Royal Palaces
Some 60 royal residences were acquired by King Henry VIII throughout his reign, but even his great flagship, Hampton Court, served as little more than a showpiece. Undoubtedly the most sophisticated and magnificent palace of Tudor England, it was never a permanent home to any of the Kings and Queens. Like many of the royal residences, it was used for lavish banquets and hunting parties. Fewer than one-third of Henry's residences survived to serve the succeeding Monarchs.

The status of each 'house' varied from a principal residence of the reigning Monarch, to a retreat or holiday home. Windsor Castle, founded by William the Conqueror, first became a royal residence in 1110 and was lived in by many monarchs, but it was Queen Victoria who gave it principal palace status. Long since disappeared, Whitehall Palace was the main residence from 1530 to 1698. The present Queen has Buckingham Palace as her main residence, but it is also the administrative centre of the Monarchy. Her official home and office in Scotland is Holyroodhouse.

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Sandringham, Norfolk
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Sandringham
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