Features

King James II tends to be largely ignored. Following his brother’s long Restoration reign and removal during the Glorious Revolution for his Protestant daughter and son-in-law, his reign can feel like a footnote in a lot of discussions. And unfortunately, those in his life tend to get the same treatment. While he might not have had the many, many mistresses that his brother did, James did have a…

There are a few pieces of jewellery that became completely symbolic of the historic reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The tiara known as the Grand Duchess Vladimirovna remained one of her favourite pieces throughout her 70 years as Monarch. The tiara originally belonged to one of the most sociable members of the Romanov court, Grand Duchess Vladimir or Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin before…

She lived most of her adult life in the spotlight and yet one very basic detail of her story is shrouded in mystery. For no one is really sure exactly where Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was born. And no one did more to get people guessing than the Queen Mum herself. In 1980, as preparations were under way for her eightieth birthday celebrations, a Clarence House press officer was asked to…

He is currently the longest reigning monarch in Europe and the first man to hold that distinction in decades. And it’s not the first time that the King of Sweden has grabbed an historic first. King Carl XVI Gustaf made history in 2023 when he celebrated his Golden Jubilee. And after 50 years of reign, many Swedish citizens barely remember a life without the current King on the throne. Carl…