Historic Royal Palaces

Alice Wolfe was imprisoned at the Tower of London for piracy in 1533. The same year, Elizabeth Barton, the Holy Maid of Kent, was imprisoned for her prophecy against Henry VIII and his new wife… If they had an opportunity to escape, would you help them? Hear their stories at the Tower this autumn. 1 Sept – 19 Oct: bit.ly/TOLprisoners

“Before Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales, there was Princess Marina.“ In our latest blog post, curator Isabella Coraca takes a look at the life of Princess Marina, who lived at Kensington Palace, was photographed by Cecil Beaton, and was at the forefront of fashion for over 30 years - from her wedding to the Duke of Kent in 1934 until her death on 27 August 1968. Read on: bit.ly/princessmarinablog

Happy #NationalDogDay! Throughout history, there have been many beloved royal dogs. Queen Victoria’s childhood companion was a spaniel called Dash - given as a gift to the Princess on her 17th birthday,Victoria adored Dash and he features in a number of portraits with the Queen. Queen Alexandra had many dogs including her Japanese chin dogs. She also bred dogs and was given a gift of a dog from Tsar Alexander III. And Edward VII’s dog Caesar, a Wire Fox Terrier, became his constant companion. After the King’s death in 1910, the dog attended his funeral and walked in the procession ahead of several other kings and heads of state.

Happy Birthday Prince Albert!🎈
Albert was born #OTD in 1819, and became the husband and consort to Queen Victoria. The couple first met at Kensington Palace and married in 1840; they were devoted to one another and had nine children together. Albert acted as an advisor and guide to Victoria during her reign. He was an advocate of social reform and a great patron of the arts, overseeing the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Happy 250th birthday to the Great Vine! 🍇 This year’s crop of grapes are now on sale at Hampton Court Palace. Did you know that there have only been 10 vine keepers throughout its history? Discover more about the oldest vine in the world on our blog http://bit.ly/GreatVine250

The State Drawing Room at Hillsborough Castle has had quite the makeover! Newly refurbished, this beautiful room was once the library and is now used by the Royal Family for entertaining and relaxing. Look around and you’ll see a selection of Irish art displayed in this room, hung as part of the re-presentation of the space.
Explore the State Drawing Room on your visit: http://bit.ly/hillsCastle

On 22 August 1485, Richard III died. He was killed in battle on Bosworth Field fighting the Lancastrians, a battle that effectively ended the Wars of the Roses. Richard was King of England for two years. Following his death, Henry Tudor assumed the throne as Henry VII. Richard was the last King of the Plantagenet Dynasty and the House of York.
Richard III, unknown artist, late 16th century © GL Archive & Alamy

Happy Birthday to William IV, born on this day in 1765 🎉 The third son of George III and Queen Charlotte, William spent much of his early childhood at Kew Palace. These child’s tan suede gloves belonged to the young prince 🙌 They were later given to the royal childrens’ wet nurse Anne Percy. William was never expected to ascend to the throne and he began a career in the navy at the age of 13. However, upon the death of his elder brother George IV in 1830, William was made King, at the age of 65.

Fancy a feast at a palace? Treat yourself to a royal banquet this weekend at the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival! Take a masterclass with a top chef, try cocktail making & tasting or indulge in some of the UK's top street food. Delicious. 25-27 August, book tickets: bit.ly/HRPFoodFestival

“Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all… I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England t...oo, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm…”
Elizabeth I’s famous speech was delivered #OTD in 1588 to troops at Tilbury Camp awaiting the Spanish invasion. Though some historians debate the veracity of the speech, it is widely believed to be a truthful reflection of her words.
Image: Queen Elizabeth I, by unknown artist, 1588 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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What if the beasts of Hampton Court Palace came to life…? This October half term, magic spells have been cast over the palace. We’re calling all Beast Questers to help us defend Hampton Court from the evil wizard Malvel! Find out more: bit.ly/beastquestHCP #BeastQuest 🐉

The #HandmadeFair is back at Hampton Court Palace this summer! Join Kirstie Allsopp, Max McMurdo and other experts for a weekend of craft and inspiration. 14-16 Sept, book tickets: bit.ly/HandmadeFairHCP

Happy #LeftHandersDay! 🙌 Many monarchs in history were lefties, including King George II, Queen Victoria, who wrote with her right hand but painted with her left, and George VI, who was made to write with his right hand, but still played tennis left-handed 💁‍♂️

George IV was born on 12 August 1762 and at birth he was made Duke of Cornwall and later Prince of Wales. He was christened at St James’s Palace in September 1762 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This christening robe of ivory silk satin was made for the young royal. A label stitched into the garment has the words 'George IV christening robe' written by hand.

