Top 10 Facts About Windsor Castle

Top 10 Facts About Windsor Castle

Famed for its spectacular architecture and association with English and British Royalty, the Windsor Castle occupies a whopping 13 acres. It is located in Berkshire and is a popular tourist attraction- from the St. George’s Chapel which recently hosted Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding, the Albert Memorial Chapel, and the Castle gardens, there is plenty to see at the Windsor Castle.

The Castle is such a treat- a medieval structure boasting a modernized gothic style, but in a Georgian and Victorian design through and through. Mind-boggling combinations yet fused together harmoniously. The top 10 facts about Windsor Castle reveal a lot more fascinating things about this castle, which survived the English civil war.

1. The 1917 royal family took on the name Windsor

Windsor Castle from the Park- by Chaxzakak- Wikimedia Commons

King George V took on Windsor as his surname. He and his family went by Saxe- Coburg, and Gotha, from their German roots. He believed that this German name was a damper for morale during the First World War- not a good look. The Royal Family lineage thus changed from House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor in 1917.

The name Windsor is derived from the Old English word Windlesoren, meaning “winch by the riverbank.”

2. The Windsor Castle provided air-raid shelter for the royals during World War 2

By the time World War 2 broke out, the Windsor Castle had been prepared and fortified to protect the royal family. With blacked-out windows, tightened security, and staff available at the Castle, Windsor provided adequate shelter for the King and his family during the war.

The King and Queen, however, moved back and forth from Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to thwart any suspicion about their occupation or give away their family’s hideout.

As history and legacy are always important to protect, important art pieces at the Windsor Castle were brought down for safekeeping, as well as chandeliers to prevent damage in case of a bombing. To protect Princess Elizabeth and Margaret, the roof above their room was strengthened- these two occasionally had the dungeon as their bedroom for their protection. Perhaps they took this as just another sleepover.

3. The 1992 Windsor Castle fire lasted 15 hours!

The Windsor Castle has suffered fires that have damaged the structure and contents of the Castle. These have since been repaired. Two fires that stand out due to their seriousness occurred in 1296 and 1853. However, the 1992 fire emanating from renovation works being carried out was the most damaging- how ironic that what was to make the Castle better almost destroyed it.

One can only imagine the damage that a 15-hour fire, needing 200 firefighters using at least 1.5million gallons of water to put out can cause. The renovations at the time were a blessing in disguise as many of the rooms had been emptied of precious artworks and antiquities hence they were not damaged.

This fire also opened up discussions on footing the bill for such incidents. The government did pay for the repairs in exchange for the royal family giving access to the Buckingham palace to the public. Damage from this fire took five years to repair at a cost of at least £67 million. The Castle was restored.

4. Windsor Castle is the largest continually inhabited castle in the world

Drawing room at the Windsor Castle- by “Empirically Grounded”- Wikimedia Commons

The Queen loves her some Windsor Castle for a weekend getaway. Her Standard is usually flown from the round tower when she is present here, while the United Kingdom flag flies at the Buckingham Palace. While her presence here is not 24-7, at least 500 people are present at the Windsor Castle at any given time as they live and work there, making it the largest continually inhabited Castle.

Librarians, tour guides, art historians, fendersmiths, horologists, a wine butler, palace steward, and footmen can be found at the Castle at all times.

5. Queen Victoria’s journals are on display at the Windsor Castle

Young Queen Victoria- by Franz Xaver Winterhalter- Wikimedia Commons

It will be no intrusion of privacy if you read Queen Victoria’s journals, as they are on full display at the Windsor Castle. The Queen kept a journal all her life. Upon her death, her daughter Beatrice edited out any unbecoming content just like her mother had requested before the journals were exposed.

You can find the journals at the royal library and archives together with private letters of King George III. Also available are book collections of multiple monarchs.

Queen Victoria’s journals have since been digitized and made available online.

6. The Windsor Castle is a fortress

Windsor Castle Fortress- by Accord14- Wikimedia Commons

The Windsor Castle has successfully defended itself from not just one but several attacks. It held its own against a two months’ siege in the 1200s during the Baron’s war. Similarly in the 1400s, the Castle was attacked when King Henry IV deposed Richard II but it was able to fend off its attackers.

Some of the systems of defence included cascades of boiling oil and heavy stones launched towards the attackers. Ouch!

7. Windsor Castle was a breeding ground for Pembroke Corgi’s

Until 2015, the Windsor Castle served as the headquarters for Queen Elizabeth’s Corgi Breeding program for nearly 70 years. The Queen loves Corgi’s and was one of the most established Pembroke corgi breeders in the world! It is safe to say that she was in love with this dog breed from the time she received her first Corgi, Susan, at age 18. Apparently the Queen has owned at least 30 Corgis during her reign.

From this project, Queen Elizabeth gifted Corgi puppies to family and friends.

8. Adolf Hitler loved the Windsor Castle

If Germans had won World War II, Adolf Hitler just might have been living at the Windsor Castle during his British visits or perhaps conducting his operations from there. His troops attacked and bombed British royal and governmental buildings but spared Windsor Castle.

They definitely operated on Hitler’s orders, who loved the Castle and is said to have had plans for it. The royal family also loved the castle and sought refuge there during the war. What’s not to love about the Magnificent Windsor Castle?

9. The Windsor Castle stocks up on wine

Wine Cellar- Pixabay

The at least 300 annual events that need at least 5,000 bottles of wine never fall short of drink as the Windsor Castle’s wine cellar is stacked with bottle upon bottle of wine. With the minor changes Queen Victoria made to the castle, it became the center for royal entertainment.

However, these range from expensive and rare wine to the regular bottle- the cheap variety stocked at this cellar could cost as low as £4.5.

10.  Windsor Castle hosts an insane dollhouse

Queen Mary’s dollhouse- by Rob Sangster- Wikimedia Commons

Quite literally, the Winsor Castle is home to the largest and most elaborate dollhouse in the world. In the 1920s a miniature home was built for Queen Mary. The royal dollhouse is every child’s dream- it has an actual sophisticated running water system, electricity, and elevators as well as flushing toilets.

This dollhouse redefines ‘extra’- it has a fully stocked wine cellar, housing 20,000 mini wine, and beer bottles.

The icing on the cake is a library with original handwritten stories by acclaimed authors such as Rudyard Kipling. Queen Mary’s parents truly spared no expense in building this dollhouse. At least 1,500 handymen, artists, and craftsmen put together this work of art.

Windsor Castle is still a working palace today. Like a prized possession that one likes to show off, it is where visiting Heads of State are hosted. It is also used for ceremonial and state occasions. The vast citadel that is Windsor Castle is worth a visit- it is open for this all year round.