European Royals

The royal bride who wore a wedding dress designed by her future husband

She was the beautiful princess who had been the subject of endless royal wedding speculation, he was the handsome prince with a crown waiting in his future. When Marie-Jose of Belgium married Umberto, heir to the throne of Italy, in January 1930 their marriage had all the echoes of history about it, a union of dynasties that would secure a throne. Tens of thousands flocked to Rome to see the…
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Monarchy Rules: A Look At Stephen

King Stephen of England was born in Blois in France in either 1092 or 1096. It’s quite unusual that we do not have a birth date for a future King of England, but by the time of his birth, it was not expected that he would ever be king. His parents were Stephen-Henry…
History

Monarchy Rules: a look at James II

James was not born to be a King. He was the third, but second surviving son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, born on 14 October 1633. Though he was styled as Duke of York from birth, he was not formally created so until 1643. His father was executed on 30 January 1649 but by then James had already fled to The Hague. James later followed his brother Charles to France, where he served in the…
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FeaturesHistory

Monarchy Rules: a look at Edward VII

Today, our dear Prince Harry would be what many may define as a “playboy prince”, but he doesn’t even begin to hold a candle to his ancestor Edward VII. King Edward VII of Britain – From the painting by W. H. Margetson Born 9 November 1841 to Queen…
FeaturesHistory

Monarchy Rules: a look at George V

George V was born George Frederick Ernest Albert to the Prince and Princess of Wales, the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, on 3 June 1865. He was their second child, their first being Prince Albert Victor. When George was twelve, he and his brother were sent to…
History

The Victory of the White Rose at The Battle of Tewkesbury

The White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster had been in battle for the throne of England for quite some time. At the time of the Battle of Tewkesbury the Yorkists were being led by Edward of York, or Edward IV and the Lancastrians were being led by Margaret of Anjou, in name of her husband Henry VI and her son, Edward of Westminster. The conflict began when Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV)…
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