I was recently invited down to The Castle Hotel in Windsor to experience the hotel alongside the Royal Wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Though Windsor is just an hour outside of London it’s somewhere I had never previously visited, so my interest was definitely piqued. I grew up on a diet of Disney Princesses and dreaming of Prince Charming (I’m adamant that he exists somewhere), so the lure of a royal wedding was particularly tantalising, equally for the fashion as for the general fanfare and excitement such an event entails.
Disclaimer: I didn’t actually get to attend the wedding! Nope, as much as I’d like I’m not on Princess Eugenie’s speed dial or an a-list friend of Fergies…
The Hotel
We arrived in Windsor the day before the wedding, and checked into the Charles Sheriff suite (named after one of the Royal Warrant holders), with a sprawling lounge area and inviting king size bed. There was a lovely welcome plate of fruit and almond cake awaiting our arrival, which was such a treat (especially as we were starving!).
After tucking in, we had a nosey around the rest of the hotel. It’s home to plenty of communal spaces to while away a peaceful afternoon, such as the serene library space filled with beautiful design details that make the hotel so unique. There is also a lounge and a cosy bar area, where bartenders serve up signature cocktails, and were offering special concoctions in celebration of the Royal Wedding. I’d had been trying my best to keep to sober October, but the lure of such delicious drinks was too much – we were celebrating after all!
Rooms start from £133, click here for more information
If you want to be smack bang in the centre of the action, The Castle Hotel is perfect. It’s just yards from the castle, as well as the main shopping drag and plenty of restaurants and quintessential British pubs. It’s also a fascinating place to stay as it offers a glimpse into the history of the Royal Borough, having been around since the 16th century when it functioned as an Inn. It’s design is steeped in this history, with details and flourishes throughout the hotel telling a tale of it’s role in the heart of Windsor.
The Food & Drink
A major perk of the Castle Hotel is that it is host to a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, which I dined in during my stay. Like the rest of the hotel, the decor is classic and refined, letting the spotlight rest firmly on the food.
And my gosh, I could happily eat the food every day for the foreseeable future. It’s one of those menus where choosing what to eat is a nightmare, because everything sounds so good (even things I’d usually skip without a second thought, like soups and salads!).
An absolute must is the baked camembert starter, which is a healthy serving of gooey cheese with plenty of bread to mop it up. Molten cheese = the way to my heart. Unless you’re exceptionally hungry I’d recommend sharing it, it’s a pretty hefty dish!
Of the mains, the steak is the obvious choice – when in a Steakhouse, amiright? It was unsurprisingly delicious, cooked just right with a choice of sauces and sides. I also really enjoyed the lamb with dauphinoise potatoes (another way to my heart, there is no better way to prepare potatoes!).
As tempting as it is, don’t fill yourself up on the main, because the dessert menu is a real highlight. There’s classic British options like apple crumble, alongside dessert staples like crème brûlée. I tried this and the sticky toffee pudding, both of which were absolutely delicious – the brûlée ample and perfectly crisped on top, whilst the pudding was drenched in hot toffee sauce, just how I like it.
We also popped in for a quick lunch after the excitement of the wedding, looking for lighter options. I tried the potted duck with sourdough while my mother had the poached pair salad.
The Wedding
Whilst I’ve watched the last couple of Royal Weddings on TV, I’ve never gotten particularly caught up in the hype of it all. I’ll keep a vague eye on their fashion hits and faux pas, but I’ve never really sought out information on them. You won’t catch me buying every dress Kate wears, or frantically googling Meghan’s beauty routine.
But, being a romantic at heart who can’t resist a classic girl meets Prince storyline (or in this case, boy meets Princess!), I couldn’t help but get swept away by the excitement of the wedding, from the possible dress designers (I would have put money on Stella McCartney, but I was way off!) to the a-list guest rumours.
And being in Windsor before the big event, feeling the palpable buzz in the air and knowing something so historic was happening in our presence, was such a rush. It was also a fascinating people watching moment, hearing accents from all over the world who had descended on Windsor to be a part of the festivities. There were men in full union jack outfits camped out in prime positions the night before, not to mention what felt like the entire world’s press taking over the town with cameras and boom mikes.
The crowds started forming in the streets several hours before the ceremony, claiming their spots to view the newlywed’s carriage ride through the town. I was able to shimmy between two news broadcasters for a fairly central position with the castle just to the left. Around me people were desperately trying to load live streams of the wedding on their phones, and I found myself desperately refreshing Instagram for outfit updates and breaking news.
At just past 12 the carriage descended from the castle into the street, and I managed to snap a couple of pictures of the newlyweds before they were gone. And with that, it was over, hours of anticipation (and aching feet) for mere seconds of activity, a fleeting glance of the Princess. Within minutes the crowds had dispersed; heading for lunch, the pubs, or on their journeys back home. It felt quite surreal to go back to ‘everyday life’ after all that excitement brewing through the hours of waiting.
Nonetheless, I’m glad I can say I experienced it, and feel like I was a part, in some small way, of a uniquely British experience. Massive congratulations to Princess Eugenie and Jack, they looked absolutely gorgeous together and I wish them all the best.
A massive thank you to the Castle Hotel for hosting me for this trip, and for taking such good care of us!
