Queen Elizabeth is giving royal fans a rare glimpse of Windsor Castle—one that hasn’t been seen by the public in almost half a century.
On Thursday, the official Royal Family Instagram account announced the upcoming opening of the East Terrace Garden at Windsor Castle. For the first time in 400 years, the grounds will be open to the public on weekends, beginning Saturday, August 8.
According to the post, which featured a slideshow of photographs of the garden, it was created by King George IV in the early 1800s to give him a view from the new royal apartments. “In the 19th century, Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, took particular interest in the garden’s planting scheme, and in the early 20th century, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra held large garden parties there each summer,” the caption read.
Prince Philip also took part in redesigning the land back in 1971. He also commissioned a new bronze lotus fountain based on his own design for the center of the garden. Aside from her husband’s hard work, the garden also holds special significance for Her Majesty, who used to grow vegetables (we’re talking tomatoes, sweetcorn and dwarf beans) with her sister, Margaret, for the war effort when they were girls.
Now, the formal garden, overlooked by Windsor Castle’s famous east façade, features beds of 3,500 rose bushes planted in a geometric pattern around a central fountain. Visitors will have the chance to take in the breathtaking views of the garden and even snap their own portraits, like many members of the royal family have done on the grounds in the past.
Unfortunately, it's unlikely the 94-year-old monarch and her husband will be there since they just left the castle for the first time since lockdown to vacation in their summer home of Balmoral.
Finally, something positive to come out of this summer.