Our favourite #PalacePhotos this week include some beautiful snaps of the palaces: Lady Alice Temple in the gardens at Hillsborough Castle, the sun through trees at the Tower of London and a Georgian figure outside Kew Palace! Thanks to everyone who tagged a #PalacePhoto! #photopoftheweek

Time for some wine from the wine fountain! 🍷 Our royal #TudorFoodie Henry VIII has left the 'veritable hell' of the #TudorKitchens and returned upstairs! Missed his trip to the kitchens? See it here: twitter.com/HRP_palaces
Visit the kitchens to meet the cooks the summer, and watch Henry VIII in our play, The Court Must Have A Queen, at Hampton Court Palace until 2 Sept: bit.ly/tudorfeast

Henry VIII is visiting Hampton Court Palace's kitchens today! 😮 Single and looking for love, Henry has devoted himself to an interest in food so he’s come to see what’s being cooked up for the feast for the ambassador from Cleves. Follow the #TudorFoodie today on Instagram: Instagram.com/historicroyalpalaces #TudorKitchens
See Henry VIII in a new play at Hampton Court Palace this summer, The Court Must Have A Queen, and visit the kitchens for yourself: bit.ly/tudorfeast

Watch as the Throne Room at Hillsborough Castle is transformed. This magnificent space is the ceremonial heart of the Castle and has been used for receptions and events for nearly 200 years. The Throne Room is one of the newly re-presented State Rooms that you can explore on your visit.
Find our more and plan your visit here: bit.ly/hillscastle

Happy Birthday to artist Godfrey Kneller, born #OTD in 1646 🎈 He was a court painter for monarchs from Charles II to George I. In 1690, Mary II commissioned a series of portraits from Kneller depicting ‘the principal ladies attending upon her majesty’ to hang in the state rooms at Hampton Court Palace, which became known as the Hampton Court Beauties. They can now be found in the King’s Dining Room and are part of the Royal Collection Trust.
This painting is of Mary Compton, Countess of Dorset, 1690-91. Credit: Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018

We visited Hampton Court Palace yesterday because, according to the website, mum would be able to access the ground floor on her buggy - what actually happened, however, was that mum was able to visit ALL floors of the Palace on her buggy thanks to the wonderful staff who couldn't do enough to help us. I think we gave the young lady who took us up and down in the lift a story to tell with mum's attempts to remodel the Palace when exiting the lift - honestly you'd have thought Cardinal Wolsey would have had the lift placed in a more accessible place when he built the Palace! The unexpected bonus of being disabled is that you get to see parts of the Palace that are usually not accessible to the public - like the back of the Tudor chapel !

Thousand's of wows...

The Ceremony of The Keys at The Tower of London last night was amazing. We were doubly blessed as both of the 2 female Warders were on duty, and AJ Clarke was witty, knowledgeable and... well simply BRILLIANT in her role as guide to the lucky ticket holders watching the oldest Military Ceremony in the World. If you can get tickets, it is well worth the 10pm visit. Our 'daytime' tour of The Tower and the Crown Jewels was very interesting as well.

Our Respect, of the Romanian people, for the Royal Families who participated in the funerals of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania.

I, the one in the photo, participated in the last journey of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania, with the flags of the Royal Houses of Europe.

I believe that the return of the Monarchy to Romania is beneficial, I have seen all the Romanians, now at the death of His Majesty King Michael I, what really means a Royal House, a Royal Family and what is more important, what is the Monarchic System. More than a year days ago, we Romanians celebrated the centennial of the union of all Romanians.1 December 1918-1 December 2017, due to the fact that we had the Royal House of Romania in the leadership, it was possible to restore Great Romania, or this, we Romanians Let's forget it.

The Good Goddess to rest on His Majesty the last King of the Romanians, King Michael I of Romania.

Monarchy Save Romania!

Love to visit. Every one has so much history.

Kensington Palace was special this year with Princess Diana exhibit, and the Sunken Garden in White commemorating her 20th year Anniversary of her death. She lives forever in our hearts.

