Historic Royal Palaces Podcast

Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces are a team of people who love and look after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. This fortnightly podcast brings you the history and stories of those palaces.

You'll hear from our experts and the people who bring our palaces to life, as we create space to explore how history moves us, telling stories about the monarchs you know, and uncovering the lives and histories of the people you don't.

Just like our palaces, this podcast is a mix of old and new. Each episode will have a different feel, from previously recorded live talks, to exciting new discussions and discoveries. You'll have every opportunity to share in the history we love.

Explore more history and stories from our six palaces hrp.org.uk

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20 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes20

Newest first

Thursday · 1 hr
Charles I - The Execution of a 'Traitor' King at the Banqueting House
Charles I's execution was unprecedented and shocking. He staked everything on his divine right to rule – the same concept that inspired his spectacular Rubens ceiling at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace. Ironically, this glorification of monarchy was one of the King's last sights, before he died on the scaffold. In this episode, curators Minette Butler and Dr Alden Gregory explore this fascinating story of a 'traitor' king, under the Rubens ceiling where he spent his final moments. How did Charles I come to be executed by his own subjects? Did he reflect on his reign as he passed underneath these heavenly images? And what remains of his legacy? See the Rubens ceiling in high definition on Google Arts & Culture.
July 23 · 19 min
Tudor Prisoners at the Tower of London - Stories in Graffiti
The walls of the Tower of London are covered with carvings - graffiti left behind by the prisoners who were locked inside. The Tudor monarchs imprisoned hundreds of people, for treason, sedition, or simply their religious faith. In this episode, Dr Jamie Ingram visits the Beauchamp Tower, which houses some of the most impressive and well known graffiti at the Tower of London. These marks, some of them 500 years old, reveal the poignant stories of the Tower's Tudor Prisoners. See the Dudley graffito in HD on Google Arts and Culture See the Abel graffito close up on Google Arts and Culture.
July 16 · 33 min
Queen Anne - A Woman of Contradictions with Gareth Russell
Queen Anne was the first Queen of Great Britain, but wasn't supposed to rule. She could be pious and shy, but was also scandelous and scheming. Today, she is perhaps best known from the award winning film, 'The Favourite'. Anne's impact is clear at Hampton Court Palace, where the ceiling of the Queen's Drawing Room is covered with a glorious homage to her reign. In this episode, join historian Gareth Russell for a private look at this amazing space, and explore Anne's turbulent story. See 'The Apotheosis of Queen Anne' ceiling painting on Google Arts and Culture
July 2 · 33 min
Benjamin Franklin's Curious Visit to Hillsborough Castle (From The Archive)
Benjamin Franklin – Founding Father, writer, inventor – remains one of the most famous visitors to Hillsborough Castle in its history. His visit to his political foe, Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough, in 1771 offers an unexpected link to the history of US independence. The two men were so completely opposed that earlier the same year, Franklin had tried to have Lord Hillsborough impeached. In response, there is evidence suggesting that Hillsborough wanted to have Franklin arrested. Remarkably, the two men found much to agree on at the castle – but would the cordial atmosphere last? Almost 250 years on from the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, we've delved into the archive to find out. Learn more about the State Dining Room on our website.
June 25 · 56 min
George III – 'Tyrant' King of the American Colonies?
In the Declaration of Independence, signed on 4th July 1776, King George III is cast as a 'tyrant'. How fair is this representation? In this episode, Kew Palace curator Polly Putnam is joined by Dr Rachel Herrmann, Senior Lecturer in Modern American History at Cardiff University, and Dr Robin Eagles, Editor at the History of Parliament Trust. Together, they explore George III's legacy in the United States of America, and whether this matches what we know about his reign. How much power did George have over the American colonies? Who is often left out of the story? And was he the 'tyrant' that he was made out to be? Learn more about George III on our website.
June 18 · 54 min
LGBTQ+ Histories at Our Palaces (From The Archive)
LGBTQ+ people have always existed in the history of our palaces, but stories of this community are often obscured or misunderstood. We've delved into the archive to bring you this special episode for Pride Month, re-connecting with stories from the LGBTQ+ community. When we explore queer histories, we gain a much fuller picture of societies in the past, from when our palaces were first built, right on through to their more recent history. In this episode, Curator Matthew Storey is joined by Curator Holly Marsden, and Dr Kit Heyam. Together, they discuss some queer stories connected to our palaces, and what they can teach us about our past, and present. Explore more LGBTQ+ histories from our palaces on our website. Read Matthew's article about Kathleen Woodhouse. Read Molly McClain's article on Stuart women. Find Kit Heyam's books on their website. In this episode we use a range of different gender pronouns to discuss historical people, including those used in the original sources and those used by historians today. Content warnings: Homophobia, including the murder of queer people Transphobia Non-consensual medical examination Suicide
