We all love a royal ‘what if’ and perhaps one of the most intriguing of recent times revolves around the question of the king who renounced his throne for love. On December 11th 1936 Edward VIII announced to the world that he was ending his reign to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson. His reign had lasted just under 11 months, starting on January 20th 1936. But what if Edward VIII…
We all love a royal ‘what if’ and perhaps one of the most intriguing of recent times revolves around the question of the king who renounced his throne for love. On December 11th 1936, 86 years ago, Edward VIII announced to the world that he was ending his reign to marry…
There has been a lot of speculation about the headwear the Royal Family will or won’t wear at King Charles III’s coronation.
The Prince of Wales is no exception to this curiosity as he has a few options to choose from for his coronet.
A coronet is…
Windsor Castle: from retirement home to heart of a dynasty
16th March 2022
During the reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Windsor Castle was made their primary royal residence despite the Queen complaining early on in her reign that the castle was “prison-like” and “dull and tiresome.” She would often prefer Osborne and Balmoral as holiday residences.
The growth of the British Empire and the Queen’s dynastic ties to Europe would…
Royal Wedding Rewind: the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
3rd June 2021
It was the wedding that changed the Royal Family forever. The marriage of Edward, Duke of Windsor to Wallis Simpson on 3 June 1937 was the final act of a dramatic series of events that had reverberated around the world. For, of course, the groom had given up his throne to…
The Sussexes and Wessexes show that royalty is a tradition, not a trade - reinventing it never succeeds
12th May 2021
While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to leave the UK for America might seem like a royal first to many, the discussions of leaving ‘The Firm’ have been held more frequently, and more recently, than you may expect.
On the face of it, the Duke and Duchess…
Within the harsh confines of royal life, there exists a cruel trend that nicknames the second child the ‘spare’ to their sibling, the heir. While the life of the heir to the throne is mapped out meticulously from beginning to end, the spare is expected to find their own role.
The life of the spare appears seemingly straightforward – living the ultimate life of luxury in the upper…
Royal Residences: A brief history of Windsor Castle
4th January 2021
Where is it located?
Windsor Castle is located in the town of Windsor in Berkshire, England. The site occupies 13 acres of land and features a fortification, a palace and a small town. It is perhaps most recognisable by the castle’s Round Tower.
When was it built…
Who was the Duchess of Windsor?
19th June 2020
Bessie Wallis Warfield – more commonly known as Wallis – was born 19 June 1896 in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, to Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice Montague.
Wallis grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Her father died shortly after her birth from tuberculosis…
The Week in Royal History: a story of kings
5th October 2019
The royal diary is filling up after the summer break and autumn is bringing its own fair share of fresh stories all about the past. Royal history continues to fascinate and dominate with an eternally controversial king leading the way this week. Here’s Royal Central’s round up of the best history stories from the past week.
The Face of a King
He is one of history’s most…