Historic Royal Palaces Podcast

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

The lie that started the Stuart Dynasty in England, also shaped the end of the Tudor era. But how can we better understand how this fiction was created, and ultimately who it benefitted? In this final episode of our Stolen Tudor Crown series with Chef Historian Tracy Borman, we delve into the end of Elizabeth I's reign, and the manuscripts written by William Camden that document it. What is truth and what is fiction, and how would the consequences of it all turn into a bitter civil war within decades? For a signed copy of Tracy Borman's new book The Stolen Crown, visit our online shop. Read about the reign of James VI & I. Watch our YouTube video about the death of Charles I.

Guy Fawkes, the man behind the iconic rhyme has just failed to light the fuse of the Gunpowder Plot, one of the most notable plots in British history. In this second episode of our two-part series, Curators Charles Farris, Brett Dolman and Alden Gregory talk through the failure of the plot and what relevance this has to us today. Why do we still celebrate it?

Who were the many uncrowned heirs to Elizabeth I, and how did their role as unnamed successors shape their lives? In this second episode of the series, we're back with Chief Curator Tracy Borman, as she follows the Tudor family tree back to Henry VII, to unpick the complicated web of successors to Elizabeth I's throne. Find out more about the claimants to the Tudor Crown. Read about the tragic story of Lady Katherine Grey. Learn more about Edward VI's nursery at Hampton Court Palace.

The story of the end of the Tudor dynasty is well known. With the death of Elizabeth I, the accension of James VI & I saw the Stuarts take the English throne. But the truth behind the succession is much darker than a peacful transition, it's a tale full of treachery and deceit. In this four-part series, Chief Historian Tracy Borman will explore the Stolen Tudor Crown. Who were the front runners to win the race to the throne after Elizabeth I's death, and ultimately how did James Stuart win? What might have been different had the Tudor crown gone to another? Join us next Thursday for the first episode of The Stolen Tudor Crown series.

The Byward Tower at the Tower of London holds some of the oldest surviving treasures of the fortress, including a unique medieval masterpiece – the wall painting known as the Byward Angel. In this episode of A Space I Love, enter past the Tower's formidable defenses, and follow Curator Alfred Hawkins on an exclusive tour of this remarkable space, which is usually closed to visitors. Explore the Byward Angel at the Tower of London — Google Arts & Culture Find out more about the Tower of London's Story