Windsor Castle, Royal residence in Windsor, Berkshire, England
Windsor Castle is a royal residence in Windsor, England, that rises on a hill above the Thames and spreads across 5 hectares with massive stone walls, medieval towers, and extensive residential areas. The upper and lower wards enclose various building wings, including the State Apartments with ornate interiors and art collections, as well as separate living quarters for the royal family.
William the Conqueror bought land from Westminster Abbey and from 1078 had a wooden castle built; under Henry I the first stone buildings appeared. Henry III added the Curfew Tower, and Edward III, born at Windsor in 1312, rebuilt the castle from 1350 over 24 years with William of Wykeham, replacing the Round Tower. George IV later remodelled the state apartments.
The compound continues to function as a working royal residence where official state ceremonies and private family gatherings take place throughout the year. Saint George's Chapel hosts the annual service of the Order of the Garter, during which members wear their ceremonial robes and insignia.
The site opens Thursday through Monday with hours that vary by season, and occasional closures occur during official events. Trains from London's Paddington or Waterloo stations reach Windsor in under an hour, and wheelchair users can visit large portions of the grounds.
The Curfew Tower keeps remains of a 13th-century prison, and a carillon plays from it every three hours. In the State Apartments' vestibule hangs the ball that mortally wounded Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar in 1805.
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