How did the 1992 fire at Windsor Castle start?
WINDSOR Castle is one of the nation’s most iconic buildings, but it was once ravaged by flames after a fire broke out in 1992.
The incident destroyed 115 rooms and took five years to restore and is said to have “devastated” the Queen.
What caused the fire at Windsor Castle?
On November 20, 1992, a faulty spotlight in Queen Victoria's Private Chapel at Windsor Castle set alight to a curtain next to the altar.
Just minutes later, the fire started spreading around the historic castle, including into St George’s Hall next door.
The fire was spotted at 11.30am and within three hours a team of 225 firefighters from seven counties were tackling the outbreak.
This involved using 36 pumps and discharging 1.5million gallons of water.
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No one lost their life in the blaze, although six people suffered minor injuries.
How much of Windsor Castle was destroyed?
The fire destroyed 115 rooms, including nine State Rooms.
Thankfully, due to rewiring and other works being in progress at the time, most of the artworks and valuables had previously been moved into storage.
Prince Andrew, who unlike the Queen and Prince Philip was there at the time, organised a human chain to bring out treasures that were still in place.
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They managed to save all but two pieces: A rosewood sideboard and a huge 1798 painting of George III by Sir William Beechey.
One corner of the castle — fortress of the monarchy for almost 1,000 years — had been nearly reduced to smouldering rubble.
Over the next few years the castle was restored, and the project cost £36.5 million.
Initially the work was due to be footed by the taxpayer, as Windsor Castle is owned by the Government and not the Royal Family.
However, after outcry the Queen paid 70 per cent of the restoration work and opened parts of Buckingham Palace to the public to generate income.
The official completion date was 20 November 1997, five years to the day after the outbreak of the fire.
This also corresponded with the 50th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
What did The Queen say about the fire at Windsor Castle?
The Queen was initially informed of the tragic news via a telephone call from Prince Andrew and was said to be devastated.
The next afternoon, she surveyed the damage, a small shocked figure in a hooded mackintosh.
Four days later, on November 24, in a speech at Guildhall marking her 40th anniversary of her accession, she referred to 1992 as her 'Annus Horribilis'.
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She said: “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.
“In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'.”
