Behind the Throne

A Domestic History of the Royal Household

Despite the castles, crown jewels, and other trappings of monarchy, English royals had—and still have—many of the same issues as average people. They eat, entertain their friends and worry about money. Henry VIII tripped over his dogs. George II threw his son out of the house. James I had to cut back on his alcohol bills. Queen Victoria replaced the toilet paper with newsprint at Windsor to cut costs, while overspending on travel and entertainment.

The great difference, however, is that royal families have much more domestic help—people who run the machine that is the Royal Household. Everyone, from James I’s Master of the Horse down to William IV’s Assistant Table Decker, was there to smooth the sovereign’s path through life. Even today, Elizabeth II has a staff of 1,200.

In his lecture, historian Adrian Tinniswood will uncover the reality of five centuries of life at the English court, taking us on a remarkable journey from one Queen Elizabeth to another. He will reconstruct life behind the throne—telling juicy domestic details—and will illustrate the daily lives of both clerks and courtiers, crowned heads and court jesters.

Adrian will describe the power struggles and petty rivalries that have historically dominated court politics. He will also talk about the shifting idea of the monarchy today, and how their support network still serves as an interface between sovereign and the public. His witty social history of royal life will offer a tour of England’s grandest households while commenting on the ever present tension between the upstairs throne room and downstairs servant’s area.

Thank you to our co-sponsors: Holland MacRae; Spalding Nix Fine Arts; Culture Club; AFA; ICAA, Southeast Chapter

HM Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Diamond Diadem, by Cecil Beaton, 1955. Royal Collection Trust © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2012

HM Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Diamond Diadem, by Cecil Beaton, 1955. Royal Collection Trust © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2012

Adrian Tinniswood

Adrian Tinniswood

Adrian Tinniswood, OBE

British Historian & Author

Adrian Tinniswood studied English and Philosophy at Southampton University and was awarded an MPhil at Leicester University. He has acted as a consultant to the National Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund. He is a Senior Research Fellow in History at the Universuty of Buckingham. He has lectured at several universities in both the United Kingdom and United States, including the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of 15 books on architectural and social history including By Permission of Heaven: The True Story of the Great Fire of London, The Verneys, Pirates of Barbary, and The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House Between the Wars. His latest book on which his lecture is base is Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the Royal Household (2018). Tinniswood was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to heritage.

Register Now

Queen Elizabeth II waving to crowds on a carriage ride in Colonial Williamsburg, 2007

Date:

Wednesday, April 17 | 6:30 p.m.
Reception and book signing following lecture

Location:

Holland MacRae
345 Peachtree Hills Ave NE, Suite 100

Tickets:

$35 members; $45 non-members

Buy Tickets
Queen Elizabeth II waving to crowds on a carriage ride in Colonial Williamsburg, 2007