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2018 Historic Royal at Hampton Court , the famous Tudor Kitchens are getting a makeover Press Office 2018 will be my first full year as Chief in May. Executive of and it promises to be an exciting one, Our major restoration of the Great with several major projects coming at draws to a close in 2018 to fruition. after almost three years of painstaking research and conservation. We hope to Historic Royal Palaces is charity that looks The of will take centre unveil the finished Pagoda, restored to

stage, marking important moments its Georgian splendour and complete after the , , the with a new display and live events. with 80 brightly coloured dragons, , Palace, and

On the 400th anniversary of the in time for Summer 2018. Hillsborough . Our aim is to help everyone explore death of Sir , the Looking ahead, there will be plenty of Bloody Tower where the Elizabethan the story of how monarchs and people have shaped opportunities to follow our progress adventurer was incarcerated will be throughout the year as we continue society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built. represented. It was at the Tower the transformation of Hillsborough where Raleigh experimented with the Castle’s house and , before That’s where we come in… ingredients for an ‘Elixir of Life’ – we our public opening in 2019. can’t promise to replicate it - but we he Press Office handles all media Find out who you can interview about will be recreating elements of the On behalf of everyone at Historic enquiries related to the palaces, our exciting upcoming projects, how Royal Palaces, I’d like to thank you where he reputedly grew from sharing news stories and to organise a press visit and how we some of the ingredients! for supporting our work, and we photographs of our exhibitions facilitate filming and photography. look forward to welcoming you to to facilitating documentaries and feature If you’re looking for a story or inspiration, The last 17 days of another famous the palaces in 2018. Tfilms such as The Theory of Everything check out our plans for the year ahead! resident, , will be explored and Pirates of the Caribbean, manning in a major new live event from May our social media pages and tweeting – the anniversary of her execution. In 1,000 years of history. July, a new work by Hofesh Shechter, , will premiere at the Tower, ‘East Wall’ We want to make sure that you know celebrating ’s rich cultural John Barnes about everything we have planned. Get in touch! heritage. In November, we will create Chief Executive, We know that you are immersed in a moment of reflection in the Historic Royal Palaces deadlines and working under pressure, Call the Press Office on to follow the powerful Poppies so this guide is aimed at helping you +44 (0)203 166 6166 or commemoration in 2014, which will get the most out of us. email [email protected]. mark the centenary of the end of We even tweet at World War One. @HRP_PressOffice At , our acclaimed’ exhibition ‘Diana: Her Fashion Story continues into 2018. We’ll be introducing more iconic garments

introducing into the display over the course of the year. Meanwhile,

2 3 A year of anniversaries at the Tower of London

he Tower of London From May 2018, look out for an exciting traditionally dominated summer season of live performances the and exploring Anne Boleyn’s last seventeen days in the Tower. On 19th May 1536 Anne remains one of the was the first English queen to be publicly capital’s most imposing FAST FACTS executed. She was led from her quarters landmarks, home of the to where, spared the axe, she In 1078, began TJewels, ravens and the was granted the ‘mercy’ of beheading by a work on a great stone palace with Warders. With over 900 years of French swordsman. Following the ill-fated walls 15 feet thick, known since the history, this infamous fortress is Queen’s journey from arrest to death, medieval period as the White Tower. uniquely placed to share some this historical spectacle and state-of-the- It now houses a collection of historic nation exploration will pose questions royal arms and armour belonging to of the most significant stories about how we consume news, bringing the , including the from Britain’s past. In 2018, the a new contemporary relevance to this magnificent armour of Henry VIII Tower will celebrate a year of infamous moment in the Tower’s history. anniversaries, marking the lives With around 3 million visitors a year, In July, Historic Royal Palaces, Hofesh the Tower of London is the UK’s most of some of its most famous Schechter Company, East London Dance visited heritage attraction prisoners with a series of new and LIFT are coming together to bring a displays and events. large-scale spectacle of dance and live Yeoman Warders have been guarding music at the Tower of London. ‘East Wall’, the Tower of London since Tudor 29 October 2018 marks the 400th will feature up and coming choreographers times. Nicknamed ‘Beefeaters’, the anniversary of Sir Walter Raleigh’s death. from East London, and a large cast of Yeoman Body of 37 men and women One of the Tower of London’s most dancers, musicians and community are all drawn from the Armed Forces famous prisoners, the adventurer Raleigh participants from Tower Hamlets and led a notorious life, first as a favourite of surrounding boroughs to celebrate East The Tower of London has been home and later as an enemy of James I. London’s rich cultural heritage. to the world famous He was imprisoned in the Tower on three since the beginning of the 14th century separate occasions, passing a total of Finally, reflecting on the powerful poppy thirteen years within its walls. During his installation at the Tower of London in From the 1200s to 1835, the Tower imprisonment, Raleigh wrote the first 2014, Historic Royal Palaces will deliver a housed a of exotic wild volume of his History of the World (1614) new temporary installation in November animals, never before seen in London, and for the most part he was held in the 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of including and a polar bear given Bloody Tower. This space will be newly the First World War. as royal gifts interpreted from summer 2018, while elements of Raleigh’s ‘Lost Garden’, where he reputedly grew tobacco, will also be brought back to life. Throughout the year, our expert curators will be on hand to explain how imprisonment at the Tower helped shape Raleigh’s life and legacy.

