Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity responsible for six of the UK’s most iconic palaces—including Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London, has announced the appointment of Eleri Lynn as its new Chief Curator.

A renowned expert in fashion history and textiles, award-winning author, and accomplished curator, Lynn will lead HRP’s curatorial team, overseeing research and presentation of its palaces and collections.

Lynn’s special interests include inclusive storytelling and research, the intersection between fashion and politics and the performance of power through dress in the Tudor court.

This appointment marks Lynn’s return to Historic Royal Palaces, where she previously served as Curator of Collections from 2013 to 2021.

During her tenure, she curated landmark exhibitions including Diana: Her Fashion Story and The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I, the latter showcasing her work on the Bacton Altar Cloth, a rare survival of Elizabethan court dress.

She also oversaw the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, one of the world’s most significant holdings of historic fashion, comprising 10,000 items of historic dress and related materials.

Lynn’s career spans some of the UK’s most prestigious cultural institutions. She spent a decade at the Victoria and Albert Museum, contributing to blockbuster exhibitions such as Savage Beauty: Alexander McQueen and The Golden Age of Couture. Most recently, she led the exhibitions and international touring strategy for Museums Wales, overseeing programming across seven national sites.

Adrian Phillips, Director of Palaces & Collections at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “Eleri is an exceptional curator with a passion for bringing history to life. Her expertise, creative vision, and commitment to inclusive storytelling make her the perfect leader to guide our curatorial team into the future.”
On her appointment, Eleri Lynn said: “It’s an honour to take on this role at Historic Royal Palaces. These palaces and their remarkable collections hold some of the most fascinating stories in British history, and I look forward to working with the team to share them with new audiences in fresh and exciting ways.”

Originally from South Wales, Lynn is a fluent Welsh speaker and a champion of accessibility in the heritage sector. She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Trustee of the Royal School of Needlework.