There are a few points in regal life when
the words ‘’bookies’’ and ‘’royal’’ come together in perfect
harmony. One is at the races because the Windsors, like many, enjoy
a flutter (always sensible) on the horses. The other is when babies
arrive. As the final countdown to the birth of the Duke and Duchess
of Sussex’s first child gets under way, the bookies have odds on
all sorts…
Sultan of Brunei faces Hollywood backlash on his hotels after new implementation of Sharia law
1st April 2019
The Sultan of Brunei is facing a backlash
from a list of Hollywood stars after his country’s planned embrace
of extreme Islamic law. A-list celebrities like George Clooney and
Elton John are vowing to boycott all nine hotels, including the
famed Beverly Hills Hotel and…
Buckingham Palace is throwing open its
doors to happy couples wishing to tie the knot. The London landmark
could be the setting for civil weddings from later this year.
Ceremonies will take place in the 1844 Room which will be renamed
the 1837 room in honour of the year that…
Nicholas and Alexandra: A secret "code" book
26th March 2019
Contained within the report made by
Nicholas Sokolov, who was charged with conducting the official
investigation into the fate of the Russian Imperial Family by the
White Russian Government in February 1919, is an extraordinary set
of four images, listed as ‘Nos. 15, 16, 17 and 18’ in my copy of
The Sokolov Investigation, translation and commentary by John F. O’
Connor (1971). It is a…
'Ever your loving Nicky': A forgotten letter?
25th March 2019
I first encountered this hitherto
neglected and virtually ‘forgotten’ letter, categorised as by Tsar
Nicholas II, within the volume The Complete Wartime Correspondence
of Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra April 1914-March
1917, skilfully edited by Prof Joseph T.
Some photos tell their own story and take
their own place in history as a result. While we are inundated with
images of royalty, some pictures stand out as a snapshot of a
moment that has its own resonance. In this occasional series, Royal
Central looks at some of the best…
Burnt down Brazilian imperial palace to be rebuilt
24th March 2019
The Brazilian Imperial Palace in Rio de
Janeiro which burnt down last year is to be rebuilt, with the first
stage of construction already beginning. The Palace of Saint
Christopher, also called Palácio Imperial de São Cristóvão, served
as residence to the Portuguese Royal Family and later to the
Brazilian Imperial Family until 1889, when the country became a
republic through a coup…
Victoria Series 3 - What Do We Know So Far?
23rd March 2019
The hit television show Victoria is
back with a third series, with the first episode airing on Sunday,
24 March at 9pm on ITV. Jenna Coleman returns as a young Queen
Victoria with Tom Hughes returning as Prince Albert, her husband.
While the first two seasons have focused…
Could The Queen become Empress of Great Britain?
23rd March 2019
On 1 May 1876, Queen Victoria was
proclaimed Empress Of India after discussion with Prime Minister of
the day, Benjamin Disraeli led to Queen Victoria wanting a title
boost after her daughter became Empress Of Germany. From 1876 until
the Empire Of India was disbanded in…
The creator of hit historical royal
drama, Victoria, Daisy Goodwin, has spoken out about the unfair
double standards female monarchs are judged by in comparison with
their male counterparts. Queen Victoria and her husband Prince
Albert had nine children. While their relationship is celebrated as
a highly passionate and successful partnership, Victoria’s bond
with her children is seen very…

