As the only son of the Russian Empress
Catherine the Great, Tsar Paul I succeeded his mother on her death
in 1796. He would rule the Russian Empire for the next five years.
Probably, he would had ruled the Russian Empire much longer than
that. But Paul was murdered. And his death was planned by his own
son – a fact first discovered by accident 50 years later. Tsar Paul
was a pure despot.
She was the queen who gave Henry VIII the
son he so desired but Jane Seymour’s story had far from a happy
ending. The consort died just a few days after presenting the Tudor
monarch with his longed for male heir and is now said to haunt one
of the most famous royal…
Elizabeth “Jane” Shore (née Lambert) was
one of the many mistresses of King Edward IV of England. Jane would
go on to become one of the most intelligent and beautiful women in
the realm. Known as the witty mistress of the king, she would come
to be known as a…
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…
A royal mystery from history - did a queen murder her love rival as political power slipped from her grasp?
26th October 2023
The fate of one of medieval England’s
most famous royal mistresses ahs fascinated historians for
centuries. What really happened to The Fair Rosamund? Much of
Rosamund Clifford’s life is now the stuff of legend and folklore
but, in her time, she was England’s…
It’s a very famous royal wedding outfit,
a style statement worn as a much talked about bride became a
princess. Charlene Wittstock arrived at her civil marriage to
Prince Albert II of Monaco in a trouser suit she designed with the
help of Karl Lagerfeld. Charlene…
As Hallowe’en approaches, ghost stories
abound. The nights are drawing in, darkness is falling and amidst
the swirling mists of late autumn evenings come tales of mystery.
This Hallowe’en, Royal Central is taking a look at some of the best
known tales of regal ghosts and today we turn to the time of the
Tudors and the sad story of a teenage queen, Catherine Howard whose
downfall began…
Queens and witchcraft aren’t words that
go together. In books and in films, witches are the wicked women
who stand in the way of pretty princesses as they search for a
happy ending. In the history of royalty, witchcraft was a tool to
use against women who might…
It might be very much in the ‘just in
case’ corner but The Regency Act 1937 is a powerful document that
decides who controls the Crown if the Monarch is either unable to
carry out their duties or if the throne passes to a child. And the
Act that sets the stall…
In the early autumn days of1537, King
Henry VIII was celebrating as his court welcomed a prince. His
longed for son and heir, Edward, had been born on October 12th at
Hampton Court Palace to widespread rejoicing. Preparations were in
full swingfor an elaborate christening and bonfires were being lit
around the little boy’s future kingdom. But while the parties…
