Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Ghost stories from Hampton Court’s grace and favour community
30 September 2026
Assistant Curator Minette Butler and Memories Project Volunteer Tessa Westlake recount the most chilling tales from the grace and favour era.
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester: A life in royal fashion
27 July 2026
Project Assistant Curator, Victoria Haddock explores how Princess Alice, alongside other royal women, set international trends and patronised some of the biggest names in fashion.
Hillary Clinton and the 'Vital Voices' of Northern Ireland's women
11 December 2025
Hillary Clinton's speech at Hillsborough Castle in 2023 marked a 30-year relationship with the women of Northern Ireland, which started over tea in South Belfast.
'Castles of the air': Defending the Tower of London during the Second World War
10 November 2025
When London faced the fury of the Blitz during the Second World War, the Tower of London found a new way to protect the city from the sky – a huge hydrogen-filled 'barrage balloon'.
The Dress Codes of Diana, Princess of Wales
08 August 2025
Collections Curator Matthew Storey traces Diana, Princess of Wales's style journey through the words of four of her designers, and the extraordinary pieces in the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
'Buried Among Kings': Hampton Court and the Coffin of the Unknown Warrior
11 November 2024
On 11 November 1920 the Unknown Warrior was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey, in a coffin said to have been made of Hampton Court oak.
Rare and Historic Northern Irish Plant Varieties at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
28 June 2024
Northern Ireland is home to a rich variety of rare and historic plants, many of which can be found at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Gardens Manager Claire Woods explores the history behind growing these plants and the importance of conserving them for future generations.
The Wedding of Captain Scott and Kathleen Bruce at Hampton Court Palace
04 January 2024
Assistant Curator Minette Butler explores how Captain Scott's wedding to his beloved wife Kathleen Bruce at Hampton Court Palace intertwines with the aftermath of his ill-fated expedition to reach the South Pole.
The explosive wartime history of the Kew Pagoda
06 June 2023
One of the most surprising periods in the history of the Great Pagoda is its use as a secret testing site during World War II. Curator Polly Putnam picks up the tale of this fascinating discovery.