Art and Medicine Tours London

Monarchs and Maladies – History of Medicine Through the Royal Family

  • Gout Medical Image

A tour of Royal London, Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park and Whitehall but with a medical twist Everything from a surfeit of lampreys (Henry 1st) to a headectomy (Charles 1st ). Dr Barry Walsh will take us on a medical tour – we’ll make the rounds – of Westminster and share some of the extraordinary stories of famous Royal operations (including an early appendicectomy performed on a billiard table) and treatments and deaths. We’ll weave through centuries as we weave through Westminster, the Mall and end in Whitehall. By way of example, at Buckingham Palace we hear about Queen Victoria’s relationship with her devote physician Dr Reid and other doctors. At the Banqueting house we hear about Monarchs as healers (the Royal touch believed to treat the ‘Kings Evil’ or scrofula), the which provides a series of fascinating insights into Court ritual and kingship in the Stuart Dynasty.

This walk is offered as part of London Walks. You can check their website for times and dates by clicking here. Or email Barry and he will reply with the information.

Itinerary

Meeting Point
St James' Park Underground Station (Broadway exit)
First stop (for any latecomers)
Westminster Abbey, outside west entrance by bookshop
Ends at
Near Trafalgar Square