Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Catherine Howard's proclamation as Queen, Hampton Court, 1541
11 July 2025
Hampton Court is linked to every phase of Catherine Howard's career. But less well known is how Hampton Court birthed Catherine’s tenure as Queen of England.
'Trooping the Colour': The history of the King’s birthday parade
20 June 2025
Jemima Hubberstey, Research Officer at Historic Royal Palaces, explores the history of royal birthday traditions.
Inside the Tudor queens' baggage train
30 May 2025
What did the Tudor queens take on their travels, and what can it tell us about the real women behind the titles? Post-Doctoral Researcher Kirsty Wright investigates.
The rise and fall of Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset
09 May 2025
Historian Gareth Russell picks up the tale of a scandal that no one had foreseen when the inoffensive Robert Carr arrived at James VI's court.
St George and the Tudors
23 April 2025
St George’s Day was already well established by the Tudor period, but the Tudor monarchs saw something more in this patron saint – the perfect symbol to bolster their shaky claim to the throne.
The death of Henry VII and the delayed accession of Henry VIII
21 April 2025
On 21 April 1509, Henry VII died aged 52 in his private apartments at Richmond Palace. But officials waited two days to tell the strapping young man that he was now King. Why?
The death and succession of Gloriana: underrepresented claimants to Elizabeth I’s crown
11 April 2025
Elizabeth I's death marked the accession of James VI/I to her throne and the emergence of the Stuart dynasty within England. But this was certainly not a foregone conclusion at the time.
Embracing two worlds: Conserving Bi-cultural heritage with a rare Japanese court suit
14 March 2025
Textile Conservator Kaori Motaung shares her experience conserving a rare Japanese court suit from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
The most iconic uniform in London
07 March 2025
Yeoman Warder Amanda Jayne (AJ) Clark talks us through her uniform, and what it means for this iconic item to be going on public display.