Apprentices and interns working at Historic Royal Palaces celebrated national apprenticeship week.

Chief executive Michael Day hosted an event for the group and their line managers at Hampton Court Palace last week to recognise their contribution.

Apprentices with Historic Royal Palaces fulfill a range of roles from trawling the archives of Whitehall’s magnificent Banqueting House, to learning how to tend by hand Hampton Court’s 17th century Privy Garden.

A recent curatorial intern was crucial to the discovery of the royal chocolate kitchen, which opened to the public for the first time at Hampton Court Palace this year.

Mr Day said: “National apprenticeship week is a great opportunity for us at Historic Royal Palaces to celebrate the work and achievements of our apprentices and interns.

“We believe in the idea of ‘grow your own talent’, developing young people within the organisation to become future leaders. Our apprenticeship and intern programmes are key to this.”

Travel and trade intern Noorie Grewal said: “Working here has made a massive difference to me.

“Rather than feeling like an intern, you’re treated as a valued member of the team. I’ll be sad to leave when the time comes. Everyone who works at Historic Royal Palaces has that same welcoming character.”