Features

The coronation of England's first queen regnant

There have only been a handful of queen regnants in Britain’s history. Queen Elizabeth II was the most recent, having reigned a historic 70 years, but 400 years before her reign began, the first queen regnant was crowned: Queen Mary I. The eldest daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Mary Tudor, lived a tumultuous life. Born as a legitimate heir, then named…
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Opinion: We need more books on European royals

Search for books in English about the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Diana, Princess of Wales, or The Late Queen, and you will find an array of different choices to select from. When you search for books about Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Crown Princess…
Features

IN PHOTOS: September's most popular royal event

September saw the Golden Jubilee of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden with a multi-day celebration in Stockholm. Royals from across Scandinavia flew to Sweden for the festivities to mark the King’s 50 years on the throne. We take a look back at the popular event in photos. Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court of Sweden Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court of Sweden SVT/Fair…
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Marie Antoinette, last Queen of France?

Marie Antoinette’s whole life was lived in the spotlight and her story continues to fascinate. While other women later took on the role of Empress of the French, Marie Antoinette has a special place in the country’s royal history. Here, Royal Central looks at the life and times of a woman whose tragic end often overshadows a determined life. Early Life Born on 2 November 1755 in…
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The empress who oversaw the end of one of the most famous dynasties in history

She became an empress in the most difficult of circumstances and her short reign ended in exile and a lifetime of supporting her royal heritage from afar. Zita, Empress of Austria found herself with an imperial crown as a result of an assassination which sent the world to war. When conflict consumed the globe again, she once more had to flee. In the latest of our ‘Last Consorts&#8217…
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