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Historic Royal Palaces blog

Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces

Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces

'May I Go Home?': Lady Jane Grey's First Moments as a Tower Prisoner

11 October 2024

Lady Jane Grey's biographer, Dr Nicola Tallis unpicks the moment that Jane learned of her deposition and was forced to come to terms with her fall from Queen to Tower prisoner.

The Extravagant Funeral of Henry VIII

16 February 2024

Curator of Historic Buildings Alden Gregory explores the elaborate hearse created to mark Henry VIII’s death, and how it links to the King’s use of temporary architecture during his life.

The explosive history of the pagoda during World War II

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.

Wren's Royal Palace

08 March 2023

Head of Historic Buildings Daniel Jackson looks at one of Sir Christopher Wren's most famous and problematic projects: the remodelling of Hampton Court Palace.

The Commonwealth Games and Henry VIII's forgotten cricketing disaster

01 August 2022

Curator Brett Dolman looks briefly into the history of the Commonwealth Games and imagines Henry VIII’s forgotten cricketing disaster at Hampton Court.

Unearthing two early Tudor buildings at Hampton Court Palace

15 March 2019

In 2017, two early Tudor buildings were unexpectedly discovered in a small trench excavated during conservation works on a set of historic railings. The bricks used were dated to Cardinal Wolsey's building phase, (1515-1529), or possibly even slightly earlier.

Restoring Hillsborough's Courthouse Clock

18 January 2019

An exciting conservation project has been undertaken in Hillsborough. The courthouse clock - which stopped over 30 years ago - has been revived and is chiming once again. Our conservator David Orr was thrilled to discover the history of this important horological piece...