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.
Royal Weddings
Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle was of more recent that have taken place in the chapel. It is a beautiful building steeped in history that proves that the London cathedrals aren’t the only places to hold magnificent royal ceremonies.
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex to Sophie Rhys-Jones (1999)
- Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles (2005)
- Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank (2018)
- Lady Gabriella Windsor to Thomas Kingston (2019)
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 huge affairs.
Circle of life
Like its larger counterparts, St. George’s hosts the whole circle of life – weddings, christenings, and 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 and Prince George, the Duke of Kent. In the King George VI Memorial Chapel is George VI and Queen Elizabeth, along with their younger daughter, Princess Margaret. HM Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, are now at rest there.
Other Events
The chapel holds The Royal Maundy Service each year, which was always attended by the late Queen. There are Christmas services, Easter services, and the Royal Victorian Order Service in early May.
