Windsor Castle

So, took a little field trip that included Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge.  In that order.  They mix it up sometimes, but that's how our tour guide rolled that day.

Walking up to Windsor Castle, the queen's little weekend cottage.

Close up of the lower/outer gate.  I think I need one of these to keep the riffraff out...

Once inside, before one enters the main part of the castle (it's like there's the main house with its separate entrance and then the gated, walled compound for the support staff).  St George's Chapel where a whole bunch of dead royals are entombed and stuff. 

The Queen was having tea that day.  The following pic is the Royal Standard.  They fly it wherever she's in residence.  Since there isn't much to do in the town of Windsor or around it, the ol' girl was probably there that day. 

Down near the "lower" part of the compound (it's on a hill), they had a Changing of the Guard show.  Not sure why they're down here guarding the support staff  since the queen is at the other end of the compound?  Notice the gun in the close up of the guard.  They're not messin' around...

The inner entrance.

The main part of the castle.  We weren't allowed to snap pics on the inside of the building, like the state rooms... they have books in the FOUR gift shops inside the castle.  Yes, 4.  The queen's gotta pay for the upkeep on that weekend house somehow, right? 

I think this is supposed to be the official entrance to the queen's section/staterooms or whatever for those coming for tea.

We think this is where the queen parks her car. 

The gift shop closest to the queens front door.  I thought it was a cool pic.  Would be better without the open sign...

And lastly, a couple snaps of "Windsor Town" right outside the castle.  Cute and quaint.  But I'm sure the sidewalks roll up at 5 PM...