PBS TV is broadcasting three must-watch shows over successive Sundays for any fan of grand English houses. The shows, which air Sunday, June 30th, July 7th and July 14th at 8pm, take a fascinating look at the ‘secret histories’ of Hampton Court, Althorp and Chatsworth.
The Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace looks at Hampton Court, just outside London onthe Thames. Through its rooms, the show charts King Henry VIII’s decline from fit young warrior to bloated womanizer and recalls the vivid stories of the ladies who became his queens. The show also examines how William and Mary demolished half of the Tudor palace to replace it with an exquisite baroque structure, making Hampton Court one of the most unusual palaces in the world. Even those who have visited this amazing palace will enjoy the chance to go beneath the brick and stone to uncover an abundance of art and stories that bring Hampton Court alive. Sun. June 30th 8-9pm (Check local listings)
Althorp, childhood home and final resting place of Princess Diana, is currently the home of Diana’s brother, Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer. Nineteen generations of Spencers have presided over this grand estate for more than 500 years. The Spencer dynasty has produced politicians, military heroes, dukes and duchesses and will one day furnish Britain with a king: Diana’s son, Prince William. Noted for their generosity, the Spencers once came to the rescue of a distant cousin fallen on hard times: the great-great-great-grandfather of George Washington. Althorp House has hosted some of the kingdom’s most distinguished guests, and its rooms have witnessed scenes of great celebration, the first earl’s secret wedding to his sweetheart and most recently, the marriage of the current earl, who takes viewers on a personal tour around the noble manor that is, first and foremost, his family home. Sun. July 7th 8-9pm (Check local listings)
In its 500-year history, Chatsworth has been home to some notable inhabitants, among them the 5th Duke of Devonshire, his wife, Lady Georgiana Spencer, and Lady Elizabeth Foster, who lived together in a ménage à trois. King Edward VII enjoyed shooting parties on the estate and was often entertained by Duchess Louisa, one of Britain’s foremost political hostesses. Duchess Louisa’s daughter-in-law, American Consuelo Yznaga del Valle, introduced American heiresses into the British aristocracy; many of these young women married British noblemen. Billy Cavendish, heir of the 10th Duke of Devonshire, wooed and wed Kathleen Kennedy, the sister of future U.S. president John F Kennedy. The marriage was short-lived, however: Billy died in action in World War II four months after they exchanged vows. Four years later, Kathleen died in a plane crash. She was buried at Chatsworth. Sun. July 14th 8-9pm (Check local listings).
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