colours of the Brigade of Guards (as were aircraft in the early days of
Royal flying).
Today, the BAe 146 and HS 125 of No 32 (The Royal) Squadron and the Royal
Household's S-76 are used for official duties by The Queen and, at her
discretion, other members of the Royal family, continuing a tradition begun
with a single aircraft more than 60 years ago.
THE ROYAL FAMILY
MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
In her role as Head of State The Queen is supported by members of the
Royal Family, who carry out a wide range of public and official duties. The
biographies in this section contain information about various members of
the Royal Family, including early life and education, professional careers,
official Royal work, involvement with charities and other organisations,
personal interests and more
HM THE QUEEN
The Queen was born in London on 21 April 1926, the first child of The
Duke and Duchess of York, subsequently King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Five weeks later she was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the chapel
at Buckingham Palace.
The Princess's early years were spent at 145 Piccadilly, the London
house taken by her parents shortly after her birth; at White Lodge in
Richmond Park; and at the country homes of her grandparents, King George V
and Queen Mary, and the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. When she was six
years old, her parents took over Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park as their
own country home.
HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich,
was born Prince of Greece and Denmark in Corfu on 10 June 1921; the only
son of Prince Andrew of Greece. His paternal family is of Danish descent -
Prince Andrew was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. His mother
was Princess Alice of Battenberg, the eldest child of Prince Louis of
Battenberg and sister of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Prince Louis became a
naturalised British subject in 1868, joined the Royal Navy and rose to
become an Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord in 1914. During the First
World War he changed the family name to Mountbatten and was created
Marquess of Milford Haven. Prince Philip adopted the family name of
Mountbatten when he became a naturalised British subject and renounced his
Royal title in 1947.
Prince Louis married one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters. Thus, The
Queen and Prince Philip both have Queen Victoria as a great-great-
grandmother. They are also related through his father's side. His paternal
grandfather, King George I of Greece, was Queen Alexandra's brother.
HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND FAMILY
The Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh, is heir apparent to the throne.
The Prince was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, and was
christened Charles Philip Arthur George.
When, on the accession of Queen Elizabeth in 1952, he became heir
apparent, Prince Charles automatically became Duke of Cornwall under a
charter of King Edward III dating back to 1337, which gave that title to
the Sovereign's eldest son. He also became, in the Scottish Peerage, Duke
of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and
Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.
The Prince was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in 1958. In
1968, The Prince of Wales was installed as a Knight of the Garter. The Duke
of Rothesay (as he is known in Scotland) was appointed a Knight of the
Thistle in 1977. In June 2002 The Prince of Wales was appointed to the
Order of Merit.
HRH THE DUKE OF YORK
The Duke of York was born on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace. He is
the second son and the third child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.
He was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years.
Named Andrew Albert Christian Edward he was known as Prince Andrew until
his marriage, when he was created The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and
Baron Killyleagh.
TRH THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX
The Earl of Wessex is the third son and youngest child of The Queen and
The Duke of Edinburgh. He was born on 10 March 1964 and christened Edward
Antony Richard Louis at Buckingham Palace. He was known as Prince Edward
until his marriage, when he was created The Earl of Wessex and Viscount
Severn; at the same time it was announced that His Royal Highness will
eventually succeed to the title of The Duke of Edinburgh.
In March 1989, The Queen appointed Prince Edward a Commander of the Royal
Victorian Order.
HRH PRINCESS ROYAL
The Princess Royal, the second child and only daughter of The Queen and
The Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Clarence House, London, on 15 August
1950, when her mother was Princess Elizabeth, heir presumptive to the
throne. She was baptised Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Buckingham Palace
on 21 October 1950.
She received the title Princess Royal from The Queen in June 1987; she
was previously known as Princess Anne. Her Royal Highness is the seventh
holder of the title.
In 1994 The Queen appointed The Princess a Lady of the Most Noble Order
of the Garter. In 2000, to mark her 50th birthday, The Princess Royal was
appointed to the Order of the Thistle, in recognition of her work for
charities.
