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Royal Residences, with Kate Williams

Royal Residences, with Kate Williams

Kev Lochun

Published: March 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM

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Royal residences have been a hotbed of drama, violence and intrigue down the centuries. In our new Academy video series Royal Residences: Secrets and Scandals, historian Kate Williams delves deep into the histories of nine British royal residences.

Explore the childhood home of Anne Boleyn – Hever Castle. Was it here that Anne made a decision about Henry VIII that would set her on a path to tragedy?

Discover the dark history of Holyrood Palace – where Mary, Queen of Scots private secretary was brutally murdered – and journey to St James’s Palace, where a deadly mystery involving a royal duke shook the nation in 1810.

Trace the curious history Whitehall Palace, which started life as Henry VIII’s ‘party palace’ and later became the site of a bizarre quest for immortality involving corpse medicine and a secret laboratory.

Learn more about the origins of Henry VIII’s vast leisure complex, Hampton Court Palace – and venture into Conwy and Caernarfon Castle, two imposing medieval fortresses built by Edward I.

Finally, explore two of the most famous homes of the modern royal family: Windsor Castle – where princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were evacuated to during the Second World War – and Buckingham Palace, which has served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837.

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Episode 1Hever Castle. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

In the first episode of our video series Royal Residences: Secrets and Scandals, Professor Kate Williams explores Hever Castle in southeast England – the childhood home of Anne Boleyn
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Episode 2Holyrood Palace. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

In the second episode of our video series on royal residences, discover the dark history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland
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Episode 3Conwy Castle. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Explore the story of Conwy Castle in north Wales, a historical seat of conquest and power
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Episode 4Hampton Court Palace. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

In the fourth episode of our video series on royal residences, learn more about the origins of Henry VIII’s vast leisure complex, Hampton Court Palace
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Episode 5Buckingham Palace. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

In the fifth episode of Royal Residences: Secrets and Scandals, Professor Kate Williams explores Buckingham Palace, which has served as the administrative headquarters of the British monarch since 1837
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Episode 6Caernarfon Castle. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

In the sixth episode of Royal Residences: Secrets and Scandals, Professor Kate Williams explains the history of Caernarfon Castle, which saw the future Edward II invested as the first English Prince of Wales, in 1284
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Episode 7Whitehall Palace. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

In the seventh episode of Royal Residences: Secrets and Scandals, Professor Kate Williams explores the history of London's Whitehall Palace, once the pleasure palace of Henry VIII and Charles II

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Authors

Kev LochunDigital editor (audience and video)

Kev Lochun is digital editor (audience and video) at HistoryExtra

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