After a great night’s sleep it was time for our day in Windsor and Windsor Castle! Windsor is about 30 miles west of London, and the driver we had made the trip in about 45 minutes. On our way out of London he pointed out a very interesting sight….the home of Freddy Mercury! I told him that the American movie showed Mary purchasing a home right next door, and he said that after Freddy died she moved into the house and still lives there today! I thought that was super cool!
Once we arrived in Windsor, we met up with our tour guide Roxy from the previous day. Before we entered the castle grounds, she pointed out one of the oldest homes in Windsor that still stands today. It has survived since the early 1700’s, and is now called “The leaning house of Windsor,” as it has shifted over time. When we first arrived, Roxy told us that late last night there was MAJOR royal drama, as it was announced that Prince Andrew had been “removed” from the Royal Order of the Garter, which effectively strips him of his status as a Duke, and Sarah Ferguson will no longer be a Duchess. This is obviously due to all the controversy over his connection to Jeffery Epstein, which only continues to grow. The official statement that was released to the media said that he had made the decision himself to leave The Order, but Roxy said that almost certainly he was made to leave. And Prince Andrew lives full-time in Windsor Castle! She said this was massive front page news in the country today, and we might see some areas closed or paparazzi around or police presence. Basically we had to be ready to pivot if media coverage of this story was disrupting things on the castle grounds.
As we made our way into the castle, we learned that Windsor is not only the largest castle in the world, it is the largest inhabited castle in the world. The architecture was stunning, as were the limited grounds and gardens that the public can see.
After a brief tour of some of the most iconic exterior parts of the castle, we headed to St. George’s Chapel, which is the famous church where Harry and Meghan were married in. As it was Sunday, we had the opportunity to attend a service there if we wanted. Of course we did!! No photography was allowed in the chapel, but it was breathtaking. We ended up sitting in the front row, a few feet from where Harry and Meghan were married. The sound of the organ and the choir in this magnificent structure was overwhelming. The service lasted about 45 minutes, and was a typical Protestant service. This experience was definitely a highlight of the trip!
After the service we stopped for a quick beverage in the Cafe, and then headed into the castle to tour “the state apartments,” which are the rooms that have been chosen to be opened to the public. Once again, no photography was allowed inside, but needless to say, it was spectacular. One of the most interesting parts was the rebuilt St. George’s Hall, which was completely destroyed in the horrible fire on November 20th, 1992. The fire that broke out destroyed 115 rooms, including nine State Rooms.
After our tour of the State Apartments, ir was time for Roxy to leave us and we were headed to The Leaf restaurant across from the castle to have a traditional Sunday roast lunch. I had striploin and Jeff had a Venison filet. These came with Yorkshire Pudding and fresh vegetables. It was great! Sunday roast is a well-known English tradition, akin to their tea time in the late afternoon.
We ended our afternoon in Windsor by taking a walk down Peascod Street, which is the major shopping area in Windsor. It is a pedestrian cobblestone road with shops on either side, and runs from the edge of the castle grounds to the rail station in Windsor. Being a Sunday afternoon, it was quite busy! There was a bakery near Windsor Station that I found particularly interesting!
Tonight we are having a late dinner back in London that should give great nighttime views of the Thames Riverfront. Tomorrow morning we board the train for one of my most anticipated trips to the English countryside, also known as The Cotswolds.
Carpe Diem...seizing life's adventures 