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Windsor Castle garden opens for first time in 40 years

Windsor Castle opens its private garden

for the first time in 40 years

The castle is one of Queen Elizabeth’s homes

Location: Windsor

and a staple of the British royal family

The East Terrace Garden has been a private area

for generations of royals

dating back to the 1820s

Courtesy: Royal Collection Trust - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2020

Courtesy: Royal Collection Trust / Patrick Lichfield

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LEARNING CURATOR AT WINDSOR CASTLE, RICHARD WILLIAMS, SAYING:"

So, the first garden built here was created in 1824 during the reign of George IV. But before that, in the Middle Ages, it would have been the defensive ditch, so to protect the castle walls. Then Charles II in the 17th century created this terrace that we're standing on and also put in bowling lawns because he really enjoyed bowling. // But it's in the 20th century, its current look, was very much the responsibility of the Duke of Edinburgh. So, he effectively redesigned it in 1971, laying out the design of the rose beds and even designing the fountain at the center, which is in the shape of a lotus flower."

Visitors will be now able to tour the garden

which features 3,500 rose bushes

planted around a central fountain