Hampton Court Palace

Building started in 1515 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII to host state visitors. Gifted to Henry by Wolsey, after he fell out of favour with the King and was stripped of his titles, when he failed to get the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon over the line.

Thomas died of ‘natural causes’ on his journey to London where be was to be tried for treason - seemed to have been Henry’s favoured way of getting rid of those who peed him off.

< The Privy Garden - meaning private, a quiet place for the Monarch’s exclusive use that was reconstructed in 1995 to replicate William III’s formal privy garden.

< Quirky statues and artworks fun to find.

< and below, starched linen napkins folded into ‘heraldic beasts, vegetables and animals’ as was popular in the royal courts of Germany and used when Henry was visiting.

And one last afternoon tea with the fabulous English clotted cream.

< Guns and daggers on display in The Armoury with the marching drums high up the wall in the first pic and daggers fanned into circles on the walls.

< Portrait of the real Henry VIII, who reigned 1509 until his death in 1547 aged 55 and the live scarily authentic actor, randomly roaming the corridors. What a pro, he was deep in character and highly entertaining.

ABOVE: Yep these are guns too - every one of them long barrelled.

> The Throne Room, Hampton Court used by the Royals for receiving guests, 16th century tapestries on the walls.