84-623: The House of Windsor is a British royal house, and currently the reigning house of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms . The royal house's name was inspired by the historic Windsor Castle estate. Since it was founded on 17 July 1917, there have been five British monarchs of the House of Windsor: George V , Edward VIII , George VI , Elizabeth II , and Charles III . The children and male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also genealogically belong to
168-472: A royal proclamation issued by George V declared: Now, therefore, We, out of Our Royal Will and Authority, do hereby declare and announce that as from the date of this Our Royal Proclamation Our House and Family shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that all the descendants in the male line of Our said Grandmother Queen Victoria who are subjects of these Realms, other than female descendants who may marry or may have married, shall bear
252-585: A "dynast" is a family member who would have had succession rights, were the monarchy's rules still in force. For example, after the 1914 assassinations of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his morganatic wife, their son Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg , was bypassed for the Austro-Hungarian throne because he was not a Habsburg dynast. Even after the abolition of the Austrian monarchy, Duke Maximilian and his descendants have not been considered
336-467: A bloody amoeba. I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children." On 8 February 1960, some years after both the death of Queen Mary and the resignation of Churchill, the Queen confirmed that she and her children would continue to be known as the "House and Family of Windsor", as would any agnatic descendants (through the male line of succession, or patrilineality ) who enjoy
420-636: A branch of the House of Oldenburg . A few months before his marriage, Philip abandoned his princely titles and adopted the surname Mountbatten , which was that of his maternal uncle and mentor, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma , and had itself been adopted by Lord Mountbatten's father (Philip's maternal grandfather), Prince Louis of Battenberg , in 1917. It is the literal translation of the German Battenberg , which refers to Battenberg ,
504-584: A clause of the English Act of Settlement 1701 remained in effect at that time, stipulating that dynasts who marry Roman Catholics are considered "dead" for the purpose of succession to the British throne. That exclusion, too, ceased to apply on 26 March 2015, with retroactive effect for those who had been dynasts before triggering it by marriage to a Roman Catholic. A "dynastic marriage" is one that complies with monarchical house law restrictions, so that
588-508: A cost of £14,000. Charles Hollis was appointed architect and the new building was erected between 1820 and 1822 with cast iron columns that were floated down the Thames. The ribs that support the roof are also cast iron. The new church, Gothic in style with a pinnacle tower containing the bells, was officially consecrated by the Bishop of Salisbury on 22 June 1822. Samuel Sanders Teulon added
672-521: A female. For instance, the House of Windsor is maintained through the children of Queen Elizabeth II , as it did with the monarchy of the Netherlands , whose dynasty remained the House of Orange-Nassau through three successive queens regnant . The earliest such example among major European monarchies was in the Russian Empire in the 18th century, where the name of the House of Romanov
756-417: A framework of successive dynasties. As such, the term "dynasty" may be used to delimit the era during which a family reigned, and also to describe events, trends and artifacts of that period (e.g., "a Ming dynasty vase"). Until the 19th century, it was taken for granted that a legitimate function of a monarch was to aggrandize his dynasty: that is, to expand the wealth and power of his family members. Before
840-591: A household name. In the same year, on 15 March, King George's first cousin Emperor Nicholas II of Russia was forced to abdicate , which raised the spectre of the eventual abolition of all the monarchies in Europe. The king and his family were finally persuaded to abandon all titles held under the German Crown and to change German titles and house names to anglicised versions. Hence, on 17 July 1917,
924-502: A large central coach park with 74 spaces to cater mostly for the large tourist groups coming to visit Windsor Castle and town. It is accessed by pedestrians via a footbridge adjacent to Windsor & Eton Central railway station . Windsor is linked to the town of Eton (on the opposite bank of the River Thames ) by Windsor Bridge . Originally a fully trafficked road bridge, Windsor Bridge is now for pedestrians and cyclists only. To
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#17327768287501008-416: A legacy, such as a dynasty of poets or actors. It is also extended to unrelated people, such as major poets of the same school or various rosters of a single sports team. The dynastic family or lineage may be known as a "noble house", which may be styled as " imperial ", " royal ", " princely ", " ducal ", " comital " or " baronial ", depending upon the chief or present title borne by its members, but it
