Historic Royal Palaces facts for kids
The Great Gate at Hampton Court Palace
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| Formation | 1989 |
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| Headquarters | Hampton Court Palace |
| Location |
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Region served
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England and Northern Ireland |
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Membership
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80,000 (2015) |
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Key people
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Nicholas Coleridge (Chairman) Carole Souter (Trustee) John Barnes (CEO) Lucy Worsley (Chief curator) Tracy Borman (Chief curator) |
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Main organ
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Board of trustees |
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Revenue
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£92.2 million (2014–15) |
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Volunteers
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300 |
Historic Royal Palaces is a special charity in the United Kingdom. Its main job is to look after six amazing royal palaces. Five of these palaces are in London, England, and one is in Northern Ireland. This charity makes sure these historic places are kept safe and open for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
Historic Royal Palaces: Looking After Royal Homes
Historic Royal Palaces started in 1989. At first, it was part of the government. But in 1998, it became an independent charity. This means it works on its own and does not get money from the government. Its goal is to manage and protect these important royal buildings.
What is Historic Royal Palaces?
As a charity, Historic Royal Palaces is responsible for keeping these palaces in good condition. They also help people learn about the history of these places. They do this by opening the palaces to visitors. They also create exhibitions and educational programs.
The charity works under an agreement with the government. They manage the London palaces for the King. They also manage Hillsborough Castle for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The Palaces They Care For
Historic Royal Palaces looks after some of the most famous buildings in the UK. These palaces have seen centuries of history. They include:
- The Tower of London
- Hampton Court Palace
- Kensington Palace (State Apartments and Orangery)
- The Banqueting House, Whitehall
- Kew Palace with Queen Charlotte's Cottage
- Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland
They have managed the London palaces since 1989. Hillsborough Castle joined their care in 2014. Other royal palaces, like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, are looked after by the Royal Household.
How They Are Funded
Historic Royal Palaces does not receive money from the government or the Royal Family. Instead, they rely on different sources of income. These include:
- Money from visitors who buy tickets
- Support from members who join the charity
- Donations from people and groups
- Help from volunteers who give their time
- Money from sponsors
In one year (2014–15), over 4 million people visited these palaces. This shows how popular they are and how important visitor support is.
Who Runs Historic Royal Palaces?
A team of dedicated people leads Historic Royal Palaces. The organization has a Board of Trustees. These are people who help guide the charity.
The palaces' stories are shared by two chief curators, Lucy Worsley and Tracy Borman. A chief executive, John Barnes, has been in charge since 2017. He helps manage the charity's daily work.
Researching Royal History
Historic Royal Palaces also helps with important historical research. In 2023, they started a project with the University of Manchester. This project is looking into the British monarchy's past links to slavery. Researchers have full access to royal records for this study. The research is expected to finish by 2026. This helps us understand history better.
See also
- List of British royal residences
- Tales from the Palaces
