| Reference | VC-0005 |
|---|---|
| Volume | The Victoria Cross |
| Collection | Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead |
Transcript
The Two VC Holders Who Guarded Windsor Castle
The Deputy Constable and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle was one of the senior military representatives at Windsor Castle. Created in 1833, the office combined military, administrative and ceremonial responsibilities, acting as deputy to the Constable and Governor while overseeing the Castle’s military traditions, the Military Knights of Windsor, the garrison and many of the great state and ceremonial occasions held in St George’s Chapel. The role remained an important part of the Castle’s governance until it was abolished in 1989 as part of a wider reorganisation of the Royal Household.
One of the most remarkable chapters in the history of the office began at the end of the Second World War. Between 1945 and 1963, the Deputy Constable and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle was held by a Victoria Cross recipient: Lord Gowrie and Lord Freyberg were among the most distinguished soldiers of their generation, and both had strong Windsor connections.
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