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The Best Episodes of Secrets of the Royal Palaces

Every episode of Secrets of the Royal Palaces ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Secrets of the Royal Palaces!

The Best Episodes of Secrets of the Royal Palaces

Behind-the-scenes tales of the British monarchy's residences, with contributions by royal commentators and ex-staff members, who give the lowdown on the stories that have shaped...

Seasons5

  1. Background image for Private Lives
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #1 - Private Lives

    S4:E2

    Stories of palace private life - and the moments the royals wish were private - beginning with the royal family's race to be by Elizabeth II's side in her final moments at Balmoral. The programme forensically examines that day and uncovers how the deep family rift between Prince Harry and the rest potentially caused a tragic delay. Kate Williams shines a light on some of the most remarkable private tales from palace history, including the messy end of William the Conqueror's life when he was buried by a band of hapless monks.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for Whitehall
    8.0/10(8 votes)

    #2 - Whitehall

    S2:E7

    London's lost royal palace Whitehall is destroyed, but if you know where to look, it is still possible to find the remnants of what was once the largest palace in Europe.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Brighton Royal Pavilion
    7.9/10(10 votes)

    #3 - Brighton Royal Pavilion

    S2:E5

    Brighton's Royal Pavilion was built by Prince Regent, George IV in 1787. He took a small beach house and turned it into a flamboyant multi-domino-Saracenic wonder palace.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Holyrood House
    7.5/10(8 votes)

    #4 - Holyrood House

    S1:E7

    Holyrood House in Edinburgh has a bloody history - Mary Queen of Scots saw her secretary murdered in front of her there, and it is also where her second husband was murdered.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Sandringham House
    7.4/10(9 votes)

    #5 - Sandringham House

    S1:E4

    Sandringham in Norfolk was purchased in 1861 for the rakish Prince Edward, to curb his ways, but it proved to be the perfect palace for a party.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Palace of St James
    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #6 - Palace of St James

    S1:E8

    Hidden in Central London, the Palace of St James is the real seat of royal power. Originally built for Anne Boleyn, by the time it was finished her marriage with Henry VIII was over.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for Windsor Castle
    7.4/10(10 votes)

    #7 - Windsor Castle

    S2:E1

    Kate Williams explores some of the more gruesome stories of Windsor Castle history, including the death of Princess Charlotte in 1817.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Versailles
    7.4/10(10 votes)

    #8 - Versailles

    S2:E3

    Versailles is one of the most enormous and impressive palaces in the world. Louise XIV built it in 1634 as a way of controlling the French aristocracy.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Buckingham Palace
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #9 - Buckingham Palace

    S3:E1

    More behind-the-scenes tales of the British monarchy’s residences, looking at Queen Elizabeth II added the Royal Gallery to Buckingham Palace after swathes of it were damaged by bombs during the Second World War. Kate Williams explores the make-up used in the Elizabethan court, including arsenic, beetles and the urine of a small boys, and also reveals how George III was imprisoned and tortured in Kew Gardens to hide his mental decline and how Holyrood Palace became the nerve centre of the Jacobite Rebellion.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Hampton Court
    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #10 - Hampton Court

    S2:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Buckingham Palace
    7.3/10(7 votes)

    #11 - Buckingham Palace

    S2:E8

    Buckingham Palace is known throughout the world as the headquarters of the royal family, and is one of our most recognisable palaces.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Balmoral Castle
    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #12 - Balmoral Castle

    S1:E2

    Historian Jonathan Foyle casts his eye over Balmoral.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Kensington Palace
    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #13 - Kensington Palace

    S1:E6

    Kensington Palace has been home to many Royals since the 17th Century. Christopher Wren expanded Nottingham House into a palace, which some describe as a bit of a 'botched job'.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for Sandringham
    7.1/10(9 votes)

    #14 - Sandringham

    S2:E4

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Hampton Court
    7.1/10(7 votes)

    #15 - Hampton Court

    S3:E5

    The history of Hampton Court’s Great Hall, a huge dining area built by more than 400 stonemasons, bricklayers, carpenters, joiners and labourers that was also used by Henry VIII to keep an eye on his household. Plus, a look at the 2002 Golden Jubilee Party, which was held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and is considered to have changed the public’s perception of monarchy.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Windsor Castle
    7.0/10(10 votes)

    #16 - Windsor Castle

    S1:E3

    Some dramatic events have taken place at Windsor Castle, which was built more than 900 years, guided by Edward III and his obsession with tales of Camelot. There is a look at one of the most popular exhibits at Windsor - Queen Mary's Dolls' House - and Kate Williams revisits some of the castle's darker times, including the year when bubonic plague caused Queen Elizabeth to isolate at Windsor, and the death of Prince Albert in 1861.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Highgrove
    7.0/10(9 votes)

    #17 - Highgrove

    S1:E5

    Highgrove House in Gloucester is the smallest royal residence currently in use, with nine bedrooms. It is Prince Charles's own creation and features a garden described as an 'organic oasis'.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Kensington Palace
    6.8/10(9 votes)

    #18 - Kensington Palace

    S2:E6

    Kensington Palace had always been a party palace but a gap in succession made way for foreign import George 1st of Hanover and his refurbishments.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Buckingham Palace
    6.7/10(14 votes)

    #19 - Buckingham Palace

    S1:E1

    An unveiling of some of the many secrets held by Buckingham Palace, including its former rat problem, and the part it played in Charles and Diana's courtship.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for St James's Palace
    6.6/10(5 votes)

    #20 - St James's Palace

    S3:E6

    Exploring St James’s, the palace at the heart of the monarchy built by Henry VIII.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for Westminster
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Westminster

    S3:E2

    Behind-the-scenes tales from the Palaces of Westminster, with the State Opening of Parliament the event where royalty and democracy come together. The Prince’s Chamber was specially built for Queen Elizabeth II to rest before entering the Lords and taking her seat on the palace’s royal throne, while a secret tunnel hidden behind the ancient walls is explored. Other stories featured include a hologram portrait of Elizabeth II and how Charles II dabbled in cannibalism.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Windsor Castle
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Windsor Castle

    S3:E3

    Windsor Castle is the largest permanently lived in castle in the world, and it’s still packed with secrets. There is the Welsh Cottage, a 2 fifths life size Dolls house that the young Elizabeth 2nd played in as a child. It had been gifted to her by the people of Wales but she almost never got to play in it, as caught fire on the way to Windsor. We examine the stunning Waterloo Chamber, built from contained courtyard and turned into one of the most stunning rooms in the Palace, dedicated to Britain’s greatest military victory.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Greenwich Palace
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Greenwich Palace

    S3:E4

    Exploring Greenwich, the great lost palace, and a look at the Gold State Coach.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Osborne House
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Osborne House

    S3:E7

    Behind-the-scenes tales of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, which was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 and was turned into their perfect renaissance hideaway. Kate Williams goes on a culinary adventure and tries traditional Tudor cuisine, including snails and pigs’ feet, while the horrors of the palaces’ bedding ceremony is revealed, where a royal bride is observed on her wedding night to make sure the marriage is consummated.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Kensington Palace
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Kensington Palace

    S3:E8

    Behind-the-scenes tales of Kensington Palace, which started out as Nottingham House until it was bought in 1698 by William III and transformed into a royal residence after a major renovation. Kate Williams explores some of the more gruesome pieces of palace history, including the grim death of Henry Stuart, the murder of Amy Robsart to clear a path for the queen, and the amazing story of Eleanor Cobham, the `Royal Witch”.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"Private Lives" is the best rated episode of "Secrets of the Royal Palaces". It scored 8.2/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/11/2023. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Whitehall".