Built in the 11th century, the world’s oldest occupied castle holds jaw-dropping secrets that will leave you stunned
Standing majestically above the Thames for nearly 1,000 years, Windsor Castle isn’t just the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world – it’s a treasure trove of secrets, scandals, and spine-tingling stories that would make even the most dramatic soap opera pale in comparison.
From royal ghosts that refuse to leave to a dollhouse so detailed it has functioning flush toilets with miniature loo roll, here are the top 10 most astonishing facts about Britain’s most iconic royal residence.
1. It’s Haunted by AT LEAST 25 Ghosts!
Windsor Castle is officially one of the most haunted places in Britain, with paranormal experts confirming at least 25 different spirits roam its ancient corridors.
The late Queen Elizabeth II herself reportedly saw the ghost of Elizabeth I on multiple occasions, along with her sister Princess Margaret. But the most chilling encounter came when King George VI claimed he saw Elizabeth I’s ghost eight nights in a row at the beginning of World War II – always in the same spot!
The ghostly roll call reads like a who’s who of British royalty: Henry VIII stalks the corridors, Anne Boleyn has been spotted despite being executed at the Tower of London, and Charles I – the only British monarch executed for treason – haunts the castle where he was imprisoned.
Perhaps most touching is the ghost of George III, who appears at the window of the room where he was confined during his “mad” episodes. A guard once saw the late king’s ghost at the window and instinctively saluted – the ghost saluted back!
2. The Castle Has Its Own CURSED Ghost
The most terrifying specter is Herne the Hunter, a ghostly figure with stag antlers who haunts Windsor Great Park. Legend says he was a royal huntsman who hanged himself from an oak tree after being falsely accused of poaching.
His appearances were considered such bad omens that when Herne’s Oak fell in 1836, the logs were burned at the castle specifically to destroy his ghost. Only one log survived – it was carved into a bust of Shakespeare!
Even today, seeing Herne’s ghost is considered a token of severe misfortune for the Royal Family.
3. Queen Mary’s Dollhouse Has REAL Working Plumbing
This isn’t your average dollhouse – it’s the largest and most famous in the world, and it’s so detailed it defies belief.
Built between 1921-1924 at a perfect 1:12 scale, the house features:
- Fully functioning electricity and working lifts
- REAL running water in all five bathrooms
- A flushable toilet complete with miniature lavatory paper
- A wine cellar stocked with actual vintage wines in tiny bottles
- Over 200 miniature books in the library, including original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and A.A. Milne written specifically for the house
The garage contains a fleet of miniature Rolls-Royces and other luxury cars that actually run, while the Strong Room houses tiny Crown Jewels set with real diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds!
4. The Kitchen Has Been Cooking Non-Stop for 650 YEARS
The Great Kitchen at Windsor is the oldest working kitchen in Britain, serving meals continuously since the days of Edward III around 1360.
This medieval marvel has cooked for 32 of Britain’s 39 monarchs, and here’s the kicker – all the clocks in the kitchen are set five minutes fast to ensure the monarch NEVER receives cold food!
During the 1992 fire, when this ancient kitchen was cleared of later additions, archaeologists discovered it was mostly the original 14th-century structure – making it one of the oldest still-functioning kitchens in the entire world.
5. It Survived a Catastrophic 15-Hour Fire
On November 20, 1992, disaster struck when a spotlight pressed against a curtain in the Queen’s Private Chapel started a blaze that would rage for 15 hours and require 1.5 million gallons of water to extinguish.
The inferno destroyed 115 rooms, including nine State Rooms, and saw Prince Andrew personally leading rescue efforts to save priceless artworks. The most heartbreaking loss? A massive portrait of George III that was simply too large to move.
In an incredible stroke of luck, most valuable items had been removed the day before for rewiring work. The restoration took five years and revealed hidden medieval features, turning disaster into archaeological discovery.
6. William the Conqueror Built It as an Unstoppable War Machine
When William the Conqueror ordered Windsor Castle built in 1070, it wasn’t meant to be a fairy-tale palace – it was designed as an indestructible fortress to terrorize the locals and secure Norman dominance.
Part of a ring of fortifications around London, each castle was exactly one day’s march (20 miles) from the next, creating an iron grip on the conquered nation. Windsor was strategically placed to control both the Thames and the royal hunting grounds.
The original wooden structure was so well-positioned that despite being rebuilt in stone, the basic layout has remained unchanged for nearly 1,000 years.
7. The Royal Family Changed Their NAME Because of the Castle
Here’s a secret that rocked the monarchy: The British Royal Family only became “Windsor” in 1917!
Previously called Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (a German name), anti-German sentiment during World War I forced George V to rebrand the entire dynasty. He chose “Windsor” after their favorite castle, instantly making the family sound more British.
It’s the ultimate PR move – imagine being so worried about your image that you rename your entire family after your house!
8. The Round Tower ISN’T ROUND (And It’s Fake Tall!)
Windsor’s most iconic feature is a complete architectural lie! The “Round” Tower is actually D-shaped after one side was blown off during a 13th-century siege and rebuilt stronger.
Even more bizarre: George IV thought the tower looked too short in the 1820s, so he added 33 feet to the top purely for aesthetics. You can still see the stone ring marking where the original medieval tower ended and the Georgian showing-off begins!
9. Ten Monarchs Are Buried in the Castle Grounds
St George’s Chapel isn’t just pretty – it’s a royal graveyard housing some of Britain’s most famous (and infamous) monarchs:
- Henry VIII lies with his favorite wife Jane Seymour (the only one who gave him a son)
- Charles I, beheaded for treason, rests ironically near the monarchs he battled
- The late Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest here in 2022
- George VI, Edward VII, George V and others fill the royal vaults
The chapel took 50 years to build and is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world – a fitting eternal home for royalty.
10. It Has a SECRET Zombie Apocalypse Tunnel
During medieval times, the Curfew Tower contained a “sally port” – a secret tunnel allowing the castle’s occupants to escape during a siege or launch surprise counter-attacks.
This paranoid addition shows just how seriously medieval monarchs took their security. The tunnel still exists today, though the Royal Family probably has more modern escape routes for any zombie apocalypse scenarios!
BONUS FACT: It’s MASSIVE Beyond Belief
Windsor Castle covers 13 acres – that’s about 484,000 square feet of royal real estate. The castle includes:
- 1,000 rooms
- 300 fireplaces
- 450 clocks (all maintained by horological conservators)
- The 2.65-mile Long Walk planted with 1,652 trees
To put this in perspective, you could fit about 450 average British homes inside Windsor Castle. No wonder it needs 150 staff just to keep it running!
Still Home Sweet Home
Despite its age, ghosts, and occasional fires, Windsor Castle remains a working royal residence. King Charles III regularly stays here, making it the longest continuously occupied palace in Europe – nearly 1,000 years and counting!
From William the Conqueror’s wooden fortress to today’s mixture of medieval grandeur and modern convenience (yes, they have WiFi), Windsor Castle continues to amaze, terrify, and inspire visitors from around the world.
Just remember when you visit – you’re never alone. Those 25 ghosts are always watching, and if you’re very unlucky, you might even spot Herne the Hunter. But don’t worry too much – the flushable toilets in Queen Mary’s Dollhouse prove that even royal residences can have a sense of humor about their grandeur!
Windsor Castle is open to visitors year-round. Just don’t touch anything – it’s probably either priceless, haunted, or both.
Image credit:
Castillo de Windsor, Inglaterra by Diego Delso, animated on 12 August 2014 as part of Wiki Loves Monuments, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY‑SA 4.0
