London 2012
2012: London Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

The London Olympics kick off with the opening ceremony on 27 July 2012. As well as the Olympics, 2012 will see the Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.

Here are some of the activities, exhibitions, and events organised by Historic Royal Palaces to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 – a good time to organise group visits to Britain.

Kensington Palace. Victoria Revealed. Following the major project to transform Kensington Palace into a palace for everyone, their first permanent story, opening on 26 March 2012 will be of Queen Victoria.  In her own words, her story from childhood to old age will reveal her intimate private life set against her regal role and the conflicts this caused and dedication required of her as a person.  Set within the palace and in very rooms where Victoria’s history happened, there will be many objects from her life including dresses, diaries, paintings and wedding gifts. 

Also at Kensington Palace, will be a temporary exhibition exploring the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.  In 1897 over 3 million people had converged on London in the hope of catching a glimpse of the diminutive figure that had ruled Britain and her empire for so long.  View the celebrations from the perspective of the crowds who gathered to watch the Queen’s procession through the streets of London.

Tower of London. Crown Jewels. Britain’s Crown Jewels, are a unique, working collection of royal treasures.  They are priceless for their symbolic value as well as the magnificence of their precious materials.  From Easter 2012 visitors entering the redisplayed Jewel House will be amazed at the splendour of the objects, enjoy being up close to discover the importance of the Tower to the Crown Jewels and understand the changing relationship between the British monarchy and society in the past, present and future. 

Kew Palace – Georgian Kitchens. Being untouched since George III’s death in 1820, the Kitchens represent a fascinating insight into life at the royal court as well as further uncovering the bouts of illness suffered by the King.  Visitors set foot into the kitchens as they were on 6 February 1789, the date on which George III was given back his knife and fork after his illness and the week in which the famous meeting between the King and Fanny Burney in Kew Gardens took place, which instantly became the hot gossip of the court.

Hampton Court Palace -The Pursuit of Beauty. A new temporary exhibition will be opening in spring 2012 portraying the meaning of Beauty, during the reigns of Charles II, James II, William & Mary II and Anne, known as the Baroque period.  This is the story about love, glamour, celebrity, lust and power, which will uncover some of the key characters that lived, loved and died at Hampton Court Palace from 1660-1714.

All in all, a very exciting time to visit Britain.