Features

What really happened to Henry VIII's last queen? Inside the mysterious death of Katherine Parr

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5th May 2024
History remembers her as the ‘survivor’. Katherine Parr, last queen of Henry VIII, managed to get to the end of his reign with her marriage and her head intact. It was no mean feat. Yet, just over a year later, Kateryne The Quene was dead. How did the story of a royal woman who had navigated the pitfalls and caprices of the last days of Henry VIII end so soon afterwards? The…
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History

The time The Queen and Prince Philip attended the Kentucky Derby, fulfilling a lifelong dream

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4th May 2024
Queen Elizabeth II was a huge supporter of horse racing and was one of the sport’s most prominent owners, so it is hardly a surprise that in her free time, the monarch could often be seen on a racecourse. Her late Majesty became a regular face at some the UK’s best known racetracks such as Ascot and Epsom Downs, but the Queen was also known to visit more distant racecourses…
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Features

A royal rarity - an emerald engagement ring

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2nd May 2024
It’s rare to see a royal engagement ring with a flash of green about it. Emeralds aren’t the most popular pick for royal betrothals but the few that have hit the headlines are all rather striking. And as the gem is the birthstone for May, now seems a good time to…
History

The 'fake pregnancy' scandal that rocked the monarchy

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1st May 2024
There are a number of events in English royal history that seem extraordinary and unbelievable, but the warming pan scandal has to be at the top of the list. The son of James II and Mary of Modena had a very interesting start to life and would be questioned for decades.  James II was not an overly popular monarch; he was Roman Catholic (and was married to a Roman Catholic), attempted to repeal…
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Features

Royal Weddings by the Numbers: The Prince and Princess of Wales

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29th April 2024
On 29 April 2024, it will be 13 years since the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot. Like many royal weddings, millions crossed the globe tuned in to watch the affair. A royal spectacle with numbers to match. Over 60 million people tuned in to watch Ahead of the nuptials, British politician Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary estimated about 2 billion people would tune in to watch…
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