HRH PRINCESS ALICE
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester is the widow of the late Duke of
Gloucester, third son of George V.
Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott was born on Christmas Day,
1901 at Montagu House, London. She was the third daughter of the seventh
Duke of Buccleuch, who had been a fellow midshipman of the future king
George V.
Lady Alice was educated at home until the age of 12. She then went to
school at West Malvern, spending a year in Paris before returning home to
be presented at Court in 1920. Lady Alice has greatly enjoyed outdoor
pursuits, including skiing, and has been an accomplished watercolourist.
She also travelled widely, living for many months in Kenya and also
spending time in India on a visit to her brother.
TRH THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER
Born in 1944, The Duke of Gloucester is the second son of the late Duke
of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. He is a grandson
of George V and a first cousin to The Queen. He succeeded his father as
Duke of Gloucester in June 1974.
In July 1972 Prince Richard (as he was then known) married Birgitte Eva
van Deurs from Odense, Denmark at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell,
Northamptonshire. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have three children:
(Alexander) Earl of Ulster, born in 1974; The Lady Davina Windsor, born in
1977; and The Lady Rose Windsor, born in 1980.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester both carry out a large number of
official engagements each year, individually and together. They undertake
visits in regions throughout the United Kingdom and travel abroad on
official visits and to support their varied patronages.
TRH THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT
Born in 1935, HRH The Duke of Kent is the son of the late Prince George,
fourth son of King George V, and the late Princess Marina, daughter of
Prince Nicholas of Greece. He is cousin to both The Queen and The Duke of
Edinburgh. The present Duke of Kent inherited his title following the death
of his father in 1942.
In 1961 The Duke of Kent became engaged to Miss Katharine Worsley and
they married in York Minster. The couple have three children: George, Earl
of St Andrews, born in June 1962; Lady Helen Taylor, born in April 1964 and
Lord Nicholas Windsor, born on 25 July 1970.
The Duke and The Duchess of Kent undertake a large number of official
Royal engagements. Each has close associations with many charities,
professional bodies and other organisations.
TRH PRINCE AND PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT
Prince Michael was born on 4 July 1942 at the family home in Iver,
Buckinghamshire. He was christened Michael George Charles Franklin and one
of his godfathers was President Roosevelt. He is a cousin to both The Queen
and The Duke of Edinburgh, and his older brother and sister are The Duke of
Kent and Princess Alexandra. Prince Michael's father, Prince George, was
the fourth son of George V and his mother, Princess Marina, was the
daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece.
The Prince is a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
HRH PRINCESS ALEXANDRA
Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day 1936 at 3, Belgrave Square,
her family's London home. She is the second child and only daughter of the
late Duke and Duchess of Kent (her brothers are the present Duke of Kent
and Prince Michael of Kent). Much of her childhood was spent at their
country home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. Her father was killed in a
wartime flying accident in 1942 when she was just five years old.
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
HM QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER
4 August 1900 - 30 March 2002
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother died peacefully in her sleep
on Saturday 30 March 2002, at Royal Lodge, Windsor. Queen Elizabeth was a
much-loved member of the Royal Family. Her life, spanning over a century,
was devoted to the service of her country, the fulfilment of her Royal
duties and the support of her family.
HRH THE PRINCESS MARGARET
21 AUGUST 1930 - 9 FEBRUARY 2002
Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon died
peacefully in her sleep on Saturday 9 February, 2002, in The King Edward
VII Hospital, London.
The younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen
Mother, and sister to The Queen, Princess Margaret was a hardworking and
much-loved member of the Royal Family.
Read more about the Princess and her funeral and memorial services in
this section.
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES
Diana, Princess of Wales died on Sunday, 31 August 1997 following a car
crash in Paris. There was widespread public mourning at the death of this
popular figure, culminating with her funeral at Westminster Abbey on
Saturday, 6 September 1997. Even after her death, however, the Princess's
work lives on in the form of commemorative charities and projects set up to
help those in need.
