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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.

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Upcoming Airdates

  • Thursday Dec 26, 4:30 PM PST on PBS SoCal
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Kensington Palace
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43:38
How Nottingham House was renovated by William III and turned into Kensington Palace.
Osborne House
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43:50
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House in 1840 as their perfect hideaway.
St James's Palace
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43:15
Exploring the palace at the heart of the monarchy.
Hampton Court: Upstairs, Downstairs
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43:39
Henry VIII made Hampton Court a palace masterpiece that could help track his household.
Greenwich Palace
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43:29
Exploring Greenwich Palace, which includes Henry VIII's wine cellar and the Queen's house.
Windsor Castle
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43:24
Windsor Castle is the largest permanently lived-in castle in the world.
Westminster
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43:28
Secrets of Westminster, including a secret tunnel and hologram portrait of the Queen.
Buckingham Palace
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43:36
Historian Kate Williams reveals the accidental origins of Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham
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43:27
The current incarnation of Buckingham Palace is only a century or so old.
Whitehall
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43:24
London's lost royal palace Whitehall is destroyed, but the remnants remain.
Kensington
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43:39
A gap in succession made way for George I of Hanover to refurbish Kensington Palace.
Brighton Pavilion
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43:07
Brighton's Royal Pavilion was originally a beach house transformed into a wonder palace.
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