4 5 rom its humble beginnings in Castle will become a centre for cross- the 1770s as the family home community learning and engagement The transformation of for the Hill family to its pivotal programmes. role in the Peace Process in the Even as the work continues throughout 1970s, has played a F the year, the Castle will be open for the key role in the history of . summer season and staging a series of Hillsborough Castle Now Historic Royal Palaces is opening activities for all, such as daily tours of a new exciting chapter in the history of the castle and grounds, fun-filled family Hillsborough Castle, in preparation for a weekends, talks and musical evenings. continues... grand re-opening in 2019. If you’re interested in finding out more 2018 will see us progressing with our about our journey transforming restoration of Hillsborough Castle’s world Hillsborough Castle, then do get in famous gardens, which boast over 100 touch throughout the year to find out acres of ornamental grounds, peaceful what we’re going to do next! woodland and meandering waterways. We plan to restore the ‘Walled Garden’, which once produced fruit and vegetables for the castle, along with the ‘Lost Garden’, an Edwardian wild garden, which we’ll be bringing back to life with new planting FAST FACTS and family friendly features. Hillsborough Castle’ is a Georgian Inside the Castle, a team of traditional mansion house which sits at the heart craftspeople are working alongside our of Hillsborough village. Both the house expert curators and conservators to and village were planned and built represent the Castle’s majestic State by Wills Hill, the first marquis of Rooms, which have functioned as both a Hillsborough, and his descendants in royal residence and the venue for some the late 18th and early 19th century of the most important political discussions in Northern Ireland’s history. Meanwhile, Since 1925 the Castle has served as the to make it all possible, we’re building new official royal residence in Northern visitor facilities and a learning centre to Ireland and is also the residence of the support our work telling the story of this Secretary of State for Northern Ireland fascinating building. Hillsborough Castle became a centre We will continue to develop a rich for peace talks in the late 1960s and programme of learning, participation 1970s, with the Anglo-Irish Agreement and public programmes to appeal to signed here in 1985, followed by people of all ages and backgrounds to decommissioning talks in 1999, and discover more about the Castle’s history. the negotiation of the devolution All activities will draw inspiration from of policing and justice powers and explore the gardens, the buildings, (The Hillsborough Agreement) in 2010 the history of the Hill family and the town, the Governors of Northern Ireland, and Hillsborough’s role in the Peace Process, up to the present day. We hope that the

