Insight

The Story of the Peerage: Peers and Parliament

<![CDATA[In 1999, history was made when an bill was passed through Parliament which abolished the right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords and contribute to the law making process. Almost 15 years on and whilst there is still a push to completely reform the House of Lords, it remains the home of peers – mostly life peers – though still some hereditary.For centuries…
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Insight

Why isn't Prince Philip King?

<![CDATA[A lot of comments we receive on Royal Central raise the question of why Prince Philip isn't king, despite the wife of a king being a queen. On the face of it, it seems bizarre, almost sexist, though in this post I'll explain exactly why Prince Philip…
Insight

The Story of the Peerage: How does it all work?

<![CDATA[Anyone who knows will tell you that the British Peerage is a complicated and diverse institution – and in this article (Part 2 of the Story of the Peerage series), I will explain everything you need to know about the Lords and Ladies of the United Kingdom.As discussed in Part 1, there are 5 ranks in the peerage. They are, in descending order, Duke (Duchess); Marquess…
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Insight

The Story of the Peerage: Feudal Beginnings

<![CDATA[ The origins of the peerage are not as obscure as one may think at first thought. In fact, documents dating back over a thousand years have helped historian piece together exactly how we have managed to get to where we are today with the nobility. Earls were one of the earliest example of nobility in England. First recorded in during the time of the Anglo-Saxons, it was the earls who…
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Opinion

Why Camilla must become our Queen

<![CDATA[It's a subject that divides people across the country and indeed, around the world. Should the Duchess of Cornwall become Queen when Prince Charles accedes to the throne? Some argue she cannot, others that she must – I'm going to explain in this…
HistoryInsight

Scotland and the Act of Union: Over 300 years on

<![CDATA[On January 16, 1707 the Act of Union was passed under Queen Anne. This historic document, and one of the few important legislative pieces to be passed under her reign, brought together the thrones and Parliaments of England and Scotland, formally creating the United Kingdom. It was a long time coming, almost a century had passed since James VI & I took over control of the English…
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