It is one of the most striking portraits of George VI painted in his reign and contains all the symbols of his kingship in a dramatic and historic setting. But this famous image had to wait for completion because of war.
The famous portrait by Sir Gerald Festus Kelly was commissioned by the king in early 1938, just a few months after he was crowned at Westminster Abbey. It shows him in his…
The reign of King Henry IV began with usurpation and heralded a period of power struggles that would end in the War of the Roses. As he rode to his Coronation, in 1399, his predecessor languished in jail and would die in mysterious circumstances within months. Henry IV’s…
Each royal house has its own royal chivalric orders. Sweden has several royal orders; the Order of the Polar Star is one of the oldest orders in Sweden.
The Order of the Polar Star was established on 23 February 1748 by King Frederick I, along with the Order of the…
For a princess who claimed a bit of a royal first at the baptismal font, it’s perhaps not surprising that Patricia of Connaught – known for most of her adult life as Lady Patricia Ramsey – ended up changing plenty of regal rules on her way.  The little girl who was born in Buckingham Palace on March 17th 1886 grew up to be one of the most eligible women in Europe, and when she…
Televising the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was a crowning achievement!
On June 2, 1953 over eight million people watched on their own televisions, 10 million people watched in the homes of friends and family who owned TVs and 1.5 million went to cinemas, pubs and…
The Coronation of King George I in 1714 marked the beginning of a new dynasty on the throne of Great Britain but its crowning moment was rather a difficult affair in more ways than one.Â
After Queen Anne’s death in August 1714, George inherited the throne due to the…
It’s little and often overlooked and yet it remains one of the most important parts of the Crown Jewels. The golden ampulla dates back to the reign of the last king called Charles to be crowned at Westminster Abbey and it will play a vital part in the Coronation of King Charles III.
The ampulla holds the holy oil which is used by the Archbishop of Canterbury to anoint the Monarch before…
On May 6th 2023, the fortieth Coronation of a Monarch since the Norman Conquest takes place at Westminster Abbey.
King Charles III will be crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony that is little changed through the centuries. It will be, as it has been for…
As Queen Camilla walks into Westminster Abbey on May 6th 2023, it is expected that she will be wearing one of the most important sets of jewels in the Royal Family’s collection. A spectacular necklace, worn by Queen Elizabeth II as she was crowned and by the last three…
The Coronation of King Charles III will involve thousands of people but, ultimately, the responsibility for organising this historic royal event falls to one person. The job belongs to the Earl Marshal.
The Earl Marshal is one of the Great Officers of State and for centuries, the role has belonged to the Dukes of Norfolk. It became an hereditary position within the family in 1672 and, ever…
