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...
Jul 23, 2026
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 people, for treason, sedition, or simply their religious faith.
In this episode, Dr Jamie Ingram visits the Beauchamp Tower, which houses some of the...
Jul 16, 2026
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 known from the award winning film, ‘The Favourite’.
Anne’s impact is clear at Hampton Court Palace, where the ceiling of the Queen’s...
Jul 2, 2026
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, Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough, in 1771 offers an unexpected link to the history of US independence.
The two men were so completely opposed that...