Insight

If Edward VIII hadn’t abdicated, who would be Monarch today?

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…
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FeaturesPalaces & Buildings

Windsor Castle: from retirement home to heart of a dynasty

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…
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Opinion

Similarities speak louder than words: Brothers replacing brothers

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…
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FeaturesHistory

Who was the Duchess of Windsor?

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…
FeaturesHistory

The Week in Royal History: a story of kings

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…
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