Expanded in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, during the times of Sigismund III Vasa, he obtained the shape of a closed pentagon. It was a royal residence, the seat of the Sejm, the administrative and cultural center of the country.

Destroyed in the mid-seventeenth century during the wars with Sweden, slowly regained its magnificence during the reign of Wettin.

In the second half of the 18th century, the artists employed by Stanisław August (Jan Christian Kamsetzer, Marcello Bacciarelli, Dominik Merlini) rebuilt the interiors of the chambers, creating the Apartments: Wielki and Królewski.

During the partitions (in the 19th century), a significant part of the collections of the last king found itself in Russia. After Poland regained its independence, some of the works of art returned to their former place.

In September 1939, the castle was bombed, but museologists under the direction of prof. Stanisław Lorentz, they managed to save some elements of interior design and works of art.

In September 1944, the castle was blown up by German troops.

In 1945 - 1970, the communist authorities delayed reconstruction; the decision was made only in 1971. Funds for reconstruction until 1980 were due only to social sacrifice.

In 1984, reconstructed interiors were opened to visitors.

From 1995 to 2009, the renovation of Arkad Kubicki - a new cultural space on the map of Warsaw - continued.

Finalization of renovation works: in 2011 - in the Pod Blachą palace, in 2013 - restoration of the eastern elevation to the look known from Canaletto's paintings, in 2015 - referring to the completion of the Upper Garden, means almost complete completion of the castle complex restoration. The soon-to-be-planned start of efforts to recreate the former shape of the Lower Garden will be the culmination of the reconstruction of the Royal Castle in Warsaw.