Marie Antoinette is without a doubt one
of the most tragic figures in royal history. And part of her
downfall was due to a diamond necklace that she never owned.
King Louis XV commissioned a diamond necklace for his beloved
mistress, Madame du Barry. He chose two jewellers from Paris,
Charles Auguste Boehmer and Paul Bassenge, to create the 2,000,000
livre necklace which was meant to outshine…
Princesses on parade: why future queens of Europe on military training has become big news
30th October 2024
Europe’s future queens are taking a
different path to their thrones in the twenty first century with
more and more female heirs carrying out the military training that
was historically only given to their brothers. Leonor,
Princess of Asturias, is in the midst of her…
This is the stunning ruby tiara that was given to a future queen by one of the world's richest men
29th October 2024
It’s a striking and colourful tiara that
has only ever been worn publicly by one royal and it has a
fascinating history. For it was presented to a princess to mark her
marriage to a man who hoped to become a king but had no guarantee
he would ever wear a crown. Their…
While the idea of receiving a piece of
jewellery could be the ultimate gift, sometimes it comes with more
baggage than it is worth. And for one opal ring, it seems that it
may have come complete with a curse for one royal family.
Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, was an Italian
aristocrat who was incredibly well-connected in European society.
She was known for her exceptional beauty…
Australia has served as the backdrop for
many iconic fashion moments over the decades, with Queen Elizabeth
II, the Princess of Wales, and Queen Mary of Denmark all making
sartorial statements while visiting. Queen Elizabeth II Queen
Elizabeth II wore a gold tulle…
While The King has inherited a number of
stunning tiaras that he can loan out to the members of his family,
the other branches of the British Royal Family have their own
jewels. The Duchess of Gloucester has a substantial tiara, the Teck
Turquoise Tiara, that she wears…
Balmoral Castle could soon open its doors
to weddings. The royal residence has put in an application to its
local council to be able to host celebrations. The plans would see
the Queen’s Building on the estate, not far from the main castle,
hosting weddings and other events for over 250 people. The King, or
whoever filled the form in for him, promises to keep music low and
make sure every…
The law that stopped a king and queen marrying in a favourite castle
24th October 2024
It was a marriage for the history books
but the bride and groom soon discovered that even royalty has to
play by some rules. When King Charles and Queen Camilla announced
their engagement in February 2005, they said almost straight away
that they would marry in April in a…
Princess Grace had two wedding dresses and the forgotten one is just as beautiful as her iconic lace gown
23rd October 2024
Her gown she wore for her religious
marriage is one of the most famous royal outfits ever worn and an
icon of the 20th century but Grace Kelly had another wedding dress
before that celebrated creation. Grace and Prince Rainier III of
Monaco said ‘I do’ in a civil…
Also known as the Irish Crown Jewels, the
Jewels of the Order of St Patrick, are at the heart of a
still-unsolved mystery. King George III created the Order of
St Patrick in 1783, as an equivalent order to England’s Order of
the Garter and Scotland’s Order of the Thistle. The Grand
Master’s regalia were stolen from Dublin Castle sometime in late
June or early July 1907. The Diamond…
