HistoryInsight

Why did Henry VIII seek an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon?

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21st April 2014
<![CDATA[One of the most talked about issues in royal history, and British history in general, is the relationship of Henry VIII and his six wives. In 1525, after 18 years of marriage to Catherine of Aragon, daughter to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castille, the Spanish king and queen, Henry VIII began to seek an annulment of his marriage. This was not unheard of. In fact, the Pope…
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Insight

Victoria Arbiter: Living at Kensington Palace

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2nd April 2014
<![CDATA[People often ask me what it was like living at Kensington Palace and, in the past, I’ve responded in a somewhat blasé fashion. However, the passage of time has given me the opportunity to appreciate what a truly unique experience it was. Much as the…
FeaturesInsightOpinion

Kings, Queens and Olympic dreams

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20th March 2014
<![CDATA[The Sochi Winter Olympics gave us plenty of glimpses of royal spectators but no royal competitors.  But past Games, both winter and summer, have seen their fair share of kings and queens going for gold with some achieving it.  Being royal at the Olympics doesn't mean you have to stay in the stands. Plenty of Europe’s royals have attempted to scale the heights at the…
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FeaturesInsight

Commonwealth eases ban on Fiji

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18th March 2014
<![CDATA[The Fijian flag that still includes the Union Jack is once again flying at the Commonwealth Secretariat gardens in London following an announcement from the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group which decided to ease but not lift the current ban on Fiji's…
Insight

Top 10 bizarre traditions of the British Monarchy

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26th February 2014
<![CDATA[Tradition is key to both the Monarchy and the country it is present in. It offers continuity, spectacle and a chance for structured national reflection – it is also the source of some of the most fascinating facts and as you'll see in this article, Military Ravens The Tower of London is one of the most famous places in the United Kingdom. It is also home to some of the most…
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Insight

The Story of the Peerage: Into the Future

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23rd February 2014
<![CDATA[The peerage is and does not claim to be a modern institution. As the aristocracy which once dominated Parliament, gradually moves towards disestablishment from British politics, we will be waving goodbye to one of Britain's most illustrious and unique…
Insight

The Story of the Peerage: Peers and Parliament

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9th February 2014
<![CDATA[In 1999, history was made when an bill was passed through Parliament which abolished the right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords and contribute to the law making process. Almost 15 years on and whilst there is still a push to completely reform the House of Lords, it remains the home of peers – mostly life peers – though still some hereditary. For centuries…
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