Historic Royal Palaces Podcast
Historic Royal Palaces are a team of people who love and look after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. This fortnightly podcast brings you the history and stories of those palaces. You’ll hear from our experts and the people who bring our palaces to life, as we create space to explore how history moves us, telling stories about the monarchs you know, and uncovering the lives and histories of the people you don’t. Just like our palaces, this podcast is a mix of old and new. Each episode will have a different feel, from previously recorded live talks, to exciting new discussions and discoveries. You’ll have every opportunity to share in the history we love. Explore more history and stories from our six palaces hrp.org.uk
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Outliers – Crack of Thunder
04/25/2024
Outliers – Crack of Thunder
Leech is a man who knows about fire, how it burns and how it feels. But when Whitehall Palace, the largest palace in Europe, becomes the greatest kindling pile for a seemingly unquenchable blaze, even he is left dazzled. Everything burns, even the home of kings. Outliers – Stories from the edge of history is an historic fiction podcast that explores how big events are viewed and shaped by the people in the shadows. Listen to Outliers - Stories from the edge of history wherever you get your podcasts or go to: Please note, these episodes are released in a different order than on the original podcast. To read more about the lost palace of Whitehall go to:
/episode/index/show/historicroyalpalaces/id/30547918
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Outliers – Fresh Sweat and Cloves
04/11/2024
Outliers – Fresh Sweat and Cloves
As lady-in-waiting to an ageing queen and wife to a failed adventurer, Bess Raleigh has learnt to fight her corner against all adversity. Her life is spent in the shadow of the Tower of London with her husband Sir Walter Raleigh. But will she manage to keep her head whilst others around her lose theirs? Outliers – Stories from the edge of history is an historic fiction podcast that explores how big events are viewed and shaped by the people in the shadows. Listen to Outliers - Stories from the edge of history wherever you get your podcasts or go to: Please note, these episodes are released in a different order than on the original podcast.
/episode/index/show/historicroyalpalaces/id/30547753
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Outliers – Mehmet and Peter
03/28/2024
Outliers – Mehmet and Peter
Outliers – Stories from the edge of history is an historic fiction podcast that explores how big events are viewed and shaped by the people in the shadows. It’s late spring in 1726 at Kensington Palace, and the lavish court of King George I is in residence. Meanwhile, Mehmet, the Turkish valet to the King, is having some problems with Peter from Hanover, 'the wild boy' who is kept for the King’s amusement. A comical cat-and-mouse chase ensues, but perhaps it is Peter who has some unexpected lessons to teach Mehmet. Listen to Outliers - Stories from the edge of history wherever you get your podcasts or go to: To find out more about Peter’s life go to: Untold Lives is an exhibition that explores the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago. Please note, these episodes are released in a different order than on the original podcast.
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Henry VIII's Royal Progresses - New Research at the Palaces
03/14/2024
Henry VIII's Royal Progresses - New Research at the Palaces
The practice of journeying around the country on royal progress is one that monarchs used to strengthen their rule. But they can reveal a lot more than you’d think about kingship and queenship, even for tried and tested subjects such as Henry VIII and his six Queens. We follow Post-Doctoral Research Assistant Kirsty Wright, as she guides us through the importance of new research into where and why Henry VIII went on royal progress. Kirsty also reveals how the progresses of Henry’s Queens are contributing to highlighting their individual roles and personalities, helping to answer bigger questions about 16th century queenship and monarchy. In this series, we'll be exploring fresh research that is taking place in our Palaces. We won't be releasing this series sequentially, so these episodes will appear throughout the year. To find out more about the Henry VIII on Tour research project go to:
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Day in the Life of...A Yeoman Warder
02/29/2024
Day in the Life of...A Yeoman Warder
The Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower of London for 500 years, and is perhaps the oldest of jobs that still exists in our palaces today. In this final episode of a Day in the Life, we meet the Chief Yeoman Warder himself, Rob Fuller, and Curator Charles Farris fills us in on the storied history of this role. To find out more about the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago, a new exhibition is opening at Kensington Palace.
