Life and Poetry with Chelsea Pensioner Roy Palmer
Location:
Royal Hospital Chelsea (Soane Stable Yard Courtyard / Activity Room (Enter via Chelsea Gate))
Date & time:
Sunday 4 Oct 2026, 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Price:
£5.00 (plus £2 booking fee per transaction)
Chelsea Pensioner Roy Palmer, our resident poet, shares his powerful, factual poetry inspired by his life, his beloved wife Muriel, and the stories that shaped him. Join this special session to hear Roy read his work and reflect on an extraordinary life lived with humour, love and resilience
About the event
With Chelsea Pensioner Roy Palmer. Meet Roy Palmer, our much-loved Chelsea Pensioner poet, as he shares the remarkable story behind his writing, poetry that began during lockdown and has since reached readers around the world.
Roy first set out to write his life story during Covid. After reaching 6,000 words and only getting as far as age six, he decided it might be a long read for anyone. So he tore it up and began again, this time in verse. His poems are all factual, even those inspired by the First World War, and soon he found himself writing about the life of his beloved wife, Muriel. Roy and Muriel were married for 54 years and 266 days, moving 34 times and building a life full of love, humour, and resilience.
His poetry captures both the joy they shared and the hardships she faced with extraordinary strength. Today, Roy’s work has travelled far beyond the Royal Hospital Chelsea. His books are held in embassies around the world; Queen Camilla owns copies and has written to him three times; and Gyles Brandreth wrote the foreword to his second collection. He has sold more than 1,000 books, donating most of the proceeds to the Royal Hospital. This special Chelsea History Festival session offers a rare chance to hear Roy’s poetry in his own voice, honest, moving, and deeply human. A celebration of life, love, memory, and the extraordinary stories found in ordinary people.
Festival planning
Getting between Chelsea History Festival venues: This event takes place at Royal Hospital Chelsea. Many Chelsea History Festival venues are within walking distance of one another, but journey times vary. If you are booking events close together, please allow enough time to travel comfortably between venues.
Estimated walking times from this venue: 3 minutes to National Army Museum, 5 minutes to Garrison Chapel, 8 minutes to Chelsea Physic Garden, 9 minutes to Royal Court Theatre, 11 minutes to Cadogan Hall, 16 minutes to Chelsea Old Church and 25 minutes to Chelsea Theatre.
Additional information
This event is eligible for our 20% ticket bundle discount.
Book tickets to three or more different events across the festival and you can save 20%. Tickets must be purchased in the same transaction and the discount will automatically be applied within the basket.
Enter via Chelsea Gate
FAQs
Is the Royal Hospital Chelsea accessible?Yes, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is fully accessible. If you need further access information or help please do get in touch tours@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk or call 0207 881 5200.
Bikes (including folding bikes) and scooters are not permitted. There are bike racks located along Royal Hospital Road. These can be used to secure any bikes and scooters.
Please do not secure any bikes or scooters to the railings outside the Royal Hospital Chelsea or Burton Court. Any items secure to these railings will be removed.
What’s on
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