Only Whitehall Palace and Hampton Court, which had been inhabited by Oliver Cromwell, remained in full splendour. Charles II lived at Whitehall Palace, which had been rebuilt by his father after it was destroyed by fire. He spent most of his time at Hampton Court, which had been built by Henry VIII.
Charles II was the last English monarch to have a private residence. His death in 1685 brought an end to over 300 years of continuous royal residence in Britain.
He was succeeded by his brother, King James VII, who had fought against Charles II in support of his mother, Mary II. However, this new king did not want a Catholic on the throne and so began the period known as "The Interregnum". During this time, there were no official rulers as both James VII and Charles II's other brother, George Duke of York, had died without children. In 1689, England was ruled by a council of nine people called "The Triumvirate", which included two bishops and six officers of the army. The monarchy was never restored during this time.
In 1714, the first king since Charles I died without an heir was followed by Prince George of Denmark, who was the husband of Queen Anne.
It is one of only two remaining palaces among the numerous possessed by the monarch, together with St James' Palace. The palace is presently owned by Queen Elizabeth II and the Crown.
| Hampton Court Palace | |
|---|---|
| Current tenants | Historic Royal Palaces |
| Owner | Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown |
| Website | |
| www.hrp.org.uk |
See also the Article History. Whitehall Palace is a historic English royal house in Westminster, London, situated between the Thames River and St. James's Park. It has been the principal residence of every monarch since William and Mary after the death of King William III in 1702.
The palace is split into various sites and buildings, including state rooms, private apartments, and offices. The main building is a series of large, white-stone structures with black-trimmed gables, set within spacious gardens. It is surrounded by an extensive system of roads, paths, and open spaces known as Whitehall.
Whitehall was built between 1532 and 1698. The first three kings to rule over England after the Norman Conquest were all born at Windsor Castle: Edward the Confessor, who died in 1066; Harold II, who was killed in 1066; and William I, who became king when he was only succeeded by his son Edward the Confessor's body. So the new palace was needed to accommodate these three kings and their families.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, Whitehall was used by her successor, King James I, as a meeting place to discuss government business and to hear cases under trial. This continued after James' accession to the throne in 1603.
Hampton Court Palace was a favorite of King Henry VIII during its prime, and future rulers would add their own touches to it over the years, totaling to a great quantity of riches spent on its development. The last royal visit to Hampton Court occurred in 1698 when Queen Anne was given a tour of the palace grounds.
As the oldest surviving part of the palace, Hampton Court Palace is important for history buffs and tourists alike. The building we see today is only partly original, with the rest being remodeled after fire damage in 1731. However, even after renovations it is easy to tell which parts are original by looking at them! For example, the banqueting house is thought to have been built between 1540 and 1550, about the same time as nearby Whitehall Palace, and is therefore likely original. Other features that date back to the early 1600s include the Great Hall, State Dining Room, and Master Bedroom.
Inside the main entrance is a large courtyard called the Long Gallery. On the right as you enter this gallery is a set of stairs leading up to the watchtower. From the top of the watchtower there is a view of the entire palace grounds including the River Thames. You can also see far into London in all directions from here.
Continue down the Long Gallery and you will come to another staircase on your left.
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