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Day in the life of...A Bricklayer
02/15/2024
Day in the life of...A Bricklayer
Hampton Court Palace was built and maintained by craftspeople, and this is a practice that endures to this day at the palaces. We follow Master Bricklayer Emma Simpson into her workshop where she describes the joy of her work and how it connects her to history. We then hear from Assistant Curator Alexandra Stevenson as she tells us about her research into female craftspeople who had a hand in building the palaces. To find out more about the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago, a new exhibition is opening at Kensington Palace.
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Day in the Life of...A Gardener
02/01/2024
Day in the Life of...A Gardener
In this episode we meet Senior Gardener Jane, who works at Hampton Court Palace. Jane takes us behind the scenes into the Nursery as we contemplate the hard work that goes into creating beautiful gardens. To help contextualise the work of an historic gardener, Curator Lee Prosser takes us on an informative stroll around the gardens that have been worked for hundreds of years. For the next few episodes, we’re going to be following some of the people who work in our Palaces today. We’ll be exploring how these jobs have a historic context to them, and how surprisingly, there are similarities in the work they do now, from the work that was done in the past. To find out more about the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago, a new exhibition is opening at Kensington Palace.
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Day in the Life of...A Wardrobe Manager
01/18/2024
Day in the Life of...A Wardrobe Manager
For the next few episodes, we’re going to be following some of the people who work in our palaces today. We’ll be exploring how these jobs have a historic context to them, and how surprisingly, there are similarities in the work they do now, from the work that was done in the past. Today we meet Erin, Historic Royal Palaces’ Wardrobe Manager. We step into the treasure trove that is the costume store and contemplate how Erin’s job may have existed in the past. To help contextualise this, Curator Charles Farris will then explore the Medieval world of wardrobe management. To find out more about the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago, a new exhibition is opening at Kensington Palace.
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New Research at the Palaces – Antarctic Exploration and Grace and Favour
01/04/2024
New Research at the Palaces – Antarctic Exploration and Grace and Favour
Hampton Court Palace has an unexpected connection to the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, the wedding of famous explorer Captain Scott and sculptor Kathleen Bruce took place in the Chapel Royal. We follow Assistant Curator Minette Butler as she explores a shut-off part of the Palace, highlighting how new research into Grace and Favour residents is revealing such curious connections, as well as opening up the lives of the Palace’s most recent residents. In this new series, we’ll be exploring fresh research that is taking place in our Palaces. We won’t be releasing this series sequentially, so these episodes will appear throughout the year. To read more about the wedding of Captain Scott and Kathleen Bruce go to:
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The Six Tudor Queens – Katherine Parr with Sarah Gristwood
12/28/2023
The Six Tudor Queens – Katherine Parr with Sarah Gristwood
Katherine Parr is the final Tudor Queen in our series. Was she the nursemaid who looked after and survived her husband, or was she much more than that? In this final episode of our Six Queens Series, Tracy Borman and historian Sarah Gristwood acquaint us with the woman behind the myths, an intelligent, strong and resourceful champion of her own agenda. This episode also concludes the series with a reflection on the legacy of the Six Tudor Queens. To view the painting of the Family of Henry VIII, and the Haunted Gallery where it is kept go to:
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The Six Tudor Queens – Catherine Howard with Gareth Russell
12/14/2023
The Six Tudor Queens – Catherine Howard with Gareth Russell
Catherine Howard has been judged by generations as promiscuous, a silly girl, a victim. But of course, there is more to her story than these assumptions allow for. In the fifth episode of our Six Tudor Queens series, Tracy Borman is joined by historian and author Gareth Russell, to bring Catherine to life. They paint a picture of a vivacious young woman whose life deserves to be revealed without the layers that centuries have placed upon her. See inside the Haunted Gallery with this virtual tour of Henry VIII’s Tudor Palace: This six-part series aims to do The Six Tudor Queens justice by stripping away unhelpful narratives and myths, to better understand them as women in their own time. To read about Catherine Howard go to:
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A History of Royal Christmas Celebrations
