European RoyalsInsight

The first princess of African origin: Princess Angela of Liechtenstein

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3rd February 2023
In January 2000, Angela Gisela Brown became the first person of African heritage to marry into a ruling European family. The marriage was ground-breaking in Liechtenstein, and the union did receive negative remarks from some of the royal family. However, most were happy for the couple and did not express any prejudice towards their new princess. Angela was born in Panama into an ordinary family…
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Features

Alexandría, Last Queen of Iceland

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4th April 2020
On Christmas Eve 1879, a daughter named Alexandrine was born to Frederick III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his wife Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. This little girl was the first child of the couple who had married at the start of the year; her parents went on…
History

Take a look at the most insulting royal nicknames

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3rd April 2020
The use of nicknames or epithets to describe a royal or a local ruler was quite common until recent times. Before pictures were easily accessed, or in places where the first name was repeatedly used for consecutive rulers, a nickname was a useful way to distinguish one…
History

Giovanna, Last Tsarina of Bulgaria

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14th March 2020
Early Life Giovanna Elisabetta Antonia Romana Maria was born on 13th November 1907; her parents were King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Queen Elena. Giovanna was born in Rome into the house of Savoy, as the fourth child of the couple; she had two older sisters Yolanda and Mafalda and an older brother Umberto, another sister Maria Francesca was born in 1914. Princess Giovanna had a quiet…
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FeaturesHistory

The Illegitimate Royals: The Beaufort Children

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27th July 2019
John of Gaunt, born in 1340, was the third son of King Edward III. Through advantageous marriages and land grants, John became exceedingly wealthy and influential at his father’s court. John’s influence increased when his brother Edward – who was the heir to the…
History

The Illegitimate Royals: The many children of Henry I

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25th July 2019
Henry I of England was the son of William the Conqueror and reigned from 1100 to 1135. Henry had two legitimate children with his first wife Matilda of Scotland: Matilda and William. Sadly Henry’s heir William died at sea leaving Matilda as Henry’s chosen heir. This decision was very unusual for the time and led to decades of civil war upon Henry’s death after his nephew, Stephen seized the…
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Denmark

Who is Prince Joachim of Denmark?

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7th June 2019
Today is the birthday of Prince Joachim of Denmark, and to mark the celebration, we are taking a look at his life so far.  Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian was born on 7 June 1969 in Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet as the younger son of the current Queen…
FeaturesInsight

Who is Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands?

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31st January 2019
Today, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands turns 81-years-old. So we are going to have a little look at who she is and what has happened in her life so far. Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard was born in 1938 in Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, the Netherlands as the eldest child of…
Japan

Thirtieth anniversary of father’s death commemorated by Emperor Akihito

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9th January 2019
Emperor Akihito of Japan has officially commemorated the anniversary of his father, Emperor Showa’s death which occurred thirty years ago this week. A specially planned ceremony was held in the former Emperor’s honour at his tomb in Tokyo. The current Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate on the 30th April this year, and it is believed that this ceremony is something he wished to do before his…
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