History teachers lined up for major new prize launched by Historic Royal Palaces

History is filled with royal figures who made their mark in a time when kings (and sometimes queens) held total power. Now, the people who help bring those stories alive for a new generation are lined up for a special award.

Historic Royal Palaces, which looks after some of the best known regal residences in the world, is launching a new competition to find the country’s most inspiring history teachers.

The awards, launched today, will recognise teachers who bring the past to life – and that includes the royal figures who changed the country, for good or bad.

Entries will come from across the UK, with Historic Royal Palaces working with organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to ensure that the awards and the teaching they recognise reflect the nations themselves.

There will be ten regional winners and one overall winner. Each regional champion will get a £500 prize for themselves and £500 for their school as well while the overall winner gets another £500 for both themselves and their school.

The prize giving will take place at one of the places that has played a crucial role in British history – the Tower of London, which is cared for now by Historic Royal Palaces.

As the awards were launched, HRP said that the prizes recognised the way that teachers are ”igniting a love and appreciation for the past”’ and play a crucial role in supporting ”young people to ask questions and develop critical thinking – crucial skills in the age of social media and AI.”

The judging panel is headed by leading historian, Lucy Worsley, who said ”Great history teaching doesn’t just tell students what happened—it helps them think, question and connect with the world around them. We’re looking for the inspirational people who do this every day in their classrooms.”

Other judges include historians like Greg Jenner, famous for his podcast You’re Dead to Me, and Dan Jones who hosts the podcast, This is History. With teachers across the UK increasingly pointing their students to podcasts to supplement their knowledge and expand their curiosity, the inclusion of famous hosts on the judging panel recognises the changes going on in how history is viewed and learned.

The panel also includes author Sathnam Sanghera who wrote Empireland, Empireworld and The Boy with the Topknot, and Shalina Patel, writer and author of The History Lessons. Michael Riley, history educator and academic, and Katie Hunter, a teacher, activist and researcher compete the judging line up.

Entries close on January 25 2026 and you can nominate a teacher here. The awards will take place at the Tower of London on June 20 2026.