It was a building that had deep significance to the monarch throughout her life - a place of work but also her own private retreat. The Queen's special association with Windsor Castle began when she was a child.

Queen Elizabeth II famously considered Windsor Castle to be her favorite residence, often preferring its "homely" feel to the more formal atmosphere of Buckingham Palace. While she spent her work week in London, she almost always spent her weekends at Windsor and used it as her primary residence during the later years of her life and the COVID-19 pandemic. The castle held deep emotional significance for her; she and Princess Margaret were moved there for safety during the bombings of World War II, and it later served as a sanctuary during her marriage to Prince Philip. Windsor was where she felt most relaxed, often seen walking her corgis in the private gardens or riding her horses in the Great Park. Unlike the "office" environment of London, Windsor represented continuity and tradition, serving as the backdrop for both her most joyful family memories and her final resting place in St. George's Chapel.