Windsor Castle - is the oldest inhabited castle in the world dating back from the Norman Conquest in 11th century. After the successful invasion of the Norman Duke William of Normandy he was crowned as King William I and earned him the title “The Conqueror”. He then chose the site as his royal court. The ancient fortress, dubbed by Diarist Samuel Pepys as “The Most Romantic Castle in the World”, is a 13 acres chalk cliff located in Berkshire, England above the placid Thames River. It is the favorite royal residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, where she made it as her weekend residence. It is also the official set of court of the British royal family during New Year and Easter celebrations and Royal Ascot party in June.
It housed most of the royal family collections of priceless paintings, fine tapestries, porcelains and sculptures. Within the castle, visitors are allowed to wander in many galleries, extensive suites, beautiful garden, orchards and state apartments. There is a place for worship within the cobbled stone wall, the 14th century St. George's chapel, where the royal family attended Sunday mass when staying at Windsor. The chapel is used also for intimate royal weddings, the Queen's youngest child Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, chose the medieval chapel for his June 1999 wedding to the former Sophie Rhys-Jones. It is also the burial place of 10 British sovereigns (Edward IV, Henry VI, Charles I, George III, George IV, William IV, Edward VII, George V and George VI).
The Round Tower of the castle, which stood imposingly for many centuries, was rebuilt during the reign of King Henry II, great grandson of William the Conqueror and the founder of the Plantagenet royal house. The exterior of the wall, though renovated and remodeled by many monarchs, remained its original feature. Military leader, Oliver Cromwell, lead the English Civil War in 1648 and made King Charles I his prisoner, for a while he detained the Stuart monarch in the Castle. On the following year, he ordered the beheading of the King and made Windsor Castle a prison site of his enemies during the duration of the Civil war.
When Oliver Cromwell died, the monarchy was restored and Charles I's son crowned as King Charles II. He started the extensive renovation of the castle. The merry monarch, who maintained various mistresses during his reign, commissioned expert architects and artists to work for a splendid restoration. His architect designed a “Long Walk”, similar to the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in France. It consists of spectacular ornamental gardens, wonderful lawn and trees. This avenue, south of the Castle, is 75 meters wide.
When King George III, grandfather of Queen Victoria, was severely insane, he spent the rest of his life in the protecting embrace of the castle. The King, who was totally blind several years before his death, often walked to nearby Windsor Great Park and according to some historians, hugged trees at Hyde Park. He was responsible also of the refurbishing of the castle's window which altered by Charles II into gothic design. His son and successor King George IV made the castle looked magnificent and grand. It took 12 years before it was completely finished. Not far away from the Castle lies a Home Park, a park land with two working farms. Frogmore, a 33 acre private estate located within home park, bought by King George III for his unmarried daughter Princess Augusta, is presently converted into private gardens and Royal Mausoleum where tombs of Queen Victoria, her husband Prince Albert her mother Victoria the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson, the Queen of Yoguslavia, Maria, and other royal family members can be found there.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made Windsor Castle their primary residence but her successor and son King Edward VII did not share his mother's taste for loving Windsor, instead he chose Sandringham, a 25,000 acre private estate in Norfolk England, as his weekend residence. This “Sandringham fascination” was carried by his son and successor King George V, but his wife Queen Mary, adored Windsor that she instigated the installments of modern art collections in the ancient castle.
It was during the time of King George IV, uncle of Queen Victoria, that the castle achieved its majestic appeal to what it is today. The Hanoverian monarch, who adored arts and fine decorations, ordered the refashioning of the fortress, he added turrets and towers and elegant apartments. The private apartments from the north were moved to the south and east parts of the castle and the north side apartments were designated for state visits and ceremonial occasions. There was also a Waterloo Chamber, which he ordered to be filled with portraits commemorating the defeat of the former French general, Napoleon Bonaparte, during the Battle of Waterloo.
