The royal history of St George’s chapel

The Chapel of St. George at Windsor, where Charles and Camilla will attend a service of blessing for their marriage on 8 April, has a rich history. 

Edward III founded the College of St. George in 1348 as a symbol of his devotion and generosity to the church, and in the same year inaugurated the Order of the Garter. The oldest and most prestigious chivalric institution in England, the creation of the Order stemmed from Edward’s great fascination with the legend of King Arthur and political interests towards the throne of France.

Following Edward III’s death, a hugely ambitious redevelopment was set in motion by Edward IV to create a chapel of ‘cathedral-like proportions’. The building is now widely considered one of the most beautiful examples of late medieval Gothic architecture in England.

St George’s Chapel is a royal peculiar, exempt from diocesan and provincial authority with the dean and the canons responsible only to the sovereign. 

Members of the Royal Family have been baptised and married there. Prince William was confirmed there in 1997 and Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones married in 1999.

St. George’s is, however, also the spiritual home of a living and working community ­ the College of St George. In the words of David Conner, Dean of Windsor, it is ‘at the heart of a community of people within Windsor Castle who want to offer worship to God, service to society and hospitality to visitors.’ The Queen is closely involved in the life of the College and she and other members of the Royal Family attend Matins.

To find out more visit www.stgeorges-windsor.org