Love the Royal Palaces...last year was The Tower of London...this year I visited Hampton Court Palace - the tours were amazing @ both places (& if you get the chance book tickets to see the Tower being locked up at night! I felt so privileged)

It's a very attractive tour of the bravest Knights at Hampton Court Palace! �

It is a great thing and the pride of humanity I would recommend each one to visit It is a great place

If you have ever visited one of these places you fall in love with the people who work there, the buildings and all its history. I sadly don't live in the UK so this page is one my places to get information. Please continue all your great work.

I love this page always tells you interesting and fun things about the Palaces

I had the pleasure again this year of experiencing the award-winning Lost Palace evening tour at Banqueting House on Whitehall, the last surviving part of what was once known as Whitehall Palace. The place of Charles I’s execution, the smallest of London’s Historic Royal Palaces is often overlooked as it stands among government buildings in the heart of political London, just a few yards away from Downing Street. However, it really is a unique place worth visiting again and again, now more than ever with the addition of the Lost Palace tour, an interactive experience that goes far beyond the usual audio guides provided in heritage locations across the capital. Here are just a few examples of what awaits lucky visitors along the route that recreates Whitehall Palace, which was once the largest palace in the whole of Europe, tragically lost to a devastating fire in 1698 …





1. You will have a small but clever device as your guide, allowing you access to a variety of insights into the past, as you touch it to a number of special installations dotted along Whitehall and Victoria Embankment. Listen to court intrigue about Charles II’s mistresses, take part in a cock fight, and hear an account of the fateful fire that destroyed Whitehall Palace in 1698 from none other than the maid who started it all.



2. You will discover bits of Central London that were right under your noses all this time, yet you never really noticed until taking part in this tour. I had a big lightbulb moment myself when faced with Queen Mary’s steps on Victoria Embankment, a few stone steps that do not look like much yet reveal the fact that the Thames in the 17th century actually came up all the way to the gardens at the back of the Ministry of Defence, and people would disembark from their boats there, go up the steps and into the palace of Whitehall.



3. You will hold Charles I’s beating heart in your hands, in the shape of the very same device that plays host to you throughout the tour. Listen as it takes its last tremors on the way to the scaffold just outside Banqueting House, where the only British king to have ever been executed lost his life …



4. You will encounter a live actor along your way, who will enhance your understanding of the past and capture your imagination in the present. See if you can spot him before everybody else!



5. You will complete the tour under the famed Rubens ceiling, the only surviving in-situ ceiling by the Flemish artist in the world. It also happens to be the last thing Charles I saw before stepping outside to meet his fate, which as you will gather when you see it, is irony in its purest form. Watch as figures from the past make several appearances to glorify king and country, praising the monarchy that still exists to this day.



If this is not enough to convince you to step back in time and enter the journey of pure discovery that is the Lost Palace, I don’t know what is! It all ends in a couple of days, with just a few places left until Tuesday evening, the 5th of September, so if you are in the London area please make your way to 17th-century Whitehall and leave the present at the gate through which you will enter Banqueting House, because when you step back outside, you will be transported to a world made so real you can literally hear it, touch it, feel it …

I LOVE the Historic Royal Palaces. Hampton Court is my favourite, but can easily spend hours at the Tower of London and Kensington Palace as well. All the palaces are interesting and there is always something new to discover. I'm a member of HRP, which is perfect for someone who like to visit again and again and again...

Give students to know there is someone who really backs them, someone who wants them to do well. I think that is invaluable to a young person scholarship in AFRICA Donate and Reduction Poverty; paybill No 968638 mzinyi Gaspar.

Fantastic interactive tour taking you through the history of the Whitehall Palace. You feel like a bit of a dork with the headphones etc. But worth it to feel King Charles I beating heart in your hand after he had been beheaded....

Everything here is Epic and cool. I love it. Wished that I will get someone who will sponsor me to study here in England. My biggest dream and prayer all day.



Britain is blessed....

Couldn't be better!!!!!!!! Hopefuly, will keep

Going on and on!

Been to Hampton Court, the Tower, and Kensington, and I'm always impressed with the preservation of the properties and the education provided. I'm an American and ended up buying a membership on my last trip. Looking forward to getting reminders of my trips through the newsletters!

Absolutely fantastic place and really enjoyed my visit. I only had two hours due to business commitments, but I will definitely return in the future and spend the whole day. You must pay a visit - a tremendous historical journey and the staff are kind and helpful.

... the intent of the page is beautiful ... what more can i say ... i do not include here , those who do not like it ... spread beauty ... this is art ...