From the turret a fine view is obtained of the state and private apartments of the castle. These contain magnificent collections of rare bric-a-brac and art objects of all kinds. Paintings, tapestries, and ceramics of priceless worth, are kept in the various rooms and galleries. The Van Dyck room recalls the fact that this Dutch artist was brought to England, knighted and pensioned by Charles I. There are also a Zuccarelli room and a Rubens room, with famous paintings from the artists whose names they bear.
Our next visit was paid to the Royal Stables. Here we were received at an office, and after registering our names and nativity were put in charge of guides. Words cannot do justice to the splendid appearance of the well-matched horses, a large proportion of which were greys, and the cleanliness and order of the stalls. Even the straw beneath the horses’ feet was unruffled. At the foot of the stall was laid a nicely plaited braid of straw, forming a pretty border, and on either side stood little sheaves of straw, daintily bound, and presenting the appearance of a row of sentinels down the long line.
We were conducted through stable after stable, and shown horses for all sorts of uses, and horses that were no longer of any use but were pensioners of His Majesty, for services already rendered the State. Then came the carriages. Carriages for royal purposes, and for State purposes and for “breaking in” purposes.
What impressed me most was an old chair on wheels—such as one sees invalids moved about in. It was as commonplace looking as one could well imagine. To it were attached a pair of shafts, and I recognized it at once as there rose before me the vision of the Queen, with broad brimmed straw hat, and accompanied only by a little child, usually one of her grandchildren, while a humble donkey ambled through the grounds of Windsor and pulled the improvised carriage. Such was the picture I had seen in the Sunday school papers, and now the sight of the actual carriage gave the much needed air of reality. This mode of taking exercise emphasized at once both the Queen’s independence and simplicity of manner.
The Great Park, adjoining Windsor Castle, contains 18,000 acres. Within it is located Frogmore House, another royal residence, near which is the Royal Mausoleum. Everyone must have been impressed, at some time or other, with the faithfulness of the late queen to the memory of the Prince Consort. Throughout her long widowhood, she seems to have lived in the presence of his death. The monuments, that perpetuate his name, unless one looks at their artistic value, seem an extravagant waste of money. Certainly he rendered no conspicuous service to the State, so that we are justified in regarding these costly memorials as tributes of the loyal and undying love which the Queen cherished for her husband.
Royal marriages, that are so frequently the result of political exigencies, are not always happy. Perhaps it would not be wide of the mark to say, are not often happy. All the greater reason, therefore, that this one, which was conspicuously congenial, should iterate its testimony.
On the fourteenth of December, the anniversary of the Prince’s death, the Dean of Windsor regularly held a memorial service at the mausoleum, during the lifetime of the Queen. Those who had obtained tickets were admitted to the mausoleum after the service, but this was the only date in the year when it might be seen.
The foundation stone of the structure was laid by the Queen, herself, and contains the following words:
“His mourning widow, the queen, directed all that is mortal of Prince Albert, to be placed in this sepulchre, A. D. 1862. Farewell, well-beloved: Here at last I will rest with thee; with thee, in Christ, I will rise again.”
Windsor Castle has had a long and varied history; it has been associated closely with many of the kings of England and with stirring scenes of English history, but for many, many years to come, its mention will call to memory the good and universally beloved woman—Victoria.