Features

What really happened to Henry VIII's last queen? Inside the mysterious death of Katherine Parr

History remembers her as the ‘survivor’. Katherine Parr, last queen of Henry VIII, managed to get to the end of his reign with her marriage and her head intact. It was no mean feat. Yet, just over a year later, Kateryne The Quene was dead. How did the story of a royal woman who had navigated the pitfalls and caprices of the last days of Henry VIII end so soon afterwards? The…
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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. And as the gem is the birthstone for May, now seems a good time to look at that rarest of royal sparklers – the emerald engagement ring. Queen Victoria’s serpent…
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Princess Anne and Family

How Princess Anne revived a forgotten royal name

A is for Anne but why did the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II end up with a name that, at the time, wasn’t a usual one for members of the Royal Family? The answer can perhaps best be found in the summer of 1930 and the arrival of another princess. In August that year, the future George VI and his Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) welcomed their second daughter. The baby girl was…
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British Royals

The Emperor and Empress of Japan to make State Visit to the UK

King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan on a State Visit in early summer. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will make their long awaited visit at some point in June. They will stay at Buckingham Palace with Their Majesties for the visit. It’s one of the first big events confirmed for King Charles as he begins a return to public duties following…
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