He was the monarch who had to fight for a
throne but then relied on a mistress for advice with a queen who
arrived at court to find another holding power. And in the middle
of their marriage was a woman with ambition, brains and no sense of
self control. Our special read brings to life a mesmerising moment
in royal history. Charles II, the Merry Monarch, had several
different mistresses.
Sparkling with diamonds and studded with
creamy pearls, it is a perfect fit for bridal white so it’s no
surprise that a rather impressive royal necklace was created for a
marriage. Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace is a rarely seen royal
gem but it has a…
In a year when traditional remembrance
for those who have given their lives for their country was made
difficult by the pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II made one of the most
poignant gestures of her reign. Her Late Majesty placed a floral
tribute on the Tomb of the Unknown…
Eleanor of Aquitaine died on 1 April 1204
but after 800 years, she still holds our interest. She was Queen
twice and held titles in her own name, and she remains one of the
most interesting royal women in the mediaeval period. Eleanor was
born on 8 April 1124 to William, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of
Poitiers and Aénor of Châtellerault. Her father’s lands exceeded
those of the French…
She was the beautiful princess who had
been the subject of endless royal wedding speculation, he was the
handsome prince with a crown waiting in his future. When Marie-Jose
of Belgium married Umberto, heir to the throne of Italy, in January
1930 their marriage had all the…
It’s grand, unforgettable and forever
associated with one of the most famous princesses of the 20th
century. The tiara chosen by Princess Margaret for her wedding to
Antony Armstrong-Jones in May 1960 has become iconic. In fact, it
was such a successful pick, it begs…
it’s an ancient tradition which has been
given a very personal touch by The King as his wife, Queen Camilla,
represents him at one of the most important events in the royal
calendar so that he can continue his cancer treatment. Monarchs
have presented Maundy money for centuries and part of the ceremony
is the presentation of floral nosegays to the royal guests. And
although King…
The royals who brought romance to an historic evening with their wedding tiaras
26th March 2024
For the royal women at King Carl XVI
Gustaf’s Golden Jubilee gala dinner on 15 September 2023, it was
another opportunity to wear their best jewels. For a handful of
them, it was the chance to re-wear their respective wedding tiaras.
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece — The…
On a hot summer day in 1543, a young
widow married an ageing and much wed king in a ceremony that took
many by surprise. By the time Katherine Parr said ‘I do’ to Henry
VIII in the Queen’s Closet at Hampton Court Palace on July
12th1543, his five previous unions…
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. Here’s our rundown of that rarest of royal
sparklers – the emerald engagement ring. Queen Victoria’s serpent
ring Engagement rings were rarely used when Queen…
