The Tower of London is one of the world’s greatest medieval castles, famous for massive fortifications and bloody executions, but the Tower was also a luxurious medieval palace, reaching its full glory in the 13th century under two famous builder kings: Henry III and Edward I.
Its full name today is His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, the Tower of London - it is still an official royal residence, harking back to when medieval kings called it home.
Dan Snow has special access behind heavy closed doors as the Tower puts its medieval palace on display - from magnificently decorated royal bedrooms to gambling pieces, and a tiny toy knight that a prince or princess may have played with. Curator Charles Farris reveals the secrets of royal life inside these walls.
As well as building the palace, Henry III and Edward I extended the Tower’s defences, supersizing it to create a major symbol of royal power, dominating London. With Tower archaeologist Alfred Hawkins, Dan explores the unique original portcullis that was built into the Byward Tower as it was constructed 750 years ago, and investigates beautiful medieval wall paintings, designed to warn potential fraudsters of the risks of cheating the royal mint.
This is revealing and intimate insight into the life and power of the medieval Tower of London.
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To find out more about the Tower’s medieval palace, visit: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-medieval-palace
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