Features

Tombs of Kings of England not in England

Outside of the traditional burial sites of Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel, Windsor, some English (and British) monarchs are missing. The tomb of King John resides in the chancel at Worcester Cathedral, not far from the chantry that contains the grave of the son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII’s elder brother Arthur, Prince of Wales. That of King Edward II is also one…
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Features

The grave of Anne Boleyn

The new memorial that has been erected in front of the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula on Tower Green marks the spot ‘identified’ in the Victorian period as being the site of the scaffold, which may have been a misunderstanding of the Tower’s geography in proportion to…
Features

Tributes are paid to royal reporter Kjell Arne Totland who has died aged 74

Tributes have been paid to royal reporter Kjell Arne Totland who has died at the age of 74 following a short illness. Totland, who was royal correspondent for Norwegian TV station TV 2, regularly appeared in the media across the globe to offer commentary on The Royal Family of Norway, as well as royals from across Europe. The respected broadcaster and journalist died in the early hours of…
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Features

An Oxford house's links with the Russian Imperial Family

A building in the Oxford suburb of Marston preserves a unique connection with the lost world of imperial Russia. Its typical late-Victorian exterior belies the remarkable nature of its hidden history. In this building for a period of time, personal possessions once owned by the Russian Imperial Family were carefully preserved and stored, because they came with the belongings of the person who…
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Features

Taking a look at Tudor perfume

The use of perfume can be traced back to the world’s most ancient civilisations, notably Mesopotamia and Egypt. It flourished during the Italian Renaissance and the personal perfumer of the French Queen Catherine de’ Medici Rene the Florentine, brought his perfumes with him to France in the 16th century where the art was popularised under her patronage. Catherine de’ Medici’s perfumers…
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