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Collections

Our aim is to conserve, display and interpret the magnificent buildings, interiors and collections in our care.

Our royal palaces host internationally important collections of fine and decorative art, the majority forming part of the Royal Collection. We work in partnership with the Royal Armouries to display their collections of arms and armour at the Tower of London. We also manage, conserve, display and research our own collections of royal ceremonial dress, architectural drawings, art, archaeology, furniture, furnishings, architectural decoration and social history.

A pair of shoes worn by Queen Victoria

Our collections

The objects in our collections help us to tell the stories of the people that lived in the palaces. 

 

Conservator moving the Painting of Mary, Princess Royal by Van Dyck.

Art and decorative arts collections

Fine and decorative art on display across our palaces remains part of the Royal Collection, one of the largest and most important art collections in the world. 

Tudor or early Stuart red hat with ostrich feather on black background.

Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection

10,000 items of historic dress from the 16th century to the present day, this is a collection of national and international importance.

Conservation

We carry out world-leading conservation work to preserve and enhance the thousands of treasures in our guardianship, so that the palaces and collections have a life today and in the future.

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The remarkable life of Henry VIII’s last Queen

Katherine of Aragon

Katherine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII. In her eyes, she was his only Queen.