1092-488: A nephew of Queen Elizabeth II , is in the line of succession to the British crown , making him a British dynast. On the other hand, since he is not a patrilineal member of the British royal family, he is therefore not a dynast of the House of Windsor. Comparatively, the German aristocrat Prince Ernst August of Hanover , a male-line descendant of King George III , possesses no legal British name, titles or styles (although he
1176-481: A rise in democracy, and a reduction within democracies of elected members from dynastic families. The word "dynasty" (from the Greek : δυναστεία , dynasteía "power", "lordship", from dynástes "ruler") is sometimes used informally for people who are not rulers but are, for example, members of a family with influence and power in other areas, such as a series of successive owners of a major company, or any family with
1260-426: A royal proclamation declaring that the royal house was to remain known as the House of Windsor. This she did on 9 April 1952, officially declaring it her "Will and Pleasure that I and My children shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that My descendants, other than female descendants who marry and their descendants, shall bear the name of Windsor." Philip privately complained, "I am nothing but
1344-450: A small town in Hesse . Soon after Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, Lord Mountbatten observed that because it was the standard practice for the wife in a marriage to adopt her husband's surname, the House of Mountbatten now reigned. When Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary , heard of this comment, she informed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and he later advised the Queen to issue
1428-724: A successor during their own lifetime, or a member of their family may maneuver to take control of the dictatorship after the strongman's death. Windsor, Berkshire Windsor is a historic town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire , England. It is the site of Windsor Castle , one of the official residences of the British monarch . The town is situated 21.8 miles (35.1 km) west of Charing Cross , central London , 5.8 miles (9.3 km) southeast of Maidenhead , and 15.8 miles (25.4 km) east of
1512-525: A time when bridge building was rare; it was first documented in 1191 but had probably been built, according to the Pipe rolls , in 1173. It played an important part in the national road system, linking London with Reading and Winchester . By directing traffic into the new town, it underpinned the success of New Windsor's fledgling economy. The town was the site of the Treaty of Windsor in the year 1175, following
1596-487: Is Peascod Street. Windsor has two railway stations. Windsor & Eton Central railway station is the southern terminus of the Slough–Windsor & Eton line . A Great Western Railway shuttle to Slough connects with services to London Paddington and Reading . Windsor & Eton Riverside station is the terminus for South Western Railway direct services from London Waterloo . Both stations were built at around
1680-607: Is dedicated to St John the Baptist and is situated adjacent to the High Street. The church is said to have dated from the time that King Henry I moved the Royal Court from Old Windsor to 'New Windsor'. The church was clearly established by the time of Henry II in about 1110, as there are references to it by then. In 1543, Henry Filmer , Robert Testwood and Anthony Pearson , the three Windsor Martyrs , were burnt at
1764-627: Is entitled to reclaim the former royal dukedom of Cumberland ). He was born in the line of succession to the British throne and was bound by Britain's Royal Marriages Act 1772 until it was repealed when the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 took effect on 26 March 2015. Thus, he requested and obtained formal permission from Queen Elizabeth II to marry the Roman Catholic Princess Caroline of Monaco in 1999. Yet,
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#17327768287501848-447: Is more often referred by adding the name afterwards, as in " House of Habsburg ". A ruler from a dynasty is sometimes referred to as a "dynast", but this term is also used to describe any member of a reigning family who retains a right to succeed to a throne . For example, King Edward VIII ceased to be a dynast of the House of Windsor following his abdication. In historical and monarchist references to formerly reigning families,
1932-604: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle . (The settlement had an earlier name but this is unknown.) The name originates from old English Windles-ore or winch by the riverside . This etymology is shared with Winsor in Hampshire. By 1110, meetings of the Great Council , which had previously taken place at Windlesora, were noted as taking place at the castle , referred to as New Windsor. By the late 12th century
2016-468: The Assumption ; which is now better known as Eton College . Pilgrims came with substantial sums to spend. From perhaps two or three named inns in the late 15th century, some 30 can be identified a century later. The town again grew in wealth. For London pilgrims, Windsor was probably – but briefly – of greater importance than Canterbury and the shrine of that city's patron saint Thomas Becket . With
