British RoyalsHistory

The Coronation of Edward VII

King Charles III has often been compared to his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII. Both ascended the throne after their mother’s enjoyed record-breaking reigns, and at the time of each king’s ascension, they both held the record for longest-serving Prince of Wales. Edward’s coronation in 1902 was not without some difficulties, though.  Although his mother’s coronation in…
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What is the Robe of State?

As well as wearing several crowns at his Coronation (well, this is a once only event after all), King Charles will also be clothed in a variety of robes. The first out of the royal wardrobe will be the Robe of State and while The King won’t wear it for the whole of the…
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The only consort to wear the Monarch’s crown

It is a considered a gem meant for monarchs, but there is one notable exception to the rules around St. Edward’s Crown: Anne Boleyn. St. Edward’s Crown is the oldest and heaviest crown in use in the British collection. Worn by Edward the Confessor during his reign…
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Why are coronations held at Westminster Abbey?

One thing has been certain about the Coronation of King Charles III from the very start. Even before the date was known, the location of the crowning of the new Monarch was set in stone. For Charles III, like every King and Queen for almost a millennium, will be crowned at Westminster Abbey. Its role in this ancient ceremony was never even questioned. St. Edward’s Crown will be brought once…
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The Coronation of King Henry IV

The reign of King Henry IV began with usurpation and heralded a period of power struggles that would end in the War of the Roses. As he rode to his Coronation, in 1399, his predecessor languished in jail and would die in mysterious circumstances within months. Henry IV’s…
FeaturesSweden

A look at the Order of the Polar Star

Each royal house has its own royal chivalric orders. Sweden has several royal orders; the Order of the Polar Star is one of the oldest orders in Sweden. The Order of the Polar Star was established on 23 February 1748 by King Frederick I, along with the Order of the Sword and the Royal Order of the Seraphim. Although some orders date back as far as 1606, they were only codified in 1748 by…
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The Coronation of King George I

The Coronation of King George I in 1714 marked the beginning of a new dynasty on the throne of Great Britain but its crowning moment was rather a difficult affair in more ways than one.  After Queen Anne’s death in August 1714, George inherited the throne due to the 1702 Act of Settlement which ensured that a Protestant became monarch. George was Elector of Hanover at the time and set out…
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