Inside the Queen’s majestic second home Windsor Castle, including ornate gold furnishings, embroidered carpets and lots of family pics
THERE’S no denying that Buckingham Palace is The Queen’s most famous residence thanks to its sheer size and grandeur.
On the weekends, Her Majesty likes to retire to her second – and equally majestic – home at Windsor Castle which she uses for state visits and banquets as well as private time with her family.
According to the , the Queen spends the majority of her private weekends at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip and stays there for a month over Easter as well as a week in June to attend Royal Ascot and the Order of the Garter service.
But this isn’t just any holiday home we’re talking about – the Windsor Castle estate boasts 13 acres of land and famously includes its own chapel – where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married last year.
Unlike The Queen’s home at Balmoral (which was purchased by Prince Albert in 1852), Windsor Castle has been the home of the British monarchy for almost 1,000 years.
Throwing it back to our school history lessons, Windsor is actually a motte and bailey castle which means it was built around an artificial hill in the centre of the ward which would make it difficult to invade.
But enough about the history: what does The Queen’s home look like inside?
Well, this IS the Royal Family we’re talking about so the interiors of this working residence are suitably grand and filled with ornate furnishings, posh embroidered carpets and gold detailed carvings decorating the walls.
Where most of us would consider ourselves lucky to have one living room, The Queen has THREE enormous drawing rooms at Windsor Castle – each defined by colour.
Crimson Drawing Room
According to the Royal Family’s , the Crimson Drawing Room is a favourite of The Queen’s to use for private events.
As well as stunning scarlet red walls, carpet and furniture, this gold-embellished room also boasts breath-taking views of the surrounding Berkshire estate.
Naturally, this drawing room then leads through to the Green Drawing Room which has been restored to its former glory after being damaged in a fire in 1992.
Green Drawing Room
Eagle-eyed royal fans will recognise the lavish emerald and gold room from the official photos taken at Archie Harrison’s christening in July AND Meghan Markle’s wedding party photos.
King George IV was the first to create the grand drawing room as part of his 1824 renovations – and The Queen has kept the space equally as majestic.
Interestingly, the late monarch wanted to re-establish Windsor Castle as the main residence of the British monarchy and filled the state drawing room with green flowered wall paper, multiple pieces of furniture and decorative Axminster carpet.
Although it’s described as a Drawing Room, the space is actually used as a reception space to host smaller state events and family occasions.
White Drawing Room
Finally, The White Drawing Room is The Queen’s third semi-state room in Windsor Castle where Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank posed for their wedding photos.
Just like the previous two drawing rooms, the White Room was decorated by Morel & Seddon – an interiors company which repurposed French and English 18th century furniture at King George IV’s request.
This equally lavish room seems to be The Queens’ favourite for receiving guests – and she often welcomes ambassadors and diplomats into her Windsor residence in this room which is lined with family portraits and fine art.
Waterloo Chamber
Along with her multiple drawing rooms, The Queen’s second home also boasts its own political chamber.
The Waterloo Chamber was named after Britain’s victory over the French in the Napoleonic Wars and is where members of the Royal Family will give honours to the public.
St George’s Hall
It’s most famous for being the backdrop to baby Archie Harrison’s first photocall – but St George’s Hall is most often used for state banquets.
While it looked like a rather impressive corridor on camera, this enormous room is lined with every single coast of arms from the Knight of the Garter which was founded in 1348.
The banquet hall has an extra special meaning for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex however as it is where their wedding reception was held in May 2018.
The historic Gothic room is said to have housed 600 guests for the couple’s wedding and The Queen hosts two state banquets there every year.
Better still, members of the public can visit the Castle by booking a tour on the – however, the rooms in the tour as susceptible to change as Windsor is a working royal residence.
What is the Order of the Garter?
- The Order of the Garter is held in St George’s Chapel in Windsor every year and is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago
- Although there are various origin legends, the most popular involves the Countess of Salisbury’s garter slipping down her leg during a court ball in Calais. In response to courter sniggering at her, the legend describes how the King returned the garter to her and replied ‘shame on him who thinks ill of it!’
- While Knights – who can be both male and female – were previously chosen from aristocracy, members are today chosen in recognition for their public service.
In more Royal Family news, Meghan Markle fans have been left disappointed as the Palace quashed rumours she’s bringing back her personal blog The Tig.
And Kate Middleton and Prince William have been praised for their “classy” Instagram post to Prince Harry after the Sussexes were criticised for their birthday messages.
Plus Meghan Markle channels Princess Diana by hugging members of the public while Kate Middleton mirrors Prince William’s formal greeting, an expert has claimed.