Historic Royal Palaces Podcast

How Did William the Conqueror Hang On To Power After 1066?

William the Conqueror is one of the most famous figures in English history. But his coronation in 1066 was a disaster. Even as he was crowned as King of England, his futu

The Royal Menagerie - Animals at The Tower of London

For hundreds of years, the Tower of London was home to animals from all over the world. Animals were given as diplomatic gifts, brought by hunters, or captured in the pro

Queen Victoria's Education at Kensington Palace

We might think of Queen Victoria as an elderly woman in black mourning dress, but she was only 18 when she came to the throne.  Victoria spent much of her childhood at

Oliver Cromwell's Palace - Hampton Court During the Interregnum

A regicide might be the last person you'd think would save a king's palace – but in Oliver Cromwell, Hampton Court found an unlikely admirer.   During his time as Head

Charles I - The Execution of a 'Traitor' King at the Banqueting House

Charles I's execution was unprecedented and shocking. He staked everything on his divine right to rule – the same concept that inspired his spectacular Rubens ceiling at

Tudor Prisoners at the Tower of London - Stories in Graffiti

The walls of the Tower of London are covered with carvings - graffiti left behind by the prisoners who were locked inside. The Tudor monarchs imprisoned hundreds of peopl

Queen Anne - A Woman of Contradictions with Gareth Russell

Queen Anne was the first Queen of Great Britain, but wasn't supposed to rule. She could be pious and shy, but was also scandelous and scheming. Today, she is perhaps best

Benjamin Franklin's Curious Visit to Hillsborough Castle (From The Archive)

Benjamin Franklin – Founding Father, writer, inventor – remains one of the most famous visitors to Hillsborough Castle in its history. His visit to his political foe, Wil

George III – 'Tyrant' King of the American Colonies?

In the Declaration of Independence, signed on 4th July 1776, King George III is cast as a 'tyrant'. How fair is this representation?  In this episode, Kew Palace curato

LGBTQ+ Histories at Our Palaces (From The Archive)

LGBTQ+ people have always existed in the history of our palaces, but stories of this community are often obscured or misunderstood. We've delved into the archive to bring

What Happened to Anne Boleyn's Family After Her Fall?

In 1533, the Boleyns seemed to have it all. Anne Boleyn was Queen, and her family were reaping the rewards of Henry VIII's favour. But it was not to last.   Within thre

Growing Up in the House of Boleyn

The Boleyn family captivated Henry VIII – but who were they before their meteoric rise to fame? Who were the little-known women operating from Hever Castle? And was Anne'

Thomas Cromwell - Architect of the Reformation?

Thomas Cromwell might have pulled off the most meteoric social climb of the 16th century. From the rough shores of Putney to the illustrious court of Henry VIII, his jour

Thomas More – The Man Who Defied Henry VIII?

Thomas More lived by the mantra, 'I am the King's good servant, but God's first'. He would also die by it. His defiance at Henry VIII's break with Rome would be his salva

Thomas Wolsey - Henry VIII's Powerful Chief Minister

Thomas Wolsey was born the son of a butcher from Ipswich, yet he rose to become one of the most powerful men in Tudor England as Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor. He was even

The Last Princesses of Punjab

The Last Princesses of Punjab left behind legacies that continue to resonate today, but what impact did these women have and how should we remember them?   In this fina

The Duleep Singh Sisters - From Debutantes to Defiance

The Duleep Singh sisters went from Victorian Debutantes in high society, to defiant changemakers in the 20th century, but how did this change happen?    Join Curators D

The Duleep Singh Family – Queen Victoria & Empire

The lives of the Duleep Singh sisters were deeply impacted by Queen Victoria's Empire in India, and their father's displacement as the last Maharaja of the Punjab, yet th

Hampton Court Palace - Tudor vs Baroque

Hampton Court is a palace of two halves and countless stories. But which side is best? The Tudor half displays all the court intrigue of the dynasty it's named for, and y

Women of the 'Glorious Revolution' - Mary of Modena & Mary II

Mary of Modena and Mary II are two Queens whose lives have been lost in the story of the 'Glorious Revolution'. Yet they were fundamental to the machinations of the turbu