His Majesty The King has officially become The Ranger of Windsor Great Park, seventy years after his father, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was appointed to the post.
The Ranger of The Great Park offers oversight and guidance to the Deputy Ranger and his team in the day-to-day stewardship of one of the country’s oldest landed estates.
The role at Windsor can trace its roots back to 1559 when Sir Henry Neville was appointed Ranger in the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I.
Over the last 460 years, the post of Ranger has been held by the Sovereign and other family members, including The King’s father, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Grandfather, King George VI.
Paul Sedgwick, The Crown Estate’s Managing Director, Rural and Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park, said:
“We are honoured to have His Majesty as Ranger of Windsor Great Park, continuing a long tradition of the Sovereign and members of the Royal Family holding this role. “Windsor has a wonderful heritage with many precious natural habitats. His Majesty’s passion and commitment to the natural world will be invaluable as we seek to become a centre of excellence for environmental best practice, preserving and enhancing the Great Park for generations to come.”
Windsor Great Park is a very popular destination for visitors with over five million people visiting each year. It’s free to enter and open all year-round. It is home to magnificent horticultural displays, woodland shores, historic features, wildflowers and deer.
Previous Rangers include:
- 1746 to 1766 - William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
- 1837 to 1841 and from 1841 to 1861 - Both Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, the Prince Consort
- 1936 to 1952 - King George VI
- 1952 to 2021 – His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
