Aug 27, 2026
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 future looked uncertain.
So, how did William go from this shaky start to forging the Norman dynasty?
In this first episode of a new series on the...
Aug 20, 2026
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 process of colonisation.
What were conditions like for these animals? Who cared for them? And what does their presence at the Tower tell us about...
Aug 13, 2026
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 Kensington Palace. Here, a rigorous programme of education aimed to prepare her for the responsibility of ruling Britain and its Empire. Victoria...
Aug 6, 2026
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 of State, Cromwell’s family filled Hampton Court with music, art and beauty – and even some scandalous statues – as their family home. In...
Jul 30, 2026
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 the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace. Ironically, this glorification of monarchy was one of the King’s last sights, before he died on the...