Windsor Castle
Onto the castle that gave the Royal Family their name…
Long said to be the Queen’s favorite residence, the original castle dates back to the 11th century and is the longest-occupied castle in Europe.
The original castle was built as a motte-and-bailey, with three wards surrounding a central mound. The Middle Ward contains the artificial hill and the Round Tower in the center of the complex. The Upper Ward (the section to the right in the above picture) contains the State and Private Apartments. The Lower Ward (on the left) contains St. George’s Chapel
Balmoral Castle
Heading north to lovely Scotland for the next stop on our tour.
The Queen’s summer retreat in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852. The original building was determined to be too small for the growing family, so in 1853 construction of the new castle began, roughly 90 meters (100 yards) from the site of the original building. Construction was completed in 1856, and the original structure was demolished.
Balmoral is one of two properties that are owned by the monarch personally, and not part of the Crown Estate. The other is…
Sandringham House
The Queen’s Christmas home and where she spends the anniversary of her accession.
Sandringham enters the royal fold in 1862 when it was purchased by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales for his country home. The house was completely rebuilt between 1870 and 1900, while Bertie was also developing the estate into one of the finest shoots in England. Upon Edward VII’s death in 1910, the house passed to George V, where it was the setting for the first Christmas broadcast in 1932.
When George V passed away, the house was inherited by Edward VIII, and upon his abdication was purchased by George VI. George V and George VI both died while at Sandringham.