WindsorCastleistheoldestandlargestoccupiedcastleintheworldandtheOfficialResidenceoftheQueenofBritain. Overaperiodofnearly 1,000 yearsithasbeeninhabitedcontinuously, andalteredandrefurbished[1] bysuccessivemonarchs. Someweregreatbuilders, strengtheningtheCastleagainstuprisingandrebellion; others, livinginmorepeacefultimes, createdapalatial[2] Royalresidence.
WilliamtheConquerorchosethesite, highabovetheriverThamesandontheedgeofaSaxonhuntingground.[3] Itwasaday’smarchfromtheTowerofLondon[4] andintendedtoguardthewesternapproachestothecapital. Theouterwallsoftoday’sstructureareinthesamepositionasthoseoftheoriginalcastlebuiltbyWilliamtheConquerorinthe 1070s.
TheQueenusestheCastlebothasaprivatehome, wheresheusuallyspendstheweekend, andasaRoyalresidenceatwhichsheundertakescertainformalduties. WindsorCastleisoftenusedbyTheQueentohostStateVisitsfromoverseasmonarchsandpresidents. EveryyearTheQueentakesupofficialresidenceinWindsorCastleforamonthoverEaster (March-April).
TheCastleishuge, sopeopletendtoheadforthemostspectacularbits—theStateApartments, St. George’sChapel, theGalleryandthedelightfulQueenMary’sDolls’ House. Worksofart, antiquefurniture, curiositiesandimpressivearchitecturereflectthetastesofmanydifferentroyalgenerations.
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