European Royals

The royal bride who wore a wedding dress designed by her future husband

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27th September 2023
She was the beautiful princess who had been the subject of endless royal wedding speculation, he was the handsome prince with a crown waiting in his future. When Marie-Jose of Belgium married Umberto, heir to the throne of Italy, in January 1930 their marriage had all the echoes of history about it, a union of dynasties that would secure a throne. Tens of thousands flocked to Rome to see the…
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British Royals

The royals who can act as Counsellors of State, standing in for The King when needed

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25th September 2023
Counsellors of State stand in for the Monarch if they are temporarily unavailable, either through being out of the country or for short term health reasons, like an operation. The Regency Act of 1937 stated that the Monarch’s spouse and the first four adults in the line of succession could be called on to be Counsellors. That meant that, following the accession of King Charles III, the…
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Features

The royal weddings of York Minster

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24th September 2023
It’s one of the oldest churches in Britain the seat of one of England’s most important clerics yet the famous York Minster is a rare venue for royal weddings. Just two major regal marriages have taken place at this ancient church in almost 1,000 years. The most recent took place six decades ago. On June 8th 1961, the Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley there in front of royalty…
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European Royals

The queen whose crown faded after only a month

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22nd September 2023
She was the ‘May Queen’ whose reign lasted little more than a month but left its mark in royal history. Marie-Jose was always a bit of a maverick who had her own views and no fear of sharing them. Those opinions would become a saving grace for the dynasty she married into when she became its one public dissenting voice against the fascism taking over their country. But…
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