The new trailer for season five of The Crown opens with a dramatic scene of Windsor Castle set ablaze, depicting a somber Queen Elizabeth II amidst the charred remains. The voice-over emphasizes a genuine crisis within the royal family, accompanied by the hauntingly appropriate 1997 hit “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve. As viewers anticipate the continuation of the historical drama on Netflix, set to release on November 9, the aftermath of the devastating fire at Windsor Castle in 1992 takes center stage. Let’s delve into the events surrounding this historic catastrophe at one of England’s most iconic landmarks.
The blaze originated in Queen Victoria’s Private Chapel around 11:30 a.m. on November 20. Renovators inspecting works of art in the chapel were likely the cause, with a faulty 1,000-watt spotlight igniting a curtain next to the altar, according to the official fire report. The flames quickly spread to St. George’s Hall, Brunswick Tower, and private apartments in the eastern wing of the castle. The fire, fueled by timbered ceilings and challenging-to-access gaps, continued unabated for half the night due to the lack of a sprinkler system.
At the time of the fire, Queen Elizabeth II was celebrating her 45th wedding anniversary with Prince Philip at a weekend home. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who was on-site for research, informed the queen of the situation. Rushing to the castle, she arrived at 2 p.m. to oversee the removal of priceless furnishings. Despite her efforts, the fire persisted, and the queen could only watch helplessly as the inferno ravaged her cherished home. After an hour, she left, returning the next morning to assess the extensive damage.
When the Windsor Castle fire broke out, a fire alarm alerted Chief Fire Officer Marshall Smith in the watch room of the castle’s fire brigade. The alarm was triggered by the fire’s presence, and a light on a grid map of the castle indicated the initial location in the Brunswick Tower. Subsequently, other flashing lights on the map highlighted the rapid spread of the fire, as detailed in the official fire report.
Building contractors working in a nearby room responded to the alarm by grabbing fire extinguishers and rushed to the blaze. They also began removing paintings from the chapel until the intensifying rain of embers forced them to evacuate at 11:32 a.m. Their initial efforts to combat the fire and salvage artworks were part of the immediate response to contain the flames within the early stages of the incident.
Five minutes after the initial alarm, Chief Fire Officer Marshall Smith activated the public fire alarm in Windsor Castle. The castle’s fire brigade quickly responded and arrived at the scene by 11:41 a.m., followed by the Fire & Rescue Service. Simultaneously, Prince Andrew and castle staff formed a human chain to rescue valuable furniture, artworks, and antiquities. This included a 150-foot-long table and a 120-foot-long carpet from the Waterloo Chamber.
Within three hours of the fire’s discovery, 250 firefighters were actively battling the flames. At the peak of the operation, 36 pumps were deployed, discharging 1.5 million gallons of water, according to the Royal Collection Trust.
Despite the intensity of the fire, certain preventive measures and ongoing rewiring projects worked in favor of preserving valuable assets. The firebreak at the opposite end of St. George’s Hall was effective in protecting the Royal Library, and ongoing rewiring efforts had cleared many valuable paintings and pieces of furniture from the affected areas. Remarkably, only one artwork, a large painting by Sir William Beechey that couldn’t be removed in time, was lost in the fire, along with a neo-Gothic rosewood sideboard.
Nevertheless, the fire resulted in significant damage, destroying 115 rooms, including nine state rooms, which accounted for one-fifth of the castle. Several smaller apartments, such as the Star Chamber, Octagon Room, Brunswick Tower, Cornwall Tower, Prince of Wales Tower, Chester Tower, Holbein Room, and Great Kitchen, suffered varying degrees of damage or destruction. Additionally, priceless tapestries and woodwork were adversely affected by the fire, smoke, and water.
The extensive restoration of Windsor Castle began after the fire was successfully extinguished on November 21 at 2:30 a.m., following a 15-hour battle. The monumental task of restoring the castle to its former glory was entrusted to the architectural firm Donald Insall Associates, appointed by the Royal Household to lead the project.
Under the guidance of the Restoration Committee, chaired by the Duke of Edinburgh, a crucial decision had to be made regarding the restoration approach. The committee considered whether the castle should be restored to its original appearance or if additional modifications should be incorporated. Ultimately, they chose a combination approach, blending the restoration of the original features with carefully considered enhancements. This decision aimed to preserve the historical integrity of the castle while incorporating modern improvements where appropriate.
The comprehensive restoration plan for Windsor Castle involved a meticulous approach to preserve its historical essence while introducing carefully considered enhancements. Half of the damaged rooms, including the State and Octagon dining rooms, were meticulously restored to their original state. Architecture firm Sidell Gibson took charge of crafting new designs for critical elements such as St. George’s Hall’s ceiling and East Screen.
One notable addition to the castle was the creation of a new room called the Lantern Lobby in the space formerly occupied by the private chapel. This innovative addition served as a formal passageway connecting the private and State apartments. Additionally, the Queen’s Private Chapel underwent restoration in a modern style.
The entire restoration project was successfully completed on November 20, 1997—five years to the day after the devastating fire broke out. The intricate renovation of this 1,000-year-old Gothic castle came with a substantial price tag, totaling $60 million. The effort aimed not only to repair the damages but also to ensure the castle’s longevity and relevance for generations to come.
