At the time of its destruction by a fire in 1698 Whitehall Palace was the largest palace in Europe. Whitehall Palace was originally called York Place having been established by Archbishop of York Water de Grey in 1240. The most famous resident of York Place, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey expanded York Place to such an extent that it was the largest house in London, second only to Lambeth Palace.

After Cardinal Wolsey fell from favour with King Henry VIII York Place was seized (along with Hampton Court) & become the property of the King. York Place was renamed Whitehall Palace & become the home of King Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn, at the time Henry was still married to Katharine of Aragon but the lack of Queens Apartments at the palace meant that Katherine would not live at Whitehall. Henry & Anne set about enlarging Whitehall Palace & an act of parliament in 1536 made the palace Henry’s principal seat.

The first Banqueting House was a brick & timber building clad in canvas where Queen Elizabeth I would meet potential suitors & host state visits. Elizabeth’s successor King James I frequently used the Banqueting House as a venue to host performances called Masques. James I commissioned the architect Robert Stickells to construct a larger, modern Banqueting House. Stickells creation proved unpopular with the King & after it was destroyed by a fire in 1619 the architect Inigo Jones was commissioned to build a replacement.

The current Banqueting House was completed in 1622, Jones designed it in the Palladian style & the structure was the first Classical building in London. The tradition of hosting Masques in the Banqueting House continued throughout the reign of King Charles I & in 1629/1630 he commissioned the artist Peter Paul Rubens to decorate the Banqueting House’s ceiling with nine magnificent murals. The murals were installed in 1636 & depict scenes from the reign of James I including the Union of the English & Scottish crowns, The Apotheosis of James I & The Peaceful Reign of James I.