Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen takes in Jubilee history as the final countdown for her Platinum celebrations begins

The Queen has come face to face with her royal history as she prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession. Ahead of the moment her reign reaches 70 years, Her Majesty has been shown items from past Jubilees including special mementoes from her own historic anniversaries. The Queen enjoyed browsing through items from the Royal Collection related to Jubilees and brought together for…
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British Royals

George VI: the unexpected King who reshaped the British Monarchy

The death of George VI, on February 6th 1952, was unexpected and caused a wave of grief that would have been hard to predict when this shy man became king just sixteen years before.   King George, who was 56 at the time of his death, had been unwell and had looked unwell for some time.  But the news that he had passed away sent those he had ruled into shock – perhaps because he had won…
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British Royals

King George VI: the wartime king

”There may be dark days ahead…but we can only do the right as we see the right” The words of King George VI, spoken in 1939, still hold a resonance. They were part of his historic broadcast made as Britain went to war with Nazi Germany. His calm and…
Features

The day the Netherlands met a queen consort in waiting for the first time in a century

It was a wedding for the history books and thousands turned out to celebrate. When Willem-Alexander and Maxima married in 2002, the popularity that has mostly dominated their time as King and Queen of the Netherlands was on show for all to see as they were cheered throughout their special day by crowds across Amsterdam. The road to the altar hadn’t been smooth. Willem-Alexander was the…
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Features

The final farewell of a king and princess

The reign of George VI came to an end on February 6th 1952. The King died in his sleep in the early hours of the morning and silently, his throne passed to his elder daughter who was, without knowing it, now Queen Elizabeth II. They had parted exactly a week before when the King had gone to London Airport to wave off his heir as she began a tour on his behalf. King and princess, father and…
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