Features

The King's Champion, who took historic role at the Coronation, has died

The King’s Champion, Francis Dymoke, has died. Francis Dymoke, 68, passed away just months after taking a leading and historic role at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Cailla. The King’s Champion now carries the Royal Standard into Westminster Abbey and Francis Dymoke proudly carried out that role, following in the foosteps of many ancestors. For this ancient role is…
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Features

Queen Victoria's winter sledge

Queen Victoria’s winter sledge became synonymous with the Windsor Christmas, at least during the lifetime of Prince Albert, who is rightly credited with popularising Christmas traditions in England, including that of the Christmas tree. The royal trees were decorated with…
Features

A romantic empress and a heroic queen - the royal Christmas Eve babies

The Christmas story begins, of course, with a baby and there’s something about a Christmas birthday that makes it all the more interesting, even if mean relatives do double up on presents. Some of the most intriguing royal stories of all have begun on Christmas Eve, leading to lives filled with romance, tragedy and drama. King John of England Let’s start with the birth of a king.
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Features

In Pictures: Emperor Akihito's reign

Emperor Akihito is marking his 90th birthday on December 23rd 2023. He took the throne upon the death of his father, Emperor Shōwa, on 7 January 1989 and abdicated in 2018. Let’s take a look at Emperor Akihito’s life in photos: [getty…
Features

The queen who was far from amused by an old Christmas tradition

The traditions of a royal Christmas have developed over the centuries and the celebrations of past monarchs seem as strange to us today as our own festivities might seem to them. The royal Christmas has taken many shapes over the centuries – here we look at some of the most intriguing regal celebrations. [getty src=”1003422478″ width=”594″ height=”389&#8243…
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A royal Christmas at Osborne House

Queen Victoria’s beloved residence at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, was the place where she spent her final Christmas. Built in the style of an Italianate villa, Osborne House was purchased in March 1845 and was bought together with its estate of approximately 1,000…
Features

A royal history mystery: who was brave enough to throw a snowball at Henry VIII?

While modern royal Christmas celebrations take place at Sandringham, for hundreds of years it was Windsor Castle that was the preferred setting for the festive celebrations of kings and queens. Victoria and Albert loved to spend the season there but they were only following the pattern of dozens of monarchs. Whilst the German Christmas was much popularised by Prince Albert, the preference…
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