The reign of King Henry IV began with
usurpation and heralded a period of power struggles that would end
in the War of the Roses. As he rode to his Coronation, in 1399, his
predecessor languished in jail and would die in mysterious
circumstances within months. Henry IV’s coronation was a show of
power, designed to establish his authority at a time of turbulence
and to demonstrate that he was a…
For a princess who claimed a bit of a
royal first at the baptismal font, it’s perhaps not surprising that
Patricia of Connaught – known for most of her adult life as Lady
Patricia Ramsey – ended up changing plenty of regal rules on her
way. The little…
There are just 50 days to go until the
Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. His Majesty
will be crowned on May 6th 2023 by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Queen Camilla will be crowned at the same ceremony. Their Majesties
will travel to the Abbey on…
It’s little and often overlooked and yet
it remains one of the most important parts of the Crown Jewels. The
golden ampulla dates back to the reign of the last king called
Charles to be crowned at Westminster Abbey and it will play a vital
part in the Coronation of King Charles III. The ampulla holds the
holy oil which is used by the Archbishop of Canterbury to anoint
the Monarch before…
On May 6th 2023, the fortieth Coronation
of a Monarch since the Norman Conquest takes place at Westminster
Abbey. King Charles III will be crowned by the Archbishop of
Canterbury in a ceremony that is little changed through the
centuries. It will be, as it has been for…
The Coronation of King Charles III will
involve thousands of people but, ultimately, the responsibility for
organising this historic royal event falls to one person. The job
belongs to the Earl Marshal. The Earl Marshal is one of the Great
Officers of State and for…
It was built as a fortress by the first
king to be crowned at Westminster Abbey and now, almost 1,000 years
on, it is world famous as the place where the Coronation regalia
are usually kept. The Crown Jewels and the Tower of London are
forever linked together. They are kept in the Jewel House at the
Tower and while visitors now see all the usual vestiges of tourism
around the building, from…
As the Coronation draws near, speculation
about what King Charles III might wear increases. Kings usually opt
for a version of the tunics, breeches and silk stockings that have
made up the Coronation outfit for centuries. However, it’s been
reported that His Majesty might…
King Charles III appears on special release stamps for the first time - and there is a poignant link to Queen Elizabeth II
14th March 2023
The first stamp to bear the silhouette of
King Charles III has its own place in history and its own link with
Queen Elizabeth II. His Majesty’s likeness appears in the corner of
a stamp featuring a sweet pea, one of Her Late Majesty’s favourite
flowers. As…
King Charles hails the ''extraordinary potential'' of the Commonwealth in his first address as head
13th March 2023
King Charles III has said the
Commonwealth remains a major force for good in the world and has
”extraordinary potential” which ” is more than equal to the
challenges we face.” In his first address as Head of the
Commonwealth, The King spoke of how the organisation inspired and
amazed him, saying it offers unparalleled strength to build the
future. His Majesty gave…