12/07/2023
A History of Royal Christmas Celebrations
Dive into the history of Royal Christmas celebrations in our palaces with this bonus seasonal episode. Chief mischief-maker Curator Charles Farris is joined by fellow Curator Lee Prosser, and Historic Kitchens Manager Richard Fitch, to kick off the season of revelry with some Christmas tomfoolery. We'll be back next week to continue The Six Tudor Queens series. For the Victorian Christmas pudding recipe go to: And to find out what’s on in our Palaces this Christmas go to:
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The Six Tudor Queens – Anne of Cleves with Tracy Borman
11/30/2023
The Six Tudor Queens – Anne of Cleves with Tracy Borman
Tracy Borman talks about her favourite of the Six Tudor Queens, Anne of Cleves. Divorced, so the rhyme goes, for being the ‘ugly’ Queen. Anne’s looks were the least interesting thing about her, but her story has been dominated by them for centuries. Tracy is joined by fellow Curator Brett Dolman to unpack this fixation on appearance and reveal the woman beneath the myths. This six-part series aims to do The Six Tudor Queens justice by stripping away unhelpful narratives and myths, to better understand them as women in their own time. Read about Anne of Cleves here:
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The Six Tudor Queens – Jane Seymour with Nicola Tallis
11/16/2023
The Six Tudor Queens – Jane Seymour with Nicola Tallis
This week we’re talking about Queen number three, Jane Seymour. Once again Tracy Borman is joined by a fantastic guest, Dr Nicola Tallis will bring Jane to life for us. Always thought of as the favourite wife, Jane Seymour is best known for giving birth to the male heir that her husband so desired, and for being the one in the rhyme who sadly died. But we don’t know very much about her as a woman and as an individual. In this episode Tracy and Nicola will shed light on this, revealing that Jane may have had more to her than history has allowed. This six-part series aims to do The Six Tudor Queens justice by stripping away unhelpful narratives and myths, to better understand them as women in their own time.
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The Six Tudor Queens – Anne Boleyn with Owen Emmerson and James Peacock
11/02/2023
The Six Tudor Queens – Anne Boleyn with Owen Emmerson and James Peacock
The one you’ve been waiting for! Tracy Borman is joined by Dr Owen Emmerson and Palace Host James Peacock, to take on the mammoth task of disrupting the reputation of the second and most famous of the six Tudor Queens, Anne Boleyn. They’ll explore this in the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace, which remains a symbol of Anne’s triumph and her downfall. Please be aware that this episode contains references to miscarriages, still births and infant mortality. This six-part series will aim to do The Six Tudor Queens justice by stripping away unhelpful narratives and myths, to better understand them as women in their own time. Watch Tracy's mini documentary on the Downfall of Anne Boleyn: See the palace come to life while you listen and explore inside the Great Hall, with this virtual tour of Henry VIII's Tudor Palace:
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The Six Tudor Queens – Katherine of Aragon with Elizabeth Norton
10/19/2023
The Six Tudor Queens – Katherine of Aragon with Elizabeth Norton
Tracy Borman opens our new series on the Queens Consort of Henry VIII with renowned historian Dr Elizabeth Norton. To better understand the six Queens, they first explore the context of the turbulent times in which these women lived. As the first Queen of Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon’s reputation as the dowdy wronged wife has endured for 500 years, but Tracy and Elizabeth call this into question. They reveal that Katherine’s iron-will was both her strength and arguably her undoing. Please be aware that this episode contains references to miscarriages, still births and infant mortality. This six-part series will aim to do The Six Tudor Queens justice by stripping away unhelpful narratives and myths, to better understand them as women in their own time.
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The Six Tudor Queens with Tracy Borman
10/12/2023
The Six Tudor Queens with Tracy Borman
In this new series Chief Curator Tracy Borman will guide us through the well-known lives of the six Tudor queens who all had one man common. This six-part series will aim to do the Queens justice whilst discussing some of the interpretations that history has offered of them. We’ll talk about what they might have been like as women in their own time, and reflect on the language we use when we talk about them now. To get a sense of the context in which they lived, we’ll be stepping into the parts of our palaces where they would have walked, in a court that was both exciting and toxic in its temperament. Tracy will explore all this with a stellar cast of historians, all experts on the Queens. So join us next Thursday, and every two weeks after that, as we dive into the world of The Six Tudor Queens.