2100-607: The Black Death in 1348 had reduced some towns' populations by up to 50%, in Windsor the building projects of Edward III brought money to the town, and possibly its population doubled: this was a 'boom' time for the local economy. People came to the town from every part of the country, and from continental Europe. The poet Geoffrey Chaucer held the honorific post of Clerk of the Works at Windsor Castle in 1391. The development of
2184-678: The Combined Counties League Division One and their home ground was Stag Meadow, granted to the original club by King George V in 1911, before they moved to Holloways Park. Windsor Cricket Club's clubhouse and pitches are at Home Park (public) adjacent to Windsor Castle . The club played host to a 2006 Lord's Taverners cricket match. The Windsor 1st team currently play in Division 2A of the Thames Valley League. Windsor Rugby Club also use
2268-471: The Commonwealth of Nations , comprising most parts of the former British Empire and some states that were never part of it. Dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics . A dynasty may also be referred to as a " house ", " family " or " clan ", among others. Historians periodize
2352-476: The Frankish Salic law . In polities where it was permitted, succession through a daughter usually established a new dynasty in her husband's family name. This has changed in all of Europe's remaining monarchies, where succession law and conventions have maintained dynastic names de jure through a female. Dynastic politics has declined over time, owing to a decline in monarchy as a form of government,
2436-875: The House of Oldenburg since Philip was by birth a member of the Glücksburg branch of that house. The monarch is head of state of fifteen sovereign states . These are the United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda , Australia , the Bahamas , Belize , Canada , Grenada , Jamaica , New Zealand , Papua New Guinea , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , Solomon Islands , and Tuvalu . As well as these separate monarchies, there are also three Crown Dependencies , fourteen British Overseas Territories , two associated states of New Zealand, and one territory . In 1701, succession to
2520-577: The Normans invasion of Ireland. The treaty was between Henry II and Ruadhrí Ua Conchobhair , High King of Ireland . The treaty involved agreements regarding the two kings' respective spheres of influence on the island of Ireland, control over their subjects, and the paying of tribute to Henry. Despite the agreement, the treaty would collapse and conflict in Ireland would continue for several centuries. The town of New Windsor, as an ancient demesne of
2604-563: The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 , and the Statute of Westminster 1931 . The Windsors became recognised as the royal family of multiple independent countries, a number that shifted over the decades, as some Dominions became republics and Crown colonies became realms, republics, or monarchies under a different sovereign. Since 1949, three monarchs of the House of Windsor, George VI , Elizabeth II and Charles III , have also been Head of
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2688-808: The Saxe-Coburg and Gotha branch of the House of Wettin by virtue of their descent from Albert, Prince Consort , husband of Queen Victoria , the last British monarch from the House of Hanover . High anti-German sentiment amongst the people of the British Empire during the First World War reached a peak in March 1917, when the Gotha G.IV , a heavy aircraft capable of crossing the English Channel , began bombing London directly and became
2772-772: The chancel and the apse in 1880. The chancel screen was added in 1898 to mark the 60-year reign of Queen Victoria . In 1906 the Hunter organ was installed. The north side gallery was reduced in length to make way for the organ. The more recent church of All Saints' is situated on Frances Road. The incumbent vicar is the Revd Canon Sally Lodge. The author Thomas Hardy trained as an architect and joined Arthur Blomfield 's practice as assistant architect in April 1862. Between 1862 and 1864 he worked with Blomfield on All Saints'. A reredos , possibly designed by Hardy,
2856-721: The order of succession to the Dutch throne , and consequently lost his title as a "Prince of the Netherlands", and left his children without dynastic rights. Empress Maria Theresa of the Habsburg dynasty had her children married into various European dynasties. Habsburg marriage policy amongst European dynasties led to the Pax Austriaca . Historians periodize the histories of many states and civilizations , such as Ancient Iran (3200–539 BC), Ancient Egypt (3100–30 BC) and Ancient and Imperial China (2070 BC – AD 1912), using
2940-802: The style of Royal Highness and the title of prince or princess. Still, Elizabeth also decreed that her agnatic descendants who do not have that style and title would bear the surname Mountbatten-Windsor . This came after some months of correspondence between the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and the constitutional expert Edward Iwi . Iwi had raised the prospect that the royal child due to be born in February 1960 would bear "the Badge of Bastardy" if it were given its mother's maiden name (Windsor) rather than its father's name (Mountbatten). Macmillan had attempted to rebuff Iwi, until
3024-483: The 12th century, although substantial planning and setting out of the new town (including the parish church, marketplace, bridge, hermitage and leper hospital) did not take place until c. 1170 , under Henry II , following the civil war of Stephen's reign. At about the same time, the castle was rebuilt in stone. Windsor Bridge is the earliest bridge on the Thames between Staines and Reading , built at
