Of the many official residences of the Royal Family, Windsor Castle is in the public eye more recently, as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has used it as a safe-haven away from London during the current worldwide pandemic. But how much do you know about this remarkable castle? Here are five facts that you might not know.
Defence not Royalty
Windsor Castle was built at the request of William the Conqueror after he became King of England in 1066. It took around 16 years to complete, but it was not intended to be used as a royal residence. It was originally intended as a fortress, which formed part of a ring of defence around the city of London, with other similar structures just 20 miles away from each other, and the same distance away from the capital.
Wood not Stone
The castle has seen numerous changes and additions by many different monarchs throughout its history. But the original structure was a motte-and-bailey castle, which was made of wood with a keep, built on top of a man-made mound of earth, which stood 100 feet above the River Thames. Henry II converted the castle into a palace in the late 12th century, replacing the timber walls with stone.
The Long Walk
The tree-lined promenade, known as “The Long Walk” that leads up to Windsor Castle, is in fact 2.65 miles long. It was designed by Charles II, who was inspired by his love of French architecture and gardens. The walk is surrounded by Windsor Great Park, which is home to a herd of some forty deer and contains oak trees that were planted by William the Conqueror.
The Dolls House
Housed within a purpose-built room within Windsor Castle is one of the largest and most ornate dolls houses in the world, Queen Mary’s Dolls House. Created for Queen Mary, consort of George V, by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, the doll’s house contains contributions from over 1,500 of the early twentieth century’s finest craftsmen and manufacturers. It boasts hot and cold running water, a fully stocked wine cellar, and a five-bay garage, which contains a Daimler and a 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. It also contains, in its library, original works from authors Rudyard Kipling, A.A. Milne, Thomas Hardy and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The Longest Occupied
Windsor Castle is the longest occupied royal castle in Europe. Originally used a residence by Henry I from 1100 until his death in 1135, it is now the preferred retreat for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Around 40 reigning monarchs have also used it for this purpose, Queen Victoria spending most of her time at Windsor Castle after her husband Prince Albert passed away there. It was also a favourite residence of Queen Elizabeth, and her father Henry VIII enjoyed many sporting pursuits there, including wrestling, shooting, and playing tennis.
Despite a devastating fire in 1992, Windsor Castle has endured, and it remains a favourite destination for tourists, with over one million people visiting the attraction each year.
The royal family named themselves after this famous castle and our Monarchs of the House of Windsor Threepence Set contains coins from five generations of the family, which you can view HERE.