6 7 Banqueting House Kew Palace

anqueting House is the sole in the 17th century and how the Stuarts is set to be an exciting surviving complete building of blurred these boundaries. year for Historic Royal what was once the largest palace in Palaces at Kew, with Contact the Press Office for opportunities BEurope – the Palace of . Famously 2018the unveiling of the newly conserved to learn more about Banqueting House and the site of King Charles I’s execution the Great Pagoda and the launch of an FAST FACTS events taking place there, or to arrange a building has a rich history and is best accompanying family trail. Following a visit to view the stunning ceiling. known for its magnificent ceiling, painted major restoration project, the Pagoda will be returned to its original 18th century  Kew Palace was built in 1631, and was by Sir . This masterpiece originally created for a Flemish splendour, complete with eighty decorative was commissioned by Charles in 1629 merchant dragons adorning the structure. Find out and celebrates the reign of his father King more about this project on pages 10–11. James I. The three main canvasses depict  George III spent much of his life at The Union of the Crowns, The Apotheosis The picturesque Kew Palace will also open Kew Palace during his bouts of mental illness of James I and The Peaceful Reign of FAST FACTS its doors for the summer months (Easter until the end of September) and in 2018 James I. However, it was also under this  An early 19th century bath tub was ceiling that Charles walked to his execution. Banqueting House was built to hold marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Queen Charlotte at the Palace. A new discovered in the Kitchens, possibly In early 2018, our conservation experts will state occasions such as masques, balls used by George III for his medicinal display, which will offer a personal look be building a scaffold to reach the painting, and banquets baths at her life and interests, will see her last using new methods to inform and update surviving dress go on show, along with our knowledge of this magnificent artwork. The was almost  Following the death of Queen examples of fine porcelain (which she was This is a rare opportunity to get a close look totally destroyed by fire in 1698 with Charlotte, the Kitchens were locked Banqueting House being the only a patron and great collector of) and the at this unique painting. and left untouched for almost complete building that remains diary she kept during her lifetime. The 200 years before their restoration Another famous feature of Banqueting beautiful lace gown, on display at Kew for House is the vaulted designed At its peak the Palace of Whitehall the first time, will be installed onto a new as a drinking den for James and his friends. comprised of a labyrinth of 1,500 specially-created mount, reflecting Queen rooms spread over 23 acres. It saw the Charlotte’s body shape in middle age. James’ reign is remembered today for the secret marriage of Henry VIII and Anne and the implementation This thought-provoking display will also Boleyn and one of the first explore her intellectual pursuits, and of the King James Bible. Less well-known performances of King Lear includes mathematical books from her was his popular nickname ‘Queen James’, personal library. Most poignantly of all, and his penchant for a succession of male After 1698, Banqueting House had a the chair in which Charlotte died remains number of different uses. It was used favourites who wielded their influence in at the Palace, and will be displayed within for much of its history as a Chapel the political sphere as well as within the the very room she died. confines of the King’s bedchamber. In Royal. Prior to becoming Queen, a February 2018, as part of LGBT History young Princess Victoria attended services there with her family Month, ‘Long Live Queen James’ returns to Banqueting House. This adult event explores ideas of gender and sexuality

8 9 t was one of the jewels in the 18th century – their 2018 counterparts crown of Georgian London: a have been made using a combination of building so unusual that when traditional woodcarving and the very latest in 3D printing technology. For the it was built in 1762 a suspicious first time in over 250 years the Pagoda public were unconvinced it will be presented as its architect, William would remain standing. Designed Chambers, intended. at the height of the 18th century I On its completion, Londoners and craze for , The Great tourists alike flocked to see the striking Pagoda at Kew was famously 163ft (nearly 50m) tall building, with the adorned with eighty brightly Pagoda providing an unusual window coloured wooden dragons, which into Chinese culture at the time. Through were the talk of the town before this project, we’re delighted to be able they disappeared in the 1780s. to re-open the Pagoda permanently to visitors, offering one of the earliest and In summer 2018, following a landmark finest bird’s eye views of London. two-year conservation project by Historic To coincide with its opening, there will Royal Palaces, the dragons will once again also be a trail of dragons created within return to the Great Pagoda as the building . Designed by children as is restored to its 18th century splendour. part of a competition run in partnership As the Pagoda’s original eighty dragons with Blue Peter, 5 dragons will lead a trail vanished 20 years after the building was across the gardens, offering a chance constructed in 1762 – with our curators for families to discover more about suspecting they were removed after a the Pagoda. The story continues in an prolonged cold snap at the end of the exhibition at the Kew Palace Welcome Centre, allowing visitors to learn more about this fascinating piece of history, brought to life once more in 2018.