3108-466: The 16th century survive in part, although most of the once substantial borough archive dating back to the 12th century was destroyed, probably in the late 17th century. New Windsor was a nationally significant town in the Middle Ages , certainly one of the fifty wealthiest towns in the country by 1332. Its prosperity came from its close association with the royal household. The repeated investment in
3192-433: The 18th century, most dynasties throughout the world have traditionally been reckoned patrilineally , such as those that follow the Frankish Salic law . In polities where it was permitted, succession through a daughter usually established a new dynasty in her husband's family name. This has changed in all of Europe's remaining monarchies, where succession law and conventions have maintained dynastic names de jure through
3276-520: The 7th century. From about the 8th century, high status people as well as royalty began visiting the site. From the 11th century the site's link with King Edward the Confessor is documented. In the later medieval period, royal use of the site increased, probably because it offered good access to woodlands and opportunities for hunting – a sport which also developed military skills. The settlement at Old Windsor largely transferred to New Windsor during
3360-722: The Crown , was a privileged settlement from the start, apparently having the rights of a free borough , for which other towns had to pay substantial fees to the king. It had a merchant guild (known by the 14th century as the Fraternity or brotherhood of the Holy Trinity ) from the early 13th century and, under royal patronage, was made the chief town of the county in 1277, as part of its grant of royal borough status by Edward I 's charter . Somewhat unusually, this charter gave no new rights or privileges to Windsor but probably codified
3444-459: The Crown . Now known as Cumberland Lodge after the Duke of Cumberland 's residence there in the mid-18th century, the house was variously known as Byfield House, New Lodge, Ranger's Lodge, Windsor Lodge and Great Lodge. In 1778, there was a resumption of the royal presence, with George III at the Queen's Lodge and, from 1804, at the castle. This started a period of new development in Windsor, with
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3528-650: The Home Park (public) ground and the team currently plays in the Southern Counties North division. Several other local sports clubs are based at Home Park (public), including hockey and archery clubs, and the Datchet Dashers running club. Royal Windsor Rollergirls were one of the first roller derby leagues to be founded in the UK in 2007. They disbanded in 2023. State-funded schooling in
3612-542: The House of Hanover to the British monarchy with the accession of King Edward VII , son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . In 1917, the name of the British royal house was changed from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor , taking its name from the royal residence in Berkshire . King Edward VII and, in turn, his son, George V , were members of
3696-490: The Queen advised Rab Butler in January 1960 that for some time she had her heart set on a change that would recognise the name, Mountbatten. She wished to make this change before the birth of her child. The issue did not affect Prince Charles or Princess Anne, as they had been born Mountbatten before the Queen's accession to the throne. Prince Andrew was born 11 days later, on 19 February 1960. Any future monarch can change
3780-414: The Queen throughout the rest of the 19th century. Unfortunately, excessive redevelopment and 'refurbishment' of Windsor's medieval fabric at this time resulted in widespread destruction of the old town, including the demolition of the old parish church of St John the Baptist in 1820. The original had been built around 1135. Most of the current town's streets date from the mid to late 19th century. However
3864-651: The Royal Mews). Her residence in this house, as far as it is possible to tell, was brief. Only one of her letters addressed from Burford House survives: it was probably intended as a legacy for her illegitimate son, the Earl of Burford, later the Duke of St Albans . Windsor was garrisoned by Colonel Venn during the English Civil War . Later it became the home of the New Model Army when Venn had left
3948-524: The Windsor homeless was impounded by police. The current Member of Parliament for the Windsor constituency (which includes the surrounding small towns and villages, such as Eton and Datchet ) is Jack Rankin ( Conservative ), who was first elected at the 2024 General Election . Windsor was an ancient borough , officially called 'New Windsor' to distinguish it from the neighbouring village and parish of Old Windsor. New Windsor's earliest known charter
4032-424: The base-line of the survey at Hounslow Heath . The substantial redevelopment of the castle in the subsequent decade and Queen Victoria 's residence from 1840, as well as the coming of two railways in 1849, signalled the most dramatic changes in the town's history. These events catapulted the town from a sleepy medieval has-been to the centre of empire – many European crowned heads of state came to Windsor to visit
