The Genius of Palaces

Britain’s magnificent palaces have been involved in some of history's most dramatic events. Historian Dan Cruikshank investigates how a palace’s design reflected a monarch's taste for luxury, their fears and even their relationship with God. From the Tower of London to Hampton Court Palace, he explores buildings, often fortified, that cemented a monarch's claim to the throne.

As the kings and queens of Britain demanded that architecture reflect their right to rule, and even their divinity, they took inspiration from ancient Rome and beyond. However, as historian Dan Cruikshank discovers, disaster was around the corner. From London's Banqueting House, Hampton Court and even Buckingham Palace, a palace could transform into a prison overnight.

With the widowhood of Queen Victoria, the glorious life of British palaces almost came to an end. There would be one final flowering of palatial style with the redesign of Buckingham Palace. But, as Dan Cruikshank discovers, the interwar period was a difficult period for many of Britain's finest buildings. But more recent times have seen ambitious restoration projects and many secrets uncovered.