June 11 · 53 min
What Happened to Anne Boleyn's Family After Her Fall?
In 1533, the Boleyns seemed to have it all. Anne Boleyn was Queen, and her family were reaping the rewards of Henry VIII's favour. But it was not to last. Within three years, each member of the faction was fighting for survival as their power evaporated. In this second episode of a two-part series on the Rise and Fall of the Boleyns, Tracy Borman is joined by Gareth Russell at Hampton Court Palace. They explore how the House of Boleyn was dismantled with such devastating consequences. Who, if anyone, dared to try and save them? And who was left as the faction crumbled? Read more from Tracy Borman: Was Jane Boleyn the most hated woman in Tudor England?
June 4 · 52 min
Growing Up in the House of Boleyn
The Boleyn family captivated Henry VIII – but who were they before their meteoric rise to fame? Who were the little-known women operating from Hever Castle? And was Anne's father the schemer he's made out to be? In this first episode of a new series on the Rise and Fall of the Boleyns, Chief Historian Tracy Borman is joined by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey from Hever Castle. They explore how Anne Boleyn's relatives worked their way from Norfolk merchants into the corridors of power, and why they still fascinate us 500 years on. Read more about Anne Boleyn on our website. Buy Tracy's new novel 'The House of Boleyn' from our shop.
May 21 · 1 hr 3 min
Thomas Cromwell - Architect of the Reformation?
Thomas Cromwell might have pulled off the most meteoric social climb of the 16th century. From the rough shores of Putney to the illustrious court of Henry VIII, his journey to power reveals so much about the opportunities and dangers of the Tudor period. In this final episode of our series on Henry VIII's ministers, Tracy Borman explores the real story of a man often seen as a villain. Joined by Chief Curator Eleri Lynn, she discusses the Reformation, Anne Boleyn, and Cromwell's all-important relationship with Henry VIII. Turn on video on Spotify, or watch this episode on YouTube to see Tracy and Eleri in the amazing Tudor Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace.
May 7 · 50 min
Thomas More – The Man Who Defied Henry VIII?
Thomas More lived by the mantra, 'I am the King's good servant, but God's first'. He would also die by it. His defiance at Henry VIII's break with Rome would be his salvation, and his destruction. In this episode of our series on Henry VIII's ministers, Tracy Borman is joined by historian Dr Joanne Paul to examine the truth behind Thomas More's legacy. Was he a saintly man of conscience in a court filled with grasping politicians, or a self-righteous heretic hunter? And what does his story tell us about Henry VIII? Watch this episode on YouTube to see Tracy and Joanne in the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace. Read more about Sir Thomas More's life and legacy.
April 23 · 48 min
Thomas Wolsey - Henry VIII's Powerful Chief Minister
Thomas Wolsey was born the son of a butcher from Ipswich, yet he rose to become one of the most powerful men in Tudor England as Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor. He was even known as 'The Other King', and built a palace that rivalled Henry VIII's. This spectacular rise was only matched by the drama of his fall. In this first episode of our new series on Henry VIII's ministers, Tracy Borman is joined by historian Elizabeth Norton to explore Wolsey's time in Henry's court. How powerful was he? Why did he fall from Henry VIII's favour? And what legacy did he leave behind? Read more about Thomas Wolsey and see inside his palace at Hampton Court on our website.
April 16 · 48 min
The Last Princesses of Punjab
The Last Princesses of Punjab left behind legacies that continue to resonate today, but what impact did these women have and how should we remember them? In this final episode in our series, we join Curators Dr Mishka Sinha and Polly Putnam, as they chat to researcher and collector Peter Bance, and Dr Nadhra Shahbaz, Associate Professor of the Art and Architecture of Punjab. What were the sisters' legacies and how can we find meaning in them today? Read more about the extraordinary life of Catherine Duleep Singh, LGBTQ+ Icon and 'gurantor' for Jewish refugees. Find out more about The Last Princesses of Punjab and book tickets to our exhibition at Kensington Palace.
April 9 · 1 hr 1 min
The Duleep Singh Sisters - From Debutantes to Defiance
The Duleep Singh sisters went from Victorian Debutantes in high society, to defiant changemakers in the 20th century, but how did this change happen? Join Curators Dr Mishka Sinha and Polly Putnam, alongside Dr Sumita Mukherjee and Dr Siobhan Lambert-Hurley, to explore how the sister's heritage and individual indefinites led them to explore defiance in their lives. Find out more about The Last Princesses of Punjab and book tickets to our exhibition at Kensington Palace.
