The castle, in the English county of Berkshire, closed on September 8th, following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Alongside a number of state apartments, the public can now visit the Queen’s final resting place in the George VI Memorial Chapel. The site is also the burial place of the late Queen’s parents, and of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh – and visitors can see the marble ledger stone inscribed with their names during the tour. As the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle is one of the most famous royal residences open to the public. The tour includes access to ceremonial rooms, historic state apartments, and drawing rooms that are frequented by royalty.
What can you see as a visitor in Windsor Castle?
As one of the world’s best homes, many grand rooms are available to the public who visit Windsor Castle. These include the main State Apartments that are used today by the Royal Family, who host events for Heads of State from overseas. Perhaps the most impressive of these spaces is the aptly named Grand Reception Room which exhibits striking lighting ideas with its large chandeliers. The room also houses a large malachite urn that was gifted to Queen Victoria by Tsar Nicholas I in the nineteenth century. Other highlights include the series of historic rooms that were built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza. While these ornate spaces are open to the public now, they were once strictly regulated to ensure only the highest nobles had access to the Royal Family. Visitors can also access the Semi-State Rooms that were created for King George IV as private apartments. Key decorating ideas include furnishings by Morel & Seddon (opens in new tab), who were the principal suppliers of furniture to the King during his refurbishment of the Castle. Many pieces also came from Carlton House (where George IV lived prior to Windsor). The Royal Collection Trust offers the opportunity to learn about the King’s home decoration in the Green Drawing Room via an online trail. St George’s Chapel, the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II, sits on grounds of Windsor Castle. This Gothic structure has observed many historical events since its construction in 1475. Most recently, however, it was the site of a private burial service attended by King Charles III and the Royal Family. Admission to St George’s Chapel is included within a ticket to Windsor. However, it may be better to pre-book to guarantee entry over busy periods such as this, where thousands are expected to pay their respects to the late Queen. The Chapel is closed to the public on Sunday when it is only open to worshippers. You can book tickets through the Royal Collection Trust (opens in new tab). Windsor Castle, Windsor, SL4 1NJ, England.
