FeaturesHistoryInsight

The Queen's first Christmas 1926: As Meghan looks ahead to her first royal Christmas, we look back at Princess Elizabeth's

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5th December 2017
As Meghan Markle prepares to spend her first Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, her fiancé’s grandmother may recall fondly her own early Christmases at the much-loved Norfolk estate. One such occasion the Queen would be unable to remember, however, is her first one, in 1926, when she was just eight months old. Christmas 1926 was special in several ways. Until that year, Princess…
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FeaturesHistory

A Life of Scandal: Ernest, Duke of Cumberland

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30th October 2017
Queen Victoria and those closest to her viewed her Uncle Cumberland with deep suspicion. Not just because he openly coveted the British throne, but because the Duke’s reputation was very black; his adult life was marked by a series of scandals and misdemeanours. Born in 1771, Prince Ernest, Duke of Cumberland was the fifth son of George III and Queen Charlotte, a younger brother to Kings George…
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FeaturesHistory

Taking a Look at the Order of the Garter

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30th August 2017
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is considered to be the most prestigious chivalric order in Great Britain, so let’s take a look at the history behind it. Founded in 1348 by King Edward III, who was “so inspired by the tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table”, the Order of the Garter was a group of honourable knights. A legend persists that Edward III was…
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European RoyalsFeaturesHistorySweden

Royal Jewels in Focus: Swedish Laurel Wreath Tiara

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16th August 2017
The Swedish Laurel Wreath Tiara easily stands out among a collection of impressive Swedish pieces. Despite the classical laurel leaf motif being common among royal jewellery throughout Europe, this piece is uniquely elegant with its tall profile of double rows of diamond laurel leaves and hanging diamond centre pendant. Made by the eponymous French jewellery house, Boucheron, the Laurel Wreath…
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