The Queen’s Guard Chamber at Windsor Castle is a significant room that has played a crucial role in the castle’s history. This chamber, part of the Queen’s Apartments, has been used to display a remarkable collection of artifacts, including large full-length paintings, European armour, and historical weapons.
Significance of the Queen’s Guard Chamber
The Queen’s Guard Chamber was originally designed to showcase the impressive collection of large full-length paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Van Dyck and Rubens. Over time, the room’s purpose evolved, and it became a space to exhibit the castle’s impressive collection of European armour and other historical artifacts.
Artifacts in the Queen’s Guard Chamber
The Queen’s Guard Chamber has housed a diverse array of artifacts, each with its own unique history and significance:
Paintings
- The room was once home to a collection of large full-length paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Van Dyck and Rubens.
Armour
- The chamber has showcased a remarkable collection of European armour, including armours belonging to Henry, the future Prince of Wales.
Weapons
- Historical weapons, such as pikes, muskets, and drums, were arranged in geometrical patterns on the walls during the Restoration period, adding to the room’s impressive display.
- The ‘Cellini’ shield, a notable piece, was placed on a pivot for easy inspection by visitors.
Contributors to the Collection
Several individuals have played a significant role in shaping the collection and organization of artifacts in the Queen’s Guard Chamber:
Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick
- A pioneer of modern armour studies, Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick was commissioned by George IV to reorganize the arms and armour in the King’s and Queen’s Guard Chambers.
John Harris
- As the Master Gunner of Windsor Castle, John Harris was involved in the reorganization of arms and armour during the Restoration period.
Additional Details
- The Queen’s Guard Chamber was part of the Queen’s Apartments, which faced south into the Quadrangle and west into Engine Court.
- The Queen’s Presence Chamber, another room in the Queen’s Apartments, retained many of its original late seventeenth-century features, including a ceiling painting by Verrio and carvings by Grinling Gibbons and Henry Phillips.
The Queen’s Guard Chamber at Windsor Castle is a testament to the castle’s rich history and the interests of its royal occupants. The room’s evolution, from a space to display grand paintings to a showcase for European armour and historical artifacts, reflects the changing tastes and priorities of the castle’s inhabitants over time.