There’s been plenty of royal history written this week but while the present and the shape of the regal future have dominated, the past has had its moments, too. As 2020 gets under way, the royals who lived and loved before have grabbed their own share of headlines. Here are some of the best royal history moments as January starts.
A Royal Romance Preserved for the Nation
It’s…
On a cold, January day in 1937, a happy young couple stepped out into the chilly air to make royal history. Princess Juliana of the Netherlands married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld before a royal guest list and surrounded by thousands of her fellow Dutch citizens who…
The royal past is peppered with milestones, those major moments that take on an importance all of their own, and Britain’s queens have provided plenty of history worth talking about. From the reigns that started to the rules that came to an end, from the happy arrivals…
Each monarch leaves their mark, placing their personality on the fabric of history. And charting those footprints tells a story all of its own. From births to weddings, coronations to the passing of power, the major moments in a monarch’s life have an impact far beyond palace walls. Here, we look at the stand out kingly events that fell in the first month of the year. A Calendar of Kings…
In a decade packed with royal moments to remember, this was the one that will linger. On September 9th 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history. It was a milestone in some ways beyond her control but as she reached it, tributes poured in from…
The Royal 2010s: looking back at the accession of King Felipe VI of Spain
28th December 2019
The past decade has been filled with some major royal moments including the ending of one era in Spain and the start of another. The decision by King Juan Carlos I to stand aside in favour of his son surprised many but the reign of King Felipe VI, which began on June 19th…
Christmas tends to be a pleasant time, especially for the royals. When it comes to the Norwegian Royal Family, they have many good Christmas traditions that make Christmas a pleasant time. There is, however, a period when Christmas for the Royal Family from Norway was not very pleasant, namely during World War II.
Germany invaded Norway on 9 April 1940. This led to a five-year occupation. While…
The old decade is making its final bows and in days, the 2010s will be part of history. For Europe’s ruling houses, it’s been a momentous ten years and among the most striking and significant moments of that decade have been the abdications that swept in a new…
Could Elizabeth II's historic reign see her become Queen of England?
14th December 2019
The Queen will go to the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament next week following the Conservative victory in the General Election but could it be the last time she performs this ancient tradition as ruler of the United Kingdom? While the Tory majority…
Queen Victoria’s exquisitely woven wedding dress of
Spitalfields silk satin survives. Her wedding veil was placed over her face as her
body was dressed and prepared for burial at Windsor. Fascinatingly as I found
out during research, the wedding veil and one of the Queen’s famous white caps
were both placed on her head after death, a fitting analogy of Queen Victoria’s
personal identities…
