 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made Windsor Castle their principal royal residence , despite Victoria complaining early in her reign that the castle was " dull and tiresome " and " prison @-@ like " , and preferring Osborne and Balmoral as holiday residences . The growth of the British Empire and Victoria 's close dynastic ties to Europe made Windsor the hub for many diplomatic and state visits , assisted by the new railways and steamships of the period . Indeed , it has been argued that Windsor reached its social peak during the Victorian era , seeing the introduction of invitations to numerous prominent figures to " dine and sleep " at the castle . Victoria took a close interest in the details of how Windsor Castle was run , including the minutiae of the social events . Few visitors found these occasions comfortable , both due to the design of the castle and the excessive royal formality . Prince Albert died in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle in 1861 and was buried in the Royal Mausoleum built at nearby Frogmore , within the Home Park . The prince 's rooms were maintained exactly as they had been at the moment of his death and Victoria kept the castle in a state of mourning for many years , becoming known as the " Widow of Windsor " , a phrase popularised in the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling . The Queen shunned the use of Buckingham Palace after Albert 's death and instead used Windsor Castle as her residence when conducting official business near London . Towards the end of her reign plays , operas and other entertainments slowly began to be held at the castle again , accommodating both the Queen 's desire for entertainment and her reluctance to be seen in public . 
