On 20 November 1992 a serious fire began in Windsor Castle, one of the principal residences of the British monarch. The blaze started shortly after 11:30 p.m. in the Private Chapel area and spread through interconnected rooms and roof spaces. By the morning the castle’s Great Kitchen, several state rooms, and large sections of the castle’s medieval and Victorian fabric had been badly damaged or destroyed. Emergency response and scale Firefighters from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and other brigades responded overnight. The scale of the incident required pumping water from the River Thames and extensive ladder and hose deployments to tackle flames spreading across roofs and timber structures. No deaths were reported; several people were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries. Contemporary reports described scenes of collapsing ceilings and water damage compounding the fire’s destruction. Historic losses and salvage efforts The fire damaged or destroyed parts of the Round Tower, the Waterloo Chamber, and the State Apartments. Some irreplaceable items—pieces of furniture, decorative fabrics, and parts of interior finishes—were lost or severely harmed. Museum staff and castle personnel worked with firefighters to remove and salvage artworks, tapestries, and other movable valuables where possible. In many cases salvage efforts were constrained by smoke, heat and water damage. Investigation and cause An official inquiry concluded that the fire’s immediate cause was an electrical fault involving a spotlight in the Private Chapel. The inquiry also noted factors that allowed the fire to spread, including concealed timber in roof spaces and the complexity of the historic building’s layout. Restoration and public controversy The damage prompted a large and prolonged restoration program overseen by architects, conservators and craftspeople specializing in historic buildings. Work involved rebuilding roofs and ceilings, renewing decorative interiors in historically informed ways, and repairing structural fabric. The estimated cost ran into tens of millions of pounds, and the event provoked public debate about who should pay for repairs to royal residences. The controversy contributed to changes in how royal properties were funded, including arrangements that involved public contributions and the opening of parts of the royal estates to increased public access and revenue generation to help meet repair costs. Legacy The 1992 fire at Windsor Castle became a seminal moment in late 20th-century conservation practice in the UK, illustrating challenges in protecting and repairing large, historic occupied residences with complex services and hidden voids. The restoration, completed over several years, combined traditional craft skills with modern conservation techniques. The incident also prompted reviews of fire-safety measures and electrical systems in other historic properties. Notes on sources and uncertainty This summary is based on contemporary news coverage, the official inquiry into the incident, and subsequent reporting on restoration and funding. Some precise valuations of loss and specific listings of every damaged object vary between sources; where figures differ in the historical record those differences are reflected in differing estimates rather than a single definitive sum.