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The Indian Army at the Palace – Legacy of Empire
10/05/2023
The Indian Army at the Palace – Legacy of Empire
In this week’s episode, exhibition lead Zakira Begum and Community Curators Rav Singh and Dr Tej Pal Singh Ralmill explore the impact of the World Wars on the Indian Army, how they moved the Indian Subcontinent towards independence from the British Empire, and ultimately how the legacy of this history is still relevant today. This is the second of two episodes where we’re celebrating the opening of our new exhibition at Hampton Court Palace called The Indian Army at the Palace. For tickets go to: Please be aware that this episode contains themes of scientific race theories.
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The Indian Army at the Palace – Context of Empire
09/21/2023
The Indian Army at the Palace – Context of Empire
In the early 20th century soldiers from the Indian Army camped at Hampton Court Palace on a number of occasions for coronations and peace celebrations. But behind all the pomp and ceremony was a much darker side. In this episode, Exhibition Lead Zakira Begum and Community Curators Rav Singh and Dr Tej Pal Singh Ralmill cover the background and context of the British Empire and the Indian Army, unpicking how the two are connected through the rise of the East India Company, to the birth of the British Raj in India. This is the first of two episodes where we’re celebrating the opening of our new exhibition at Hampton Court Palace called The Indian Army at the Palace. For tickets go to: Please be aware that this episode contains themes of scientific race theories.
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A Space I Love S2 – The Hidden Tudor Chapel with Dan Jackson
09/07/2023
A Space I Love S2 – The Hidden Tudor Chapel with Dan Jackson
This week we’re back with the final episode from series two of A Space I Love. Today Head of Historic Buildings Dan Jackson takes us into a space that for him, sums up what Hampton Court Palace is all about, the hidden east wall of the Chapel Royal. Tucked away for 400 years, this jigsaw puzzle of a space reveals a lot about the history of this extraordinary palace, as well as its mysteries. If you want to see this space when visiting Hampton Court Palace, it is on the Georgian Story route. Our Palace Hosts are easy to spot in red coats and will be able to direct you.
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A Space I Love S2 – Queen Charlotte's Drawing Room with Polly Putnam
08/24/2023
A Space I Love S2 – Queen Charlotte's Drawing Room with Polly Putnam
This week marks the penultimate episode in our six-part mini-series on special places in our palaces. We’re following Curator Polly Putnam into Queen Charlotte’s Drawing Room in Kew Palace, the home of the Royal Family during the illnesses of George III. This small and domestic-feeling room holds a lot of sadness from the past, but from this Polly is able to reflect on finding joy in the meaning of home. If you’d like to find out more on visiting Kew Palace go to: To learn more about the lives of Queen Charlotte and George III go to:
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A Space I Love S2 – The Banqueting House roof with Lee Prosser
08/10/2023
A Space I Love S2 – The Banqueting House roof with Lee Prosser
In the fourth part of this series, Curator Lee Prosser takes us into a hidden space at the Banqueting House, once part of the great Whitehall Palace. It may not be the famous Rubens ceiling, but Lee will reveal how the roof space of the Banqueting House is a piece of living history, with a rich past and an important role for the future. For information on visiting the Banqueting House, go to: https://www.hrp.org.uk/banqueting-house/
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A Space I Love S2 – The Tower of London's Chapel Royal with Alfred Hawkins
07/27/2023
A Space I Love S2 – The Tower of London's Chapel Royal with Alfred Hawkins
This week is the third part of our mini-series on spaces we love. We’ll be joining Assistant Curator Alfred Hawkins who has chosen to take us into the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula at the Tower of London. As the burial place of Anne Boleyn, the Chapel Royal holds a special place to many history fans, but there is so much more to this community place of worship. Alfred reveals that the myths of history can be just as important as the truth. To find out more on the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula go to: Watch our mini documentary on the Downfall of Anne Boleyn:
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A Space I Love S2 – The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection with Matthew Storey
07/13/2023
A Space I Love S2 – The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection with Matthew Storey
