sunny morning when we reach Windsor castle. This castle outside London and so we have to catch National railway for which we have to purchase ticket from station. In UK the train and bus service is very convenient and almost reaches up to your door step. But the time taken by bus service is almost half as it stops almost every one KM. Many times I have seen Indian origin ladies in railway ticket counters and also all the shops inside post offices I have seen are run by Indians. So was Windsor castle subway station.
rom railway station the castle is about 2 KM of walking distance. It was enjoyable walk as we rarely see Sun in UK.
Around Windsor castle there are so many restaurants. We had brought lunch packet with us from our residence. We had not purchased the entry ticket of castle online so we had to walk up to ticket office to buy. A Pakistani guy taking sunbath in front of castle pointed us to the ticket office.
Where it is located?
Windsor castle is located in Windsor, Berkshire about 40 KM from Westminster abbey, central London. if you catch train it will take about 2 hours including transfer time.
Time taken to visit castle?
We can complete the visit in 3 hours. Photography is not allowed inside the rooms.
My last impression about castle
The castle of course is kept shining and looks almost new. It is big but since only 40% of it is open to public we can see queen residence from some distance. If someone wants to visit England, the trip can not said complete if we do not visit this castle. When we see baroque state apartments, the room where Napoleon stayed, his bed, the King’s chamber, dressing room, Chest, Dining room the medieval times of England get live. Queen Mary’s Doll room is good but the long queue to see this is not worth. I saw this doll room but was not so impressive to me. The castle is big but since still this castle is residence of British monarchs and duchess the entry is restricted and photography is not allowed inside.
Layout of castle
The castle is in three parts- Lower, middle and upper wards. Lower ward has St. George chapel and current staff quarters, middle ward has different towers, wall, mote while upper part has King’s official residence, state apartments, coffee house and Dolls room.
History of castle
the castle was originally founded by William I, the Conqueror. That time it was designed with motte-and-bailey. Mote means construction on heap of artificial hill and bailey means wooden or stone fortification. Castle has been the residence of 39 kings of England since henry I (son of William I).
This castle was in siege for long time during Barron’s revolt in John time at start of 13th century as I mentioned in my trip of Tower of London. To counter future attacks by barons, peasants and civilians Henry III and thereafter Edward III started strengthening their forts all over England. Henry III built luxurious royal palace within the castle and Edward III augmented it.
Henry VIII and Elizabeth I made increasing use of the castle as royal court and center of diplomatic entertainment.
Charles II rebuilt much of palace with help of architect Hugh Mary, creating a set of extravagant baroque interiors. after a period of neglect during 18th century George III and George IV again renovated and rebuilt Charles II’s palace at colossal expenses, producing the current design of state apartments.
See monarch hierarchy as history of England and Genealogy of Monarchy,
All Photos taken at Windsor castle – All above had key role in development of Windsor castle
Just inside these premises is bronze statue of Charles II on horse installed in1679 AD. He is credited as state apartments 85 rooms were designed in this reign.
The state apartments are magnanimously decorated. The kings chambers, bedroom, dining halls, reading rooms are very lavish. I saw a photo of Mahatma Gandhi in Charles II room. The costly portraits of kings, queens are portrayed by French painter. One room I saw where Napoleon Bonaparte stayed.
Photo comment – Queue for seeing state apartments and Mary I Doll room
Almost all state apartments are remodeled after 1992 fire with same baroque as was in original design.
These lavish furnishings were originally done by Charles II. But after 1992 fire these are recreated in same fashion.
Windsor castle compound is divided in Lower and upper ward. Upper ward has castle and lower part had St. George chapel, residences of office clerks and other employees.
This castle is home of the kings since about 700 years. The size of castle is quite big but entry is restricted in 60% for security reasons.
St. George chapel – Royal burial and wedding venue
St. George chapel inside premises of castle is very big and one of the most decorated churches with rib and lavish floor structures. Elizabeth II was buried in this chapel in Sep, 2022. Tombs and memorials include those of king George VI, Queen Elizabeth (The Queen mother) and princess Margaret, Edward IV, Henry VI, Edward VII. The sealed entrance the vault containing the coffin of henry VIII and Charles I is under the center of Quire.
Who was Sant George?
Without knowing St. George the visit to this castle will be incomplete.
In 1348 king Edward III chose St. George as his patron saint and took the red cross of St. George in England’s national flag. he founded this church in this castle and tradition of burying started here in this chapel along with Westminster abbey. Not much is known about George but he was born to Greek Christian parents and served in Roman army. He was beheaded as one of the pre-Christian persecutions those days. He was venerated as one of 14 Holy Helpers and is respected by large number of faiths such as Christians, Muslims and Jews in all Europe, Russia, middle east and South India. We can see his churches in Ernakulam Distt in State of Kerala in India.
The legend about him is that a fierce dragon was panic for people in a city of Libya. Everyday he wanted two sheep and when sheep were not available humans were offered to him. One day it was King’s daughter turn. No one from public came to take her place. Then St. George came and killed the dragon. The king offered him lot of wealth but he asked king to distribute among poor. The city was so overwhelmed that the whole city embraced Christianity.
These are all legends popular among Muslim faith as well. They also treat him as prophet.
The chapel was founded by Edward III and later various kings added to it.
Marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (American), Princess Eugenie (grand daughter of late Elizabeth II and daughter of Prince Andrew) in 2018. Work on the present chapel began by Edward IV, Henry VII, Henry VIII and Victoria etc.
The river Thames flows about a KM from castle and we can take boating from 40 minutes to 3 hours at cost of 10-60 pounds. heard peculiar information about the ducks in this river is that only royal family can eat the meat of ducks of this area. Not sure how far it is true.
Epilogue
A famous novelist and biographer Tracie Peterson said- House of Windsor is tied in with the collapse of Church of England. Not sure how true he is but castle is “not to miss” in spite that only 40% of it is open to visitors. 1992 fire devastated it but “They” did it again to regain for earning the huge amount of foreign exchange by tourism – exploiting the curiosity of visitors about English Sun of past that never set.
This is Europe’s longest living castle. The kings used to live not only here since more from 1600s. St, George church is visited by millions of people around the world and has seen the history of many royal services, weddings and burials. This church is said to have fragments of “True cross” on which Jesus was crucified.
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