Windsor Castle free essay sample

The Amazing Waterloo Chamber Introduction Windsor castle is one of the most famous castles in the World. It is also an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. The Queen uses the Castle both as a private home, where she usually spends the weekend, and as a Royal residence at which she undertakes certain formal duties. Windsor Castle offers me an historical site full of attractions and beauty. I know that the castle itself was originally established almost a thousand years ago, and as such contains artefacts of the monarchy, including many that have been attained from conquered nations. By looking at the beautiful architecture, portraits, furniture, artefacts, I can totally imagine the luxury lives of the monarchy. Description The castle, after centuries of alterations, contains about 1,000 rooms and occupies 13 acres of land. We will write a custom essay sample on Windsor Castle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Despite countless additions and reconstruction of the outer walls, the central places of the castle are still in the same position as those of the original castle built by William the Conqueror. The castle is divided into the Upper Ward, the Middle Ward and the Lower Ward. The Upper Ward comprises a number of major buildings enclosed by the upper bailey wall. The Middle Ward is at the heart of the castle, a bailey formed around the artificial hill in the centre of the ward. Lastly, the Lower Ward lies below and to the west of the Round Tower, reached through the Norman Gate. (Wikipedia, 2011) The Waterloo Chamber Description During the field trip, the Waterloo Chamber interested me most. The Waterloo Chamber is a very large room in Windsor Castle built in tribute to the success of the forces of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated. (The British Monarchy, 2011). The Chamber was designed by the architect Jeffry Wyattville in Hugh Mays 17th-century structure. The panelled walls of the Waterloo Chamber are applied with limewood carvings, carved by Grinling Gibbons and his assistants. They were salvaged from the former Royal chapel during its demolition in the 1820s. The huge Dining Table At the centre of the room, I could see a very huge dining table. I was scared by such a huge dining table, which can seats around hundred people. I was thinking, how can people at one end speak to people at the other end? After doing same researches, I know that the garter Luncheon, given by The Queen for the Knights and Ladies of the Garter, is held in the Waterloo Chamber each June. (The Waterloo Chamber, 2011). The huge table is set for fifty to sixty guests with magnificent gilt dining silver. Guests can also enjoy the band entertainment which plays on the balcony. Strange words I was amazed when I saw some words on the wall high up near the ceiling in the Chamber. The words are as I remembered. I asked for an explanation from the guard and he told me that these are royal mottos! I have tried to find out the meaning of the words but I failed to do so. I even do not know what that language is. Maybe it is French, Latin or German. Although I do not know what that language is, I know that monarch like to write royal mottos on wall. Portraits on the wall The most interesting thing I found in the Chamber was the portraits on the wall. At first, I thought they are the royal family member, but now I have found out that they are not. The portraits are those major figures who came together to defeat the French emperor. Those portraits were drawn by Sir Thomas Lawrence. It tells me that, the Monarch liked to put portraits of those who fought for the country to praise them. For me, putting portraits of people who help the country to defeat enemies on the wall of a chamber is a very special culture. Comparison with China I have been to the Imperial Palace in Beijing, where the emperors of China lived. The chamber is totally different from the one in Britain.