The coronation of a monarch is marked
with ceremony and celebration and, often, time in other parts of
their new realm as they introduce themselves to their people. Karl
Johan became King of Norway and Sweden 205 years ago but his time
amongst those he was now to rule almost ended in disaster. For the
man anointed as king almost died within days of being crowned. Karl
XIV Johan has been…
It was a ground breaking and glamourous
royal wedding and the images of it remain as familiar now as they
have ever done. The world watched, enthralled, when Grace Kelly
married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 19th 1956. Her
wedding dress has become one of the most…
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…
Wednesday marks the 63rd running of the
Nell Gwyn Stakes – a group 3 horse race held annually in Newmarket.
Ten fillies line up in the 2024 contest, which is run in memory of
the small-time actress who became mistress to King Charles II. Gwyn
was one of at least seven mistresses who were linked to King
Charles II during his nearly 25-year-reign, so why was she so
special in continuing…
A romantic tiara that links two royal families sparkles again at a glittering State Banquet
17th April 2024
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
chose to wear one of her royal family’s most famous tiaras at the
State Banquet that began her State Visit to Belgium. And her pick
had a sentimental element, too. For the diamond diadem worn by the
Grand Duchess was taken to…
Only Queen Margrethe could sport one of
the most unusual tiaras in existence: the Golden Poppies tiara.
Designed in 1976 by Arje Griegst, Queen Margrethe was only four
years into her reign when she started wearing the Golden Poppies.
It was the Queen’s own commission…
As she stepped into the Royal Opera House
for a concert marking one of the biggest political events of her
reign, Elizabeth II was the picture of serenity. But just minutes
earlier she had had to perform a tiara swap as her jewels fell
apart in the back of her royal car. Queen Elizabeth II was on her
way to attend the Fanfare for Europe gala in central London on
January 3rd 1973 when the…
I’ve always felt rather sorry for the
mistress known as Mrs Jordan. For two decades, she lived alongside
the third son of King George III. Her partner is known to history
as King William IV but for their duration of their relationship he
was the somewhat dodgy Duke of…
The royal bride of Munich whose wedding inspired the world's most famous beer festival
9th April 2024
It’s now one of the most popular parties
in Europe with thousands descending on Munich every year for
Oktoberfest and thousands more heading to festivals inspired by the
original in cities across the continent. Oktoberfest is all about
music, mood and fabulous beer but…
The wedding bouquet carried by Queen
Camilla on her wedding day, April 9th 2005 were a riot of early
blooms that matched her pale blue and gold dress to perfection. But
the flowers were also filled with personal touches that had their
own place in a royal romance that made her a queen. For not only
were the flowers in the posy highly significant, they had been
grown by the bride and groom…
