The story of how William III's plans to knock down Hampton Court were scuppered when he became caught up in an expensive nine-year war with Louis XIV of France. Kate Williams explores more gruesome stories of palace history, including how St James's Palace doctors killed their queen, why a young African prince is buried in Windsor, and how Queen Anne had two confidantes, possibly lovers, fighting over her.

A network of tunnels built by George IV underneath Brighton's Royal Pavilion as he had grown so fat that he was embarrassed by his appearance and wanted to visit his beloved horses unobserved by cruel critics. Plus, the story behind the Diana, Princess of Wales statue in Kensington Palace and how this piece of art ended up demonstrating the fractured relationship of her two sons.