He was the monarch who had to fight for a
throne but then relied on a mistress for advice with a queen who
arrived at court to find another holding power. And in the middle
of their marriage was a woman with ambition, brains and no sense of
self control. Our special read brings to life a mesmerising moment
in royal history. Charles II, the Merry Monarch, had several
different mistresses.
The Cabinet Office has announced that
Queen Elizabeth II’s name will be closely controlled and that
organisations and businesses must meet “strict standards” with
their application to use the late sovereign’s name. Pubs
across the United Kingdom have names in…
As the first anniversary of the death of
Queen Elizabeth II approaches, the government is set to commission
a national memorial to mark the late sovereign’s incredible
reign. The Cabinet Office and the Royal Household will work
together to set up a committee to…
Queen Elizabeth II was the
longest-reigning monarch in British history, and until her death in
September 2022, she was only the monarch that the majority of the
British population had known. However, the government has warned
that her name will be closely controlled. The Cabinet Office has
released guidance that businesses, organisations, pubs, parks, and
more will need to apply to use Queen…
As Prince George celebrates his 10th
birthday, we are looking at the six kings of Great Britain named
George. King George I ushered in a new dynasty after the
death of the last Stuart monarch, Queen Anne, in 1714. Also the
Elector of Hanover, George was chosen to take…
King Philippe of Belgium is celebrating
ten years on the throne after his father’s abdication in 2013. And
throughout the first decade of his reign, his wife, Queen Mathilde,
has been by his side. The Queen may not be the most outgoing
consort in Europe, but she is a…
Some monarchs are born in massive castles
that have stood for centuries while others are born in relatively
new palaces. Although the birth of a royal baby is a celebrated
event, some of these more modern palaces have darker connections.
King Philippe of Belgium was born at Belvédère Castle at Laeken,
one of these palaces. Originally built in the 1780s, King
Leopold II bought the palace for…
King Charles has another first in his
reign. The first Swan Upping of this new reign has begun. In
the United Kingdom, the monarch has the right to claim any unmarked
mute swan swimming in open waters. They have the official title of
“Seigneur of the…
King Philippe of Belgium will be marking
a decade of kingship in July 2023; he took the throne after his
father abdicated in 2013. Philippe’s role as sovereign has a
different relationship with the church than many other
monarchs. Belgium does not have a state church.
With the Barbie film set to premiere on
21 July 2023, the world is abuzz with discussion of the iconic
doll. And few Barbie dolls have been as popular as the Queen
Elizabeth II doll released in 2022. In honour of Her
Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, Mattel released a Queen Elizabeth II
doll. The £95 doll sold out immediately, with retailer John Lewis
sharing that its stock was sold out in three…