Kew Pagoda 10 11 Hampton Court Palace Kensington Palace

he centre of court life for over 200 ensington Palace will continue to years, Hampton Court Palace is one celebrate some of its most famous of Britain’s best-loved treasures and female royal residents in 2018. Tin 2018 will be filled with live performances K Last year saw the opening of the much- and historic cookery to immerse visitors in FAST FACTS anticipated exhibition ‘ FAST FACTS Tudor life. Diana: Her Fashion Story’, which will continue into 2018, May 2018 will see a complete re-imagining In just ten years Henry VIII spent more celebrating the enduring style legacy of The Palace began life as a private of the famous Tudor Kitchens, transporting than £62,000 rebuilding and Diana, . As the exhibition country house called Nottingham visitors back to a time when it was the extending Hampton Court. This vast evolves throughout the year, there will be House in around 1605, before being beating heart of life at Hampton Court sum would be worth approximately a number of exciting new outfits going purchased by King William III and Palace, and overseen by the tenacious £18 million today on display – including objects recently Queen Mary II in the summer of 1689 , Henry VIII’s chief acquired by Historic Royal Palaces. You at a cost of £20,000 minister. New displays in the Kitchens Henry VIII’s Kitchens at Hampton can find out more about the exhibition will feature interactive technology and Court Palace were the largest in Tudor on page 14. was woken early in the sensory experiences, so for the first time and were designed to cater morning of 20 June 1837 at the Palace The palace’s popular ‘Victoria Revealed’ ever visitors will be able to see, smell and for around 400 people twice a day with news of her accession to the exhibition will also be re-presented in touch their way through the process of throne, and her first Privy Council was In one year towards the end of the 2018, complete with a host of new preparing a meal fit for a king. The Tudor held in the Red Saloon on this day the provision of meat for personal items on display. The exhibition Kitchens seen today – including the Great the whole Tudor court included will continue to recount Victoria’s life and In April 1897, Parliament was Kitchen and associated preparation areas 8,200 sheep, 2,330 deer, 1,870 pigs reign within the very rooms she grew up persuaded to pay for the restoration of – represent the most extensive royal Tudor and 53 wild boar, as well as over in, with a new focus on Victoria’s time in the State Apartments on condition kitchen range surviving anywhere, and in 600,000 gallons of beer mourning and retreat from public life after they should be opened to the public 2018 they’ll be ready to be experienced the death of her beloved Prince Albert. like never before! The Palace’s maze is perhaps the most It will also celebrate the length of her On 26 March 2012 Kensington Palace The Kitchens fed hundreds of visitors famous maze in the world, with around reign (Britain’s second-longest), telling re-opened after major £12 million throughout the , making 350,000 people getting lost in it the story of the pomp and pageantry that renovation of the public areas by every year! it one of the hives of industry at the accompanied both her Gold and Diamond Historic Royal Palaces palace. Throughout the year, the Tudor The gardens of Hampton Court Palace Jubilees. In addition, the revamped display court will also be explored with live comprise 60 acres of formal gardens will, for the first time, explore Victoria’s great daily performances – included in palace and 750 acres of royal parkland, passion for writing and correspondence, admission – focussing on Hampton Court’s tended by a team of over with letters and diary entries going on role in international relations during the 40 gardeners show to provide a fascinating insight into period, entertaining and hosting people the mind-set of the monarch dubbed ‘the from far and wide. Grandmother of Europe’.

12 13 Diana: Her Digital Media Fashion Story ollowing its phenomenal The display brings together an success in its opening year, extraordinary collection of garments, from ‘Diana: Her Fashion Story’ glamorous and glittering evening gowns to Fcontinues throughout 2018, with a examples of Diana’s ‘working ’ in series of exciting new additions. the 1990s. Throughout 2018, the exhibition will showcase a changing selection of Discover the style evolution in one of the exquisite outfits from throughout the world’s most photographed women in this Princess’s public life – including some exhibition of dress from the collection of items never before displayed at Diana, Princess of Wales. Follow her story Kensington Palace! from the demure, romantic outfits of her first public appearances, to the glamour, elegance and confidence of her later life Social media Multimedia Influencers through a display of some of her most With over 1.3 million content We’re always looking to famous outfits. From her earliest royal followers across our social expand our base of digital We tell old stories in new engagements, everything the Princess media channels, Historic influencers who are ways through the use of a wore was closely scrutinised, and this Royal Palaces engages interested in telling the broad range of multimedia special exhibition at Kensington Palace online audiences with the stories of the palaces in new content including videos, – her home for over 15 years – explores history and stories of our and innovative ways to new photos and GIFs, as well how she navigated her unique position in palaces. Our six palaces are audiences. If you have a as through Facebook Live the public eye: learning to use her image represented on Facebook, great idea get in touch! and Instagram Stories. Twitter, Instagram, YouTube to engage and inspire people, and to We produce multimedia and Tumblr. Like, follow or champion the causes she cared about. content to support subscribe to us for the latest Blogs exhibitions, events and news, photos and facts On our blog, discover the anniversaries, and can from the palaces. latest stories from our work with you to supply palaces’ past and present or produce content which and go behind the scenes in  /HRPalaces fits your needs. Similarly, the world of our specialist /toweroflondon we can help facilitate and teams, including the /hamptoncourtpalace collaborate with you on curators, conservators and /kensingtonpalace Facebook Live streams and gardeners. Find out what it /hrp.kewpalace Instagram Story content takes to conserve a throne /thebanquetinghouse that you wish to produce. canopy, learn gossip about /hillsboroughcastle secret Tudor weddings from our curators and hear @HRP_Palaces how we wage war on bugs @TowerOfLondon in the palace gardens! historicroyalpalaces

/HistoricRoyalPalaces historicroyalpalaces. tumblr.com

14 15 Media Image Library

New for 2018, the Historic Royal Palaces Press Office has launched a dedicated Media Image Library, showcasing the very best of what we have to offer across our sites.

