It is one of the most striking portraits
of George VI painted in his reign and contains all the symbols of
his kingship in a dramatic and historic setting. But this famous
image had to wait for completion because of war. The famous
portrait by Sir Gerald Festus Kelly was commissioned by the king in
early 1938, just a few months after he was crowned at Westminster
Abbey. It shows him in his…
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…
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 the morning of May 6th in the Gold
State Coach in The King’s Procession. Following the service, they
will return to…
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…
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 centuries, the role has belonged to the
Dukes of Norfolk. It became an hereditary position within the
family in 1672 and, ever…
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…
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 he paid tribute to his ”darling mama” just hours after
her death in September 2022, His Majesty did so with a…