This week we’re continuing our mini-series on treasured spaces with a trip through a place full of historic clothing, the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. We’ll follow Curator Matthew Storey into this hidden store, to find out how we can learn from the stories that are carried in the historic clothing we look after, and how they really do hold relevance for today. If you would like to find out more or visit the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, go to:
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A Space I Love Series 2 – The King’s House with Alden Gregory
06/29/2023
A Space I Love Series 2 – The King’s House with Alden Gregory
Welcome back to series two of A Space I Love. In this six-part mini-series, we’re back exploring a selection of treasured spaces in our palaces with the people who know them best, our curators. In this first episode we’ll follow Alden Gregory behind-the-scenes into the King’s House at the Tower of London, a place that is intimately connected with the Gunpowder Plot, and the interrogation of Guy Fawkes. Please be aware that this episode contains themes of torture, death and execution, which some listeners may find upsetting. For more on the Gunpowder plot you can listen to our previous episodes on the plot from November 2022, or visit:
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A Space I Love SERIES TWO coming soon
06/22/2023
A Space I Love SERIES TWO coming soon
Coming next week on Thursday 29th June. In this six-part mini-series, our curators are back sharing their favourite spaces with you. We’ll be exploring a selection of treasured spaces in our palaces, from behind-the-scenes stores, to rooms of immense importance to British history. Some spaces will be grand and some modest, some aren’t even open to the public. But each space has been personally chosen by our resident experts to reveal how immersing ourselves in a place can connect us to the past, and make us reflect on the present.
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Behind-The-Scenes in the Conservation Studio
06/15/2023
Behind-The-Scenes in the Conservation Studio
For today’s episode, we’re at Hampton Court Palace and we’re going behind the scenes into a very special place; the Textile Conservation Studio. We’ll speak to our specialist conservators to hear about the care and craftsmanship that goes into looking after historic dress, as well as the challenges around preparing for a blockbuster exhibition. This is the final episode in a series where we’re celebrating fashion, identity and the opening of our new exhibition at Kensington Palace called Crown to Couture. To find out more about conserving historic dress go to: For tickets to Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace go to:
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Curator Tour - Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace
06/01/2023
Curator Tour - Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace
In this episode join Curators Polly Putnam and Claudia Acott-Williams for a mini tour of the Crown to Couture exhibition at Kensington Palace. They'll talk about their favourite pieces on display, as well as the craftsmanship that goes into making high fashion, from the Georgian Court to the Red Carpet of today. This is the third episode in a series where we're celebrating the opening of our new exhibition at Kensington Palace. For tickets to Crown to Couture go to:
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Fashion is Political – the Legacy of Georgian Power Dressing
05/18/2023
Fashion is Political – the Legacy of Georgian Power Dressing
From Beyoncé to Billie Eilish, fashion is undeniably personal and political. But the legacy of harnessing fashion as a tool for power and representation goes back to the 18th century and beyond. In this episode Curators Matthew Story, Polly Putnam and Claudia Acott-Williams celebrate the joy of fashion as a symbol of identity at the Georgian Court, and its importance on the Red Carpet today. This is the second episode in a series where we’re celebrating fashion, identity and the opening of our new exhibition at Kensington Palace called Crown to Couture. For tickets to Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace go to:
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Red Carpet Fashion and the Georgian Court - From Royal Palace to Met Gala
05/04/2023
Red Carpet Fashion and the Georgian Court - From Royal Palace to Met Gala
The fashion history of the Georgian Court has a lot of similarities with the Red Carpet and Met Gala glamour of today. In this episode Curators Matthew Story, Polly Putnam and Claudia Acott-Williams unpick these parallels, and take us on a journey through getting ready in the 18th century, revealing how surprisingly, it’s not that different from how celebrities are styled and prepared for the Red Carpet today. This is the first episode in a series where we’re celebrating fashion, identity and the opening of our new exhibition at Kensington Palace called Crown to Couture. For tickets to Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace go to:
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