For most, residing in a Tudor palace is a fantasy, but for one 28-year-old from North London, it's his everyday address. Jack Joseph has revealed the surprising reason he calls Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace home, and it's not due to royal lineage or a typical palace job.
The Unusual Tenant of a Royal Residence
In a series of TikTok videos filmed from his bedroom, Jack Joseph explained that he moved into the 500-year-old, reportedly haunted palace in Richmond upon Thames in 2022. He was quick to clarify his status, stating he is neither royalty nor a standard employee of the historic site. "This is just my home," he said, highlighting the extraordinary nature of his living situation.
The key to his unique accommodation lies in his profession. Jack is a professional real tennis player, a historic racket sport distinct from modern lawn tennis. He described real tennis as the original form of the game, known as 'court tennis' in America and 'jeu de paume' in France.
A Sporting Legacy Dating to the Tudors
The connection between his sport and his home is deeply historical. Jack shared footage of himself playing within the palace walls, noting that real tennis has been played at Hampton Court Palace since the 1530s, during the reign of Henry VIII himself. "Henry VIII used to play here and now I do because of my job," he stated, directly linking his present to the Tudor past.
According to the palace's own records, Henry VIII was a passionate and skilled player. A Venetian Ambassador in 1519 wrote of the king playing, admiring his athletic grace. The first court on the site was built for Cardinal Wolsey between 1526 and 1529, with the current court dating from 1625 for Charles I.
Life Inside a Living Museum
For Jack, the palace is both his base and his workplace. He closed his explanation by remarking, "This is my base, which means the place millions of people visit on a day trip is just where I live and go to work." His revelations sparked a flood of curious questions from social media users.
When asked about neighbours, Jack advised that there are three tennis professionals living on-site, each with their own apartment. He also confirmed that, fortunately, he can get a pizza delivered directly to his door, bypassing the palace gates.
Answering a query about the sport's traditional equipment, he revealed a fascinating detail: all real tennis balls are still handmade from scratch by the tennis pros, continuing a centuries-old craft. Jack's life offers a rare, modern glimpse into the ongoing legacy of one of Britain's most iconic royal homes, where history is not just preserved but actively lived.
