Catherine Howard's Ghost
The most frequently told ghost story at Hampton Court Palace involves Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII. In November 1541, Catherine was accused of adultery and treason. According to tradition, she escaped her guards and ran through the gallery adjoining the Chapel Royal, screaming for the king to hear her and show mercy. She was dragged back before she could reach him.
Catherine was executed at the Tower of London in February 1542, but her spirit is said to have returned to Hampton Court. The gallery where she allegedly made her desperate run has been known as the Haunted Gallery ever since. Visitors and staff have reported hearing screams, feeling sudden drops in temperature, and seeing a white figure moving through the corridor. In 1999, two visitors on separate occasions fainted in the same spot in the gallery, and both reportedly described feeling an overwhelming sense of dread before losing consciousness.
Whether the original story of Catherine's run through the gallery is historically accurate is unclear. Contemporary sources do not describe it, and some historians believe it was a later invention. But the Haunted Gallery has maintained its reputation for unsettling experiences regardless of the story's origins.
The Grey Lady
The Grey Lady of Hampton Court is believed to be the ghost of Dame Sybil Penn, who served as nurse to Prince Edward (later Edward VI) and other Tudor royal children. Sybil died of smallpox in 1562 and was buried in the old church at Hampton, near the palace.
In 1829, her tomb was disturbed when the church was demolished and rebuilt. Shortly afterwards, residents in the palace began reporting a tall, grey figure walking through corridors and state apartments. A strange whirring sound was also reported from behind a wall in the southwest wing. When the wall was opened, a previously unknown room was discovered containing a spinning wheel, which some attributed to Sybil's ghost continuing her work.
The Grey Lady has been reported intermittently ever since, typically as a tall, veiled figure seen briefly in doorways or corridors before vanishing. Several palace residents over the years have claimed to have seen her.
The 2003 CCTV Figure
In December 2003, Hampton Court Palace released CCTV footage that attracted worldwide media attention. Fire doors in one of the palace's exhibition areas had repeatedly been found open, despite being secured. When staff reviewed the CCTV footage, they found a sequence showing the doors flying open and a figure in a long dark coat emerging from behind them.
The figure was quickly nicknamed "Skeletor" by the media due to its gaunt appearance and period-style clothing. The footage was examined by several experts, with opinions divided between a genuine anomaly and a possible prank or technical artefact. The palace itself presented the footage without claiming it was necessarily supernatural, but it generated enormous publicity and cemented Hampton Court's status as one of Britain's most famous haunted locations.
Other Reported Ghosts
Hampton Court has accumulated a long list of supernatural reports beyond Catherine Howard and the Grey Lady. Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, who died at the palace in 1537, is said to walk through the Silver Stick Gallery and Clock Court carrying a candle, particularly around the anniversary of her death in October.
The ghost of Cardinal Wolsey, who built the palace before Henry seized it, has been reported in the Clock Court area. Archbishop Laud, who was imprisoned at the palace during the English Civil War, is said to haunt the library. Two Cavalier soldiers from the Civil War period have been reported by visitors in the grounds.
The palace's long history of violent events, power struggles and sudden deaths provides a deep well of potential hauntings. Whether any of these stories reflect genuine paranormal activity or are the product of atmosphere, expectation and centuries of storytelling is a question that each visitor must answer for themselves.
The Haunted Gallery Today
The Haunted Gallery is open to visitors as part of the normal palace tour. It is a long, panelled corridor hung with portraits, and even without any supernatural expectations it has a distinctly atmospheric quality. The lighting is subdued, the floorboards creak underfoot, and the portraits seem to watch as you walk past.
Staff at the palace take a neutral approach to the ghost stories. They will share the accounts without claiming to believe or disbelieve them, and many have their own stories of unexpected experiences during early morning or evening shifts. The palace occasionally runs after-dark ghost tours that explore the haunted areas of the building in more atmospheric conditions. If you are planning a visit, check our guide on how to get to Hampton Court from London for the best transport options.
