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St Mildred's: Queen Victoria's church on the Isle of Wight

‘Though I stood for the ninth time near a child and for the fifth time near a daughter, at the altar, I think I never felt more deeply than I did on this occasion… When the blessing had been given, I tenderly embraced my darling “Baby” ‘ (op. cit, Christopher Hibbert, Queen Victoria: A Personal History, Pg 412, 2000). With this words, Queen Victoria described the wedding day of her…
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Marie Antoinette and music

Whilst musical talent in the eighteenth century was judged to be an appropriate feminine accomplishment, Marie Antoinette’s personal relationship with music was a special one, which reached far beyond mere natural inclination. Music proved to be in many ways, perpetually…
FeaturesHistory

Christchurch, Greyfriars: The lost burial site of three medieval queens

The site of Christchurch Greyfriars, is a strange, haunting place, redolent of history. It is now a ruined, public garden and a popular place for Londoners to take their sandwiches for lunch. Long gone is the atmosphere of bells and prayer from the Middle Ages; although in an odd parallel to its previous use as a church, it manages to be a place of peace in the noise of the City and nearby Stock…
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Eastwell Park and royalty

The country estate of Eastwell Park, in the parish of Eastwell, near Boughton Lees, Ashford in Kent, is not perhaps a name which immediately comes to mind when thinking of a one-time royal residence. It was, however, the Kent home of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and his…
FeaturesHistory

Historic Swedish royal wedding dresses

Within the historical collections of the Royal Armoury [Livrustkammeran] in Stockholm are preserved some astonishing examples of Swedish royal wedding dresses. Some are in the forms of fully preserved dresses, others sections from the same, such as trains or loosely…
FeaturesHistory

A British Prince's wedding in St. Petersburg

In 1874, Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh got married. In great contrast, however, to the weddings of his other siblings, he did not marry in Great Britain, but instead, in Russia. The marriages of his brothers all took place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor; two of his sisters married at St George’s, whilst another two married on the Isle of Wight, his elder…
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British RoyalsFeaturesHistoryInsightPrince & Princess of Wales

Royal Baby Name Focus: Frederick

We’ve just weeks, possibly days, to go until Royal Baby Cambridge Number Three makes their debut. The hospital is ready, the overnight bag is no doubt by the door at Kensington Palace and as if we needed another indication that the new fifth in line to the throne is about to arrive, the bookies have their favourites for baby names. The top pick with them should the Duke and Duchess of…
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