Opinion

The Final Curtsey: your 90 second summer reading review

Many interviews, articles, and books were published during Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. There is one individual who shared personal stories and not the kind that may come into question as true. These stories were from someone who has seen the transformation of a then Princess Elizabeth who become Queen Elizabeth II. The stories are not “tell all” or secrets, just…
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FeaturesOpinion

The Great Royal Bake Off

It hasn’t even started yet and already Great British Bake Off fever has returned to the UK with just about everyone getting ready to go crazy again for meringues, macaroons and marble cake.   But while the twelve new stars of the BBC One show will no doubt win…
Opinion

Why Monarchy?

Former King Farouk of Egypt once said “The whole world is in revolt. Soon there will be only five Kings left —the King of Spades, the King of Clubs, the King of Hearts, the King of Diamonds, and the King of England.” Farouk’s quip left out a number of crowned heads…
FeaturesOpinion

Backstairs Billy: The Life of William Tallon, the Queen Mother's Most Devoted Servant: your 90 second summer reading review

For the eight-hour flight to London, I thought why not read something easy to pass the time instead of the usual history or biographies I read. Figured let’s see how sensationalised the story of Backstairs Billy: The Life of William Tallon, the Queen Mother’s Most Devoted Servant by Tom Quinn was. Why not waste just a meager amount of money on a book I already knew I had my…
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Opinion

Is it time we made more of royal birthdays?

Looking at the images coming from Sweden on July 14th this year, two things struck me. Firstly, the second in line to the throne, Princess Estelle, has royal engagements wrapped up at the age of three. Secondly, doing a walkabout every year on a royal birthday is really…
Opinion

Let's give Kate a break, shall we?

I won’t write about fashion trends of the royals. There are enough sites out there that analyse their fashion decisions. I enjoy keeping up with the British Royal Family because I don’t think there is enough focus or attention given to the fact that they are human beings. I see complaints and opinions from people online who think nothing of criticising them over one small matter or…
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Opinion

My Favourite Monarch: Henry VIII

<![CDATA[Choosing a monarch that has impacted my quest to become a historian was quite easy. There was no other leader that affected me more than Henry VIII, and did so for many reasons. The early modern period was full of great leaders, but Henry VIII created a legacy…
FeaturesOpinion

Buckingham Palace's first Royal Cookbook: Royal dining for the domestic kitchen

<![CDATA[Christmas came early as, to my sheer joy and pure delight, the perfect little white puffy package was waiting for me in the mailbox, straight from the gates of Buckingham Palace. After months of anticipation, I carefully opened the package to find my very own copy of the Palace's first official cookbook, A Royal Cookbook – Seasonal recipes from Buckingham Palace. I would not…
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