Skip to main content
A palace sits among the trees.

Secrets of the Royal Palaces

Secrets of the Royal Palaces

Historian Kate Williams (Prince Philip: For Queen and Country; The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign) explores more stories about the residences of the British monarchy. Guiding the viewer through the art, architecture and recent events are specialist historians, royal commentators and ex-royal staff members who share the behind-the-scenes palace stories that have shaped the modern royal family.

Watch this show and many more anytime, anywhere on the free PBS App.

Stream to your TV
Support Provided By
Kensington Palace
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:38
How Nottingham House was renovated by William III and turned into Kensington Palace.
Osborne House
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:50
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House in 1840 as their perfect hideaway.
St James's Palace
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:15
Exploring the palace at the heart of the monarchy.
Hampton Court: Upstairs, Downstairs
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:39
Henry VIII made Hampton Court a palace masterpiece that could help track his household.
Greenwich Palace
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:29
Exploring Greenwich Palace, which includes Henry VIII's wine cellar and the Queen's house.
Windsor Castle
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:24
Windsor Castle is the largest permanently lived-in castle in the world.
Westminster
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:28
Secrets of Westminster, including a secret tunnel and hologram portrait of the Queen.
Buckingham Palace
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:36
Historian Kate Williams reveals the accidental origins of Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:27
The current incarnation of Buckingham Palace is only a century or so old.
Whitehall
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:24
London's lost royal palace Whitehall is destroyed, but the remnants remain.
Kensington
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:39
A gap in succession made way for George I of Hanover to refurbish Kensington Palace.
Brighton Pavilion
Unlock with PBS Passport
43:07
Brighton's Royal Pavilion was originally a beach house transformed into a wonder palace.
Active loading indicator