FeaturesHistoryInsight

The Royal Household: Pages of the Presence

Other duties include looking after Buckingham Palace’s Grand entrance, where they supervise the arrivals and departures of various individuals such as ambassadors and others that Her Majesty may receive. The Pages are responsible for the Privy Purse Door where the infamous Red Boxes arrive daily as well as people who have business with members of the Royal Household. The Pages also oversee the…
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FeaturesHistory

History Rewind: Death of Queen Mary I

On the 17th November 1558 the first English Queen Regnant, Queen Mary I, died at St James’ Palace. At her funeral service, the Bishop of Winchester summed up her life quite aptly: “She was a King’s daughter, she was a King’s sister, she was a King’s wife. She…
Prince & Princess of Wales

Duchess of Cambridge saddened by news of young patient's death

After meeting Fabian in 2011, when Kate and Prince William visited Royal Marsden Hospital, The Duchess wrote to the young man. In her letter, Kate told Fabian that: “Despite your enormous, demanding course of treatment, I was so touched by your strength of character and delighted to hear the news that one of your big sisters will be able to donate bone marrow to you later this year. This must be…
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FeaturesHistoryInsight

The Royal W: Scarlet Rod

The Title ‘Scarlet Rod’ is from the characteristic insignia of the office which is a long silver gilt rod. The shaft is covered with scarlet enamel that signifies the mantles of the Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order. The holders of the office have been senior…
FeaturesInsight

The Royal Household: The Clerk and The Yeoman of the Royal Cellars

The Clerk of the Royal Cellars The Clerk of the Royal Cellars is a part-time member of the Royal Household. They are usually an experienced senior wine merchant. The Clerk advises and supervises the purchasing and maintenance of the liquor for the Household, focusing on spirits and wines. The Clerk will give advice on wine pairings for State banquets and other events. The Clerk of the Cellar also…
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Palaces & Buildings

Tower of London sees final poppy 'planted'

completing the ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, the ceramic art installation conceived by Paul Cummins. Cummins, a graduate and now PhD student at the University of Derby, handed the final poppy to 13-year-old Army cadet Harry Hayes who planted it in the Tower moat just before 11am. The installation now consists of 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for each British and Colonial fatality during…
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