Historic Royal Palaces Podcast
About the show
Latest episodes
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The Beginnings of the Tower of London – William I's Norman Castle
September 24, 2026 · 51 minWilliam the Conqueror may have invaded England in 1066, but he needed castles to truly conquer England. Castles became the physical embodiment of the Norman Conquest. These were described by many post-Conquest sources as unnatural…
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Women of the Bayeux Tapestry – Medieval Power and Queenship
September 10, 2026 · 54 minThe Bayeux Tapestry features just three women among 600 male figures. But you can't tell its story without the powerful medieval women who shaped the Norman Conquest. In this second episode of our series, Janina Ramirez and Tracy Borman…
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How Did William the Conqueror Hang On To Power After 1066?
August 27, 2026 · 1 hr 0 minWilliam the Conqueror is one of the most famous figures in English history. But his coronation in 1066 was a disaster. Even as he was crowned as King of England, his future looked uncertain. So, how did William go from this shaky start to…
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The Royal Menagerie - Animals at The Tower of London
August 20, 2026 · 57 minFor hundreds of years, the Tower of London was home to animals from all over the world. Animals were given as diplomatic gifts, brought by hunters, or captured in the process of colonisation. What were conditions like for these animals?…
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Queen Victoria's Education at Kensington Palace
August 13, 2026 · 33 minWe might think of Queen Victoria as an elderly woman in black mourning dress, but she was only 18 when she came to the throne. Victoria spent much of her childhood at Kensington Palace. Here, a rigorous programme of education aimed to…
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Oliver Cromwell's Palace - Hampton Court During the Interregnum
August 6, 2026 · 44 minA regicide might be the last person you'd think would save a king's palace – but in Oliver Cromwell, Hampton Court found an unlikely admirer. During his time as Head of State, Cromwell's family filled Hampton Court with music, art and…
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Charles I - The Execution of a 'Traitor' King at the Banqueting House
July 30, 2026 · 1 hr 0 minCharles 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…
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Tudor Prisoners at the Tower of London - Stories in Graffiti
July 23, 2026 · 20 minThe 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…