This collection of high quality images of our six palaces is made available to media for editorial use at no charge. All we ask in return is that you use these pictures to accompany lots of lovely stories about the palaces! From stunning landscape shots of all of the historic buildings we care for, to detailed images of each of our exhibitions and displays, the library offers everything you need to complete your feature. To register... Please go to: It’s quick and simple to register, and if you historicroyalpalaces. were already registered with our previous picturepark.com/site/Press site, your details will automatically have been transferred over to the new site – you just need to reset your password.

16 17 How do I…?

Online at www.hrp.org.uk/newsandmedia you’ll find our latest press releases, factsheets on the palaces and more information Filming on filming and photography. But to make it even easier, here are at Historic Royal Palaces the answers to a few common questions… With everything from regal interiors to rustic  I’ve been commissioned to write a  I want to find out more about the role courtyards, our palaces make the perfect Q piece about Hampton Court Palace; Q of the Duke of Wellington at the Tower location for your shoot. From the medieval do I get complimentary tickets? of London – who should I ask? How do I go about setting up an interview with  If you’ve been commissioned to grandeur of the Tower of London to Hampton an expert? Court’s majestic Tudor palace, these locations write about us, we can organise tell the story of almost 1000 years of history A complimentary press tickets.  Call us! If we can’t answer your and provide a captivating backdrop for filming. Complete the application form on questions ourselves, we’ll ask our our website at www.hrp.org.uk/ A experts, whether this be one of our newsandmedia and email it to us at curators, a conservator, to tell, and recently appeared in the BBC ‘George III: The Genius of [email protected] a gardener or one of our State We regularly host filming across our six documentary Apartment Warders. If you need the Mad King’. Further afield, Hillsborough  My editor needs a photograph of Kew sites and facilitate everything from news more detailed information we can Castle’s 98 acres of gardens provide a Palace to accompany the exhibition and history documentary crews right up arrange an interview for you with beautiful setting, which were explored in Q review I’ve written. What do I do? to major Hollywood blockbusters. The the person you need. funds raised through our filming activities the BBC’s ‘Britain’s Home Truths’ as well ‘Penelope Keith at Her  Easy! We photograph all our big help to conserve these historic buildings, as in ’s  I’ve been commissioned to film a . events and stories, as well as behind ensuring they are here for future Majesty’s Service’ documentary about Charles I at A the scenes work at the palace. To generations to enjoy. Furthermore, with a team of expert Q Banqueting House. How do I go access these images, please register spokespeople on hand who research and about it? Famously known as a prison and to our new Media Image Library at care for these incredible royal residences, execution site, the Tower of London‘Mission has historicroyalpalaces.picturepark.  Go online to www.hrp.org.uk/ been spotted in films such as we’ll always try to find someone to fulfil , as well as com/site/Press follow the ‘Register as newsandmedia where you’ll find Impossible: Rogue Nation’ your interview requests. press user link’ and fill out your details. A everything you need to know, from in popular television series such ‘Strictly as the Come If you would like to make an enquiry ‘The One Show’ and You will then receive an email and be background information about filming BBC’s about filming at one of our sites, please Dancing’. Hampton Court’s stunning asked to fill out your email address. and application forms to how you contact the Press Office. Further gardens have hosted feature films such If you registered with our last site, can obtain pre-recorded broadcast , whilst the information can be found on our website as ‘The Theory of Everything’ then you don’t need to register again quality footage of the palaces from us. www.hrp.org.uk/NewsAndMedia/ famous Tudor State Apartments were the at as we’ve already transferred all your perfect setting to explore the stories of filmingandphotography. details over to the new site. All you the key characters of the Tudor court, need to do is reset your password. such as statesman Thomas Cromwell, in . Our collection of professional quality Just looking for b-roll or stock BBC One’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ images is made available for you Remember footage? Kensington Palace is a popular choice for to access for editorial use at no You can also call the Press Office quality footage We ofalso Hampton supply broadcast on +44 (0) 203 166 6166, email documentaries and has recently, while hosted the additional charge. If we haven’t got a visit from ‘Songs of Praise’ Court Palace, Kensington Palace, us at [email protected] or tweet what you’re looking for go to https:// us @HRP_PressOffice spectacular Rubens ceiling of Banqueting Hillsborough Castle and the Tower of London available for purchase. www.hrp.org.uk/media-and-press/ House offers a stunning location. As a to find out how to set up your own royal palace on a domestic scale, Kew photography at the palaces. Palace also has some enchanting stories 18 19 www.hrp.org.uk