From bling and butter pats to one poor chap lighting 300 fires — Windsor Castle at its royal best.
Hi there lovely readers,
The last time I wandered Windsor’s cobbled streets, the village was wrapped in a winter mist so thick you could almost taste it. We’d nestled in a café window, steaming hot chocolate in hand, to watch the fog slowly lift to reveal the castle – regal, ethereal, majestic – then learnt that there’d be no entry that day – Her Madge was in residence. This time? King Charles is elsewhere, and the heavy Oak gates are open.
No cameras allowed, permission to simply immerse ourselves in the grandeur – masterpieces by Michelangelo and Rembrandt, armour fit for a king (literally Henry VIII’s), rooms dripping in gold, the cutest little doll’s house and the famous bullet that felled Nelson (our full circle moment!). This castle is Britain’s most glorious time capsule – equal parts history, opulence, and human quirk. Of course we’ve gathered a few fun facts!
Did you know…
1. It’s been home sweet home to Royalty for almost 1,000 years!
Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor is Europe’s longest-occupied palace – 40 monarchs and counting! Henry VIII used it as his personal party palace, and Queen Elizabeth II adored it as her weekend retreat.
2. It once went up in flames .
A 1992 fire (nicknamed Annus Horribilis, remember?) tore through 100 rooms. The £67 million restoration was partly funded by opening Buckingham Palace to the public, which, in hindsight, feels like a royal “garage sale” gone right.
3. One man, 300 Fireplaces .
Meet the King’s Fendersmith – possibly the world’s best job title. He’s been tending Windsor’s 300 fireplaces since 1984, just as his father did before him. Talk about keeping the home fires burning!
4. Clocks, Clocks, Clocks !
There are almost 400 clocks at Windsor – all maintained by one dedicated horological wizard. When daylight saving time hits, he spends 16 hours moving them forward and twice as long winding them back. Imagine explaining that timesheet! Hah Haa!!
5. A Kitchen fit for a King (Literally) .
The oldest working kitchen in England still hand-rolls every pat of butter with the royal crown stamped on top. Even the kitchen clocks are set five minutes fast – because in a royal household, dinner waits for no one.
6. A Castle so grand it named a family
Once upon a time, the royals were called the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – catchy, right? During World War I, they decided a rebrand was in order (thanks to some awkward German connections), so Windsor it became. The castle didn’t take its name from the royals – the royals took theirs from the castle. Now that’s what you call a power move.
7. The longest driveway in Britain -Literally
The approach to Windsor Castle stretches a stately 2.65 miles. Perfect for royal processions… or a marathon. Legend has it that delivery drivers insisted that the late Queen met them at the front gate – hmmmm…’’hey Jeeves, I simply must draw the line at carrying the takeaway that far, would you be a pet?’
Windsor Castle is proof that even in the grandest castles, it’s the quirks that make it human – from bling and butter pats to one poor bloke keeping 300 fires burning. Long live the sparkle (and the fendersmith).
Of course, at G&T o’clock we just had to try the Fish ‘n Chips at ‘the best fish n chips in the UK’ pub? Meh! That misty morning, with hot chocolate on the other hand….yeah!
out and dive straight into the Fringe buzz.
