Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Plop—the concept of divine monarchy in Britain was decapitated. But there would
still be kings after Oliver Cromwell, the Protestant anti-monarchist who brought about
Charles I's death and then became England's leader. Soon after Cromwell's death, royalty
was restored, and Charles' son, Charles II, got his revenge here in the Banqueting Hall...by
living well. But, from then on, every king knew that he ruled by the grace of Parliament.
Charles I is remembered today with a statue at one end of Whitehall (in Trafalgar
Square at the base of the tall column), while his enemy, Oliver Cromwell, is given equal
time with a statue at the other end (at the Houses of Parliament).
• You can pop into the Banqueting House, following the self-guided tour below. Otherwise,
skip to “Horse Guards.”
Banqueting House Interior
Start with the 15-minute video on the history of the House, which shows the place in ban-
queting action. History buffs might consider the included, 30-minute audioguide. The low-
ceilinged ground floor, a.k.a. the Undercroft, was King James I's personal wine cellar and
tasting room. Climb to the first floor to find a portrait of the doomed king.
The main hall is impressive—two stories high, white with gold trim, full of light, and
topped with colorful paintings in a gold-coffered ceiling. At 55 feet wide, 55 feet high,
and 110 feet long, it's a perfect double cube. The chandeliers can be raised and lowered to
accommodate any event. The throne is a modern reconstruction, but it gives an idea of the
king's canopied throne that once stood here.
Ceiling Paintings:
Charles I, who inherited the Banqueting House from his father,
commissioned the famed Peter Paul Rubens to complete the decor. The paintings glorify
Charles' dad, James I, the man who built the Banqueting House and who once told Parlia-
ment: “Kings are called gods...even by God himself.”