4116-546: The building of two army barracks. However the associated large numbers of soldiers led to a major prostitution problem by 1830, in a town where the number of streets had little changed since 1530. In the 18th century the town traded with London selling the Windsor Chair which was actually made in Buckinghamshire . A number of fine houses were built in this period, including Hadleigh House on Sheet Street, which
4200-523: The castle brought London merchants (goldsmiths, vintners , spicers and mercers ) to the town in the late 13th century and provided much employment for townsmen. The development of the castle under Edward III , between 1350 and 1368, was the largest secular building project in England of the Middle Ages, and many Windsor people worked on this project, again bringing great wealth to the town. Although
4284-530: The castle continued in the late 15th century with the rebuilding of St George's Chapel . With this Windsor became a major pilgrimage destination, particularly for Londoners. Pilgrims came to touch the royal shrine of the murdered Henry VI , the fragment of the True Cross and other important relics. Visits to the chapel were probably combined with a visit to the important nearby Marian shrine and college at Eton , founded by Henry VI in 1440, and dedicated to
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#17327768287504368-511: The castle in 1645. Despite its royal dependence, like many commercial centres, Windsor was a Parliamentarian town. Charles I was buried without ceremony in St George's Chapel after his execution at Whitehall in 1649. The present Guildhall , built in 1680–91, replaced an earlier market house that had been built on the same site around 1580, as well as the old guildhall, which faced the castle and had been built around 1350. The contraction in
4452-464: The closures of the Reformation , however, Windsor's pilgrims traffic died out, and the town began to stagnate about ten years afterwards. The castle was considered old-fashioned and shrines to the dead were thought to be superstitious. The early modern period formed a stark contrast to the medieval history of the town. Henry VIII was buried in St George's Chapel in 1547, next to Jane Seymour ,
4536-479: The descendants are eligible to inherit the throne or other royal privileges. For example, the marriage of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to Máxima Zorreguieta in 2002 was dynastic, making their eldest child, Princess Catharina-Amalia , the heir apparent to the Crown of the Netherlands. The marriage of his younger brother, Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau , in 2003 lacked government support and parliamentary approval. Thus, Prince Friso forfeited his place in
4620-691: The dynastic name through a similar royal proclamation, as the royal prerogative in the United Kingdom covers it. At the creation of the House of Windsor, its head reigned over the British Empire . Following the end of the First World War, however, shifts took place that saw the emergence of the Dominions of the British Commonwealth as independent states. The shift was recognised in the Balfour Declaration of 1926 ,
4704-477: The elected positions of republics and constitutional monarchies . Eminence, influence , tradition , genetics , and nepotism may contribute to the phenomenon. Hereditary dictatorships are personalist dictatorships in which political power stays within a strongman's family due to the overwhelming authority of the strongman, rather than by the democratic consent of the people. The strongman typically fills government positions with their relatives. They may groom
4788-443: The histories of many states and civilizations , such as Ancient Iran (3200–539 BC), Ancient Egypt (3100–30 BC), and Ancient and Imperial China (2070 BC – AD 1912), using a framework of successive dynasties. As such, the term "dynasty" may be used to delimit the era during which a family reigned. Before the 18th century, most dynasties throughout the world have traditionally been reckoned patrilineally , such as those that follow
4872-469: The line of succession. Dynasties lasting at least 250 years include the following. Legendary lineages that cannot be historically confirmed are not included. There are 43 sovereign states with a monarch as head of state , of which 41 are ruled by dynasties. There are currently 26 sovereign dynasties. Though in elected governments , rule does not pass automatically by inheritance, political power often accrues to generations of related individuals in
4956-445: The main street, Peascod Street ( / ˈ p ɛ s k ɒ d / ) is very ancient, predating the castle by many years, and probably of Anglo-Saxon origin. It formed part of the 10th-century parish structure in east Berkshire and is first referred to as Peascroftstret in c. 1170. The 1,000-year-old royal castle, although the largest and longest-occupied in Europe, is a recent development in comparison. The original parish church of Windsor
5040-410: The modern county town of Reading . It is immediately south of the River Thames , which forms its boundary with its smaller, ancient twin town of Eton . The village of Old Windsor , just over 2 miles (3 km) to the south, predates what is now called Windsor by around 300 years. In the past, Windsor was formally referred to as New Windsor to distinguish the two. Windlesora is first mentioned in
