Secrets of the Royal Palaces (2021)

Episode Overview

Delving into the lesser-known stories of the British royal residences, this episode highlights how Queen Elizabeth II commissioned the Royal Gallery at Buckingham Palace after significant bomb damage during World War II. Kate Williams investigates the cosmetics used in the Elizabethan court, which included ingredients like arsenic, beetles, and even the urine of young boys. The episode also uncovers the harrowing account of George III's imprisonment and torture at Kew Gardens to conceal his mental deterioration, and discusses how Holyrood Palace served as a crucial hub during the Jacobite Rebellion.