Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse – these buildings have been part of British royal history for hundreds of years. THE QUEEN'S PALACES, a three-part series, showcases the art and architecture, the interior decoration and the treasures stored inside these fabulous buildings and reveals the surprising and fascinating stories behind them.
The Royal Collection
The Royal Collection contains numerous works of art, furniture, jewellery and much more shaped by the personal tastes of Kings and Queens over 500 years.
As well as the story of the building’s creation, as host Fiona Bruce walks around the rooms and corridors she captures the stories and histories of works of art and fine objects, so that each film marries the chronology of history and the pure delight of a walk around a beautiful interior.
Alongside the paintings by Holbein and the Canaletto that hang on the palace walls, Fiona discovers the story behind a cat needlework panel at Holyroodhouse and finds the musket ball that killed Nelson on display in Windsor Castle.
Combining Fiona’s role as interested amateur with contributions from Royal Collection curators and experts, each program offers a mix of high level insight and interesting and curious stories.
"Holyrood House" - It is also one of Britain's smallest palaces and yet events at Holyrood have determined the fate of three countries - England, France and Scotland. It was also the last place where a royal prince challenged the right of an English king to sit on the throne.
Fiona Bruce discovers remarkable objects from the Royal Collection that are intimately bound to the Palace's turbulent history - from the spectacular Darnley Jewel with its many hidden messages to the cat-and-mouse needlework of a doomed queen.
"Buckingham Palace" aired Monday, April 2, 2012 at 9 p.m., and the second episode, "Windsor Castle," aired on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 10 p.m.