ART AND RESIDENCES
THE ROYAL COLLECTION
The Royal Collection, one of the finest art collections in the world, is
held in trust by The Queen as Sovereign for her successors and the Nation.
It is on public display at the principal royal residences and is shown in a
programme of special exhibitions and through loans to institutions around
the world.
ABOUT THE ROYAL COLLECTION
Shaped by the personal tastes of kings and queens over more than 500
years, the Royal Collection includes paintings, drawings and watercolours,
furniture, ceramics, clocks, silver, sculpture, jewellery, books,
manuscripts, prints and maps, arms and armour, fans, and textiles. It is
held in trust by The Queen as Sovereign for her successors and the Nation,
and is not owned by her as a private individual. Curatorial and
administrative responsibility for the Collection is held by the Royal
Collection Department, part of the Royal Household.
The Collection has largely been formed since the Restoration of the
Monarchy in 1660. Some items belonging to earlier monarchs, for
example Henry VIII, also survive. The greater part of the magnificent
collection inherited and added to by Charles I was dispersed on
Cromwell's orders during the Interregnum. The royal patrons now chiefly
associated with notable additions to the Collection are Frederick, Prince
of Wales; George III; George IV; Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; and
Queen Mary, Consort of George V.
The Royal Collection is on display at the principal royal residences, all
of which are open to the public. Unlike most art collections of national
importance, works of art from the Royal Collection can be enjoyed in the
historic settings for which they were originally commissioned or acquired.
Much of the Collection is still in use at the working royal palaces.
The official residences of The Queen have a programme of changing
exhibitions to show further areas of the Collection to the public,
particularly those items that cannot be on permanent display for
conservation reasons. The Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen will be
marked by the creation of two flagship exhibition spaces at Buckingham
Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Loans are made to institutions throughout the world, as part of the
commitment to make the Collection widely available and to show works of art
in new contexts. Touring exhibitions remain an important part of the Royal
Collection's work to broaden public access.
Over 3,000 objects from the Royal Collection are on long-term loan to
museums and galleries around the United Kingdom and abroad. National
institutions housing works of art from the Collection include The British
Museum, National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of
London, the National Museum of Wales and the National Gallery of Scotland.
The Royal Collection is the only collection of major national importance
to receive no Government funding or public subsidy and is administered by
the Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The Trust was set up by
The Queen in 1993 under the chairmanship of The Prince of Wales, following
the establishment of the Royal Collection Department as a new department of
the Royal Household in 1987. Income from the public opening of Windsor
Castle, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and from
associated retail activities supports curatorial, conservation and
educational work, loans and travelling exhibitions and major capital
projects. These projects include the restoration of Windsor Castle after
the fire in 1992, the rebuilding of The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham
Palace and the construction of an entirely new gallery at the Palace of
Holyroodhouse.
THE ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST
to receive no Government funding or public subsidy. It is administered by
the Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity established by The Queen
in 1993 under the chairmanship of The Prince of Wales. The role of the
Trust is to ensure that the Collection is conserved and displayed to the
highest standards and that public understanding of and access to the
Collection is increased through exhibition, publication, education and a
programme of loans.
These wide-ranging activities are funded by monies raised through the
Trust's trading arm, Royal Collection Enterprises, from the public opening
of Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and
from retail sales of publications and other merchandise. Current projects
funded through the Royal Collection Trust include the major expansion of
exhibition space at Buckingham Palace and at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to
mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The Royal Collection Trust determines how the income generated should be
used in pursuit of its stated objectives.
The Trust's primary aims are to ensure that:
- the Collection is subject to proper custodial control;
- the Collection is maintained and conserved to the highest possible
standards;
- as much of the Collection as possible can be seen by members of the
public;
- the Collection is presented and interpreted so as to enhance the public's
appreciation and understanding;
- appropriate acquisitions are made when resources become available.
