 The King was fascinated by astronomy ; his personal association with the science was illustrated by the fact that the sundial was not only his personal pride and joy but was also designed to serve as a symbol of the Stuart family . It had glass portraits mounted on it , depicting Charles , Queen Catherine , the Duke of York , the Queen Mother and Prince Rupert . A watchman was posted to guard it against the kind of vandalism that had wrecked the earlier sundial , but in June 1675 it was severely damaged when it was attacked by John Wilmot , 2nd Earl of Rochester , much to the king 's fury . The fate of the ruined dial is unknown ; it was last recorded standing at Buckingham House ( later Buckingham Palace ) in 1710 . 
