We all love a royal what if and perhaps
one of the most intriguing of recent times revolves around the
question of the king who renounced his throne for love. On December
11th 1936, 85 years ago, Edward VIII announced to the world that he
was ending his reign to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson.
But what if Edward VIII hadn’t abdicated? Who would be Monarch now?
There are two roads to…
Born on 28 September 1828, Antoinette
Ghislaine de Merode was born in Brussels, Belgium, to Count Werner
deMerode and Countess Victoire de Spangen d’Uyternesse. The day she
turned 18, a “golden-haired” Antoinette married Prince Charles III
of…
How Queen Charlotte and Queen Victoria & Albert introduced the Christmas Tree to Britain
9th December 2021
Prince Albert is generally credited with
introducing the Christmas tree to Britain, but in fact, it was the
work of his wife’s grandmother, Queen Charlotte. Like Prince
Albert, Charlotte was born and raised in Germany, where the
tradition of bringing a tree inside at…
The competition for city status, being
held to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, is now in its final
stages. Entry to the contest has closed – the final date for
submitting applications was December 8th 2021. Towns across the UK
have put themselves forward for the honour. Among the contenders is
the Cornish resort of Marazion which, with just over 1,400
residents, would be the…
Four oak armorial panels once hanging in
a home inhabited by Marie de Guise, Mary Queen of Scot’s mother and
wife of James V, are now part of the collections of the National
Museums Scotland. The acquisition was announced on a meaningful
day, with 8 December being the…
Ippolita Trivulzio holds the distinction
of being the first woman to hold the title of Princess of Monaco.
Ippolita Trivulzio was born in 1600 in Palazzo Trivulzio,Duchy of
Milan (what is today Italy), as the only daughter and younger child
of Carlo Emanuele…
The connection between the House of
Windsor and the House of Grimaldi begins in the 19th century when
Albert I, Prince of Monaco married a beautiful and willful British
aristocrat called Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton. Her father was the
11th Duke of Hamilton and her mother was a German princess, Marie
of Baden. Marie provides the first link between the Grimaldis and
Elizabeth…
Royal Trivia: An interview with Royally Obsessed hosts Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito
7th December 2021
If you love quizzing people on royal
facts or have a royally-obsessed person on your gift list this
year, a new book will definitely tick all the boxes. Releasing 21
December, Royal Trivia by Royally Obsessed podcast hosts Rachel
Bowie and Roberta Fiorito covers facts on…
OBITUARY: The Dowager Duchess of Grafton, the Queen's most senior Lady-in-Waiting, who has died aged 101
5th December 2021
The Dowager Duchess of Grafton was born
on 24thFebruary 1920 into an aristocratic family of Barons,
financiers, and of the banking dynasty Smith’s Bank of Nottingham
(founded in 1658 by Thomas Smith). Born Ann Fortune Smith, Her
Grace married Hugh FitzRoy, the…
Imperial China has a long and illustrious
history. It is a civilisation that began with the Shang dynasty in
1250 BC and lasted until the Qing dynasty that fell in 1912. The
last emperor to rule China was Puyi, whose regnal name was Xuantong
Emperor. He came to the throne in 1908 at two-years-old and ruled
until February 1912, when he was forced to abdicate. During that
time, imperial China…
