Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Protecting wildlife and their habitat at Home Park
22 November 2024
Park Ranger Eleanor Evetts explores the importance of nature conservation efforts at Home Park at Hampton Court Palace.
Washing Historic Tapestries: Making sure our colours don't run...
12 May 2017
Have you ever washed something and realised too late that the dye wasn't fast? Imagine how that would feel if the object you were washing was over 400 years old. So it's pretty brave to wash a historic tapestry don't you think?
Grand Duchess Xenia Romanov: A royal Russian resident at Hampton Court Palace
06 April 2017
On 6 April 1917, in the midst of violence and unrest, Grand Duchess Xenia Romanov left St Petersburg on a train to the Crimea, never to return again. Xenia's journey into exile eventually brought her to Hampton Court Palace.
Hercules takes a bath
16 November 2016
The Death of Hercules tapestry was recently removed from the Great Watching Chamber at Hampton Court Palace for conservation reasons. We have now begun the two-year conservation programme, starting with wet cleaning in our custom-built facility.
Hampton Court Palace as a Victorian art gallery
15 January 2016
This little watercolour, painted by an unknown artist in the 1850s, is a revealing glimpse of what it was like to visit Hampton Court Palace in the 19th century.
The Lost Tiltyard Tower at Hampton Court Palace
15 December 2015
Archaeologists at Hampton Court Palace have uncovered the remains of one of the palace’s famous five lost Tiltyard Towers. The discovery of this green-glazed tile floor has solved a three-hundred-year-old mystery.
Secrets From Our Stores: Late Night Cocoa
14 December 2015
The story of a cocoa tin that was hidden by workmen in the early 20th century, only to be uncovered by others almost 80 years later.
Objects Unwrapped: Grace and Favour Residents
09 December 2015
When George III became king in 1760, he chose not to use Hampton Court Palace as a royal residence. So the palace was turned into a giant lodging house for Grace and Favour residents.
Objects Unwrapped: Tudor Leather Mache Putto from Hampton Court
07 December 2015
Putti are representations of small male children often with wings, found in religious and secular artwork. They were a popular form of decoration during the Renaissance.
How we acquired The Bristowe Hat
20 January 2015
The Bristowe Hat is a very rare example of Tudor or very early Stuart fashion. It first appeared on my desk in the form of an email – 'Did we want it?' I was certainly very intrigued...