Luxembourg

The mystery around a modern tiara that's proved popular with princesses

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17th November 2023
The stones at the heart of this Luxembourg tiara have long been a mystery to royal watchers: are they topazes or are they citrines?The Grand Ducal Household has never officially declared which gemstones are used in the tiara, so nearly every article about it calls it the Citrine (or Topaz) and Pearl Bandeau.The tiara is made up of oval citrines—or topazes—set on a yellow gold band and…
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Norway

The royal bride whose dress came via a department store

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16th November 2023
The marriage of Sonja Haraldsen to the future King of Norway, on August 29th 1968, marked a moment of joy in a relationship that had caused huge debate as soon as it was known about. For the bride had no royal blood in a monarchy where princes were expected to wed regally. However, love prevailed and Sonja married the then Crown Prince Harald in front of crowned heads from across Europe. This…
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European Royals

The queen who fought an assassin with flowers

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16th November 2023
She was the queen who tried to save her dynasty with nothing more than a bouquet of flowers. Maria Amelia saw her husband and eldest son mortally wounded at close range in an assassination that would hasten the demise of their dynasty. She had done all she could to save the…
Spain

King Felipe makes first appearance since political protests across Spain

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15th November 2023
King Felipe and Queen Letizia have carried out a series of engagements against a backdrop of protests in Spain against the formation of a new government.They opened a new art exhibition in Madrid together before Queen Letizia went on to present journalism prizes.However, both events attracted debate on social media and further afield about King Felipe’s role as a coalition government…
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Greece

The lost wedding dress of a queen is rediscovered

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13th November 2023
It was the gown worn by a princess to say ‘I do’ to a king and become a queen but despite its place in history, its location appears to have been unknown for decades.The fact no one seems to have known where it might be has only come to light the wedding dress of Anne-Marie, last Queen of Greece, was found in the palace her royal family was forced to flee when her husband’s…
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