FeaturesNorwayRoyal Weddings

The controversial royal bride who went High Street for her wedding dress

The marriage of Sonja Haraldsen to the future King of Norway, on August 29th 1968, marked a moment of joy in a relationship that had caused huge debate as soon as it was known about. For the bride had no royal blood in a monarchy where princes were expected to wed regally. However, love prevailed and Sonja married the then Crown Prince Harald in front of crowned heads from across Europe. This…
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How a fairytale royal wedding became a modern milestone

The first major royal wedding of the 21st century was a fairytale come true. The romantic bride and groom had a love story that had enchanted millions while their marriage ceremony was a first taste of ancient tradition in a brand new millennium. And that brought another first with it. For the wedding of the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway, on August 25th 2001, was also the first real internet…
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Queen Noor - her wedding to King Hussein

As she celebrates her 70th birthday, we take a look at the romance and wedding of Queen Noor and King Hussein of Jordan. Queen Noor stepped onto the international stage 43 years ago when she married King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan. Born Lisa Najeeb Halaby, the American-born Princeton graduate, became Hussein’s fourth wife at age 27. Expected to be named a princess, King Hussein declared his…
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FeaturesHistory

Royal Mistresses: Alice Keppel

Born 29 April 1868, Alice Frederica Keppel (née Edmonstone) was a British society hostess and a long-time mistress and confidante of King Edward VII. Born in Woolwich Dockyard, Kent, Alice’s father was the Superintendent at the Dockyard and a retired admiral in the…
Features

Alice Perrers: From royal mistress to one of England's wealthiest

Born 1348, Alice Perrers was an English royal mistress whose lover and patron was King Edward III of England. While there is no record of her birth, evidence suggests Alice was the daughter of a family named Salisbury and that she had at least one brother, John. Around 1360 at the age of 12, Alice married a man named Janyn Perrers. Perrers, who was a jeweller, died around 1364. Sometime before…
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