Blenheim Palace

Thu 4th Dec 2025

10:00 am

Lecturer: Antonia Keaney

Antonia Keaney joined Blenheim Palace in 2008 as a member of the Education Team, later becoming the Palace’s Social Historian and Researcher. Both roles have involved her curating or co-curating a number of Palace exhibitions including A Passion for Fashion – 300 Years of Blenheim Style.    

The two lectures and the optional lunch will be held at Broadway.

The morning will run as follows:

10 - 10.30 Registration

10.30 - 11.30 Lecture 1 

“300 years of Blenheim Palace’s History and the continuing Battle for Blenheim”  

An overview of Blenheim Palace’s rich and chequered history which looks at why the Palace took so long to build - and why it was never completed; the Dukes and Duchesses that made positive contributions to the Estate as well as those who did exactly the opposite; - and, of course, a look at the Palace’s greatest son - Winston Churchill.

An explanation also of why this continuing battle is as crucial to the Palace today as the Battle of Blenheim was for the future of England in 1704.

11.30 - 12.00 Coffee

12.00 - 1.00 Lecture 2

Blenheim Palace - Christmas Past and Present

Christmas at Blenheim has always been a time of celebration.  The 7th Duke and Duchess followed the lead of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in making Christmas a family time and a time to give gifts to those who were in their employ.  Those traditions are in many ways continued to this day.

This talk looks at how Christmas has been celebrated over the years and how each November, the Palace and its grounds are transformed into a Christmas feast for the eyes.

1.00 Optional cold fork buffet in the Mezzanine Bar for those who have booked it. 

Antonia is an experienced public speaker, both virtually and in person, and she has been a guest on both the radio and TV.

She has already written her first book - which was for children - and is currently researching her next book on Blenheim Palace and World War Two.