ROYAL COLLECTION ENTERPRISES
Royal Collection Enterprises Limited, the trading subsidiary of the Royal
Collection Trust, generates income for the presentation and conservation of
the Royal Collection, and for projects to increase public access. It is
responsible for the management and financial administration of public
admission to Windsor Castle and Frogmore House, Buckingham Palace,
including the Royal Mews, and The Queen's Galleries. Royal Collection
Enterprises also promotes access to the Royal Collection through
publishing, retail merchandise and the Picture Library.
PUBLISHING
Publishing forms an important part of the Royal Collection Trust's
ongoing programme to extend knowledge and enjoyment of the Collection's
treasures. Over fifty books about the Royal Collection have been produced
in recent years, ranging from scholarly exhibition catalogues to books for
children.
In the mid-1990s the Royal Collection established its own imprint to
build a definitive series about the royal residences and the works of art.
These books are written by or in consultation with the Royal Collection's
own curators.
Royal Collection publications are available from the Royal Collection
shops at the Royal Mews, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the
Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace.
All profits from the sale of Royal Collection publications are dedicated
to the Royal Collection Trust.
ROYAL RESIDENCES
The Royal Collection comprises the contents of all the royal palaces.
These include the official residences of The Queen, where the Collection
plays an important part in the life of a working palace - Buckingham
Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (administered by the
Royal Collection Trust); the unoccupied residences - Hampton Court Palace,
Kensington Palace (State Apartments), Kew Palace, the Banqueting House,
Whitehall and the Tower of London (administered by the Historic Royal
Palaces Trust); and Osborne House (owned and administered by English
Heritage).
Items from the Collection may also be seen at the private homes of The
Queen - Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle.
ROYAL COLLECTION GALLERIES
Dedicated gallery spaces allow works from the Collection to be presented
and interpreted in different contexts, outside their historic settings, and
give public access to items that cannot be on permanent display for
conservation reasons. The exhibitions in The Queen's Galleries are
accompanied by full catalogues, bringing to the public new research on the
subject by the Royal Collection's curators.
LATEST EXHIBITION NEWS
The new Queen's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh was
inaugurated by Her Majesty The Queen on 29 November 2002 and opened its
doors to the public the following day, St Andrew's Day. The inaugural
exhibition is Leonardo da Vinci: The Divine and the Grotesque (30 November
2002 - 30 March 2003), the largest exhibition devoted to Leonardo da Vinci
ever held in Scotland and the first to examine the artist's life-long
obsession with the human form. All 68 works come from the Royal Collection,
which holds the world's finest group of Leonardo's drawings.
A new exhibition also opened at Windsor Castle in the Drawings Gallery on
9 November 2002. The exhibition celebrates the centenary of the Order of
Merit with a series of original drawings of holders of the honour, past and
present. It also features manuscripts and badges from former holders.
LOANS
Some 3,000 objects from the Royal Collection are on long-term loan to 160
institutions across the UK and overseas. These include the Raphael
Cartoons of The Acts of the Apostles at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the
Van der Goes Trinity Altarpiece at the National Gallery of Scotland, and
the Roman sculpture The Lely Venus, at The British Museum.
Every year hundreds of objects from the Collection are lent to special
exhibitions worldwide. These loans support international scholarship and
enable material to be seen in new contexts.
Touring exhibitions of works from the Royal Library are an important way
to broaden access to items that, for conservation reasons, cannot be on
permanent display. The millennial exhibition Ten Religious Masterpieces
was the year 2000's most popular art exhibition outside London, attracting
over 200,000 visitors over the period of its tour.
THE ROYAL RESIDENCES
The residences associated with today's Royal Family are divided into the
Occupied Royal Residences, which are held in trust for future generations,
and the Private Estates which have been handed down to The Queen by earlier
generations of the Royal Family.
Beautifully furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, most of
the Royal residences are open to the public when not in official use.
These pages contain details of the history and role of these Residences
and Estates, and provide information for visitors on opening times and
admission prices for those that are open to the public.