5124-493: The mother of his only legitimate son, Edward ( Edward VI ). Henry, the founder of the Church of England , may have wanted to benefit from the stream of pilgrims coming to the town. His will gives that impression. Most accounts of Windsor in the 16th and 17th centuries talk of its poverty, badly made streets and poor housing. Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor is set in Windsor and contains many references to parts of
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#17327768287505208-490: The name of the Royal House and all British descendants of Victoria and Albert in the male line were to bear the name of Windsor, except for women who married into other families. In 1947, Princess Elizabeth (who would become Queen Elizabeth II ), heir presumptive to King George VI , married Philip Mountbatten (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark), a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg ,
5292-456: The number of old public buildings speaks of a town 'clearing the decks', ready for a renewed period of prosperity with Charles II 's return to the Castle. But his successors did not use the place, and as the town was short of money, the planned new civic buildings did not appear. The town continued in poverty until the mid 19th century. In 1652 the largest house in Windsor Great Park was built on land which Oliver Cromwell had appropriated from
5376-413: The parish of Clewer was split into parishes called Clewer Within, being within the borough boundaries, and Clewer Without, covering the area outside the borough. Clewer Without was subsequently absorbed into the borough of New Windsor in 1920, after which the borough contained the three parishes of New Windsor, Clewer Within and Clewer Without. The borough council met at Windsor Guildhall . The borough
5460-475: The possibility of creating a civil parish covering the town was being considered by the borough council, but no decision had been made. In 2012 the council reintroduced the role of town crier to the borough. The previous town crier had retired in 1892 and for 120 years the post remained vacant. The current crier is Chris Brown In 2018 the belongings of homeless people were controversially removed and stored for reasons of security. A bus intended to shelter
5544-409: The rightful pretenders by Austrian monarchists, nor have they claimed that position. The term "dynast" is sometimes used only to refer to agnatic descendants of a realm's monarchs, and sometimes to include those who hold succession rights through cognatic royal descent. The term can therefore describe overlapping but distinct sets of people. For example, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon ,
5628-461: The rights which it had enjoyed for many years. Windsor's position as chief town of Berkshire was short-lived, however, as people found it difficult to reach. Wallingford took over this position in the early 14th century. As a self-governing town Windsor enjoyed a number of freedoms unavailable to other towns, including the right to hold its own borough court, the right of membership (or 'freedom') and some financial independence. The town accounts of
5712-618: The said Name of Windsor.... The name had a long association with monarchy in Britain, through the town of Windsor, Berkshire , and Windsor Castle ; the link is alluded to in the Round Tower of Windsor Castle being the basis of the badge of the House of Windsor. It was suggested by Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham . Upon hearing that his cousin had changed the name of the British royal house to Windsor and in reference to Shakespeare 's The Merry Wives of Windsor , German Emperor Wilhelm II remarked jokingly that he planned to see "The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha". George V also restricted
5796-573: The same time in the 19th century, as the two train companies which owned the lines both wanted to carry Queen Victoria to Windsor, with the first line opened gaining the privilege. From 1883 to 1885, London's District Railway 's westbound service from ran as far as Windsor. Bus services in the town are provided by Thames Valley Buses , First Berkshire & The Thames Valley and Reading Buses . There are frequent bus services between Windsor and Heathrow Airport , Green Line Coach Station in Central London , and Legoland Windsor Resort . Windsor has
5880-421: The settlement at Windelsora had been renamed Old Windsor . The early history of the site is unknown, although it was almost certainly settled some years before 1070 when William the Conqueror had a timber motte-and-bailey castle constructed. The focus of royal interest at that time was not the castle, however, but a small riverside settlement about 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream, possibly established from
5964-418: The south of the town lies Windsor Great Park and the towns of Old Windsor , Egham and Virginia Water . Windsor lies on National Cycle Route 4 (London– Fishguard ). The main access roads serving the town have adjacent cycle paths or nearby alternative traffic-free cycle routes. Windsor has links to three local motorways: Windsor's senior football team is Windsor F.C. 2011) The team currently play in
