WHERE MAJESTY MEETS MAGNA CARTA: A VISIT TO WINDSOR CASTLE & RUNNYMEDE
By Glynn Burrows
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Explore the royal history of Windsor Castle and the legacy of the Magna Carta with historian Glynn Burrows, owner of Norfolk Tours UK. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the episode on Podbean.
There are several places in the UK which everyone has heard of and are also on the “must see” list when they visit England, and one of those is Windsor Castle.
It holds many records, including being the oldest and largest occupied Castle in the world, but the one thing which always impresses me is the guards and how they perform their duties with such precision and composure whilst surrounded by throngs of tourists recording their every breath.
Visiting The Castle
Entering The Castle is like going through airport security, so do be aware that your bags will go through scrutiny. You will not be allowed to take in certain things, so take as little as possible and leave your large backpacks and large umbrellas in your hotel room. It is also a totally non-smoking and non-vaping site, so do not smoke or vape whilst you are there.
Arriving in Windsor, The Castle dominates the High Street, and you will not be disappointed, as the sheer scale of it is breathtaking. The walls and fortifications are massive, with huge stone-built towers. There is no mistaking that this is not a place to mess with.
The visitor experience is very well organised, with a one-way system operating to take you into the Middle Ward, and you are then free to go where you want. I made for the North Terrace, as it is usually best to get in the queues to go into the State Apartments as soon as possible. As there are always queues, it’s best to get them out of the way.
The North Terrace also gives some amazing views over the area, showing just why they put The Castle where they did. With its commanding position and dominating appearance, there was no debating that the new era of The Normans had arrived.
Inside the Royal Residence
Going around The State Apartments, it is obvious that we are in the setting where some of the most important people in British and World history have been. All visiting statesmen and women are entertained at The Castle, and banquets are held here, in St George’s Hall, for state occasions.
The Throne Room is where the Monarch meets important guests, and there are a series of rooms where different ceremonies take place. As with all things Royal, there are set procedures to follow and very strict etiquette to adhere to. If ever you are invited to eat with the King, do remember that nobody sits until The King does, when he finishes his meal, you do too, and do use the bathroom before you get to the table, as leaving before The King is terrible manners! The State Apartments are fascinating and really do show how the other half lives.
Outside, you get to see the Upper Ward and just how the Keep dominates the whole area. The Keep itself now houses much of the Royal Family’s own archives, so if you are interested in the private letters of Queen Victoria or the photograph album of Princess Helena, the Royal Collection is going to be where you will find them.
Walking down into the Lower Ward, you will see that St George’s Chapel is the most important building there. It was founded in the 14th century, and enlarged in the 15th, and has been the scene of many royal occasions. Although there have been many Royal burials in the Chapel, it was the nineteenth century that started to see it as the chosen burial place for most of the Royal family, and it is there that our late Queen is interred.
Runnymede
Just a couple of miles from The Castle is an area which is where one of the most important ceremonies in history took place. We don’t know the exact place, as the area was chosen because it was between the seat of the King and the area where the Barons were, so it was most likely a temporary camp set up for the purpose. This area is Runnymede.
Many legal systems used the Magna Carta as a basis for their own laws, and when America freed itself from British rule, the American Bill of Rights and Constitution took inspiration from that centuries-old document. Even today, the American Bar Association has great respect for what was agreed at Runnymede.
It is a beautiful place to visit, with walks across the meadows and beside the river, and there is also a small patch of America there too. A piece of land was given to The USA and a memorial to President Kennedy was erected there.
A very serene and peaceful place.
Glynn provides customized, private tours and also helps his clients trace their English family history. Past guests have visited and experienced stately houses and gardens, castles and churches, ruins and villages, birding and wildlife, World War II airfields, and general area taster tours too. Accommodations can be in all types of establishments, from character buildings such as windmills, thatched cottages and castles, self-catering or five-star luxury – just say what you want, and it can be arranged. Nothing is too much trouble for Glynn! Visit www.Norfolk-Tours.co.uk
