King Harald V is the third king of modern Norway. He is the only son of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha (born a Princess of Sweden).
This is the story of his four grandparents. They consist of the first king of modern Norway, an English princess, a Swedish prince and a Danish princess. His paternal grandfather and his maternal grandmother were brother and sister.
Haakon VII, King of…
She seems out of a fairy tale with princes and princesses: Leonor, Princess of Asturias, future Queen of Spain, the first Spanish queen since Isabella II (1833-1868). Born on 31 October 2005 to Felipe, Prince of Asturias and his wife, Letizia, Princess of Asturias, during…
Vatican City State is the world’s smallest state, located entirely within the Italian capital, Rome. Covering 0.17 square miles (121 acres), Vatican City also has the smallest population of any country in the world, at roughly 800 inhabitants.
The Vatican is one of the…
Celebrating the work of a royal winning more recognition: Sophie, The Countess of Wessex
8th September 2020
Much of the work carried out by some members of the royal family can go unnoticed by the public.
Whilst royal dramas generate bigger headlines, perhaps it is time to turn our attention to the important work being carried out by the Countess of Wessex. This year, there has been a growing recognition of the work done by Sophie who works tirelessly behind-the-scenes and has become patron for…
Continuing our series looking into the grandparents of Europe’s reigning monarchs, let’s explore the lives of the grandparents of King Felipe VI of Spain, royalty on both sides.
Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona
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King Felipe’s…
What next for Europe's royals as a challenging year enters a new phase?
7th September 2020
After a challenging year and a very hard summer for some royals, the ruling houses of Europe are gearing up for a new season.
In this new term report, Moniek Bloks, Brittani Barger and Lydia Starbuck assess what’s waiting in store for some of your favourite royals…
The vintage Norman Hartnell gown that became one of the most unusual wedding picks of brides of the House of Windsor is to go on display.
The outfit, worn by Princess Beatrice for her marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020, will be shown at Windsor Castle this autumn.
Beatrice’s wedding gown was designed by Norman Hartnell for the Queen and was worn by Her Majesty on several…
There are hundreds of countries, states and territories which have been visited by members of the Royal Family, but there are few which hold a special and long-lasting place in their hearts.
Kenya is one country which has acted as a polaroid for key royal events for…
Among Europe’s royal families, the Swedish Royal Family owns one of the the most impressive jewelry collections. The Leuchtenberg sapphire and diamond parure in particular goes back to early 19th century and is said to have been a wedding gift from Napoleon Bonaparte to…
The Queen's Rival: an interview with author Anne O'Brien about her new novel about Cecily Neville
6th September 2020
Cecily Neville came close to being Queen of England, saw two sons and a grandson become kings and ultimately witnessed her granddaughter help end the Wars of the Roses and begin a royal dynasty of unrivalled influence. Yet, she has been a sometimes obscure figure and while the tales of Tudor women have been told in a string of high profile novels in recent years, Cecily has often been a bit part…
