Come and meet 500 years of British Royals at the newly renovated National Portrait Gallery! This is an exclusive small group tour for a maximum of just 15 people. The Gallery has recently reopened with more gallery space to display its famous collection of portraits, featuring all the “great and the good” who have shaped the UK and the British way of life.

This highlights tour focused on the British royals and covers approximately 500 years, from King Henry VIII to King Charles III. It will be an overview tour, not an in-depth history tour, but aims to introduce you to all of our monarchs, and some of their families, favourites and most important advisers, via their most iconic portraits. What do these portraits tell us about them as people; their personalities, loves, attitudes and style of monarchy. By the end of this tour you should be able to explain how Charles III is descended from Henry VIII, and be able to advise on him on the lessons, both positive and negative, that he could learn from his ancestors. Clue: Don’t be anything like Charles I or Charles II!

About Your Guide

Caroline Piper is a Downing College history graduate (1997) and a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, the highest guiding qualification available. She is passionate about history, literature, architecture, films and finding the “off the beaten track” London gems. You can find out more about her on her Piper Tours website where you can also find links to her Tripadvisor page, facebook page and memberships of professional guiding bodies. She has led regular tours for the Society for 5 years.

*Only members of the Cambridge Society of London (and their one guest) may book tickets – if you are not currently a member and would like to become one, please visit our website.