In the early autumn days of 1537, King Henry VIII was celebrating as his court welcomed a prince. His longed for son and heir, Edward, had been born on October 12th at Hampton Court Palace to widespread rejoicing.  Preparations were in full swing for an elaborate christening and bonfires were being lit around the little boy’s future kingdom.  But while the parties started, in a corner of…
She was born at a time when England was at the height of the Wars of the Roses and was the daughter of George, Duke of Clarence. Much of Margaret Pole’s early life was marred by tragedy including the death of her Uncle King Edward IV, the disappearance of the Princes in…
Though the 1930s brought about tumultuous change for the country and for Queen Elizabeth, the 1940s would soon become a decade that nobody would ever forget. It would also be the decade that Elizabeth would be dubbed ‘the most dangerous woman in Europe’ and…
It is the most famous witch trial of the 17th century, the case of the Pendle Witches. Twelve women were accused of witchcraft, and while one died, eleven went to trial. One was tried and found guilty at York while ten of the ‘witches’ were tried at Lancaster. Only one woman was found not guilty.
Six of the eleven ‘witches’ on trial came from two rival families in Pendle.
The mystery surrounding the fate of young brothers, Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York is still one that stands today. Many believe that the boys were murdered and continue to haunt rooms in the Bloody Tower.
The Bloody Tower is also home to the…
Royal Central’s Halloween season begins with a story of adultery, beheadings, and ghostly apparitions. Here is Anne Boleyn’s Tale of the Tower.
She was the second wife of King Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, but ultimately Anne Boleyn met her fate…
Mistress and Duchess: Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenberg (1667-1743)
12th October 2015
Readers will already know of the strong links between Handel and King George I, which have been already widely explored. What is less known, however, is the influence of another figure in the background who though certainly less talked about, in her lifetime enjoyeda considerableinfluence thatcannot be overestimated.
This figure is Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenberg, the…
Sceptre gifted by Henry V to City of London after Battle of Agincourt goes on display
12th October 2015
It’s just 17 inches tall, but it has a world of history embedded in its jewels. The beautifully bejewelled sceptre given in thanks by King Henry V of England to the City of London for the funding of his forces against the French at the Battle of Agincourt, fought in…
James was not born to be a King. He was the third, but second surviving son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, born on 14 October 1633. Though he was styled as Duke of York from birth, he was not formally created so until 1643. His father was executed on 30 January 1649 but…
Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, married King Louis XII of France on October 9th 1514
On this day, 501 years ago, Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, married the French king, Louis XII. The spectacular ceremony in Abbeville in Northern France transformed Mary into the Queen of France. No other English princess held that title after her. In fact, only one other daughter of a King of England…
