Sweden

The sparkling sapphires that link a modern queen to a fallen empire

It’s the tiara everyone is expecting to see this September. The month’s birthstone is sapphire and that just happens to be the star gem of a diadem favoured by a queen who is about to host a right royal celebration for a truly historic event. Silvia of Sweden is at the heart of her country’s festivities for the Golden Jubilee of her husband, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and when that…
Read more
European Royals

Summer shows young royals that every move can bring a controversy not of their making

Summer and the royal news agenda is easy, mostly because very little happens. Holidays beckon, diaries thin out and the constant spotlight seems to dim. Or does it? This summer has shown several young royals that scrutiny is never more than a moment away, even if they are doing nothing more than going about their daily business.In the last weeks, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 19…
Read more
Norway

The royal bride whose wedding dress came via a department store

The marriage of Sonja Haraldsen to the future King of Norway, on August 29th 1968, marked a moment of joy in a relationship that had caused huge debate as soon as it was known about. For the bride had no royal blood in a monarchy where princes were expected to wed regally. However, love prevailed and Sonja married the then Crown Prince Harald in front of crowned heads from across Europe. This…
Read more
Features

A royal rarity - an emerald engagement ring

It’s rare to see a royal engagement ring with a flash of green about it. Emeralds aren’t the most popular pick for royal betrothals but the few that have hit the headlines are all rather striking.Here’s our rundown of that rarest of royal sparklers…
Features

The royal wedding that led to the creation of the House of Windsor

Picked as a royal bride by Queen Victoria herself, Princess Mary of Teck would find her way to the altar in the most unusual circumstances. For Mary ended up saying ‘I do’ to the second king in waiting selected as a husband for her. But her marriage proved to be a happy one as well as a royal success story.Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes of Teck walked…
Read more