A new era begins at the Tower of London
Following their use in the Coronation ceremony of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May, the Crown Jewels are back on display and included in a brand new, permanent display exploring more stories than ever before about their history and significance.
Your clients will be immersed in the spectacle and pageantry of the Coronation, from the processing to the specific uses of the regalia during the ceremony itself including the Imperial State Crown and St Edward’s Crown.
From past to present – visitors will learn about the origins of the current Crown Jewels, starting with the destruction of the medieval Coronation Regalia in 1649, during the English Civil War. A Commonwealth coin from the era on loan from the British Museum is also on display, demonstrating how the melted gold once worn by medieval monarchs was re-used in the inter-regnum.
With more stories told than ever before, we recommend allocating 45 minutes to view the new display. Be sure to consider this revised timing when including the Tower of London in your tour itineraries.
An Irish point of view!
From London to Ireland, visitors to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens will be able to discover Life Through a Royal Lens, Hillsborough’s first exhibition. This must-see display documents the British Royal Family’s ever-evolving relationship with the camera over the last 200 years.
Discover how photography has been used to create an image of duty and stability throughout the centuries and how advances in technology and media have allowed the Royal Family to connect at a more personal level with a wider global audience. Learn how the choice of photographer, photo composition, clothing, and environment throughout the photo series provides insightful cultural commentary on the social climate at the time each photo was taken.
This thought-provoking exhibition will be included in castle and gardens combination tickets and will provide additional insight into the lives of the Royal Family as your groups explore the castle State Rooms including the lavish Throne Room.
Annual events to look out for
Spring Spectacular at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
From 09 March – 06 May the gardens and grounds at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens will be awash with colour as tens of thousands of tulip and daffodil bulbs come into bloom.
The castle gardens are already beautiful in Spring, but this floral extravaganza is the gorgeously scented icing on the cake!
Gardening groups and general flower flowers are welcome to come and see if they can identify all 59 daffodils bred in Northern Ireland.
One day only! On a selected date in March, the castle hosts an Early Spring Daffodil show where breeders will descend on Hillsborough to exhibit hundreds of rare and unusual daffodil blooms. Stay tuned for what date it will be in 2024!
Tulip Festival at Hampton Court Palace
From April - May each year, the gardens and courtyards at Hampton Court Palace become a kaleidoscope of colours as thousands of tulips bloom! A special trail guides visitors around the stunning displays, revealing the history of the tulips, believed to date back to Mary II (1662-1694). Our expert gardening team are also be on hand to provide tips and information to keen gardeners during their visit.
Top things to know
- The festival will run from 15 April - 06 May 2024
- The display will be included in admission to Hampton Court Palace
- Time slots will need to be booked in advance for palace entry
One to watch for 2024!
Visitors have met kings, queens, princes and princesses in our previous exhibitions at Kensington Palace. For the first time, Untold Lives: A Palace at Work will reveal the lives of those who lived and worked behind the scenes and whose stories have never been told.
For hundreds of years, Kensington Palace has been a working royal palace. Throughout, servants in many different roles have worked in close, sometimes personal, proximity to monarchs and their families. These working people were at the centre of the function and culture of the palace, but their stories are little understood and rarely represented.
This ground-breaking exhibition, running 14 March - 29 October 2024, will reveal new research which tells the stories of the labour, experiences and expertise of the men, women and children who lived and worked at the Palace.
Thomas Wolsey Rooms re-opening
From May 2024, your clients will be able to explore a stunning new display that will introduce them to the transformative age of Henry VIII’s early reign, set within the newly reopened Wolsey Rooms at Hampton Court Palace. Revealed through original artworks and historic objects – including famous ‘History paintings’ like The Field of Cloth of Gold – your clients will discover the people of the Tudor court: soldiers in Henry’s army, the craftsmen who made his palaces, and the influence of the wider world. Alongside four surviving history paintings, visitors will see portraits of European Kings and Queens, sailors and soldiers, musicians and jousters, and displays of rare surviving artefacts from the Tudor era. The Wolsey Rooms and the Tudor display will be included in admission to Hampton Court Palace.
The rooms will be permanently open to the public and included in palace admission. Email groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk for further information.