 Windsor Castle , part of the Occupied Royal Palaces Estate , is owned by Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown , and day @-@ to @-@ day management is by the Royal Household . In terms of population , Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the longest @-@ occupied palace in Europe , but it also remains a functioning royal home . As of 2006 , around 500 people were living and working in the castle . The Queen has increasingly used the castle as a royal palace as well as her weekend home and it is now as often used for state banquets and official entertaining as Buckingham Palace . In recent years , Windsor Castle has hosted visits from President Mbeki of South Africa , King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Chirac of France . The castle remains an important ceremonial location . The Waterloo ceremony is carried out in the presence of the Queen each year , and the annual ceremony of the Order of the Garter takes place in St George 's Chapel . While the queen is in residence , the Guard Mounting ceremony occurs on a daily basis . The Royal Ascot procession leaves the castle each year during the annual meeting . 
