The Royal Archives contains a small collection of medieval and Tudor material. This is the result of later collecting habits of the Royal Family, most notably Queen Mary. While this is not an area of particular strength, significant material includes a list of jewels from the wardrobe of Edward I. The document, written in Norman French and dated September 1297, is the oldest document in the Royal Archives.

Among the Tudor material is a household account book of the future Elizabeth I while resident at Hatfield House between 1551 and 1552.