Tracy Borman is an author, Tudor historian, broadcaster and joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces.

Tracy has written a number of historical biographies, including: Henry VIII and the Men who Made Him: The Secret History Behind the Tudor Throne; Elizabeth’s Women: the Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen; and Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s Most Faithful Servant.

Tracy has also written about the palaces in Historic Royal Palaces' care, notably: The Story of the Tower of London , The Story of Kensington Palace and The Private Lives of the Tudors, which includes many references to Hampton Court Palace. She is a regular broadcaster and lectures on her books across the country and internationally.

Tracy is also Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, a charity that encourages children to visit and learn from historic properties.

Tracy's role at Historic Royal Palaces

Tracy works alongside Lucy Worsley and our team of curators to share the stories of our palaces with millions of visitors and supporters a year. Their responsibilities span communicating how the buildings have expanded architecturally, as well as their use as settings for momentous events in English history.

Subject expertise

Tracy has particular expertise in the 16th century, but has also researched and written about the 11th, 17th and 18th centuries. She specialises in Tudor monarchs and their courts, courtiers, the private lives of monarchs and the history of witchcraft.

Tracy completed her PhD, Sir Francis Vere in the Netherlands, 1589-1603: a re-evaluation of his career as Sergeant Major General of Elizabeth I’s troops at the University of Hull (1997). She has an MA in Historical Research (1994) and a BA (Hons) in History (1993).