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He was among the only people outside a royal inner circle who knew the answer to a question everyone was asking and on a chilly winter’s day he, briefly, became rather famous for that very reason. And given that the person who shared that secret with him was the always formidable Prince Philip, it’s perhaps little wonder that he kept it. That’s a very good reason to stay quiet.John…

Sometimes we overlook the figures operating behind the scenes – those who made key decisions and were involved in some of the more questionable episodes in English history. Here are a few notorious individuals who left their mark for all the wrong reasons.Queen Isabella of France and Roger MortimerAt the forefront is Queen Isabella of France and her ally Roger Mortimer. Often dubbed…

It sounds like the plot of a historical drama rather than a modern monarchy concern: a reigning monarch dies suddenly, leaving behind a pregnant consort and a kingdom unsure of who the next sovereign will be. Yet this precise scenario has long been anticipated within the framework of British succession law, and the rules to address it are surprisingly clear.Established through centuries-old…