History

The king who never gave up hope of regaining his lost crown

Although he was known for most of his adult life as the Duke of York, it was as a king that James II of England and VII of Scotland died in exile on 16 September 1701, even though he had long lost his throne. Born to King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria on 14 October 1633, James was known as the Duke of York from birth and was formally given the title in 1644. James and his elder…
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History

Diamond Jubilee barge back at special dock

The late Queen’s barge, Gloriana, has finally found a new permanent home. Gloriana played several important public roles in 2012. The barge was commissioned by Lord Sterling of Plaisthow and was officially launched in April 2012. It led a 670 boat flotilla down the…
History

The brutal assassination of a beloved Empress

One of the most popular royals of the nineteenth century met a tragic end on 10 September 1898. It was the day when Empress Elisabeth of Austria was assassinated.  Empress Elisabeth, more commonly known as Sisi, was a beloved royal. She was known for being exceptionally…
History

The Winter Queen who secured the throne

Elizabeth Stuart was the daughter of King James I and Queen Anne of Denmark, the sister of King Charles I, and the aunt of King Charles II and King James II. While she was only a queen herself for little over a year, her lineage would set up a future dynasty in Britain.  Princess Elizabeth was born to the King and Queen of the Scots in 1596, a younger sister to Prince Henry Frederick.
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History

The king who created the House of Windsor

King George V led the Royal Family through the First World War, oversaw the transition to the House of Windsor, and recognised the British Empire’s Dominions as independent nations. However, his birth in 1865 was that of a spare rather than an heir.  Prince George…
History

Brand new exhibition showcases 100 years of royal photos

The Royal Collection Trust is staging a new exhibition at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace that allows a look into the Royal Family’s private lives. “Royal Portraits: A Century of Royal Photography” is opening on 17 May and includes never-before-seen photos. This new exhibition sets out to shed a light on model royal portraits. While portraits have been used to create royal…
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History

Moments that defined the British Monarchy – The abdication and scandal of Edward VIII

On 20 January 1936, Britain’s King George V died. George V was a popular monarch with strong public morals, his son, the Prince of Wales acceded to the throne upon his father’s death. He became King Edward VIII, a name chosen as opposed to King David as there had been no British King David before. At first, Edward VIII’s public popularity was promising. But this wasn’t to last, behind the…
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