Record Summer visitor numbers at Windsor Castle, Castle appears in landmark BBC programme 19 September 2011

19th September 2011

Some 680,000 people have visited Windsor Castle this summer – the highest number for more than five years The Castle, which is the subject of Monday evening’s programme in the BBC One television series The Queen’s Palaces, has recorded an 8 per cent increase in visitors between April and September on the same period last year.

WindsorIt is anticipated that records will be broken at the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace this season.  Hundreds of thousands have already visited the State Rooms and seen the display of The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress and the special exhibition Royal Fabergé. isn’t the only one of Her Majesty’s official residences to experience record visitor numbers this year.  The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh has welcomed more than 152,000 visitors over the period, up 13 per cent on 2010. 

In The Queen’s Palaces series, Fiona Bruce explores the 1,000-year history of Windsor Castle and hears first hand what it was like to witness the devastating fire of 1992.  Surveyor Emeritus of The Queen’s Works of Art and former Director of the Royal Collection, Sir Hugh Roberts, tells the BBC newsreader about the day the fire took hold and could be heard crackling in the roof space above the Semi-State Rooms.  Sir Hugh recalls how the fire brigade warned him the flames were unstoppable.  Walking through the rooms with Fiona, he says, 'You could hear the noise of the fire coming through the roof level.’

Later this month, visitors to Windsor Castle will have a chance to view the magnificent Semi-State Rooms, which are added to the Castle’s visitor route during the autumn and winter months.  These rooms were created as private apartments for George IV in the 1820s and are considered to be among the greatest of all royal commissions.  As Sir Hugh explains, the Semi-State Rooms are among the finest achievements of the restoration work.  He shows Fiona how they were painstakingly returned to George IV’s original designs using drawings made for the King and bearing his signature.

Highlights of a visit to Windsor include a tour to the top of the Round Tower, open to the public this August and September for the first time in almost 40 years.  Queen Mary's Dolls’ House is favourite with visitors of all ages, encapsulating in miniature royal life in the 1920s.  As Fiona finds out, it has electric lighting and hot and cold running water, the clocks and locks work, and the tiny books in the library and works of art on the walls were produced by the greatest writers and artists of the period.  Fiona – the King's head is still visible on the underside. is shown a copper kettle made out of a penny 

Christine Taylor, Visitor Manager at Windsor Castle, said, ‘We’re thrilled that the Castle has proved so popular this summer.  the view from the top of the Round Tower Our – is spectacular. Conquer the Tower tours have been another wonderful addition to the visitor experience  And we hope that many more will come and see the Semi-State Rooms when they open again on 24 September.’

• Windsor Castle is the subject of a new children's book published by the Royal Collection early next year.  This follows the success of the children's book about Buckingham Palace, Does The Queen Wear Her Crown in Bed?, based on the questions children ask about the royal residence.