ABOUT THE ROYAL RESIDENCES
Throughout the centuries, Britain's kings and queens have built or bought
palaces to serve as family homes, workplaces and as centres of government.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
[pic]
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of
Britain's sovereigns since 1837. It evolved from a town house that was
owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of
Buckingham. Today it is The Queen's official residence. Although in use for
the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, areas of
Buckingham Palace are opened to visitors on a regular basis.
The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during the Annual
Summer Opening in August and September. They are lavishly furnished with
some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by
Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by
Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sиvres porcelain, and some of
the finest English and French furniture in the world.
Visits to Buckingham Palace can be combined with visits to The Queen's
Gallery, which reopened in May 2002.
THE QUEEN’S GALLERY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE
The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace is a permanent space dedicated
to changing exhibitions of items from the Royal Collection, the wide-
ranging collection of art and treasures held in trust by The Queen for the
nation. Constructed forty years ago on the west front of Buckingham Palace
out of the bomb-damaged ruins of the former private chapel, the gallery has
recently been redeveloped. It was reopened by The Queen on 21 May 2002 and
is now open to the public on a daily basis.
The inaugural exhibition of the redeveloped gallery is a spectacular
celebration of the individual tastes of monarchs and other members of the
royal family who have shaped one of the world's greatest collections of
art. Mixing the famous with the unexpected, the selection of 450
outstanding works for Royal Treasures: A Golden Jubilee Celebration has
been made across the entire breadth of the Royal Collection, from eight
royal residences and over five centuries of collecting.
THE ROYAL MEWS
One of the finest working stables in existence, the Royal Mews at
Buckingham Palace provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see the
work of the Royal Household department that provides road transport for The
Queen and members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and
motor car.
The Royal Mews has a permanent display of State vehicles. These include
the magnificent Gold State Coach used for Coronations and those carriages
used for Royal and State occasions, State Visits, weddings and the State
Opening of Parliament. A State motor vehicle is also usually on display.
For much of the year visitors to the Royal Mews can also see the 30 or so
carriage-horses which play an important role in The Queen's official and
ceremonial duties.
WINDSOR CASTLE
Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest
occupied castle in the world. A royal palace and fortress for over 900
years, the Castle remains a working palace today. Visitors can walk around
the State Apartments, extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working
palace; for part of the year visitors can also see the Semi State rooms,
which are some of the most splendid interiors in the castle. They are
furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by
Holbein, Rubens, Van Dyck and Lawrence, fine tapestries and porcelain,
sculpture and armour.
Within the Castle complex there are many additional attractions. In the
Drawings Gallery regular exhibitions of treasures from the Royal Library
are mounted. Another popular feature is the Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a
miniature mansion built to perfection. The fourteenth-century St. George's
Chapel is the burial place of ten sovereigns, home of the Order of the
Garter, and setting for many royal weddings. Nearby on the Windsor Estate
is Frogmore House, an attractive country residence with strong associations
to three queens - Queen Charlotte, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary.
In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, a new
landscape garden has been created by the designer and Chelsea Gold
Medallist Tom Stuart-Smith. The garden, the first to be made at the Castle
since the 1820s, transforms the visitor entrance and provides a setting for
band concerts throughout the year. The informal design takes its
inspiration from Windsor's historic parkland landscape and the picturesque
character of the Castle, introduced by the architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville
for George IV in the 1820s.
FROGMORE
Frogmore House lies in the tranquil setting of the private Home Park of
Windsor Castle. A country residence of various monarchs since the
seventeenth century, the house is especially linked to Queen Victoria. The
house and attractive gardens were one of Queen Victoria's favourite
retreats. In the gardens stands the Mausoleum where Queen Victoria and her
husband Prince Albert are buried.
THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE
Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the
Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closely associated with
Scotland's turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here
between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of
Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland. Today, the Palace is
the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining.
