Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the official home of the Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the castle is still a working palace today. Queen of the castle used as private houses, where they usually spend the weekend and royal residence, which is committed to a formal requirement.

Every year the Queen takes up official residence in Windsor Castle for a month over Easter (March-April), known as the Easter court. During this time, Queen hosts occasional 'eat and sleep' events for guests, including politicians and public figures. The queen is also a residence for one week in June, when they participate in service for the garter and the Royal Ascot race meeting. Decree of the garter ceremony brings together senior Rank Knight hood of services in the chapel of St. George. Advancement, Queen provides lunch for the Knights of the garter in the Castle's Waterloo Chamber.

Any new Knights of the garter invest Queen garter Throne Room. On the walls are portraits of rulers in their garter robes, George I from the Queen, whose portrait is Sir James Gunn, painted in 1954. Windsor Castle is often used by the Queen to host visitors from overseas monarchs and presidents. Foreign heads of state to enter the castle in horse-drawn carriages through the George IV gateway to the square in Upper Ward, where a military honor guard is prepared. The traditional State Banquet will be held in St. George Hall (55.5 m long and 9 m long), with table seating up to 160 guests.

The recent state visit to take place at Windsor Castle is one of President and Mrs. Mbeki of South Africa (2001) and King Abdullah II and Queen Rani in Jordan (2001), and a special visit by President and Madame Chirac in France to mark the anniversary of intention cordiale (2004). St George Chapel remains an active center of worship, with daily service is open to all. The Chapel Royal is curious that the chapel, which is not covered by the bishop or archbishop but which owes its allegiance directly to the monarch.

The chapel, along with the rest of the College of St George (school for 400 children, St George House, counseling center), is governed by the Dean and canons of Windsor, whose officers and employees, are independent of the royal household. Many Royal weddings have been celebrated in the chapel of St. George, which recently that Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999. In 2005, a service of prayer and dedication was held in the chapel after the marriage of Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. Funerals, like Princess Margaret and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, is also held there. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother is buried in the chapel with her husband, King George VI and Princess Margaret, her youngest daughter.

Different divisions Royal Household Panel is based at Windsor Castle. The old round tower houses the Royal Archives and Royal Photograph Collection. Press Room and the Royal Library in the house of valuable paintings, prints, manuscripts and books in the royal collection. These are listed in the program of changing exhibitions in the Castle's Drawings Gallery.

Those who live and work in the castle include the titular head of the Castle community, Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle, Windsor Dean, cannons, and other personnel who manage the College of St. George, the Military Committee, Knights of Windsor, the principal of Windsor Castle and his staff, responsible for the daily administration; housekeeper and her staff and soldiers, who mount a permanent military guard at the palace. Windsor Castle is also a busy visitor attraction. Many parts of the palace are open to the public, including the surroundings, the State Apartments, Queen Mary's famous doll hats house, chapel of St. George and the Albert Memorial Chapel. And when the queen is the official residence, exchange guard offers colorful insight into the courtyard.