FeaturesHistoryInsight

The Royal W: Scarlet Rod

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16th November 2014
<![CDATA[The Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod is one of six administrative and ceremonial officers of the Order of the Bath and established in 1725. The Title ‘Scarlet Rod’ is from the characteristic insignia of the office which is a long silver gilt rod. The shaft is covered with scarlet enamel that signifies the mantles of the Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order. The holders of…
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FeaturesInsight

The Royal Household: Master of the Household's Department

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11th November 2014
<![CDATA[The Master of the Household Department was created in 1539. Originally there were four Masters of the Household, but in the 17th Century it was reduced to one. The position was also one that required little to no effort, which was until Prince Albert reorganized the structure in the 1840s. The current Master of the Household Department comprises over 250 employees and is the largest…
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Interviews

Royal Central Conversations: Desmond Thompson

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4th November 2014
<![CDATA[In November 2013, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) launched a new honour amongst their ranks: The Queen's Medal. The Medal is reserved for veterinary surgeons whose careers and lifetime achievements deserve wider recognition. With the support…
FeaturesHistory

History Rewind: Marriage of William of Orange and Mary

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4th November 2014
<![CDATA[On 4th November 1677, the future joint Monarchs of England, Scotland and Ireland, Queen Mary II and King William III married at St James' Palace. Although their marriage was, in broad terms, quite a happy one, their wedding day was far from a joyous occasion. Mary, a mere 15 year old girl, is said to have wept continuously throughout the ceremony, and the arranger of the marriage…
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FeaturesInsight

The Royal W: Counsellors of State

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3rd November 2014
<![CDATA[In the case of the Sovereign not being able to attend a Privy Council meeting because of an absence due to travel abroad or temporary illness, two or more members of the Royal Family will stand in as Counsellors of State. Their role is to carry out the functions…
FeaturesHistory

The Wives of the Georgian Kings: Caroline of Ansbach

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1st November 2014
<![CDATA[Lucy Worsley has called Caroline of Ansbach "the cleverest queen consort ever to sit on the throne of England". In many ways, she really was. The wife of King George II was a patron of the arts and never missed an opportunity to branch out her knowledge. She was extremely well read, and during her husband's reign, she popularised inoculation among the masses. Caroline…
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