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Itinerary Planning for Groups and Travel Trade

New events to help you plan your future tours and itineraries

New events to help you plan your future tours and itineraries

From Princess to formidable Empress

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth at Kensington Palace, the palace will be hosting two new exhibitions charting Victoria’s journey from a princess to a formidable empress.

Victoria: A royal childhood: Through a display of remarkable objects relating to her early years, your customers will delve into the world of the lively princess destined to become the ruler of the greatest empire the world had ever known. All within the permanent representation of Victoria’s rooms, visitors will discover the princess’s education, family life, friendships and bitter struggles during her life under the strict “Kensington System”.

Victoria: Woman and crown: New for 2019, customers will be able to explore the private woman behind the crown and how Victoria balanced her role as Queen, wife and mother. Within this exhibition, visitors will learn how, after the death of Prince Albert, she harnessed the new age of photography to project an image of Imperial power across continents and document the minutia of family life. This exhibition also reveals how her 9 children and 43 grandchildren extended her influence across not only Europe but the whole empire.

Plan your visit

  • Both exhibitions will be open on 24 May 2019
  • Victoria: Woman and crown will close in January 2020
  • These exhibitions are included in admission to Kensington Palace
  • Admission to Kensington Palace operates on a timed entry policy
The Field of the Cloth of Gold depicting the meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I in 1520.

A Field of Cloth of Gold for 2020

In 2020, a majestic event will arrive at Hampton Court Palace. In June 2020, it will be 500 years since Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France met near Calais for a Grand European Summit. Designed to improve relations between the two kingdoms, the princes enjoyed a fortnight of; feasts, tournaments, masquerades and religious services. So extravagant was the affair that it became known at the “Field of Cloth of Gold”.

To mark this event, Historic Royal Palaces will be rolling out the gold carpet with an exhibition showcasing artworks, objects and documents from the event itself. There will also be opportunities to meet the key characters from the rival courts of Tudor and Valois.

From 23-31 May 2020, a spectacular festival of Tudor sport and entertainment will see the “rematch” held at the palace. Complete with jousting, foot combat and wrestling alongside a culture war of food, crafts and art, this event is guaranteed to make your tour EPIC!

 Plan your visit

  • The exhibition will open on 10 April 2020. Closing date to be confirmed.
  • Both the exhibition and the festival will be included in admission price to Hampton Court Palace
  • Tickets to Hampton Court Palace operate on a free sale basis