Autumn Festival 2018

Hidden Windsor’ does not necessarily mean places off the beaten track (although this tour will take in a few of these), but items of street furniture and buildings that residents and visitors pass by without a second glance. 

In the sequel to her bestselling book A History of Britain in 21 Women, journalist and broadcaster Jenni Murray celebrates great women from around the world – rescuing some from obscurity and shining a new light on familiar names.

To commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I, returning Festival favourites Orpheus Sinfonia present a specially curated programme with leading Baritone Roderick Williams.

To mark the centenary of the Armistice of World War I, The Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle perform music including works by composers associated with the Chape

Join Michael Rosen, the well-known children's writer, poet, performer and broadcaster, as he reflects on a career both varied and long.   

Beneath the splendour, Windsor Castle is more dangerous than a jungle’ wrote a guest in the 19th century. Windsor has a long and illustrious history but it has not always been so. Behind the finery there have been dark times of war, plague, persecution, disease ... and ghosts both in the town and within the Castle.

One of the country’s best-loved novelists, Patrick Gale came to the attention of many in 2017 with his original BBC television drama Man In An Orange Shirt.

Our walk takes us alongside the Thames as it flows between Windsor and Eton.  We hear the stories of how people over the years have managed to cross it, navigate it, tame it, modify it, use it, harness it, and own it; and of course those who have failed to do so.

In this talk journalist Matthew Dennison will reverse this neglect, uncovering the complexities of her multifaceted life: an 18th century woman of great political astuteness and ambition, a radical icon of female power.

Celebrated artist Hughie O'Donoghue will talk about his series of magnificent paintings known collectively as Seven Halts on the Somme.

In the company of Nick Day, Head of Visitor Operations for The Crown Estate, this walk offers an opportunity to discover different aspects of the daily life of Windsor Great Park, and to learn more about its natural and national history.

Salley Vickers, the author of nine highly acclaimed novels, comes to Cumberland Lodge where she is a trustee to talk about her latest book, The Librarian.

Views of Eton College have long been a popular subject for topographical artists and watercolourists, and the College is fortunate to hold an extensive collection of watercolours.

This concert, an annual event and firm favourite among seasoned festival-goers, showcases the very best music from pupils at Eton College against the impressive backdrop of Eton College School Hall.

The Booker Prize winning poet and novelist Ben Okri and the remarkable painter Rosemary Clunie have combined on a unique book. The Magic Lamp is a collaboration, a jointly created work rooted in storytelling and fairy tales, in which words and images have equal place, each giving inspiration to the other. 

The Cry, by Adrian Snell, is a powerful and deeply moving musical production that weaves together a requiem with songs inspired by the words of child victims of warfare.

The Bluejays have quickly established themselves as the UK’s most authentic vintage rock ‘n’ roll band. Performing the greatest hits of the 1950s from the likes of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers and Eddie Cochran, their authenticity has attracted a huge following and caught the eye of many of the original artists.

A regular feature of Windsor Festival programmes, this year’s Schools’ Coffee Concert will present a varied mix of choral, instrumental, ensemble and solo items performed by local children.

For more than seven decades the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has been at the forefront of music-making in the UK. Together with Windsor and Eton Choral Society, members of Taplow Youth Choir, Voci Chamber Choir and Quire Voices, they present two of the finest and best-known works ever composed for voice.

Commissioned to write an official biography of Queen Mary, the Queen’s grandmother, James Pope-Hennessy was reluctant to take on the task. But encouraged by his brother, who thought the endangered species of royalty would make for fascinating observation, his book was published to great critical acclaim in 1959.