Fit to Rule
Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, explored how the physical and mental health of our past monarchs has shaped the history of the nation in a new BBC2 series, ‘Fit to Rule? How Royal Illness Changed History’.
In May 2013, visitors to Hampton Court, Kensington and Kew Palaces gained a further insight into this fascinating series with hands-on events and activities exploring the places where Kings and Queens lived and died, fell ill and got better. With fun activities for all ages –demonstrations, dressing up, lectures and tours, visitors will gain a unique, personal understanding of the private lives of some of Britain’s most famous monarchs. They met a blood sucking leech and watched a display of alchemy. At Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace, visitors could become a surgeon’s apprentice and try their hand at autopsies and amputations. Have a smallpox makeover, and get a few tips on preventing themselves from catching this deadly disease. At Kew Palace was home to King George III, who convalesced there after his periodic bouts of ‘madness’, Here visitors could explore the royal medical chest and learn about the remedies and potions monarchs used to protect themselves and find out which were successful, and which were less so! I worked as Creative Consultant to create and produce the format and scripts for the events, with Louise Wordsworth (Creative Consultant/Executive Producer). |