The Palace of Versailles remains one of
the most visited palaces in the world. However, it served as the
home of the French court for over a century. In the 1620s,
King Louis XIII built a small hunting lodge west of Paris near
Versailles, a small village. While the King enjoyed escaping to the
lodge, courtiers did not as it was a swampy forest. Louis then had
a small chateau built there in…
We all love a royal ‘what if’ and perhaps
one of the most intriguing of recent times revolves around the
question of the king who renounced his throne for love. On December
11th 1936, 86 years ago, Edward VIII announced to the world that he
was ending his reign to marry…
The Coronation of King Charles III took
place a year ago in a day of pomp and pageantry with an ancient
ceremony at its heart. The King was crowned at Westminster Abbey on
May 6th 2023 and wore two different crowns at different parts of
the service. St. Edward’s…
The history of the Imperial State Crown, the glittering symbol of Monarchy worn by King Charles at the Coronation
6th May 2024
It was the second crown that King Charles
wore on the day of his Coronation but the one that will be seen in
history books for centuries to come. As he left Westminster Abbey
on May 6th 2023 after the Coronation, The King wore the Imperial
State Crown. It was also used for the formal portraits after the
Coronation while King Charles later wore the Crown for the State
Opening of Parliament. It is a…
What really happened to Henry VIII's last queen? Inside the mysterious death of Katherine Parr
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…
”Around the Tomb of the Unknown
Warrior were arranged spring flowers symbolic of remembrance,
including sprigs of rosemary, bay for virtue, bluebells and
forget-me-nots for constancy of love, daffodils for chivalry,
cowslips, and lilac for memories of youth. ” These…
Letters of Credentials, also known as
Credentials Letters, are one of the most ancient tools of
diplomacy, and their delivery to the Head of State marks the
official beginning of the posting of a specific Ambassador to a
specific country – which, in turn, determines what position that
Ambassador will occupy in official ceremonies. First, though,
a little history. Figures akin to a modern…
The time The Queen and Prince Philip attended the Kentucky Derby, fulfilling a lifelong dream
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…
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 look at…
On 20 January 1936, Britain’s King George
V died. George V was a popular monarch with strong public morals,
his son, the Prince of Wales acceded to the throne upon his
father’s death. He became King Edward VIII, a name chosen as
opposed to King David as there had been no British King David
before. At first, Edward VIII’s public popularity was promising.
But this wasn’t to last, behind the…