A Brief History
St. George’s chapel is a church located within the grounds of Windsor Castle, a Norman-era castle built by William the Conqueror. It is named for England’s patron saint.
The chapel is the home of the monarch’s highest order of chivalry – the Order of the Garter, established in 1348 by Edward III. The annual Garter ceremony is a famous procession of newly invested knights of the order in their blue robes.
The Princess Royal and The Duke of Gloucester
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Love and Marriage
Prince Harry’s forthcoming wedding to Meghan Markle will be one of the many weddings that have taken place in the chapel. Some of the more recent are:
- Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles (2005)
- Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, to Autumn Kelly (2008)
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex to Sophie Rhys-Jones (1999)
Several of Queen Victoria’s children married at St. George’s since it was a smaller venue. After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Victoria was rarely seen in public and royal weddings were therefore not grand affairs in Westminster Abbey.
Burials
Like its larger counterparts, St. George’s hosts the whole circle of life – it holds weddings as well as royal remains.
King George III built the Royal vault as the resting place for several kings and queens, including for himself and his wife, Queen Charlotte. Others at rest in St. George’s are Queen Mary; Prince George, Duke of Kent; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and their younger daughter, Princess Margaret.
Other Events
The chapel holds The Royal Maundy Service each year, attended by Her Majesty the Queen. There are Christmas services, Easter services, and recognition of important dates such as Remembrance Sunday.
