Windsor Castle: The Oldest Occupied Castle in the World
Nearly a thousand years as a royal residence and fortress
William the Conqueror's Fortress
Windsor Castle was founded by William the Conqueror around 1070, part of a ring of fortifications designed to defend London from attack. The location was perfectâhigh ground overlooking the Thames, a day's march from the Tower of London. William chose his spots well; the castle has been continuously occupied for over 950 years, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe.
That original wooden fortress was gradually replaced with stone fortifications over the following century. The distinctive Round Tower, which dominates the castle's silhouette, was built on a chalk mound that William's men had constructed. Each successive monarch has left their markâadding, renovating, expandingâso that what exists today is less a medieval castle than a living catalog of English royal architecture through the ages.
St. George's Chapel and the Order of the Garter
St. George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Built between 1475 and 1528, it's the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry in Britain. The chapel's fan-vaulted ceiling is breathtaking, and the stalls for the Knights of the Garter are adorned with their personal banners, crests, and helmets.
The chapel serves as the final resting place for ten monarchs, including Henry VIII, Charles I, George III, and most recently Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Royal weddings have taken place here for centuries, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony in 2018. It's not just a tourist siteâthis is an active place of worship where services are held regularly.
The State Apartments
The State Apartments are where the castle shifts from fortress to palace. These lavish rooms were created primarily by Charles II and George IV, who transformed Windsor into a suitable setting for royal ceremonies and state occasions. The ceilings are covered in elaborate paintings, the walls hung with priceless artworks from the Royal Collection, and the furniture represents the finest craftsmanship of multiple eras.
St. George's Hall, where state banquets are held, can seat 160 guests beneath a ceiling decorated with the coats of arms of every Knight of the Garter since the order's foundation in 1348. The Semi-State Rooms, created for George IV, showcase Regency design at its most opulent. These aren't museum pieces collecting dustâthey're regularly used for official functions and entertaining foreign dignitaries.
The 1992 Fire
In November 1992, a spotlight ignited a curtain in the Private Chapel, and within minutes, Windsor Castle was engulfed in flames. The fire burned for 15 hours, destroying nine major rooms and damaging over a hundred others. Miraculously, no one was killed, and most of the artwork was saved by castle staff and soldiers who formed human chains to carry priceless paintings and furniture to safety.
The restoration took five years and cost ÂŁ36.5 million. Rather than simply recreating what had been lost, the project became an opportunity to showcase contemporary craftsmanship. New rooms were created, including a stunning new Private Chapel and the magnificent St. George's Hall ceiling, which replaced the old flat ceiling with a hammerbeam design that better suited the medieval walls. The restoration was completed ahead of schedule and under budgetâpractically unheard of for such a massive project.
A Working Royal Palace
Windsor Castle isn't just a historical monumentâit's one of the official residences of the British monarch. The Royal Standard flies when the monarch is in residence, which happens most weekends and during Easter and some parts of June. The castle hosts state visits, investiture ceremonies, and various official events throughout the year. During the pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II made Windsor her primary residence.
The castle employs hundreds of staff, from housekeepers to security officers to specialists who maintain the art collection and grounds. Parts of the castle are always closed to visitors because they're being actively used by the royal family or for government business. This creates an interesting dynamicâyou're touring a working palace, not a museum, and you're seeing rooms that might host a state dinner next week.
Visiting Windsor
Windsor Castle is easily accessible from London and attracts over a million visitors annually. The castle is open most of the year, though the schedule varies depending on royal events and state occasions. The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place on select days, providing a glimpse of the military traditions that have protected British monarchs for centuries.
The sheer scale of the place is impressiveâthe castle complex covers 13 acres. You can easily spend half a day here exploring the State Apartments, St. George's Chapel, the Semi-State Rooms (open during specific seasons), and Queen Mary's Dolls' House, an incredibly detailed miniature palace that's fascinating even for adults. The views from the castle walls across the Thames Valley are beautiful, especially on a clear day.
Living History
Windsor Castle's greatest achievement is its relevance. After nearly a thousand years, it hasn't become a relic or a theme park. It's still doing what it was built to doâserving as a royal residence and a center of power. That continuity, combined with the castle's remarkable architectural evolution, makes Windsor unique. It's not just a monument to historyâit's a place where history is still being made.