Whilst musical talent in the eighteenth century was judged to be an appropriate feminine accomplishment, Marie Antoinette’s personal relationship with music was a special one, which reached far beyond mere natural inclination. Music proved to be in many ways, perpetually present, like a main character in her life story, giving parallel to key events or lending them at least, poignant expression.
The site of Christchurch Greyfriars, is a strange, haunting place, redolent of history. It is now a ruined, public garden and a popular place for Londoners to take their sandwiches for lunch. Long gone is the atmosphere of bells and prayer from the Middle Ages; although in…
The country estate of Eastwell Park, in the parish of Eastwell, near Boughton Lees, Ashford in Kent, is not perhaps a name which immediately comes to mind when thinking of a one-time royal residence. It was, however, the Kent home of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and his…
Within the historical collections of the Royal Armoury [Livrustkammeran] in Stockholm are preserved some astonishing examples of Swedish royal wedding dresses. Some are in the forms of fully preserved dresses, others sections from the same, such as trains or loosely attachable pieces of the robe de cour,such as the corset. Whilst many are within the collections but mostly not exhibited for…
In 1874, Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh got married. In great contrast, however, to the weddings of his other siblings, he did not marry in Great Britain, but instead, in Russia. The marriages of his brothers all took place at St George’s…
Queen Victoria’s love of orange blossom properly began with her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840; however, this marked only the start of what would be an enduring association within the Royal Family, and not just for weddings. Orange blossom is, of course, traditionally…
The tradition of myrtle being used in a bridal bouquet is long established and largely European, although its associations with marriage has its origins in both ancient Greek mythology, as well as in Roman ritual, the myrtle being “dear” to Venus, as it had once been considered “sacred” to the goddess Aphrodite. Jewish liturgy also incorporated it occasionally in the form of branches…
The Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey is part of what is the oldest surviving medieval house in London. Its history is significant, but the room itself little seen, because it is not open to the general public. It is part of what is known as Cheneygates, the ancient…
The exclusive range of official pale blue and white commemorative china, commissioned by Buckingham Palace to mark the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has been released. Their wedding will take placeat St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on 19 May 2018. Made…
The year 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of the death of the German-born British Queen Charlotte, consort of George III (1744-1818). Her life will be celebrated at Kew Palace, where she died on 18 November 1818, with a new exhibition that explores her marriage to the King, her intellectual and artistic achievements and her last months at Kew.
The Queen’s considerable botanic interests could…
