Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Displaying Queen Mary II's Exoticks Collection
28 August 2019
You may well have heard of Queen Mary II's Exoticks Collection or seen the plants in the gardens or in the glasshouse nurseries at Hampton Court. If you haven't, here is a brief description so you'll know what to look out for on your next visit.
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha: Monarchy's moderniser
26 August 2019
On the 200th birthday of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Professor John R Davis argues that Albert's influence helped Queen Victoria rescue the British Monarchy.
Renewable energy meets conservation: the Hydro House at Hillsborough
19 August 2019
To the very north of the park at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, for the adventurous visitor prepared to explore the Perimeter Walk, is the Hydro House. Historic Royal Palaces restored and re-commissioned the Hydro House in 2017 and it now produces enough electricity to continuously power 100 mobile phones!
Queen Caroline's bed undergoes conservation: Secrets of a state bed
15 August 2019
As supervisor of the furnishing conservation team at Historic Royal Palaces, I lead a team of four conservators over five years to conserve one of our tallest beds, Queen Caroline's state bed. The bed is part of the Royal Collection, and can usually be found on display at Hampton Court Palace.
Dahlia season at Hampton Court Palace
14 August 2019
July marks the start of the dahlia season, but it is as the days grow shorter that these flamboyant plants come into their own, providing a spectacular display of extravagant flowers until the first frosts.
Victorian plants are brought to Kensington Palace
08 August 2019
At Kensington Palace we have selected just a few of our favourite discoveries from the Victorian period to go on display in 2019. Each plant has a story and can be accredited to a plant hunter who explored the world during this fascinating period of horticultural research and discovery.
Herbs through history: from the Tudors to today
29 July 2019
Central to the Kitchen Garden at Hampton Court is its collection of herbs, and they are looking at their best in the summer. While many of them are familiar, some unusual ones have had some fascinating uses throughout history.
Wildflowers bloom at Kensington Palace
05 July 2019
After a lot of hard work this winter by the gardens team at Kensington Palace, the fruits of their labour can now be seen in the wildflower meadow.
An American visitor to Kew Palace in 1753
04 July 2019
In the summer of 1753, it must have been with apprehension and excitement that the Pinckney family from South Carolina awaited an audience at the White House, Kew with Princess Augusta, Princess Dowager of Wales, the mother of the future King George III.