Concours of Elegance 2016 at Windsor Castle

USPA NEWS - The 2016 Concours of Elegance returns to the spectacular venue which saw the event established, the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle. Celebrating Her Majesty The Queen´s 90th birthday.

From Friday the 2nd of September through to Sunday the 4th of September, the most exceptional cars from all over the world will gather to help celebrate Her Majesty The Queen´s 90th birthday with a spectacular Concours of Elegance display in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle.

The Concours of Elegance remains unique in the UK as the only automotive event to be held at a Royal venue each year, with 2016 marking the show´s fifth year of spectacular automotive gatherings in some of the world´s most iconic locations, including St James´s Palace, Hampton Court Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and this year´s return to Windsor Castle.

His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent is the Concours of Elegance´s Patron, and serves as Chief Judge in the highly sought after Royal Automobile Club Club Trophy, which brings together the “˜best of the best´ of the UK´s car club scene, with the Trophy winner granted automatic entry in to the following year´s Concours of Elegance selection of 60 cars.

In addition to its unique Royal Palace location, the annual Concours of Elegance differs in other ways from a traditional concours, whereby the judging for the concours is done entirely and exclusively by the owners of the vehicles entered, not by a formal judging panel.

The Concours of Elegance organisers maintain that if a car has been invited to participate, it is already a winner, with each vehicle owner given one vote for another car in the Concours that they consider the most elegant. The car with the most votes receives the stunning Concours of Elegance Pullman Trophy and is named “˜Best in Show´.

The Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle will be open to the public on Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of September 2016, with entry tickets and hospitality available to purchase strictly in advance.

A key objective of the annual Concours of Elegance is to raise significant sums for charity, with over £600,000 raised to date.

10 Interesting Facts About Windsor Castle -

1). The oldest parts of Windsor Castle were built by the Normans following the victory of William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hasting in 1066. The original castle was made of wood and built in the motte-and-bailey style. The location of the castle meant that it could watch over the River Thames and Windsor Forest (a royal hunting ground).

2). Henry I was the first monarch to use Windsor Castle as a home and it is during his reign that the wooden keep and walls were replaced with stone.

3). In the 12th century, Henry II upgraded the Windsor Castle walls and added a new stone keep.

4). Edward III was born in Windsor Castle in 1312 and he spent a vast amount of money adding to it and improving it during his reign.

5). Windsor Castle is the headquarters of the Order of the Garter (a fellowship of knights founded by Henry III in 1348).

6). The Tudor monarchs used Windsor Castle. Henry VIII regularly stayed at the castle and he was buried in the Windsor Castle´s Lady Chapel.

7). Elizabeth I spent a great deal of time at Windsor Castle. She liked the fact that it was a safe place that would be able to withstand a siege.

8). Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made Windsor Castle their main place of residence. Following Albert´s death, Queen Victoria was sometimes referred to as the “˜Widow of Windsor´.

9). During World War 2, the windows of Windsor Castle were blacked out, many of the most valuable works of art were moved away, and the royal bedrooms were strengthened in case the castle was bombed during The Blitz. The royal family slept in Windsor Castle during WW2, but this was a secret. The public believed that they were spending the nights in Buckingham Palace.

10). In 1992 a massive fire took place in Windsor Castle. Over 100 rooms were damaged by either fire or the water used to extinguish the fire. The cost of Windsor Castle´s restoration was nearly £40 million.

Windsor Castle is located in the county of Berkshire, England. It is one of the royal residences and it is the largest inhabited castle in the world.

(Source: Primary Facts)

About 2016 Concours of Elegance -
With the gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen the 2016 Concours of Elegance will take place from 2-4 September at Windsor Castle.

The Concours of Elegance began at Windsor Castle in 2012, before moving to St James´s Palace in 2013, Hampton Court Palace in 2014 and last year the Concours took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (Her Majesty The Queen´s official residence in Scotland).

The Concours of Elegance has once again brought together a selection of 60 of the rarest cars from around the world ““ many of which have never have been seen before in the UK. Many of the Concours cars also took part in a 2 day driving tour “˜The Great West Tour´ in the days running up to the main Concours event.

Uniquely, the Concours of Elegance winner isn´t selected by a panel of judges but by the Owners of the cars themselves. Each participant is asked to vote on the other models on display to decide which car is considered to be the “˜Best of Show´.