Inside the Home of the Man Who Defeated Napoleon | Apsley House

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Most people pass through Hyde Park Corner without noticing the grand house standing beside it.
Apsley House was the London home of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington — the man who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. But once inside, it becomes clear that this was never simply a private residence for a national hero.

The house is filled with diplomatic gifts, royal porcelain, military honours and works of art presented by kings, cities and allied nations. Among them is Canova’s monumental statue of Napoleon, placed beside the staircase of the home of the man who defeated him.

In this video, I explore why so many countries chose to honour Wellington personally, how the Waterloo Gallery became the setting for the annual Waterloo Banquet, and how a private London home gradually became a stage for displaying victory, diplomacy and national identity.