6048-469: The stake in Deanery Gardens, near the church. The original church building had Saxon arches and Norman work and by the 18th century it was described as 'a vast building with 10 side altars and several chantries' and perhaps eight gabled roofs . There was a small spire on top of the main central tower. In 1818 the high cost of repairs to the old building led to plans for a complete rebuild at
6132-470: The throne was given to Sophia of Hanover , who was born into the House of Wittelsbach , married into the House of Hanover , and was a granddaughter of James VI and I of the House of Stuart . Succession was passed to her son who became George I in 1714, marking the start of a long ruling period by the Hanoverian royal house. Eventually in 1901, a line of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha succeeded
6216-533: The town and the surrounding countryside. Shakespeare must have walked the town's streets, near the castle and river Thames, much as people still do. The play may have been written in the Garter Inn, opposite the Castle, but this was destroyed by fire in the late 17th century. The long-standing – and famous – courtesan of king Charles II , Nell Gwyn , was given a house on St Albans Street: Burford House (now part of
6300-491: The town is Legoland Windsor , the only Legoland park in the United Kingdom and the largest Legoland park in the world in terms of area. Legoland Windsor was built on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park . As a tourist town there are many gift shops around the castle, and there are shops and restaurants in Windsor Royal Station inside Windsor & Eton Central railway station . The main shopping street
6384-429: The town is provided by a system of three-tier schooling . Schools are controlled by either the local authority or academy trusts . The town is served by eleven first schools for children up to 9 years old, and three middle schools until age 13. Pupils aged 13–18 can elect to attend the town's two single-sex secondary schools: The Windsor Boys' School and Windsor Girls' School . Several independent schools operate in
6468-551: The town, including: Local radio stations are community based radio stations such as Radio Roadhouse and Royal Borough Radio. The town's local newspaper is the Windsor Express . There is one tier of local government covering Windsor, at unitary authority level: the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead , which has its headquarters in Maidenhead . The Windsor built-up area is unparished . As at November 2023,
6552-518: The use of British princely titles to his nearest relations, and in 1919, he stripped three of his German relations of their British titles and styles under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 . The children and male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also genealogically belong to the House of Oldenburg since Philip was by birth a member of the Glücksburg branch of that house. The 1917 proclamation stated that
6636-634: Was built in 1793 by the then mayor of Windsor, William Thomas. In 1811 it was the home of John O'Reilly, the apothecary-surgeon to George III . Windsor Castle was the westernmost sighting-point for the Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790) , which measured the precise distance between the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Paris Observatory by trigonometry . Windsor was used because of its relative proximity to
6720-533: Was discovered behind panelling at All Saints' in August 2016. As a result of the castle, Windsor is a popular tourist destination and has facilities usually found in larger towns: two railway stations, a theatre and several substantial hotels. Various boat trips operate on the River Thames, with connections to Maidenhead and Staines-upon-Thames . In winter, Alexandra Gardens hosts a temporary ice rink. Near
6804-462: Was due to disagreements over how to choose a non German house. In Limpopo Province of South Africa , Balobedu determined descent matrilineally , while rulers have at other times adopted the name of their mother's dynasty when coming into her inheritance. Less frequently, a monarchy has alternated or been rotated, in a multi-dynastic (or polydynastic) system—that is, the most senior living members of parallel dynasties, at any point in time, constitute
6888-549: Was issued in 1277, but the evidence suggests the town was administered as a borough prior to that. The borough covered the parish of New Windsor and part of the parish of Clewer . It was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. The Local Government Act 1894 directed that parishes were no longer allowed to straddle borough boundaries, and so
6972-406: Was maintained through Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna . This also happened in the case of Queen Maria II of Portugal , who married Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry , but whose descendants remained members of the House of Braganza , per Portuguese law; in fact, since the 1800s, the only female monarch in Europe who had children belonging to a different house was Queen Victoria and that
7056-478: Was styled a royal borough from medieval times. Following a proliferation of other boroughs with royal connections styling themselves as royal boroughs in the early 20th century, the government announced in 1926 that only Windsor and Kensington had official sanction to use the title. The municipal borough of New Windsor was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , becoming part of
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