Features

Royal Ghost Stories: The Tower of London

Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of The Tower of London is steeped in history and has occupied a major part in royal life since it was constructed by William the Conqueror almost 1,000 years ago. The Tower has been the backdrop to royal life, beheadings, scandals and political turmoil for centuries, but did you know about the ghosts? Read on to learn about the haunting experiences…
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Features

The weighty reminder of power that will be placed in the hands of King Charles III

It’s one of the oldest and storied item in the Crown Jewels, the Sovereign’s Orb. Created in 1661 by Sir Robert Vyner for Charles II’s coronation, the orb is a hollow gold sphere with a cross on top. It symbolizes the monarch’s Christian sovereignty and their position as head of the Church of England. The orb weighs 1.32 kg (3lbs.) and is bejeweled with bands of nine emeralds, 18…
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Features

The Coronation of King Henry VII

On the 30th of October in 1485 in Westminster Abbey the Tudor dynasty officially began with the coronation of King Henry VII. His reign had begun two months earlier on a battle field but it was cemented and celebrated two months later in the ancient walls of Westminster…
Features

The only consort to wear the Monarch’s crown

It is a considered a gem meant for monarchs, but there is one notable exception to the rules around St. Edward’s Crown: Anne Boleyn. St. Edward’s Crown is the oldest and heaviest crown in use in the British collection. Worn by Edward the Confessor during his reign from 1003 to 1066, it became a holy relic when Edward was canonized by Pope Alexander III. The original crown was used in…
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Queen Elizabeth II

Death Gun Salutes ring out to mark the passing of The Queen

All around the world, tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II have been too many to count. Her troops, the Armed Forces that she was the Head of for 70 years, have joined those homages with gun salutes.  On September 9th 2022, at 1pm, Death Gun Salutes took place around the UK and Overseas Territories and Dependences. All of them consisted of 96 shots, one for each year of Her Late…
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