Sweden was a monarchy long before its
current ruling house arrived on the throne. However, it was the
last dynasty to accede to the throne that made it famous. Its
founder was born in France, and the Kingdom of Sweden was his
reward for a well-conducted campaign during the Napoleonic
wars. Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was born in Pau,
southern France, on the 26th of January 1763, the…
The marriage of King Baudouin of the
Belgians and Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, on December 15th 1960, gave
a country a new queen and began a royal partnership that would
become one of the most successful in modern regal history. The
discreet monarch and his equally dignified…
For centuries, tiaras have been a symbol
of royalty and some gems hold more significance than others when
used in these sparkling signs of power. The ruby is the birthstone
for July. It’s been used in royal jewellery collections for
centuries and it now features in…
It was a famous royal love story that
shocked as much as it thrilled and its descendants still hold
thrones today. John of Gaunt was the ultra-ambitious prince whose
desire to be a king almost cost him his life, Katherine Swynford
was the mysterious commoner who supplanted a queen in his
affections. Their relationship lasted decades, survived a serious
separation and ultimately led to the…
Have we got the title of one of Britain’s
most controversial kings right? If you think you know the answer,
this special feature by Liam Foley might make you think again. One
aspect of the evolution of monarchy that I find interesting is the
development of Ordinal…
Monarchy is all about traditions and that
includes naming conventions. Throughout the royal families of
Europe there are common threads to be found for those who ascend to
the throne. Today, we’re looking at some of the most common regnal
names. Denmark The…
The only ruby tiara in the Spanish Royal
Family’s collection is the Niarchos Ruby Bandeau and its
accompanying parure. Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark received
a treasure trove of jewels on her wedding day in 1962. In addition
to the Prussian Tiara, a gift from her parents (King Paul and Queen
Frederica of Greece); the Mellerio Shell Tiara, a gift from her
in-laws (Infante Juan and…
His birth secured the succession in a way
the British royal family had never known before. When Mary, Duchess
of York delivered a healthy boy on June 23rd 1894 she ensured that
her royal dynasty had three heirs in direct line to the throne. But
the baby who arrived that day…
Victoria was the monarch who invented
jubilees as we know them. The celebrations of 1887 and 1897 are
among the most famous events of royal history and helped shape her
legacy. But our modern minds assume there must also have been a
silver version, for that is the pattern we…
He was the monarch who had to fight for a
throne but then relied on a mistress for advice with a queen who
arrived at court to find another holding power. And in the middle
of their marriage was a woman with ambition, brains and no sense of
self control. Our special read brings to life a mesmerising moment
in royal history. Charles II, the Merry Monarch, had several
different mistresses.
