The scent of a rose
The heady fragrance of roses envelops the gardens of Hampton Court Palace in the summer. Uncover the symbolic and everyday roles of roses in royal history.
Chapel Court, Hampton Court Palace (2015) by Robin Forster PhotographyHistoric Royal Palaces
Chapel Court Garden
Within the walls of Hampton Court Palace a tapestry of fragrant herbs and flowers await you. Nestled next to the 500-year-old Chapel Royal is a modern evocation of the Tudors' gardens, planted with varieties from the 16th century.
View of Tudor Garden, Chapel Court (2013) by James BrittainHistoric Royal Palaces
In summer, the white rose of York (Rosa x alba "Semiplena") and red rose of Lancaster (Rosa gallica officinalis) bloom here, representing the two families of the Tudor royal dynasty.
The King's Beasts in Chapel Court
Alongside the herbs and flowers are 'Kyngs beestes' perched on posts painted in the Tudor colours of green and white.
These heraldic beasts guarded the king's private gardens, where each flower bed was protected by a wooden rail.
Each replica carved and painted beast represents the heraldic arms of Henry VIII's family or one of his queens.
Tudor roots
The Chapel Garden's design and planting is based on historic documents, paintings and early gardeners' books including William Turner's 'A new herball, wherin are conteyned the names of herbes' (1551), and John Gerard's 'Herball' (1597).
Elizabeth of York (1470/1498) by British school, 16th centuryRoyal Collection Trust, UK
Peace in the Wars of the Roses
The Tudor rose was first used by the newly crowned Henry VII in the 15th century. When he married Elizabeth of York in 1486, both their dynasties - and their symbolic roses - came together.
Stained-glass window, Great Watching Chamber, Hampton Court Palace (1845) by James Brittain and Thomas WillementHistoric Royal Palaces
The Tudor rose
The heraldic symbol was widely used by kings and queens of England from the late 1400s.
Carved and gilded Tudor rose, ceiling of the Great Hall, Hampton Court Palace by Robin ForsterHistoric Royal Palaces
Henry VIII frequently used the Tudor rose motif on his possessions, including much of the decoration of Hampton Court Palace.
This carved oak rose comes from the ceiling of his Great Hall.
The Wolsey Closet, Hampton Court Palace by James BrittainHistoric Royal Palaces
This moulded decoration adorns one of his inner chambers, known as the Wolsey Closet.
Field of the Cloth of Gold (1545) by BritishRoyal Collection Trust, UK
In this detail of a painting of Henry VIII's meeting with the King of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold his temporary palace and tents were covered in Tudor roses.
LIFE Photo Collection
Elizabeth I, Henry VIII's younger daughter, continued to promote the Tudor dynasty through her family emblems.
In the well-known 'Pelican portrait' by Nicholas Hilliard of Queen Elizabeth I there are roses embroidered on her dress.
And the rose again appears on the cloth-of-state behind her.
She also wears real roses on her bodice.
Tudor gardens and everyday living
In Tudor times, gardens were not just for pleasure - plants were equally valued for food, medicine and hygiene.
With clean water in limited supply, perfume and scented water from plants covered up many a nasty odour.
Wealthy people used rose water and herbs such as lavender on their bodies and clothing or wore them dried in containers called pomanders.
The Rose Garden in spring at Hampton Court Palace (2017) by Stephen WarrenHistoric Royal Palaces
The Rose Garden at Hampton Court Palace
At Hampton Court Palace the Rose Garden in the old kitchen gardens has been cultivated over the past 80 years.
Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ (2017) by Stephen WarrenHistoric Royal Palaces
A wide range of old and new rose varieties including Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ and Rosa ‘Darcey Bussell’ create an intimate garden full of of colours and fragrance, set against the beautiful red brick of the Tudor palace.
Roses at Hampton Court PalaceHistoric Royal Palaces
Watercolour artists are all members of the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society, which creates botanical paintings and drawings of the plants growing in the gardens and glasshouses at the palace.
Find out more and visit the historic gardens in our care at the Historic Royal Palaces website.
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