Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years and lent her name to the era of political and social change, but it began with a ‘botched’ coronation ceremony.
When Victoria was crowned on 22 June 1838, it was the third coronation ceremony of the century; and she followed two uncles to the throne: George IV, unpopular for his spending and his ego; and William IV, unpopular due to the Reform…
For almost a millennium, kings and queens have been crowned at Westminster Abbey. But perhaps the king most intrinsically linked to the Abbey was never crowned there: Edward the Confessor.
Instead, Edward the Confessor was crowned at Winchester Cathedral. He succeeded his…
There have only been a handful of queen regnants in Britain’s history. Queen Elizabeth II was the most recent, having reigned a historic 70 years, but 400 years before her reign began, the first queen regnant was crowned: Queen Mary I.
The eldest daughter of Henry VIII…
For almost a thousand years, coronation services have taken place at Westminster Abbey, in times of peace and strife. The sovereign sometimes arrives at the Abbey a popular figure; sometimes, they’re deeply unpopular.
More often than not, they’re crowned by birthright and succession. On a few occasions, they’re crowned after a battle, like the first king to reign after the Norman…
Ahead of his Coronation in May at Westminster Abbey, King Charles III is taking part in a tradition observed since the seventeenth century. On Thursday 9 March, he will receive the Privileged Bodies at Buckingham Palace.
The Privileged Bodies are a sepcific group of…
The curse of Egyptian King Tut’s tomb is well-known.
Of those who have entered Tutankhamun’s tomb, many have succumbed to unexpected, early deaths. From Lord Carnarvon to Howard Carter, those who “disturbed” the tomb had early deaths under the…
A group of fourteen surgeons and geneticists have confirmed that the distinctive Habsburg chin in the Spanish Royal Family resulted from their inbreeding.Â
The Habsburg dynasty dates back to the eleventh century when the Counts of Habsburg ruled areas of present-day Switzerland. Through successive generations of advancement and intermarriage with different royal families, branches of the…
France is marking a special royal anniversary this year.
In light of the anniversary, a year-long debate has also flared up at a high political level in recent months. Several senior French politicians want to attempt to have the Emperor’s remains returned to…
King Felipe and the Catholic Church: a changing tale of faith and diplomacy
11th February 2023
To analyse the religious situation in Spain, one must consider faith and diplomacy as inextricably linked.
Spain is one of the world’s most religious countries, officially, with some statistics putting the percentage of the population that ascribes to the Roman…
The massive earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday has had devastating effects.
Over 11,000 people are dead across the two countries, and over tens of thousands have been injured as rescue personnel work to clear rubble and find survivors. There has also been significant physical damage to the landscape and buildings, including a nearly-2,000 year castle.Â
Gaziantep Castle, in the…
