Features

Does The Queen really own all the swans?

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8th February 2016
Whether or not Her Majesty actually owns all of the swans in the United Kingdom has been a question asked by many. The short answer is yes, she does. The Queen specifically owns any unclaimed mute swan in open water in both England and Wales in ceremonial fashion. This has been a law since medieval times. Her ownership is shared with the Worshipful Company of Dyers, granted to them by the Crown in…
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Features

By Royal Appointment: Twinings & Co.

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7th February 2016
Today in our series on Royal Warrant holders, we’re going to take a look at Twinings & Co., which has held a Royal Warrant since the reign of Queen Victoria. Although tea is as quintessentially British as one can imagine, it wasn’t always a staple drink in the…
European RoyalsFeaturesThe Netherlands

The Fifteen Princesses of Orange: Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands

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30th January 2016
From left to right: Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, King Willem-Alexander, Princess Ariane, Queen Maxima and Princess Alexia Suddenly we must make a huge jump in time for this last Princess of Orange. After the death of Sophie of Württemberg her husband remarried to Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, but as he was already King of the Netherlands, she automatically became Queen. After William III…
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Insight

By Royal Appointment: Supplying the Royal Family

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26th January 2016
In this new blog series, Royal Central will be looking at some of the famous names that supply their goods and services to the Royal Family and their Households. Which brand of tea does The Queen prefer? Who produces the Duke of Edinburgh’s glasses? What’s the…
Features

Royal Central speaks to Reign actor Mark Ghanimé

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25th January 2016
The television show Reign is the romanticized version of the early life of Mary, Queen of Scots while she lived in France. While not 100% historically correct, the entertaining show does take aim to account for the life events Mary went through in its own dramatic fashion.
InsightOtherQueen Elizabeth II

Profile: Sir Stuart Peach - the next head of HM Armed Forces

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22nd January 2016
The Ministry of Defence has announced that a senior RAF officer is to become the next Chief of Defence Staff, the individual charged with leading all three Armed Forces in the UK. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, 59, will succeed General Sir Nick Houghton in the summer, marking the first time in six years that a member of the RAF has taken the top job. His appointment comes somewhat as a…
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European RoyalsFeaturesThe Netherlands

The Fifteen Princesses of Orange: Wilhelmina of Prussia

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2nd January 2016
Wilhelmina of Prussia was born on 7 August 1751 to Prince Augustus William of Prussia and Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Her brother succeeded as Frederick William II of Prussia. She barely knew her father as he died when she was 7 years old. She was raised mostly by her grandmother, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover and her aunt, Elisabeth Christine. One of her first governesses was abusive…
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