Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace | Decoding the Royal Residences (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace? ›

Windsor Castle is the official residence of the British monarch. Buckingham Palace is the administrative headquarters. However, both are currently unoccupied by royalty.

Around 1070, William the Conqueror began building; 16 years later the castle was completed. It has over 1,000 rooms and more than 300 fireplaces.

A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, Windsor Castle, the largest occupied castle in the world, remains a working palace today. Windsor Castle is used regularly for Investitures at which honours recipients receive their medals from a member of the Royal Family in the Grand Reception Room.

Windsor Castle was originally built in the 11th century, after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. King Charles III inherited Windsor Castle from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Windsor Castle is now under his ownership “in right of the Crown” though he doesn't occupy it.

Buckingham Palace also houses the largest private garden in London at 17 hectares, which is about the size of 672 tennis courts. Windsor Castle, on the other hand, is the world's oldest and largest inhabited castle.

The jaw-dropping country estate in Kent is bigger than Buckingham Palace but has sadly been eerily abandoned for 40 years, laying bare and left to rot. Hamilton Palace has been dubbed "The Ghost House of Sussex" as it's no more than a huge shell these days, with little sign anyone will ever live there again.

The ceremonial rooms are the main State Apartments that are used today by the Royal Family.

With the Queen's passing, King Charles has inherited Windsor Castle from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Sunday Times reported that William and Kate may ultimately occupy the castle, taking on new roles with their change in status.

King Charles' private pool at Buckingham Palace

The monarch has a private indoor swimming pool at Buckingham Palace, which has long been a favourite spot for the entire royal family.

Buckingham Palace is nearly 15 times as large as the White House.

How many people actually live at Windsor Castle? ›

The castle was established by William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087) who began building at Windsor around 1070. It took 16 years to complete. It was the official residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II and is still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people.

Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, and it has been a royal home and a fortress for over nine hundred years.

It is ultimately owned by the Crown Estate, but is used as a private royal residence and is not open to the public. Ownership of Frogmore Cottage is passed from monarch to monarch.

It has not only been a weekday home of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip but was also the London residence and office of the Duke of York until 2023. The Duke and duch*ess of Edinburgh continue to have a private apartment in the palace for use when they are in London.

Elizabeth II inherited the Balmoral estate from her father, and then after her death, ownership passed to her eldest son King Charles III, but the estate is managed by trustees under Deeds of Nomination and Appointment.

It was a building that had deep significance to the monarch throughout her life - a place of work but also her own private retreat. The Queen's special association with Windsor Castle began when she was a child.

The distance between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace is 26 miles. The road distance is 22.3 miles.

The family name was changed as a result of anti-German feeling during the First World War, and the name Windsor was adopted after the Castle of the same name.