Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace

Hampton Court was built as extravagant renaissance castle by Henry VIII's trusted chief minister, chancellor cardinal Wolsey, yet often used as a favorite among the Tudor king's over 50 castles along the Thames, even before it was signed over in a vain attempt to prevent utter disfavor after his eminence's failure to obtain papal dispensation to divorce the Spanish queen Catherine of Aragon. Henry kept remodeling it for his five successive wives. * After Henry's death, it was neglected for a century and a half, until William and Mary commissioned Christopher Wren to rebuild it in modern style, luckily left half-way due to budget restraints. James Stuart also favored it . The Hanoverian 'Georgians' again resided there, until queen Caroline fell in disgrace after abused prince of Wales Frederic sneaked out his pregnant consort to give birth in London.*