British RoyalsFeaturesHistoryThe Gloucesters

History in the making for the Duke of Gloucester

The Duke of Gloucester has been visiting Ipswich this week to open a new archive and heritage centre, connect with students at the University of Suffolk, and visit Sutton Hoo. The Duke visited The Hold, which was created in partnership with the University of Suffolk, and is a new archival service funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and several different Suffolk heritage organisations.
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History

The English Queens of France

On an autumn day, over 500 years ago, Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, marriedthe 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…
FeaturesHistoryInterestsState & Ceremonial

How many sapphires are there in the Imperial State Crown?

The Imperial State Crown is one of the most popular royal crowns, not only in Britain but across the globe. Given that September’s birthstone is September, it is the perfect time to look at the two historic sapphires set in the Imperial State Crown. St. Edward’s Sapphire is one of the notable sapphires in the State Crown. It is an octagonal, rose-cut sapphire and sits in the cross at…
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HistoryMiddle East

The last King and Queen of Afghanistan

The last King and Queen of Afghanistan were exiled in 1973, and with the monarchy abolished, Afghanistan became a republic. The last King of Afghanistan was Mohammed Zahir Shah, who succeeded his father in 1933 at the age of 19, following the latter’s assassination. The young King had been educated at an English-language and later a French-language school in Kabul before being sent to…
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FeaturesHistory

Royal Mistresses: Alice Keppel

Born 29 April 1868, Alice Frederica Keppel (née Edmonstone) was a British society hostess and a long-time mistress and confidante of King Edward VII. Born in Woolwich Dockyard, Kent, Alice’s father was the Superintendent at the Dockyard and a retired admiral in the…
FeaturesHistoryHistoryInterests

Arabella Churchill - mistress and ancestress of popular royal

King James II tends to be largely ignored. Following his brother’s long Restoration reign and removal during the Glorious Revolution for his Protestant daughter and son-in-law, his reign can feel like a footnote in a lot of discussions. And unfortunately, those in his life tend to get the same treatment. While he might not have had the many, many mistresses that his brother did, James did have a…
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