Conservation teams at the palaces have to work out everything, from how Henry VIII's clock worked to the complexities of staging a Stuart banquet.
Everywhere in the palaces there are signs left by the people who lived there - from witch marks in the attic of Kew to graffiti in the Tower.
The palaces are owned by the Queen, and curators need to exercise tact when organising an exhibition, whether on Diana or George III.
How the Royal Palaces organisation deals with wear and tear, as cracks appear in the Chapel Royal and a special invention monitors dust.
Where does the money come from to fund ambitious renovation projects like the Tudor chimney pots at Hampton Court?
The palaces are full of beautifully crafted objects that wear out and need to be replaced - from bricks to dresses - and the details have to be perfect.
Might the desire to entertain visitors with ice skating and ghost stories lead the palaces away from their serious educational and curatorial purposes?
Inside the lesser-known departments of the palaces, where they perform such unusual tasks as freezing stuffed bears to preserve them.
A look at some of the amazing treasures contained within the palaces, including a Rubens painting on the ceiling of the Banqueting House.
What does the future hold for the Royal Palaces and their conservation teams?