The walls of St. George’s Chapel have seen their fair share of history. In the centuries since the Gothic building’s first spire was raised back in 1348, the structure—located on the grounds of Windsor Castle—has hosted weddings, funerals, ceremonial services, and more for the British royal family. It’s where Harry and Meghan were wed and where Queen Elizabeth was laid to rest. And today, it once again honored England’s oldest order of chivalry, hosting yet another Order of the Garter service.
Founded by Edward III in 1348, the Order of the Garter is the UK’s highest and most senior chivalric order, of which kings and queens are members. When Edward later built St. George’s Chapel in the 14th century, he also named it the new spiritual home for the Order. Defined by nearly 1,000 years of history, St. George’s stands among the likes of Balmoral, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace as one of the more pivotal locations for the royal family.
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The ornate interior of St. George’s Chapel, where Queen Elizabeth will be buried.
Where Is St. George’s Chapel?
St. George’s Chapel is on the grounds of Windsor Castle, one of the late Queen Elizabeth’s official royal residences, in the town of Windsor just 10 miles west of London on the River Thames. The Queen used Windsor Castle as a weekend retreat and would often attend official services at St. George’s Chapel (though her primary place of worship was the Royal Chapel of All Saints, a smaller church on the grounds of Windsor Great Park, for privacy).
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Queen Elizabeth at St. George’s chapel for a special 80th birthday service in her honor in 2006.
What Is the History of St. George’s Chapel?
Windsor Castle itself boasts nearly 1,000 years of royal heritage, but St. George’s Chapel wasn’t established until later, in the 14th century, by Edward III as a college (a religious community responsible for the church’s activities) and the official church of the Order of the Garter. The chapel was significantly overhauled in the 15th century during the reign of Edward IV and was completed by Henry VIII in 1528. With its soaring ceiling, elegant fan vaults, ornate carved stalls, and spectacular 15th-century stained-glass windows, St. George’s Chapel is considered one of the UK’s finest examples of “Perpendicular Gothic” architecture. The chapel’s namesake, St. George, is the patron saint of England.
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Meghan Markle walks up the steps of St. George’s Chapel on her wedding day to Prince Harry.
What Is St. George’s Chapel Used For?
Over the centuries, St. George’s Chapel has been the site of many royal services, including confirmations, weddings, and funerals. The chapel was the venue for Prince William’s 1997 confirmation into the Church of England as well as for the wedding of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, just to name two special events. In recent years, the church reentered the spotlight on the occasion of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding there in May 2018; the following year, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were also married there. Prince Philip’s funeral was held at the chapel in April 2021, when the Queen famously sat alone in the carved stalls due to COVID-19 precautions.
About a year later, in September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest at St. George’s—joining 10 kings and queens in the Gothic structure’s various vaults, including her own father, King George VI, and sister, Princess Margaret.
What Is the Significance of St. George’s Chapel to the Order of the Garter? 
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Queen Elizabeth attending the Order of the Garter service in 2004.
St. George’s has long served as the spiritual home to the Order of the Garter and therefore the site of the Order’s annual Garter Day, which celebrates the country’s oldest order of chivalry. Today, King Charles—along with other senior members of the royal family (including Princess Catherine and Prince William), former prime ministers, and other members of the Order of the Garter—donned their ceremonial regalia to partake in a procession and service at St. George’s. Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and more were also in attendance.
Anna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ELLEDECOR.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the world’s most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, she’s spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.