The Jewel House at the Tower of London is
home to the Crown Jewels, part of which includes a total of sixteen
silver trumpets, dating back to 1780, also known as the state
trumpets. However, only one of the trumpets is on display for
visitors to see. Seven of these trumpets were originally used by
the 1st Regiment Life Guards, and bear engraved inscriptions
indicating this. The other nine…
Royal Wedding Dresses: The Kent Brides
24th April 2023
The modern brides of the House of Kent
have all made history with their royal marriages in one way or
another and the gowns they wore on their big day are certainly
memorable. Two took centre stage in some of the most ancient
churches in England while another was worn at a…
The gems and history of the Crown Jewels
23rd April 2023
The Crown Jewels are the most sacred and
special jewellery and regalia at the disposal of the monarch, and
they are stored permanently at the Tower of London unless otherwise
needed for state occasions, such as a coronation. In total, there
are 142 objects with over…
The Coronation Ceremony: The Presentation Of The Bible
21st April 2023
During the Coronation Service of King
Charles III, a Bible will be presented to him as his first gift.
The presentation of the Bible has been a part of every Coronation
since Mary II and William III in 1689. King Charles will receive
one that is specially made for his Coronation. A copy will
eventually be placed in the Royal Collection. This has happened for
every Monarch since George III…
A crucial part of any Coronation is the
oath that the new Sovereign takes. Just like the ceremony itself,
the oath that is part of it has changed throughout the centuries,
according to historical context and the will of the Monarch.
The last big change to the oath…
Britain's oldest royal wedding dress on show in London
20th April 2023
The oldest surviving royal wedding dress
in Britain is now on show for the first time in a decade. The gown
worn by Princess Charlotte of Wales, the House of Hanover’s missing
queen, is on display at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace as
part of a new summer…
It’s one of the oldest and storied item
in the Crown Jewels, the Sovereign’s Orb. Created in 1661 by Sir
Robert Vyner for Charles II’s coronation, the orb is a hollow gold
sphere with a cross on top. It symbolizes the monarch’s Christian
sovereignty and their position as head of the Church of England.
The orb weighs 1.32 kg (3lbs.) and is bejeweled with bands of nine
emeralds, 18…
Two pieces of the True Cross, said to be
that on which Jesus was crucified, have been given to King Charles
III by Pope Francis and they will play a role in the Coronation.
The King has had them incorporated into a new silver cross for the
Church of Wales which will be…
The wedding flowers of Princess Grace of Monaco
19th April 2023
It was a ground breaking and glamourous
royal wedding and the images of it remain as familiar now as they
have ever done. The world watched, enthralled, when Grace Kelly
married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 19th 1956. Her
wedding dress has become one of the most…
A significant artefact of the Chinese
Ming Dynasty will be put up for auction in London after spending
almost eight decades in private hands. The artefact in
question is a decorative box that is believed to be part of a
five-piece set of such items designed specifically for Emperor
Xuande; the pieces all bear his reign’s characters etched at the
bottom of the box and inside the…

