Explore Windsor’s regal legacy
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, occupying 10.5 hectares. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years and is today one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen, and her favourite weekend home. Throughout the year, visitors
can explore where The Queen spends most private weekends, learn about the British monarchy’s rich history, and see some of the most spectacular works of art and objects in the Royal Collection. Visitors can see Henry VIII’s expandable armour and get up close to the bullet that killed Admiral Lord Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. Charles II built the State Apartments in the 17th century and he wanted the Castle to rival the Palace of Versailles built by his cousin, Louis XIV. He modernised the interiors and turned them
into England’s grandest State Apartments, with painted ceilings and intricate carvings that you can still see today. Visitors can admire paintings by Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Holbein which hang on the walls. Since then, successive monarchs have changed the rooms to reflect their taste. George IV added ornamental plaster ceilings, a new grand entrance and the colossal Waterloo Chamber to celebrate victory at the Battle of Waterloo. The king also created sumptuous private apartments called the Semi-State Rooms. These rooms are some of the most richly decorated in the entire Castle and The Queen uses them for official entertaining. Until January 6 2019, Windsor
Castle will host the special exhibition, A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which will display Their Royal Highnesses’ wedding outfits. Visitors can see The Duchess’s
elegant wedding dress, created by Clare Waight Keller at the French fashion house Givenchy. The Duchess’s silk tulle veil will also be on display. The veil is delicately embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. The Duchess’s veil was held in
place by a diamond and platinum tiara, lent to her by The Queen. The exhibition presents a rare opportunity to see the tiara up close and in person, as it is the first time it has gone on public display. Visitors will also see The
Duke’s frockcoat uniform of the Household Cavalry. The uniform was specially commissioned for the wedding, features a blue doeskin jacket and is ranked to Major with large gold embroidered crowns on the epaulettes.
The exhibition will also travel
to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from June 14 – 6 October 6 2019. A ticket to the Castle also includes St George’s Chapel. The chapel has been the location of many royal weddings, including Prince Harry to Meghan Markle in May, and Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank in October this year. Within the chapel are the tombs of 10 monarchs, including Henry VIII, Charles I, and the present Queen’s late father George VI. A large coach park is located a 10-minute walk from the castle. Groups of 15 people or more receive a 10% discount on the price of admission, as well as a free multimedia tour in nine languages, and a free precincts tour in English.
Pre-book to guarantee entry online at
www.rct.uk or by calling 0303 123 7321.
www.rct.uk | 0303 123 7321
PICTURES: ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST / © HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II 2018; WILL PRYCE; IAIN JONES
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