HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES
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Kew Palace, Kensington Palace, The Banqueting House, Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, six royal institutions that have witnessed the history of England and its famous royal family for hundreds of years. Historic Royal Palaces is an independent association dedicated to preserving and promoting these six historic sites. There are even opportunities for visits in French for those who do not have a good command of Shakespeare's language. Their objective: to make this rich history known to as many people as possible.
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The Tower of London
Ancient stones hold heavy secrets, priceless jewels glittering in vaults and roosting crows along the fortifications. The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7, is one of the most famous fortresses in the world and the most visited British historical site. Despite a sinister reputation as a place of torture and death, there are so many more stories of the Tower to tell. We enjoyed this powerful symbol during the Norman Conquest as a royal palace, served as an arms depot and even housed a zoo for a few years in the 1830s! Fascinating characters have played their part: the jewel thief Colonel Blood, the tragic Lady Jane Grey and the dissident zookeeper Albert Cops. Since April 2010 you will also see the new permanent exhibition "Fit for a King" and enjoy the five hundred years of spectacular royal armor, offering a fascinating insight into the personalities, power and physical size of England's kings.
Hampton Court Palace
The flamboyant Henry VIII is most commonly associated with this majestic Palace, which he expanded and developed with great style after its acquisition by Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520's. He wasted money on fabulous tapestries and paintings, housed and nurtured a huge Court, had a succession of wives, political power and dominion over Rome. The sights, sounds and smells of the great Tudor kitchens, where banquets were prepared for Henry's court and where more than 1000 people, bring to life the hidden history of the castle. These remaining Tudor buildings are among the most important today, but the elegance and romance of the Palace owes much to the elegant Baroque buildings of William and Mary in the late 17th century. The Palace is set in 60 acres of gardens, including the famous labyrinth and the Great Vine.
The Banqueting House, Whitehall
This revolutionary building, the first in England to be designed in a Palladian style by Inigo Jones was finished around 1622 for James I. Intended for the splendor and exuberance of court masquerades, the Banqueting House is probably most famous for a reality drama: the execution of Charles I in 1649 "to the dull, universal groan" of the crowd. One of Charles's last sights was the Banqueting House and its magnificent ceiling, painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1630-4.
Kensington Palace
The female influence of the Royal generations has made this Palace an elegant space with its beautiful gardens. The birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, the Palace first became a royal residence for William and Mary in 1689. Mary feeling 'cooped up' in Whitehall soon preferred her new Kensington, which was extended by Sir Christopher Wren. The famous Orangery was built in 1704 by Queen Anne and George II's wife, Queen Caroline, another talented gardener, who made some further improvements.
Kensington Palace, recently the home of Diana, Princess of Wales is now and until January 2012 transformed into an ENCHANTED PALACE - it has been turned upside down and its stories and secrets updated with dust. These stories tell the lives of beautiful princesses: Diana and Margaret, Victoria, Charlotte and Caroline, Mary and Anne, caught up in the strange and mysterious world of the Court - a world within a world, run on its own time and rituals. The stories of the princesses will be presented to visitors through a contemporary, story-like performance, with music and film, as well as spectacular installations and design. This is the secret Kensington Palace - one you have never seen before.
Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte Cottage
The most intimate of the five Royal Palaces, Kew was built as a private house in 1631 and used by the royal family between 1729 and 1818, along with several other nearby buildings that no longer exist. In happier times, George III, Queen Charlotte and their 15 children enjoyed a relatively simple and routine life at Kew. The palace, a source of laughter and amusement such as family games and birthday celebrations provided distractions from the affairs of state. However, the atmosphere darkened in later years as family rivalries became more intense and relationships soured. Kew became a retreat for an ailing King George, and a virtual prison for his unmarried eldest daughters.
Queen Charlotte's neighboring country house is also managed by Historic Royal Palaces. It was built in 1770, later expanded and decorated as a fascinating country house.
Ancient stones hold heavy secrets, priceless jewels glittering in vaults and roosting crows along the fortifications. The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7, is one of the most famous fortresses in the world and the most visited British historical site. Despite a sinister reputation as a place of torture and death, there are so many more stories of the Tower to tell. We enjoyed this powerful symbol during the Norman Conquest as a royal palace, served as an arms depot and even housed a zoo for a few years in the 1830s! Fascinating characters have played their part: the jewel thief Colonel Blood, the tragic Lady Jane Grey and the dissident zookeeper Albert Cops. Since April 2010 you will also see the new permanent exhibition "Fit for a King" and enjoy the five hundred years of spectacular royal armor, offering a fascinating insight into the personalities, power and physical size of England's kings.
Hampton Court Palace
The flamboyant Henry VIII is most commonly associated with this majestic Palace, which he expanded and developed with great style after its acquisition by Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520's. He wasted money on fabulous tapestries and paintings, housed and nurtured a huge Court, had a succession of wives, political power and dominion over Rome. The sights, sounds and smells of the great Tudor kitchens, where banquets were prepared for Henry's court and where more than 1000 people, bring to life the hidden history of the castle. These remaining Tudor buildings are among the most important today, but the elegance and romance of the Palace owes much to the elegant Baroque buildings of William and Mary in the late 17th century. The Palace is set in 60 acres of gardens, including the famous labyrinth and the Great Vine.
The Banqueting House, Whitehall
This revolutionary building, the first in England to be designed in a Palladian style by Inigo Jones was finished around 1622 for James I. Intended for the splendor and exuberance of court masquerades, the Banqueting House is probably most famous for a reality drama: the execution of Charles I in 1649 "to the dull, universal groan" of the crowd. One of Charles's last sights was the Banqueting House and its magnificent ceiling, painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1630-4.
Kensington Palace
The female influence of the Royal generations has made this Palace an elegant space with its beautiful gardens. The birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, the Palace first became a royal residence for William and Mary in 1689. Mary feeling 'cooped up' in Whitehall soon preferred her new Kensington, which was extended by Sir Christopher Wren. The famous Orangery was built in 1704 by Queen Anne and George II's wife, Queen Caroline, another talented gardener, who made some further improvements.
Kensington Palace, recently the home of Diana, Princess of Wales is now and until January 2012 transformed into an ENCHANTED PALACE - it has been turned upside down and its stories and secrets updated with dust. These stories tell the lives of beautiful princesses: Diana and Margaret, Victoria, Charlotte and Caroline, Mary and Anne, caught up in the strange and mysterious world of the Court - a world within a world, run on its own time and rituals. The stories of the princesses will be presented to visitors through a contemporary, story-like performance, with music and film, as well as spectacular installations and design. This is the secret Kensington Palace - one you have never seen before.
Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte Cottage
The most intimate of the five Royal Palaces, Kew was built as a private house in 1631 and used by the royal family between 1729 and 1818, along with several other nearby buildings that no longer exist. In happier times, George III, Queen Charlotte and their 15 children enjoyed a relatively simple and routine life at Kew. The palace, a source of laughter and amusement such as family games and birthday celebrations provided distractions from the affairs of state. However, the atmosphere darkened in later years as family rivalries became more intense and relationships soured. Kew became a retreat for an ailing King George, and a virtual prison for his unmarried eldest daughters.
Queen Charlotte's neighboring country house is also managed by Historic Royal Palaces. It was built in 1770, later expanded and decorated as a fascinating country house.
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