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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2025 • 35min
Matilda of Flanders - Queen of the Conqueror
Matilda of Flanders is the formidable consort of William the Conqueror, yet she is relatively unknown in the story of the 1066 conquest of England. Chief Historian Tracy Borman makes her pitch for the pivotal role Matilda played as a champion for female sovereignty, and for her contribution to arguably the most successful dynasty in medieval Europe, the Normans. Read more about Matilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror at the building of the Tower of London.
Mar 13, 2025 • 56min
Women Who Rarely Make History
We're all familiar with the iconic queens who have lived at the palaces, but what about the women who haven't made it into the history books? What are their stories, and what are some of the obstacles to studying women's history? In this episode, Chief Historian Tracy Borman celebrates International Women's Day by asking four of our curators and researchers to tell us about their favourite lesser-known women from our palaces. Perhaps we can even learn something from them today... To take part in our survey and be in for a chance to win a £100 voucher, visit: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HRPPodcastSurvey/ Please be aware this episode contains themes of sexism, racism, and violence against women that some listeners may find distressing.
Feb 27, 2025 • 56min
Love Life of King James VI & I
Understanding the love life of James VI & I can give us a better picture of the man himself in his entirety, and not simply through the lens of his kingship, or the politics of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. So in this episode, Chief Historian Tracy Borman is once again in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace, joined by Gareth Russell to discuss the subject of his latest book 'Queen James; the life and loves of Britain's first King'. To take part in our survey and be in for a chance to win a £100 voucher, visit: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HRPPodcastSurvey/ Please be aware this episode contains themes of homophobia, grooming, and child abuse, that some listeners may find distressing.
Feb 13, 2025 • 32min
Torture at the Tower of London
The Tower of London is almost synonymous with the idea of torture, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries. When we think of this iconic historic site, the history of violence is one of the first things to come to mind, yet to what extent is this a fabrication of history? In this episode, Dr Catherine Jenkinson from the University of Oxford talks us through one of the latest research projects at Historic Royal Palaces, the question of how the history of torture is, and should be told at the Tower of London. To take part in our survey and be in for a chance to win a £100 voucher, visit here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HRPPodcastSurvey/
Jan 30, 2025 • 24min
New Research with Lucy Worsley - Floating Palaces: Royal Yachts
In this mini-series on new research at our palaces, PhD student Ellis Huddart joins Lucy Worsley to explore the history of the Royal Yacht. Ellis' PhD hopes to examine how Royal Yachts existed as places outside of the usual rules and conventions of both royal palaces and royalty. They can therefore reveal a lot about the material culture of British Imperialism in the Victorian era, and the changing image of royalty. This episode is part of a mini-series about new research at our palaces. Explore more about research at Historic Royal Palaces.
Jan 16, 2025 • 19min
New Research with Lucy Worsley - Queen Victoria's Library
In this mini-series on new research at our palaces, PhD student Gabrielle Fields joins Lucy Worsley to explore the life of Queen Victoria through the books she read. Gabrielle's PhD introduces a new lens through which to examine Queen Victoria through her reading materials. It ultimately aims to reveal Queen Victoria's efforts to educate herself politically, her attempts at self-improvement, and crucially the way she chose to present herself to the world. This episode is part of a mini-series about new research at our palaces. Read more about Queen Victoria's early biography.
Jan 2, 2025 • 25min
New Research with Lucy Worsley – The Multiple Identities of Mary II
In this mini-series on new research at our palaces, Dr Holly Marsden joins Lucy Worsley to explore the many identities of Mary II, disentangling her story from that of her husband and co-ruler William III. The product of four years of research, Holly's PhD ultimately aims to disrupt the perception that Mary did not have political agency. This episode is part of a mini-series about new research at our palaces. Explore more about research at Historic Royal Palaces.
Dec 19, 2024 • 46min
History of Christmas at the Palaces
From Tudor and Medieval Christmas tide celebrations, to Queen Victoria and Albert's newer traditions, we're re-releasing our Christmas episode to reveal the history of Christmas at our palaces. Curator Charles Farris is joined by Historic Kitchens Manager Richard Fitch, and Curator Lee Prosser, as they begin the holiday season with some festive tomfoolery. Make our Victorian Christmas pudding recipe with mashed potatoes. Explore what's on in our Palaces this Christmas from Ice Skating at Hampton Court Palace to Queen Victoria's Childhood Christmas at Kensington Palace.
Dec 5, 2024 • 53min
Elizabeth I – Gloriana, the Virgin Queen
Elizabeth I's propaganda images of Gloriana and the Virgin Queen have hugely impacted her reputation as the last Tudor Monarch. Yet the twilight years of her reign were both personally and politically difficult. In this final episode in our series, Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman is joined by renowned historian Dr Helen Castor. Together they contemplate which female relationships shaped this time, and ultimately, how Elizabeth I's gender has shaped her historic image. This is the final Episode in our Elizabeth I series where we explore the women who shaped a queen. Read about Elizabeth I's life as the last Tudor.
Nov 21, 2024 • 1h 6min
Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots
Elizabeth I's relationship with Mary, Queen of Scots is perhaps the most pivotal of her entire life, and yet they never met. In this second episode in our series, Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman is joined by Dr Andrea Clarke, to discuss how as confidantes and rival queens, Elizabeth and Mary's relationship would shape the image that Elizabeth would adopt for herself, that of Gloriana. Read about Elizabeth's brush with death at Hampton Court, the crisis that magnified the succession question. This is the second Episode in our Elizabeth series where we explore the women who shaped a queen.
