After being closed to the public for two months, Windsor Castle’s stunning Waterloo Chamber is reopening to visitors on Saturday, 9 April, with a fresh appearance.
After the roof above the chamber, which is one of the largest rooms in the castle, was replaced, work was carried out to clean and restore its historic chandeliers, windows, and ceiling.
The chamber is part of the visitor route on the Windsor Castle tour and was commissioned by George IV to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo. According to the Royal Collection Trust, its ceiling showcases five priceless cut-glass chandeliers that were approved by Prince Albert and installed in 1862, and these treasures have been covered by scaffolding for the past 20 months while restoration work took place.
The Waterloo Chamber is frequently used for Investitures by the Royal Family and is filled with impressive portraits of the men who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Here, visitors can view paintings of William IV, George III, George IV, Pope Pius VII, Charles X, King of France, William II, King of the Netherlands and many others.
In a video on the Royal Collection Trust website, Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Surveyor of The Queen’s Pictures for the Royal Collection Trust, discussed how George IV worked with architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville to “completely transform Windsor Castle.”
Part of this transformation included building the Waterloo Chamber, which was created from a medieval section of the castle called Horn Court.
“Even at Windsor Castle, nothing quite prepares you for the sheer scale of this room,” Shawe-Taylor said, adding that the chamber’s decoration, such as the chandeliers, is “a little bit more eclectic” than its medieval great hall theme.
With the restoration complete, visitors can now appreciate the room in all of its original regal style. Admission to the Waterloo Chamber is included with tickets to Windsor Castle.
