A History of Royal Food and Feasting (FutureLearn)

We’ll take an intimate look behind the scenes at some of the most incredible palaces in England; Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace, Elizabeth I at the Tower of London, George I at Hampton Court Palace, George III at Kew Palace and Victoria at Kensington Palace.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1: King Henry VIII and Hampton Court Palace

• The Tudor kitchens at Hampton Court Palace and catering to the king, his court and servants.
• The celebrations and christening of Edward VI.
• Henry’s expanding waistline and the science behind his assumed, heavy protein diet.

Week 2: Elizabeth I and the Tower of London

• Palace or a prison? Elizabeth I’s relationship with the Tower.
• The expansion of Elizabeth’s empire, discovery of new worlds, exotic foods and their influence on eating habits.
• Surviving or thriving; life as a prisoner at the Tower, and some daring escapes.
• Sir Walter Raleigh; his life as a prisoner in the Tower, experimenting with herbal plants, including his Great Cordial recipe.

Week 3: George I at Hampton Court Palace

• How chocolate came to be an integral part of the English court and why George I had his own chocolate maker.
• Lavish entertainments using chocolate to showcase kingship and wealth.
• The science of chocolate.

Week 4: George III at Kew Palace

• The Royal Kitchens at Kew Palace and how it catered for the Royal family.
• George III; flamboyance versus frugality
• The mad king. George’s medical treatment and the food he ate following his first bout of mental illness.

Week 5: Victoria and Kensington Palace

• Young Victoria and the celebrations in 1836 when she turned 17.
• The rise of the middle class queen. New technology and the Victorian food revolution.
• Victoria’s eating habits and her favourite foods.
• The democratisation of tea and cake.
• When would you like to start?

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

• Investigate a range of evidence including: artefacts, documents and diary entries to draw conclusions about monarchs and key food events from the past.
• Explore common misconceptions about the palaces, monarchs and their impact on changing dietary tastes from Henry VIII to Queen Victoria.
• Investigate the flavour intensity, nutritional value and medicinal benefits of food past and present.
• Discuss typical flavour combinations of the era based on a selection of historic recipes and flavour experiments, adapted for learners to try for themselves at home.