A Living Palace
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest continuously occupied castle in the world. It has been a royal residence for over 900 years, serving as both a private home for the British monarch and an official venue for state occasions. The castle covers approximately 13 acres and sits majestically above the River Thames in Berkshire, England.
What makes Windsor unique among castles is its architectural layering. Every century since the 11th has left its mark on the building. The result is not a pure example of any single style but a living chronicle of English architectural history, from Norman fortifications to Victorian Gothic opulence.
The castle is divided into three distinct sections: the Lower Ward, which contains St George's Chapel; the Middle Ward, dominated by the Round Tower; and the Upper Ward, which contains the State Apartments and the private royal apartments.
The Round Tower & Norman Origins
William the Conqueror began building Windsor Castle around 1070 as part of a ring of defensive fortifications around London. The original structure was a simple motte-and-bailey castle with a wooden keep on an artificial mound. The Round Tower, the iconic central feature of Windsor, was built on this original Norman mound.
The Round Tower as it appears today was largely reconstructed in the 19th century by architect Jeffry Wyatville, who raised its height and added the distinctive toy-soldier silhouette that now defines the castle's skyline. From the top of the Round Tower, the castle's flag signals whether the monarch is in residence: the Royal Standard flies when present, the Union Jack when absent.
The original Norman fortifications were gradually replaced in stone over the following centuries. Henry II replaced the wooden palisade with stone walls, and Henry III built the first royal apartments. The castle's defensive function was tested during the Barons' War and the English Civil War, when it was held by Parliamentary forces.
St George's Chapel
St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in England. Built between 1475 and 1528 by Kings Edward IV and Henry VII, it serves as the chapel of the Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Britain, founded by Edward III in 1348.
The chapel's fan-vaulted ceiling is a masterpiece of English medieval masonry. The stone seems to float, spreading outward like palm fronds from slender pillars. The chapel contains the carved wooden stalls of the Garter Knights, each marked by the knight's heraldic banner, crest, and coat of arms.
St George's Chapel has been the site of royal weddings, including that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, and royal funerals. Several monarchs are buried here, including Henry VIII, Charles I, and George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen herself was buried here in 2022.
The State Apartments
The State Apartments at Windsor contain some of the finest interiors in Britain. They were extensively remodeled in the 17th century for Charles II, who created a Baroque suite of rooms modeled on Louis XIV's Versailles. The ceilings were painted by the Venetian artist Antonio Verrio, and the woodcarvings were executed by Grinling Gibbons.
After a devastating fire in 1992 that damaged over 100 rooms, the State Apartments were meticulously restored using traditional crafts and techniques. The restoration project, completed in 1997, was a landmark achievement in historic building preservation, reviving skills like gilding, plasterwork, and stone carving that had become rare.
The Semi-State Apartments, created by George IV in the 1820s, are among the most opulent rooms in the castle. The Crimson Drawing Room, the Green Drawing Room, and the State Dining Room are furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Canaletto.
The Great Park & Changing of the Guard
Windsor's setting within the 5,000-acre Windsor Great Park is integral to its character. The park includes ancient woodland, the Long Walk (a three-mile avenue of trees leading to the castle), and the Savill Garden, one of the finest ornamental gardens in Britain.
The Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle is a spectacle of British pageantry. The Queen's Guard marches through the castle grounds accompanied by a military band, performing the same ceremony that has taken place for centuries. The ceremony usually begins at 11:00 AM and is free to watch with castle admission.
"Windsor Castle is not a building but a living history of England, each stone laid by a different hand, each room shaped by a different reign, yet all united by the continuous thread of monarchy."
