St George's Chapel An Historic Venue

St George’s Chapel may not be as familiar to the public as Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral, but it is rich in history and, being within the grounds of Windsor Castle, is an integral part of the history of the Royal Family…

St George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen to get married, has a long history of Royal weddings. The term ‘chapel’ is deceptive, as St George’s is more like a cathedral in size. It occupies a large part of the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle and has been hailed as one of the finest displays of Gothic architecture in Britain today.

Construction on St George’s was started in 1475 by Edward IV, and completed under Henry VIII in 1528. Like Westminster Abbey, the chapel is known as a Royal Peculiar, with the Dean of Windsor responsible only to the sovereign.

It has intricately carved stonework, a magnificent fan vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows and is said to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England, according to the Royal Collection Trust.

St George’s is perhaps best known as the official home of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious chivalric institution in England.

Members of the order are obliged to display their “achievements” in the chapel. These “achievements” include a banner depicting their heraldic coat of arms, an enamelled stallplate, sword, crest, and helmet.

When a member dies the insignia are returned to the monarch, but the stallplates remain in place in the chapel, providing a memorial and heraldic record. The Garter Stalls were carved between 1478 and 1485.

Each year in June, royals who are Knights and Ladies of the Garter process in carriages from the state apartments down the hill to the chapel for the traditional Order of the Garter ceremony.