March 26 · 51 min
The Duleep Singh Family – Queen Victoria & Empire
The lives of the Duleep Singh sisters were deeply impacted by Queen Victoria's Empire in India, and their father's displacement as the last Maharaja of the Punjab, yet they lived a life of privilege as aristocrats in Victorian Britain. Join Curators Dr Mishka Sinha and Polly Putnam, alongside Dr Priya Atwal, to explore the early lives of Princesses Sophia, Catherine and Bamba. How did Empire impact their childhoods, and who were the women who shaped them, from Queen Victoria to their Grandmother Maharani Jind Kaur. Read about Queen Victoria role in the British Empire. Find out more about The Last Princesses of Punjab and book tickets to our exhibition at Kensington Palace.
March 12 · 46 min
Hampton Court Palace - Tudor vs Baroque
Hampton Court is a palace of two halves and countless stories. But which side is best? The Tudor half displays all the court intrigue of the dynasty it's named for, and yet the Baroque side is no less dramatic, holding the stories of the Restoration, Glorious Revolution, and Georgians within its decorative walls. Join Tracy Borman and Gareth Russell on a private tour of this palace of two halves, as they each make their case for which side is best. The Tudor, or the Baroque? Find out more about the story of Hampton Court Palace.
February 26 · 1 hr 9 min
Women of the 'Glorious Revolution' - Mary of Modena & Mary II
Mary of Modena and Mary II are two Queens whose lives have been lost in the story of the 'Glorious Revolution'. Yet they were fundamental to the machinations of the turbulent late 1600s, where heightened religious tension made for dangerous politics at the Stuart court. So for today's episode, we're bringing them back into the centre of the story. Chief Historian Tracy Borman is joined by Assistant Research Curator Holly Marsden and Dr Breeze Barrington to reveal the women behind the 'Glorious Revolution.'
February 12 · 1 hr 3 min
Margaret Beaufort – Matriarch of the Tudors
Margaret Beaufort was a leading figure in the tumultuous Wars of the Roses and would go on to become the matriarch of the Tudor Dynasty. Mother to Henry VII and a key player in bringing the Tudors to the throne, was Margaret a manipulative schemer as she has sometimes been portrayed, or instead a resilient survivor of trauma and decades of civil conflict? To better understand Margaret in the context of her time, Curator Charles Farris is joined by historians Dr Joanna Laynesmith and Lauren Johnson, as they explore the power and perception of this 15th century matriarch.
January 29 · 44 min
William Shakespeare - Playwright to The King
On the 1st of Janurary, 1604, Hampton Court Palace hosted a performance by William Shakespeare's acting troupe, The King's Men. They were booked to perform for the new King of England, James VI of Scotland, and one of the plays that they chose was 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. What did it mean to be part of 'The King's Men'? How did Shakespeare's relationship with James VI and I shape his life and his plays? In this episode, Curator Brett Dolman welcomes Dr Will Tosh to the Great Hall at Hampton Court, one of few surviving places where we can tread in Shakespeare's footsteps, to discuss the nature and impact of royal patronage on Jacobean theatre. Read more about Shakespeare at Hampton Court Palace on our website. Dive into the history of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' with blogs from The Globe. Buy Will Tosh's book 'Straight Acting: The Many Queer Lives of William Shakespeare' here.
January 15 · 1 hr 7 min
Empress Matilda - The Anarchy, Queenship & Power
Empress Matilda wielded an extraordinary amount of power during the period known as the Anarchy in the 12th century, yet she just missed out on being crowned the first queen regnant in England. Originally chosen as heir for her abilities as a ruler, Matilda was determined to fight her cause when her throne was usurped by her cousin Stephen. But how was she viewed by contemporaries, and what is the legacy she left behind? Join Curator Charles Farris, alongside Professors Louise Wilkinson and Elisabeth Van Houts, for an in depth look into how Matilda pushed the limits and possibilities of female power. Who was her counter-part – Queen Matilda, and how did these women conform to, or disrupt medieval expectations of Queenship?
January 1 · 31 min
The Tower's Medieval Past through Archaeology
Archaeology can offer us new discoveries into the Tower of London's medieval past, as well as insights into the lives of the community that lived and worked there. In 2019, and in the summer of 2025, we undertook one of the most important excavations at the Tower for a generation, just outside the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula. Now for the first time ever, we have detailed information about the ordinary people who lived, worshipped, and died at the Tower, but what more can we learn from these excavations? To find out more, we join Alfred Hawkins, Curator of Historic Buildings. Read about the recent archaeological digs at the Tower of London in our blog posts: Life, death and worship in the Tower of London, Part I | Historic Royal Palaces Life, death and worship in the Tower of London, Part II | Historic Royal Palaces