To be held on Wednesday, 18 November 2026
We might assume that our modern Christmas owes much to the Victorians. In fact, carol-singing, present-giving, mulled wine and mince pies were popular in Tudor times, and even Father Christmas and roast turkey have their origins in this period. The Tudor Christmas was a time of feasting and merrymaking, a 12-day-long festival, over which the Lord of Misrule held sway, and convention was thrown to the winds.
Siobhan Clarke
Siobhan Clarke BA Hons has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years delivering tours and lectures on Hampton Court, Kensington, the Tower of London and the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace. She has lectured for the British Museum, National Trust, National Archives and the Smithsonian and featured on BBC Radio ‘Woman’s Hour’ and Television’s ‘Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace’.