Historic Royal Palaces Podcast
In this mini-series on new research at our palaces, Dr Holly Marsden joins Lucy Worsley to explore the many identities of Mary II, disentangling her story from that of her husband and co-ruler William III. The product of four years of research, Holly’s PhD ultimately aims to disrupt the perception that Mary did not have political agency. This episode is part of a mini-series about new research at our palaces. Explore more about
info_outline History of Christmas at the PalacesHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
From Tudor and Medieval Christmas tide celebrations, to Queen Victoria and Albert’s newer traditions, we’re re-releasing our Christmas episode to reveal the history of Christmas at our palaces. Curator Charles Farris is joined by Historic Kitchens Manager Richard Fitch, and Curator Lee Prosser, as they begin the holiday season with some festive tomfoolery. Make our with mashed potatoes. Explore in our Palaces this Christmas from at Hampton Court Palace to at Kensington Palace.
info_outline Elizabeth I – Gloriana, the Virgin QueenHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
Elizabeth I’s propaganda images of Gloriana and the Virgin Queen have hugely impacted her reputation as the last Tudor Monarch. Yet the twilight years of her reign were both personally and politically difficult. In this final episode in our series, Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman is joined by renowned historian Dr Helen Castor. Together they contemplate which female relationships shaped this time, and ultimately, how Elizabeth I’s gender has shaped her historic image. This is the final Episode in our Elizabeth I series where we explore the women who shaped a...
info_outline Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of ScotsHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
Elizabeth I’s relationship with Mary, Queen of Scots is perhaps the most pivotal of her entire life, and yet they never met. In this second episode in our series, Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman is joined by Dr Andrea Clarke, to discuss how as confidantes and rival queens, Elizabeth and Mary’s relationship would shape the image that Elizabeth would adopt for herself, that of Gloriana. Read about , the crisis that magnified the succession question. This is the second Episode in our Elizabeth series where we explore the women who shaped a queen.
info_outline Elizabeth I - The Women Who Shaped a QueenHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
Elizabeth I was profoundly shaped by the women around her, and this series will explore these pivotal relationships throughout her life. Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman opens our series with Dr Nicola Tallis, and together they explore the young Elizabeth, before she came to the throne. The formative relationships she experienced during this time shaped the queen she would become; her mother Anne Boleyn, her stepmother Katherine Parr, and her sister Mary I. Read about at Hampton Court, and see the book Elizabeth embroidered as a gift for her stepmother. This is the first...
info_outline Introducing Elizabeth I - The Women Who Shaped A Queen - NEW SERIESHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
This new three-part series on the Historic Royal Palaces Podcast will explore Elizabeth I, and the women who shaped a queen. Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman will take us on a journey from Elizabeth's early life, right the way through to the challenging final years of her reign. We'll learn which pivotal female relationships made her the queen we know today, and how these nurturing and often challenging relationships, can reveal the most about the real Elizabeth I?
info_outline James I and the Witch Hunts: A War on Women?Historic Royal Palaces Podcast
When James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne as James I, he sparked the English witch hunts into a fire. They would become one of the largest miscarriages of justice against women in the 17th century, but what prompted them, and why did James become such a ruthless champion of this war on women? For this Halloween Episode, we join Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman and historian Gareth Russell, as they explore the witch hunts under James I. Please be aware that this episode contains themes of sexual violence and torture that some listeners may find distressing.
info_outline A Space I Love S3 – The Queen’s Staircase at Hampton Court PalaceHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
In this final episode of our A Space I Love Series, we join Deputy Chief Curator Sebastian Edwards in the Queen’s staircase at Hampton Court Palace. The stairs are the hub of the palace, and they represent a surprisingly unique space with a lot to say. Once the main thoroughfare to the queen’s private apartments, but largely unused after Henry VIII’s time, the grand staircase has remained unchanged since the last monarchs left the palace in the 18th century. To view the Queen’s stairs, take our Take a look at
info_outline A Space I Love S3 – Chapel of St John the Evangelist at the Tower of LondonHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
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 John the Evangelist, at the Tower of London. As the most important space in the White Tower, the Chapel Royal holds huge historic significance in representing the Norman Conquest’s power, control and religious dominance. Alfred explores how a recent project will protect this space of immeasurable importance, for generations to come. To view inside the Chapel of St John the Evangelist, take our
info_outline A Space I Love S3 – The Dining Room at Hillsborough CastleHistoric Royal Palaces Podcast
This week we’re continuing our mini-series on treasured spaces with a trip to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Northern Ireland. We’ll follow Research and Interpretation Producer Emma Lawthers, into the magnificent state dining room – a space that represents the political history of Northern Ireland, with a curious and unexpected connection to the birth of the United States of America. Find out more about the history of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens:
info_outlineIn 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.