Royal News

King Charles fulfils Queen Victoria’s wish in landmark speech at State banquet

King Charles has declared that Queen Victoria’s dream of a lasting friendship between Britain and France is “a reality”, as he welcomed President Emmanuel Macron to Windsor Castle for the first French State Visit of his reign. Speaking at a grand state banquet in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, the King reflected on the personal bonds and political alliances that have linked the two…
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British Royals

The stunning emerald tiara left by a duchess with no heir

Queen Victoria’s jewellery collection was immense but has been widely scattered throughout her descendants. Prince Albert created many pieces and parures for her, including a striking emerald and diamond set. In 1843, Prince Albert designed a set of emerald and diamond pieces for his wife- it includes a necklace featuring large square emeralds surrounded by diamonds, a pair of earrings…
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Features

The King who clung on to make a queen

King William IV, known as the Sailor King, inherited the throne when his elder brother, George IV, died in 1830 with no surviving heirs. Although William had no legitimate children of his own, he still did everything he could to help the young woman he wanted to take the…
Features

The race against time for the birth of a future queen

Just over 200 years ago, the future Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, Her arrival, on 24 May 1819, marked the start of a very famous story. While the healthy baby girl was happily welcomed by her parents, the family had been forced to race against the clock for Victoria’s birth.  Her father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent was the fifth child and fourth son of King George III and…
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Features

Queen Victoria's tragic aunt who fought to escape a miserable royal marriage

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are considered by many to have had of the most successful of all royal marriages. However, many of their relatives were not so lucky in love.  Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was the sister of Victoria, Queen Victoria’s mother, and Ernest, Prince Albert’s father. Given that she came from a relatively small German duchy, she made what should have…
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