Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau’s marriage to Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau was the stuff of fairy tales. He gave up his right to the throne and was no longer considered a member of the royal family. Hence, he was known as ‘of Orange-Nassau’ and not as ‘of The Netherlands’. He was second in line after his elder brother Willem-Alexander at the time of his marriage in…
Medieval past of quaint County Durham village set to be revealed
29th September 2015
If you’ve always wanted to be an archaeologist, or maybe just for one day, you can now join a 12-day excavation by the Northern Archaeological Associates at the medieval remains of Brignall. Brignall is located near Greta Bridge in the County of Durham.
The project is…
The Duke of Gloucester has a busy day ahead of him Thursday in Cambridge. He will open the Royal Library Exhibition at Cambridge University and also a newly restored 18th-century Watermill at Mill House. The last engagement of the day leads him to Hinchingbrooke School…
Queen Victoria’s grandaughter’s heart to be laid to rest after seven decades
29th September 2015
Marie of Romania in 1936, by Philip de László
Queen Marie of Romania’s heart has been in the Natural Museum of Romanian History since 1971 in a silver box. Now, it’s finally going home to Pelisor Castle which she loved and where she lived and died on 18 July 1938 at 5.38 PM, 8 minutes after lapsing into a coma. The silver casket will be placed on a plinth behind the couch on which…
Prince Charles: ‘The Pride of Britain awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the people who make us proud to be British’
28th September 2015
The Prince of Wales is just one of the significant figures lending his support to this year’s Pride of Britain awards. The Pride of Britain Awards honours British people who ‘have acted bravely or extraordinarily in challenging situations’.
The first Pride…
Westminster Abbey has been the site of many weddings, coronations and of course funerals. Over 3,300 people are buried in Westminster from royalty to nobility to scientists, and now we can add to that number. Westminster Abbey has been demolishing a 1950s lavatory block to…
Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s son dies of heart attack at the age of 33
21st September 2015
Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed
Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, died on Saturday morning of a heart attack at the age of only 33.
Three days of mourning were declared across the UAE with instructions for government departments to fly the flag at half mast though work will continue as usual.
Though Sheikh…
The White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster had been in battle for the throne of England for quite some time. At the time of the Battle of Tewkesbury the Yorkists were being led by Edward of York, or Edward IV and the Lancastrians were being led by Margaret of…
Henry I saw his worst nightmare come true on 25 November 1120. His only son and heir to the Kingdom of England drowned in the White Ship disaster. Without a son, he turned to his only surviving legitimate child, Matilda. Young Matilda had been married to the Holy Roman…
In medieval times royal brides were often quite young when they married, though consummation was usually forbidden until a more appropriate age was reached. A certain young bridge might ring a bell as the founder of the Tudor Dynasty. Lady Margaret Beaufort was first married when she was just 12. Another ‘marriage’ happened when she was just one, but she never recognized this marriage…
