Windsor Castle by VT_Professor
Windsor Castle, a photo by VT_Professor on Flickr.

Beautiful shot of the Castle from an unusual angle!

Here are some fascinating and lesser‑known stories from Windsor Castle’s long and layered history:

Windsor Castle wasn’t originally meant to be a royal residence—it began life in 1066 as a Norman fortress, one of nine built to surround London for defence. Only after King Henry I converted it into stone in 1110 did it take on its royal mantle. [rd.com], [history.co.uk]

During World War II, the castle served as a refuge for Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. On nights of air raids, the young princesses slept in the chilly, beetle‑infested dungeons under the castle—a survival tactic that included blacked‑out windows, no chandeliers, and a bell system to warn of bombs. In addition, priceless artifacts—including the Crown Jewels—were secretly buried in the grounds to protect them from Luftwaffe raids.

Rumor and legend swirl around the castle’s subterranean labyrinth: hidden tunnels, once practical, now fuel speculation about secret escape routes or espionage passages. A catastrophic fire in 1702 reportedly destroyed an ancient library, though whispers persist of a few surviving manuscripts still tucked away in forgotten nooks.
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