The Tudor World at Hampton Court Palace explores its oldest surviving room

The display explores the early years of Henry VIII’s reign, as well as the lives of the men and women who shaped the Tudor dynasty.

The story of this ambitious royal family is uncovered, as well as the impact of their rule in an age of great change during the 16th century.

Rare Tudor objects belonging to Historic Royal Palaces – the independent charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace – are on show, including a gold ring believed to have belonged to the Boleyn family and a brightly coloured silk hat linked to Henry VIII.

It also features specially selected loans from other collections, including Wolsey’s own portable sundial on loan from the History of Science Museum at the University of Oxford, a gadget that helped him tell the time wherever he was.

A wooden chest, on loan from Stonyhurst College, reveals a story of forbidden faith, when, during the reign of Henry VIII’s daughter Elizabeth I, priests disguised as travelling salesmen hid their religious contraband in their quest to offer private Masses to Catholic families worshipping in secret.

Brett Dolman, collections curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “The Tudors have long been a dynasty that has both fascinated and repelled, presiding over an age that saw great change. In this new display, we’ll be exploring the impact this period had on the everyday life in Tudor society, including the upheaval and uncertainty they often experienced.

“It will look not just at the monarchs and courtiers we are familiar with, but the ‘ordinary’ people who were vital in keeping the royal court running, and we look forward to sharing some of their stories with our visitors for the first time.”

Key highlights to look out for

There are three rare surviving Tudor history paintings lent by His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, including The Embarkation of Dover and The Field of Cloth of Gold. The two works of art depict the Tudors’ powerful navy and aspirations to expand their power, while detailing Henry VIII’s extravagant summit with Francis I, King of France, in 1520.

At the heart of the display are the ‘ordinary’ people who were living through this period of change, from soldiers and laundresses, to ladies-in-waiting and even ‘gong farmers’ who cleaned the toilets.

The display shares the story of Anne Harris, Henry VIII’s personal laundry woman, who washed the bandages for his leg ulcers. She negotiated pay rises in order to cover her expenses and was eventually gifted a property in Westminster by the King.

It also features Jacques Francis, a free-diver from West Africa, who was involved in the expedition to salvage guns from the sunken Mary Rose. He later became one of the first Black African voices heard in an English court, when he was called to testify in a case concerning his employer, Paulo Corsi.