Mr G (aka Mike) and I took Pedro, our bat, to Windsor Castle. Pedro frequently talks about ‘when he lived in the castle’, not Windsor Castle, so we decided to start touring castles for his pleasure.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is located in the town of Windsor in Berkshire, England. It’s 25 miles west of central London, on a hill overlooking the River Thames. The castle covers an area of about 13 acres (52,609 square meters), and has around 1000 rooms. That’s a lot of cleaning!
The Castle is an example of Norman and Gothic architecture and is one of the oldest and largest inhabited castles in the world. The layout features three main sections: the Upper Ward, Middle Ward, and Lower Ward. King Charles 3rd uses the castle for private and official duties. The public are only allowed into part of the castle but we were able to view the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s doll house and St George's Chapel.
William the Conqueror
The castle was originally built by William the Conqueror around 1070. He was the first Norman king of England. He invaded England and won the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The castle was designed as a mote-and-bailey castle to guard the western approach to London and the River Thames which had strategic importance.
Arrow Slits
The arrow slits are narrow, vertical openings in the castle’s thick stone walls, originally designed as defensive features to protect against invaders. Dating back to the castle's early Norman period, these slits allowed archers to shoot arrows at attackers while remaining shielded from return fire. Positioned strategically along the castle’s outer walls and towers, the arrow slits provided excellent vantage points and increased the defensive capabilities of the castle.
The Canon
This gun formed part of the armament of His Majesty’s Ship, Luntine, which was totally lost off the coast of Holland on 9th October 1799. The wreck was embedded in sand in nine fathoms of water. In 1886 this gun was salvaged having lain for nearly 100 years beneath the sea.
The State Apartments
The state apartments are in the upper ward. They are a series of grand, opulent rooms used for official royal ceremonies, receptions, and banquets. Lavishly decorated, each room reflects distinct styles and periods, featuring gilded ceilings, intricate woodwork, and valuable art collections, including paintings by masters like Rembrandt and Rubens. There is the Waterloo Chamber, commemorating the defeat of Napoleon, and St. George’s Hall, a vast hall adorned with the heraldic shields of the Order of the Garter.
Queen Mary's Doll House
This was created in the 1920s as a gift for Queen Mary, who was an avid collector of fine arts and antiques. Designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, this dollhouse is an intricate representation of an aristocratic home, complete with working electricity, running water, and a functioning lift. Every detail, down to tiny books, paintings, and silverware, was crafted by renowned artists and artisans, making it an authentic showcase of British craftsmanship. The dollhouse even features a fully stocked wine cellar and a library with specially written miniature books. It’s a shame Pedro was not allowed to play in the house despite us asking.
Guards
The Household Guards, guard the sovereign, since 1660. The Guards consist of five infantry regiments – the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards – and two regiments of the Household Cavalry – the Life Guards and Blues and Royals.
The Round Tower
Pedro was very disappointed to learn that Windsor Castle has no dungeons or historic torturing devices. However, prisoners were held at the castle in the past in the Round Tower and the Norman Gate.
Two notable prisoners held here were:
King James 1st
James 1 of Scotland spent some time here after being captured by English pirates when he was 12. . He spent a total of 18 years incarcerated. After a ransom was agreed, he was released in 1424. He returned to Scotland and ruled as King, but was assassinated in 1437.
King Charles 1
Charles 1 the King of Scotland and England. This is a picture of him. In 1647 he was briefly held here during the English Civil War. He was moved to London where he was put on trial for treason and executed in 1649 by beheading.
The tower is 65 feet tall and divides the castle's two primary areas, the Upper Ward and the Lower Ward.
St George’s Chapel
St George’s Chapel is in the Lower Ward and is a beautiful gothic building. We weren’t allowed to photograph or video inside.
It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the most senior order of knighthood in the UK, which was founded by Edward 111 in 1348. The chapel is the final resting place of many monarchs including Henry V111 and Queen Elizabeth 11.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married here in 2018.
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Final Comments
The staff were all very polite and helpful. Pedro particularly enjoyed exploring the Round Tower, the Norman Gate, the gift shop and the security machine at the start of the visit.
Watch the full video:
Read more about Pedro and his friends, a wonderful gift for a little one:
We also have accompanying colouring books:
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