From the Queen's House to the Armada Portrait, Greenwich is steeped in royal history. Discover some of the kings and queens who left their mark in this historic area, and find out more about the surprising royal connections hidden in our collections.

Royal history

Royal portraits in Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection
Come face to face with Kings and Queens, and discover 500 years of royal portraits at the Queen's House in Greenwich
Queen Elizabeth II's visits to Greenwich
Find out more about Her Majesty The Queen's visits to Royal Museums Greenwich
22 Dec 2021
Three portraits, one unique display – the Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I
In February 2020, the three surviving Armada portraits of Queen Elizabeth I went on display together for the first time in their history. As the National Portrait Gallery’s portrait leaves Greenwich, we reflect on what we learned from bringing the three paintings together.
The power of youth: portraits and symbols in Tudors to Windsors
Listen to Lewisham students respond to key paintings in the National Maritime Museum's major exhibition
16 Apr 2021
In memory of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Royal Museums Greenwich Trustee and Patron
The Duke of Edinburgh had a long and very committed involvement with Royal Museums Greenwich.
A Brief History of Royal Portraiture in the United Kingdom
Portraiture in England started to flourish during the Tudor dynasty, in the mid-15th century. By then, painters like Hans Holbein the Younger and Lucas Horenbout, or Hornebolte, were established names in Europe, promoting greater realism and detail to likenesses
Why did Henry VIII break with Rome?
Find out about King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church
Why did the Queen have two birthdays?
Find out about Her Majesty Elizabeth II's birthday celebrations
Queens of the Queen’s House
Greenwich has been a key location for the royal family for over 500 years
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's relationship remains one of the most well known in British royal history