King Charles’s ‘most haunted’ royal residence with 25 ghost sightings | Royal | News
It may come as no surprise to learn that Windsor Castle, the oldest royal residence that has been home to Kings and Queens for centuries, is often referred to as the ‘most haunted’ of King Charles’ homes. There have reportedly been more than 25 different ghost sightings, even Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth even admitted to witnessing something unusual.
Since construction began in 1070, Windsor Castle has been used by nearly every monarch since Henry I and, incredibly, everyone from Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth I to King George III has reportedly been reinstated.
Whether it’s limping ghosts, saluting soldiers or stolen bones, there are countless ghostly encounters with the late royals that will send shivers down your spine.
If spooky stories are to be believed, King Charles may not be the only monarch to reside here. These ghostly sightings occur so frequently that the places where you are most likely to see certain monarchs have even been documented.
According to Visit Britain“[The Queen’s] Footsteps can be heard on the bare floorboards before his striking presence is revealed. Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth claimed that she and Princess Margaret witnessed paranormal activity at the castle and believed it to be the ghost of her namesake, Elizabeth I.
Similarly, King Henry III. If you want to see George, you want to be in the room below the library. Towards the end of his reign, the King’s mental illness became so bad that he spent long periods of the day trapped in this room. Eyewitnesses describe seeing a figure “looking longingly out of the window.”
George III was seen not only in this room, but also in the bedroom of the castle. An officer shared his account of the days when he was seen in this state after the King’s death.
According to the story, as the guards passed by the King’s window while on duty, the commander spotted the distinctive figure of the King standing in his usual place, watching the procession. “Eyes right” he instinctively commanded, and as they turned each soldier saw the figure and watched as it returned the late King’s salute.
Also in the Monasteries of the Deanery, King VIII. There are also records of Henry’s limping ghost being heard. The King, who was morbidly obese, suffered from gout and painful ulcers on his legs, making it difficult to walk.
Other frightening stories linked to Windsor include the claim that a horned figure known as Herne the Hunter rode horses, tormented cattle and rattled chains. It is believed that when the King or Queen is near death or the nation is in danger, their spirit appears in Windsor Great Park.
And while it’s not exactly a ghost story, a rather spooky encounter occurred in 1813 during the reign of King George III. The King’s eldest son, the future King George IV, and Sir Henry Halford went under St George’s Chapel to meet Charles I and VIII. They opened Henry’s graves.
He was so interested in the bodies of his deceased ancestors that he allowed Halford to draw the face of Charles I. Surprisingly, King Charles I’s eye ‘popped’ due to the change in pressure. He also allowed Halford to retrieve a souvenir: the King’s cervical vertebrae.
The bone was passed down through generations before being given to the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII). Queen Victoria was furious when she learned that her son had the bone and reburied it in a box next to the King.
