William & Mary

At the heart of the Lower Hall ceiling reigns Britain’s only ever joint Monarchs, King William III and Queen Mary II who came to power in an event known as the ‘Glorious Revolution’ - the ousting of the incumbent Catholic King, James II in favour of his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch (Protestant) husband William, Prince of Orange.

Following the Naval battle of ‘La Hogue’ Mary established the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich, however due to her tragic death in 1694 from Smallpox, she did not live to see construction begin. It was instead overseen by her devoted husband, who continued to rule alone until a fall from his horse led to his eventual death in 1702.