Fit for a King – royal geographical and architectural statements

Aims of the course

This course aims to:

1. Examine the history and roles of royal properties and how King Charles III will use them;
2. Identify how the history and contemporary status of the kingdoms of Wales and Scotland weave into those of England;
3. Discuss which of these properties might be perceived as a global ‘goldfish bowl’ i.e. under incessant public, global scrutiny.

Content

As Prince of Wales for over 50 years, King Charles III was actively involved in royal, domestic and overseas architectural and landscape projects not least through the work of The Prince’s Trust. He is also an enthusiastic amateur gardener. This course will study and compare famed royal monuments and lesser-known domains. We will start by identifying three palatial sites in London: the original Westminster was contemporary with the Abbey whilst St James and Whitehall came to royal importance under Henry VIII. Their status remains through contemporary royal associations. Windsor Castle has been the English royal home for centuries: how will this continue under Charles III? Wales is described as a kingdom of castles. We will trace royal links before focussing on Caernarfon, scene of the investiture of the 20-year-old Charles as Prince of Wales. The House of Windsor has roots back to the Welsh Tudor and Scottish Stuart dynasties whose domains, although no longer in royal hands, remain as evidence of their powerful status. One session will take the form of a walk around Cambridge starting with Tudor roots at Christs, St John’s and King’s to Trinity College where Charles III studied. His grandmother Queen Elizabeth, consort to George V, was Scottish. in widowhood, she acquired the Castle of Mey, now closely associated with the King through the Prince’s Trust. Buckingham and Holyroodhouse Palaces have evolved into official residences; however, when in London, Charles has chosen to continue residing at Clarence House. Architecture is one of the King’s passions– from his youthful support for the development of the ‘new town’ of Poundbury in Dorset to saving the eighteenth-century Dumfries House and its contents in Ayrshire. The gardens of Highgrove House in Gloucestershire have provided a canvas for an eclectic mixture of design and planting. Lastly, a talented artist, this King has created a legacy from children’s book illustration to painterly records of royal estates with a passion for sustainable stewardship.

Presentation of the course

The nine lectures will be well-illustrated with historic and contemporary images that set the scene, comment and discussion are encouraged throughout. We will explore a global perspective on the outer fabric of this new reign. Apart from the course handout, the Course Director will bring in books and articles of relevance and interest. One session will take the form of a guided walk into Cambridge to appreciate and interpret architecture associated with British royalty.

Class sessions

1. Pomp and circumstance in the King’s capital – the palaces of St. James, Westminster and Whitehall in London
   We start in the royal heartland of London, tracing the history of three palaces whose roles are royal by association. Charles III was proclaimed King at the first; he was crowned in Westminster Abbey in May, whilst Whitehall represents the centre of government.
    
2. Windsor Castle – a thousand years of Royal presence
   A castle in the public eye from its construction by William the Conqueror in the 1070s. Traditionally home to the Royal family, the old castle and its additions dominate the town of Windsor, within a host of architects and designers have wrought changes creating rooms of fabulous artworks and historic artefacts. Will Charles III continue to live there?
    
3. Wales and the castles of princes and kingmakers
   Edward I built and repaired many castles between 1276 and 1295, the most famous being Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech. Described as ‘royal palace fortress built on legend and bitter medieval conflict’, we will examine Caernarfon in the greatest detail, where Charles III was ‘invested’ as Prince of Wales in 1969 by his mother Elizabeth II.
    
4. The Tudor and Stuart Dynasties and the creation of Great Britain
   In 1503 Henry VIII’s sister Margaret married James IV of Scotland, and their Stuart descendants united England and Scotland. Contemporary royals have separate Scottish titles which are used when in Scotland. We will examine Stirling and Falkland Castles and conclude with Gordonstoun School, the only senior school to educate a monarch.
    
5. Field trip - A Royal tour of Cambridge.
   This will take the form of a walking tour studying the exteriors of Christs (and its chapel), St John’s, King’s and Trinity Colleges. All manifest outward symbols of their historic royal connections which we will identify, analyse and discuss. In this offers the opportunity to examine their legacy in contemporary regalia and customs.
    
6. Grandmother’s footsteps – Glamis Castle and the Castle of Mey
   Charles III’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, grew up in Glamis Castle, redolent with royal Scottish history and happy childhood associations. She bought the Castle of Mey in 1952, in 1996 Charles became President of the newly formed Castle of Mey Trust whose aims include to advance historical and architectural education. The gardens are notable. We will contrast the  gardens of both castles, the former run as part of the Bowes Lyon estate and the latter now associated with the wider social reach of The Princes Trust.
    
7. The official residences – Buckingham and Holyroodhouse Palaces
   James I of England and VI of Scotland set aside 4 acres near the Palace of Westminster to be a mulberry garden. The later house built on the site by the Duke of Buckingham became a royal residence some 200 years ago. Today Buckingham Palace is an international symbol of the British monarchy. The reigning monarch’s official residence the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh dates back over 500 years, witness to royal marriages, treachery, rebellion and murder. Both are now used for public engagements, private audiences, receptions and investitures hosted by the monarch.
    
8. Saved for the nation – Charles III’s role in preserving and reviving Dumfries House
   Acknowledged as one of the finest Palladian mansions with equally magnificent furnishings in Scotland, it was built in 1748 for William Crichton-Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries, to designs by John and Robert Adam. It remained in his family until 2007 when the 7th Marquess sold it. Faced with such a national loss the then Prince of Wales stopped the sale, organised the funds and made it part of The Prince’s Foundation.

9. A private domain – the gardens of Highgrove House 
   Acquired in 1980, it is the gardens that have become internationally renowned, they form an eclectic series of design exercises. This lecture will focus on the gardens, their designers and plantings. 

10. The King’s landscape palette – Charles III’s watercolours and the sustainability in every sense of royal estates  
    Painting in watercolour was inspired by his art master at school and has been a royal escape during his travels at home and abroad. In 1977 his paintings were exhibited for the first time in Windsor Castle, when he sells his artworks the proceeds go to his charities. This session provides an overview and revision of many of the sites we will have studied as well as their commercial sustainability. 

Learning outcomes 

1. Gaining an insight into and defining the importance of architecture and design and their roles to Charles III; 

2. Understanding the changes in use and perception of royal castles, palaces and houses for contemporary society; 

3. Providing knowledge and skills that will enhance the pleasure of visiting historic and contemporary properties with new royal associations

Required reading 

There are no required readings for this course. 

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.