Historic Royal Palaces announces plans to ‘gradually reopen’ some of the ‘beautiful outdoors spaces’ in its care, including gardens at Hampton Court and Hillsborough Castle
- Historic Royal Palaces have announced plans to ‘gradually reopen’ some sites
- Will give visitors chance to explore some ‘beautiful outdoor spaces’ in their care
- Tweeted to announce gardens at Hampton Court and Hillsborough Castle
Historic Royal Palaces have announced plans to ‘gradually reopen’ some of the ‘beautiful outdoor spaces’ in its care amid lockdown easing across the UK.
The charity, which was set up by the Government to look after five royal palaces in 1989, revealed the news on Twitter over the weekend.
It posted: ‘Eleven weeks on from closing, we are now planning to gradually reopen some of the beautiful outdoor spaces in our care.
‘In June the gardens at #HamptonCourtPalace and Hillsborough Castle will reopen with a wide range of safety measures in place.’
Historic Royal Palaces have announced plans to ‘gradually reopen’ some of their outdoor spaces in June, including Hillsborough Castle’s garden
In a statement online, the charity went on to add that they hoped to be able to re-open some palace interiors ion July, followed by cafes and shops.
Those wishing to visit the historic sites will need to book their visits to the grounds ahead of schedule.
In a letter written by the charity’s CEO, John Barnes, he wrote that the charity ‘urgently needed support’ from members and supporters.
He wrote: ‘We have lost the majority of our income, and we face serious financial challenges.
The charity, which looks after six different royal residences, will also be opening the Hampton Court Palace’s gardens
‘If, like us, you love the palaces and believe in what we do, we would welcome any donation you are able to give to sustain the charity through this difficult period.
‘A donation to Historic Royal Palaces is an investment in their future – so that visitors can continue to enjoy them for centuries to come.’
He added: ‘For now, thank you for your patience and support; we’ve missed sharing these wonderful palaces with you and look forward to welcoming you back soon.’
The organisation shared the news on Twitter, adding that they would be implementing a ‘wide range of safety measures’
Both sites have proved popular with members of the royal family over the last few years.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, paid several visits to the Hampton Court Palace’s gardens last summer, as she worked on her Back to Nature garden.
Meanwhile Prince Charles, 71, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 71, enjoyed the Hillsborough Castle gardens as they attended the site’s re-opening during a visit to Belfast in 2019 .
The Duchess of Cambridge made several visits to Hampton Court Palace’s gardens last summer as she launched her Back to Nature garden
HRP was set up by the Government in 1989 to look after five royal palaces but later became an independent charity.
It took over the management of a sixth palace, Hillsborough Castle, in 2014.
The news comes after the National Trust and Royal Horticultural Society said they will be throwing open the gates of some of their properties to those who buy tickets in advance.
Meanwhile Prince Charles, 71, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 71, enjoyed the gardens as they attended the re-opening of Hillsborough Castle during a visit to Belfast in 2019