BALMORAL CASTLE
Balmoral Castle on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland is the
private residence of The Queen. Beloved by Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert, Balmoral Castle has remained a favourite residence for The Queen
and her family during the summer holiday period in August and September.
The Castle is located on the large Balmoral Estate, a working estate which
aims to protect the environment while contributing to the local economy.
The Estate grounds, gardens and the Castle Ballroom are open to visitors
from the beginning of April to the end of July each year, under the
management of the Balmoral Estate Office.
SANDRINGHAM HOUSE
Sandringham House in Norfolk has been the private home of four
generations of Sovereigns since 1862. The Queen and other members of the
Royal family regularly spend Christmas at Sandringham and make it their
official base until February each year.
Like Balmoral, the Sandringham Estate is a commercial estate managed
privately on The Queen's behalf. Sandringham House, the museum and the
grounds are open to visitors.
ST JAMES’S PALACE
St. James's Palace is the senior Palace of the Sovereign, with a long
history as a royal residence. As the home of several members of the Royal
Family and their household offices, it is often in use for official
functions and is not open to the public.
KENSINGTON PALACE
Kensington Palace in London is a working Royal residence. Of great
historical importance, Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of
successive sovereigns until 1760. It was also the birthplace and childhood
home of Queen Victoria. Today Kensington Palace accommodates the offices
and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family. Although
managed by Historic Royal Palaces, the Palace is furnished with items from
the Royal Collection.
HISTORIC RESIDENCES
Some of the most celebrated Royal residences used by former kings and
queens can still be visited today.
The Tower of London, begun by William I, is a fascinating complex
constructed over several centuries. It provided historic Royal families
with a residence for more than five centuries, and was a prison for other
Royal figures, including Lady Jane Grey. The Tower housed the Royal Mint
until 1810. There were also armouries and workshops in which weapons were
designed and manufactured; items including armour worn by Henry VIII remain
there today. The Tower remains the storehouse of the Crown Jewels and
regalia, as it has done for nearly 700 years. Today the Tower is under the
management of the Historic Royal Palaces Trust.
Hampton Court Palace is also managed by Historic Royal Palaces. Given by
Cardinal Wolsey to Henry VIII c.1526, the palace was a residence for
figures including Mary I and Elizabeth I, Charles I, William III and Mary
II, and retains many furnishings and objects from their times. It houses
some important works of art and furnishings in the Royal Collection.
The Banqueting House in Whitehall is the only remaining part of London's
old Palace of Whitehall. It was created by Inigo Jones for James I. Charles
I commissioned Rubens to paint the vast ceiling panels, which celebrate
kingship in general and the Stuart reign in particular. It was from the
Banqueting House that Charles I stepped on to the scaffold on 30 January
1649. In 1689 the Prince and Princess of Orange went to the Banqueting
House to accept the crown, becoming joint Sovereigns William III and Mary
II. Today the Banqueting House is managed by Historic Royal Palaces.
Other historic Royal residences which can be visited include Osborne
House, the beloved home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of
Wight, and the Brighton Pavilion, former residence of George IV when he was
Prince Regent.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thorpe, Lewis, trans., Geoffrey of Monmouth: The History of the Kings of
Britain, Penguin Books, London, 1966;
G. R. Elton, Modern Historians on British History, 1485–1945:
A Critical Bibliography, 1945–1969 (1971);
P. Catterall, British History, 1945–1987:
C. Read, Bibliography of British History: Tudor Period, 1485–1603 (2d ed.
1959, repr. 1978);
C. L. Mowat, Great Britain since 1914 (1971);
G. Davies, Bibliography of British History: Stuart Period, 1603–1714 (1928;
2d ed., ed. by M. F. Keeler, 1970);
Sir George Clark, ed., The Oxford History of England (2d ed., 16 vol.,
1937–91);
G. S. Graham, A Concise History of the British Empire (1971);
F. E. Halliday, A Concise History of England (1980);
F. M. L. Thompson, ed., The Cambridge Social History of Britain, 1750–1950
(1990);
Encyclopedia Britannica
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