Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle has remained an important residence tor English sovereigns for almost 1,000 years .

William the Conqueror built a castle on the site here soon after 1066 and established hunting grounds for wild boar and deer  in the surrounding countryside .

Henry III built the first round tower here in 1272 and Edward III reconstructed it about 1344 as a meeting place for the newly established Knights of the Garter .

Much of the present structure is the result of a substantial and over zealous rebuild by George IV 200 years ago.

The present Queen, Elizabeth II, now spends much of her time at Windsor Castle . Her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh , is buried in the royal vault of St George’s Chapel inside the castle grounds ,along with many other monarchs and their consorts including Henry VIII and Charles I.

On the restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War , Charles 11, constructed The Long Walk which links the castle with Windsor Great Park, originally part of the 1,000 year old  hunting grounds , established by William the Conqueror.