FeaturesHistory

New Findings about Richard III - Remains Reexamined

<![CDATA[Although Shakespeare credited King Richard III with being a hunchback —and thus identified him with an evil creature who could murder his two nephews to gain the throne—new studies are calling this a mistake. Being one of Duchess Cecily Neville’s three sons to live into adulthood, Richard was given the title Duke of Gloucester before he took to the throne after the death of…
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Insight

How popular are Europe's Monarchies?

<![CDATA[The British Monarchy has enjoyed a very high percentage of support for many decades now almost without interruption, with the latest polls putting support for the Monarchy between 70% and 80% and republicanism never rising above 20%, the British Monarchy is one of the most popular in Europe and indeed the world. In this post, we’ll analyse if the other European monarchies…
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Insight

Queen Victoria's Pious Granddaughter

<![CDATA[Of the thousands who pass by the West Door of Westminster Abbey each day, few raise their heads to notice the effigy of a middle-aged nun, and, of those who do, perhaps even fewer are aware that this remarkable woman was once renowned as ‘the most beautiful…
Insight

The Waterloo Ceremony: Duke of Wellington pays his rent

<![CDATA[The Waterloo Ceremony. An elaborate gesture performed annually by the Duke of Wellington, as he pays the rent on his grand stately home in Hampshire to the British Monarch. This symbolic ceremony is held every year on 18th June, the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The origin of the Waterloo Ceremony dates back to the early 19th century. In 1815, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of…
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British RoyalsFeaturesHistoryInsightPalaces & Buildings

Historic Royal Palaces: The Kitchen Garden at Hampton Court Palace

<![CDATA[Welcome to the first in the series covering the history, treasures and other bits and bobs of the Historic Royal Palaces. Join me on the journey as we visit more than just buildings, but the sights and sounds of what comprise England’s greatest treasures: Historic Royal Palaces. The gardeners at Historic Royal Palaces have “planted” the seeds of restoration at Hampton Court…
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