How to See the Royals in Windsor

Windsor Castle was established by William the Conqueror and is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. It is one of the Queen's official residences and she spends a considerable amount of time there every year, which makes Windsor a great place to see the Royals.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Visit at the weekend. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spend many of their weekends at Windsor Castle, and you might be lucky enough to see them on their way to Sunday service at St George's Chapel.
2. Celebrate the Queen's birthday in Windsor. The Queen usually spends her actual birthday (April 21) at Windsor Castle and often does a walkabout in Windsor town centre on the day. In previous years, she has departed the castle along with the Duke of Edinburgh through the Henry VIII Gate just before noon, so it might be a good idea to stake out a place there.
3. Visit at Easter. The Queen takes up official residence at Windsor Castle for a month around Easter. This period is known as Easter Court, and you might catch a glimpse of Her Majesty during her busy schedule of hosting politicians and public figures.
4. Go to Windsor Castle in June. The Queen is in residence there all month. You may catch sight of her in a fancy hat as she heads off to the race meeting at Royal Ascot. Or perhaps you'll see her on her way to the service of the Order of the Garter in St. George's Chapel.
5. Keep an eye out for Royal weddings and funerals. These often take place at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel and bring the Royal family out in droves. If you can get a good position outside one of the gates, you will be able to catch sight of them as they arrive and depart.
6. Send an invitation. If you belong to an organisation, charity or community group in Windsor, you can invite a member of the Royal Family to join you for a special event or historic occasion. There is obviously no guarantee that they will be able to attend, as they often receive in excess of 1,000 invitations each year. But it never hurts to ask! Send your invitation to the Private Secretary's office at Windsor Castle, but be sure to write at least 6 months in advance as the Royal diaries fill up quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• The State Apartments at Windsor Castle are open year round (except when the Queen is entertaining) so you can go and have a look at where the Royals live, even if you don't catch a glimpse of them. You can also see various exhibitions of art from the Queen's private collection and Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
• St George's Chapel is also open to visitors (except on Sundays) so you can see where the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spend their Sunday mornings.
• In these days of heightened security, you may not be able to get very near the Royals, so be prepared to settle for a glimpse from afar.
• If you are lucky enough to meet the Queen, you may wish to observe the traditional etiquette of greeting her with a small curtsy or bow from the neck and addressing her as "Your Majesty" and subsequently "Ma'am".