 Elizabeth I spent much of her time at Windsor Castle and used it a safe haven in crises , " knowing it could stand a siege if need be " . Ten new brass cannons were purchased for the castle 's defence . It became one of her favourite locations and she spent more money on the property than on any of her other palaces . She conducted some modest building works at Windsor , including a wide range of repairs to the existing structures . She converted the North Wharf into a permanent , huge stone terrace , complete with statues , carvings and an octagonal , outdoor banqueting house , raising the western end of the terrace to provide more privacy . The chapel was refitted with stalls , a gallery and a new ceiling . A bridge was built over the ditch to the south of the castle to enable easier access to the park . Elizabeth built a gallery range of buildings on the west end of the Upper Ward , alongside Henry VII 's tower . Elizabeth increasingly used the castle for diplomatic engagements , but space continued to prove a challenge as the property was simply not as large as the more modern royal palaces . This flow of foreign visitors was captured for the queen 's entertainment in William Shakespeare 's play , The Merry Wives of Windsor . 
