Features

Prince Albert is generally credited with introducing the Christmas tree to Britain, but in fact, it was the work of his wife’s grandmother, Queen Charlotte. Like Prince Albert, Charlotte was born and raised in Germany, where the tradition of bringing a tree inside at Christmas time, decorated with lights and sweets, is believed to date back to the 16th century. As a child, Charlotte’s family…

King Harald’s gift to Prince Sverre Magnus on his 18th birthday was the designation as a Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. The prince, the only grandson of King Harald and Queen Sonja, received the gift just days before he comes of age. And it’s a very special order. Founded by King Oscar I in 1847, though he reigned as the Sovereign of both Norway and Sweden, the Order of St.

King Karl XII of Sweden was born 17 June 1682 as the son of King Karl XI and the Danish-born Ulrika Eleonora. Karl continued his father’s war politics against other Nordic nations, which led to Denmark joining forces with Poland and Russia. They then went to war with Sweden in 1700, in what has been called the Great Nordic War. Karl personally took charge of the Swedish military…