History

The history behind one of the world's most recognized palaces

When people think of London, there are probably a few things that come to mind. From Big Ben to red phonebooths there are iconic images of the capital that everyone knows. But if there is any palace someone recognises, it’s likely Buckingham Palace. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building was a large town home built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on land that had been in…
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Features

How Princess Anne revived a forgotten royal name

A is for Anne but why did the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II end up with a name that, at the time, wasn’t a usual one for members of the Royal Family? The answer can perhaps best be found in the summer of 1930 and the arrival of another princess. In August that…
FeaturesJapan

The world's oldest reigning monarchy

While there are several monarchies that date back over one thousand years, there is one throne that dates back over two thousand years. The Japanese monarchy, also known as the Chrysanthemum Throne, was officially founded in 440 BCE. The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world, and its official founding date is 11 February, 660 BCE. While the…
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History

Queen Victoria's Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognised buildings in the world and a symbol of the British Royal Family. If it wasn’t for Queen Victoria’s accession, the palace may have never become the principal royal residence as it did in 1837. Queen Victoria was…
Features

The five women who have been Duchess of Edinburgh - from a forgotten princess to a truly historic monarch

The title of Duke of Edinburgh is one of the best known in the modern Monarchy. Held for almost 74 years by Prince Philip, it was recreated in March 2023 for his youngest son, Prince Edward. However, the dukedom was first given out almost three hundred years ago and, in those three centuries, five women have held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh. The Hanover’s missing queen The first…
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Features

Is it time to rethink royal jubilees?

Sweden is enjoying a summer of celebrations to mark a very special event. The reign of King Carl XVI Gustaf reaches half a century this year. The party for his Golden Jubilee will see Sweden sparkle but after this special milestone, the Jubilee juggernaut slows down. The…
Features

Did one of England's most controversial kings want to marry his niece?

Today, we’re looking at a Royal History Mystery that involves a king and his niece and whether their relationship was too scandalous for the time period. Did Richard III want to marry his niece Elizabeth of York? One of the most turbulent periods in English history was the Wars of the Roses and the conflicts between different royal dynasties. In a previous post outlining the Royal History…
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