Royal Palaces

Nonsuch Palace, in Surrey, was a majestical palace commissioned by King Henry VIII in 1538 to celebrate the birth of his longed for son, the future King Edward VI. Henry wanted it to be the most magnificent palace in the world, hence the name, and it certainly made an impression, even though it was smaller than some of the other palaces. King Henry VIII died before the palace was completed and it remained unfinished until Queen Mary I gave it to Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel.

For most of Queen Elizabeth's reign the palace remained in the possession of the Earl of Arundel and his family. In the early 1590s. however, she bought it from the family and it immediately became one of her favourite residences. It was at Nonsuch Palace that Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, burst into the Queen's room without permission after returning from Ireland.

In the 1670s King Charles II gave the palace to his mistress, Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, who dismantled it to pay her gambling debts.