Our trip to Hampton Court Palace was a charming getaway that fulfilled my Pride and Prejudice fantasies. The atmosphere was relaxing and the environment was beautiful. While unassuming at the start, Hampton Court soon became my favorite excursion in our journey thus far.
Walking through the Great Kitchen, the scent from the wood burning stove made me want to make homemade bread. It was interesting to see how expansive the space was and how much of it is preserved today. When King Henry was staying in the palace, the kitchen workers would cook to feed 800 people, explaining the need for the six fireplaces. At first, the Great Kitchen was used to cook meats but was later expanded to include charcoal stoves to cook break. Next to the kitchens was the wine cellar, where barrels upon barrels of wine reflect the lavishness of Henry VIII’s collection which he used to entertain guests. Jungle juice didn’t come about until later, I suppose.
The Great Hall, redesigned in 1532, encapsulates the grandeur of the palace with its high, “hammerbeam” roof and hung deer heads. I thought the white walls mixed with the wood carvings of the ceiling, with hangings reflecting a Tudor style, created a warm, welcoming aura while maintaining a sumptuous look. The Chapel Royal also embodied a luxurious Tudor architectural style with impeccable vault ceilings with the richest blue paint. This Chapel was obviously intended to be a place for royalty to worship.
Christopher Wren, the architect who designed St. Paul’s, not the wacky man in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, created an addition to the palace with extra bedrooms for royalty. He made the building have access to the Privy Garden from the bedrooms for the King. This was my favorite garden because I loved the cone-shaped bushes and the fountain. Wren’s new design was my favorite and was in Baroque style, contrasting the palace’s previous Tudor additions.
One thing I found particularly lovely about this building was the King’s Staircase for the King’s State Apartments, designed by an artist named Antonio Verrio. The expansive walls have beautiful mythical paintings, and the staircase had intricately designed iron railings. The King’s state bedchamber was filled with red accents, including a ceiling-high red bed canopy that closed completely, allowing maximum privacy for its inhabitants. I think if I slept in there with the curtains closed, I would never wake up.
I would personally love to be a courtier, mostly because I would get my own personal bedroom in the palaces, which are much larger and more fancy than my apartment in Fayetteville. Although it would feel stressful to try and remain in the monarch’s good spirits, I would like to reap the benefits of what wealth and societal standing can bring. Walking on eggshells around an easily irritated King is nothing a people-pleaser like me can’t face.
Being in William and Mary’s court would mean I could pay a visit to the Chocolate Kitchen and probably be served the world’s most delicious and luxury dessert. I am a sweet tooth, so this would be a huge motive for me.
This day was so enjoyable and gave me a royal experience I can never replace. Somehow Mother Nature knew we would be walking outside, so she also blessed us with gorgeous weather, which made walking along the garden just that extra bit sweeter.
I think that in another lifetime, I was meant to be sipping tea, eating tea cakes, in a big, fancy dress, while walking along a garden. Being at Hampton Court Palace allowed me to live my period-piece dream and reminded me that there is no place like home (London).
xoxo,
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