Crown and Country

Hampton Court was given to Henry VIII by his Chancellor, Thomas Wolsey, and was then continuously occupied by the Crown until the reign of George II. What is its special relationship with the Crown of England? What was William and Mary's unique contribution to the development of the surrounding park and gardens? We also visit nearby Kingston-on-Thames where ancient Saxon Kings were crowned.

Site of the Palace once occupied by Diana, Princess of Wales, Kensington's development was originally funded by the enormous success of Prince Albert's Great Exhibition in 1851. Modestly, "Albertropolis" was created! The area is still home to numerous museums, colleges, the Albert Hall, and most appropriately, the recently refurbished Albert Memorial.

Richmond is the site of both a Royal Palace and a Royal Park, with an intriguing link to the world famous Royal Botanical Gardens at nearby Kew. Most splendid under the Tudors, Kew was acquired by Queen Caroline in 1728 as a summer residence, but remained empty after the death of Queen Charlotte in 1818 until it was given to the State, along with the Botanical Gardens in 1840.

Sir Christopher Wren's crowning glory that still sits at the heart of London's skyline. The Cathedral has had a dramatic history, often damaged but never destroyed, even by the Germany blitz of 1940. It still stands as a potent symbol of the nation's capital. Buried beneath its floors are civil heroes and religious leaders. We hear how the Bishops of London became Deans of the Chapel Royal.

The city of London has a long and complex relationship with the Crown, built over many years and taking many different forms. From days of ancient war when the warrior Queen Boudicca sacked the city to the formation of the trading livery companies and the establishment of the judiciary at the Inns of Court and the Old Bailey. It bore witness to the Plague and The Great Fire of London.

The story of Greenwich Palace stretches as far back as 1471 right up to the Queen's House as it is today, and includes the rival of the maritime museum, the observatory, the park, and the Royal Naval College. We a visit nearby Blackheath and the former Tudor palace at Eltham.