At home with the Queen

As I had the Saturday free, I decided to make my way to Windsor Castle, one of the current residences of Her Majesty the Queen. Windsor Castle was originally built as a military fort. Upon arrival to Windsor, it was very obvious as to the strategic location of the castle. High over the Thames Valley, constructed on a rocky out-cropping, the castle looks down on the surrounding areas. The castle has been home to the royals for 900 years, and is the oldest occupied castle in the world. Whenever the Queen is in residence, her royal standard replaces the Union Jack atop the Round Tower. I think this might be the closest I will ever get to the Queen...

After touring the grounds of the castle, I walk through the state apartments, some of which are still in use for official functions and entertaining by the Queen. The collection of paintings in the castle is quite impressive, as is vast number of china sets that have been commissioned for the various monarchs.

Also on the grounds of the castle is St. George's Chapel, the final resting place of a number of monarchs, including Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, George VI and Elizabeth (parents of Queen Elizabeth II), and Princess Margaret (sister of Elizabeth II).


After touring the castle, I wandered across the Thames to Eton, home of the most prestigious all-boys public school in the UK (Public schools in the UK are the equivalent to private schools in the States). Eton College has provided pre-university studies for some well known public figures such as Ian Fleming, Hugh Laurie, and Winston Churchill (who was actually expelled from the school for fighting). Eton College was closed to public at the time, so I just looked around the outside, then headed back to catch the train.