Current Events:
Henry VIII: A 500th Anniversary Exhibition - 8 April 2009-18 April 2010.
To mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne, some of the most important and beautiful treasures to survive from the King's reign have been brought together from the Royal Collection and St George's Chapel archives. Windsor Castle played host to Henry VIII and his court on many occasions and the monarch is buried in St George's Chapel with his third wife Jane Seymour. Through paintings, drawings, miniatures, prints, books and manuscripts, the exhibition explores the life of a king who had a profound impact on British history and whose fascinating story continues to generate widespread interest today...
Ascot Racecourse: January - December.
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire and is closely associated with the British Royal Family (founded in 1711 by Queen Anne). It is approximately six miles from Windsor Castle and owned by the Crown Estate. It is one of the leading thoroughbred racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races, the same number as Newmarket. Ascot stages twenty-five days of racing over the course of the year, comprising sixteen Flat meetings held in the months of May and October. The Royal meeting, held in June, remains a major draw, with the highlight being the Ascot Gold Cup. The most prestigious race is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes run over the course in July.
Forthcoming Events:
Marcus Adams: Royal Photographer - 24 April 2010 – 6 February 2011
Marcus Adams (1875-1959) photographed four generations of the Royal Family between 1926 and 1956.
The son of the photographer Walton Adams, he established a reputation as a leading child photographer through his ability to capture the personality of his young sitters. The 57 images in the exhibition span a period of 30 years and include vintage prints from almost all the royal sittings, many from the collection of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a charming group of photographs of the very young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret taken in the late 1920s and 1930s.
The Guards Polo Club: April – September. The Guards Polo Club is the most prestigious polo club in the world and is closely associated with the British Royal Family. HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh has been President of the club since its formation in 1955 and HM The Queen is its Patron. The name derives from the Guards Division of the British Army. Guards officers are exempt from the playing members' entrance fee, which is £17,000 in addition to the annual subscription of £5,450 (as at 2009). Based at Smiths Lawn, in Windsor Great Park, near Windsor Castle, the club has ten polo pitches on 53 hectares (130 acres).The most prestigious day on the Guards Polo Club's calendar is the Hurlingham Polo Association's International Day (also known as the Cartier International). Always held at the end of July, it is a highlight of the British Social Season and attracts crowds of over 30,000 people. The club's main official tournaments are the Queen's Cup (High Goal), Royal Windsor (Medium Goal) and the Archie David (Low Goal), all of which take place in June.