What is a castle without a ghost? The article describes nine royal ghosts that still haunt the UK.
From Elizabeth I to Henry VIII, still hobbling around Windsor Castle … Perfumes associated with the royal dynasty of Great Britain have been stirring the human imagination for centuries. Many eyewitnesses saw and even spoke with these ghosts.
Ann Bolein
King Henry VIII's second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn, was beheaded by a sword in the Tower of London on May 19, 1536, after her husband accused her of adultery and incest with his brother. Perhaps the woman was innocent of her crime. Ann's restless spirit is rumored to roam the royal house near the execution site. She was also seen leading a procession of Kasper Lords and Ladies in the Royal Chapel of St. Peter and Vinkula. The queen is buried under the altar of the chapel. Her headless body has also been seen in the tower corridors. On the anniversary of her death, Ann even appeared at the Blickling Hall in Norfolk, where she was born.
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Queen Elizabeth I
Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth I, never married and ruled Britain for 44 years until her death. The Virgin Queen was seen by eyewitnesses at Windsor Castle: she walked from the royal library to the inner room. It is said that members of the royal family even communicated with the spirit of this great ruler of England.
Both King George III and King Edward VII said they saw a dignified woman dressed in black robes who may have been Queen Elizabeth. King George III allegedly spoke to the dead ruler, who told him that she was "married to England." And King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II, claimed to have seen the ghost for eight consecutive nights after the outbreak of World War II.
Katherine Howard
The tragic fate of this woman is no different from the fate of her executed predecessor, Anne Boleyn. Queen Catherine was a teenager when she became the lawful wife of King Henry VIII, and she was only 19 years old when she was executed for the same reason as Anne - for adultery. Perhaps she was cheating on a very old sick husband.
Before being punished, young Catherine requested a meeting with Henry VIII after she ran out of her room in Hampton Court, where she was placed under arrest. She was twisted by the guards, and she never had to explain herself to her husband. Perhaps this is why she is often seen screaming and crying in the "ghostly corridor."
Prince Edward V and Prince Richard, Duke of York
The two boys were brought to the Tower of London in 1483 due to the fact that King Richard III did not want his own nephews to usurp the royal power in Great Britain. They were only 9 and 12 years old, but no one knows what happened to them later. Some historians believe they were most likely killed. Their ghosts can be seen from the windows of the ghost tower. The princes were seen at the Bloody Tower in white nightgowns. They hold hands and are always silent. The boys appear as a fleeting vision, and then their silhouettes disappear into the stonework of the Tower.
Secretary to King Edward VII
The royal family is not alien to loud scandals. In order to survive in this cruel world, strong nerves are required from any person. While this may not seem like a big deal, many years ago during the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910, his personal secretary, Major John Gwynn, caused quite a stir in society when he divorced his wife.
The deliberate separation of spouses can be understood today, but back in the 1900s, divorce was perceived as an act that did not fit into any framework of decency. Major Gwynn was unable to withstand the gossip psychologically. Human condemnation was so strong that he put a bullet in his temple right in the office on the first floor of Buckingham Palace. The royal servants reported feeling a strange aura in this room, and according to many, a shot was heard in this room once.
Dame Sybil Penn
While serving as nurse to Prince Edward and Queen Elizabeth I, it is likely that Dame Sybil Penn would have been exposed to a variety of bacteria. In 1562, she contracted smallpox and died, but as a loyal subject, she continues to visit the Victorian family at Hampton Court Palace, although, according to palace officials, her spirit did not appear until the 1800s, when Hampton Church, where she was buried, was not destroyed.
Since then, according to eyewitnesses, the ghost has often appeared in various rooms of the 16th century palace. After Sybil's resting place was violated, people began to hear the sound of a spinning wheel from behind the wall of the southwest wing of the palace. An old room was soon discovered, and inside was an antique spinning wheel.
Queen Victoria
King Edward VIII allowed his brother to take the throne in his place because of his love. A major scandal in 1936 was sparked by his affair with a married woman, Wallis Simpson, who was originally from the United States. Ms. Simpson had grandiose plans for Windsor Castle and tried to order the felling of a fir tree planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The trees in the palace garden were never cut down, as the gardeners were frightened by the apparently unhappy spirit of Queen Victoria, whose ghost is waving her arms and moaning loudly.
Saint Henry Walpole
Anmer Hall in Norfolk (UK) is part of the royal residence of Sandringham. This estate became a gift to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In addition to a complete Georgian makeover, Keith and William also inherited a ghostly resident, St. Henry Walpole.
Initially, the Walpole family owned the estate, but Henry's life ended very tragically. He was tortured in the Tower of London for his Catholic conversion and then executed by hanging in 1595. As they say, the spirit of this man hovers in this old house. According to the royal couple, there were no problems with the ghost. Prince William said: "No old house is complete without a ghost."
King Henry VIII
Queen Elizabeth II's favorite place, Windsor Castle, must also be dear to the heart of King Henry VIII, as he never seems to have left it, although he died hundreds of years ago. Many witnesses saw his ghost wandering among the rooms of the castle. The king looked dull and worried. In particular, he was described as a tall man who pounded violently and shouted loudly.
Since his two wives were beheaded by his order, and the subsequent spouses suffered the same fate, he can be counted among the magnificent spirits to be avoided.
Maya Muzashvili