FeaturesInsightQueen Elizabeth II

The royal recognition given to the work of Professor Stephen Hawking

Professor Stephen Hawking, who has died at the age of 76, was one of Britain’s greatest ever scientists but despite being given many honours, he declined a knighthood. However, that didn’t stop him developing an apparently relaxed relationship with the Queen. As the world pays tributes to one of its all-time great thinkers, let’s look back at the times royalty celebrated Professor…
Read more
FeaturesHistory

The first royal wedding at Windsor

Windsor’s first royal wedding took place in the twelfth century. What do we know about this wedding and why exactly did it take place at Windsor Castle? It was the second marriage of the third Norman King, Henry I (r. 1100-35). His thirty-five-year reign was one without…
British RoyalsFeaturesHistory

Royal Weddings: The wedding of Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon

Princess Margaret’s years as a single woman were followed with the most considerable interest in Britain, where there was a great deal of excitement over her choice of husband. It was assumed in 1955 that she would marry Peter Townsend. However, Townsend was a divorcee at a time when the Church of England wouldn’t allow the remarriage of a divorcee with a living former spouse. Princess…
Read more
FeaturesHistory

Queen Victoria's wedding

“Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!” With these words, Queen Victoria described her wedding day in her diary – 10 February 1840, writing up the event for the day’s entry from Windsor Castle. It marked the beginning of her marriage to her cousin, Prince Albert…
FeaturesHistoryInsightKing Charles III

Why Charles and Camilla couldn’t wed at Windsor Castle

When the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall announced their engagement in February 2005 they wasted no time in setting a date or venue for their marriage. They immediately told the world they would marry in April that year in a civil ceremony at Windsor Castle followed by a service of blessing at St. George’s Chapel later the same day. Yet just a week later, they had to move their civil…
Read more
FeaturesOpinion

How important are the Royals to being British today?

How important are the Royal Family to the idea of Britishness today? That’s one of the questions raised by a set of coins which go into circulation in the UK on March 1st 2018. The Royal Mint has launched a series of new ten pence pieces– 26 in all, created to form an A-Z of British life in the 21st century. They’re described as ‘Quintessentially British’ and two of the designs are…
Read more