While there is a traditional uniform for
kings at their coronation, there is not for queens. This has
allowed each queen to wear a gown specifically created for their
coronation day. Queen Alexandra’s coronation dress remains one of
the most sumptuous in British history. King Edward VII and Queen
Alexandra’s coronation encountered some serious issues. Originally
planned for the 26th…
August's birthstone and one of the most famous royal jewels in the world
1st August 2023
It’s just been seen up close by millions
around the world at the Coronation of King Charles III. And despite
its name, the Black Prince’s Ruby, this gem is actually a sparkling
example of the birthstone for August, Let’s say hello to the most
famous spinel…
Her story is amongst the most
controversial of all the Queens of England and centuries after her
death, a new twist appeared in the tale of Elizabeth Woodville. An
expert at the National Archives in London found a document
suggesting that the consort who revolutionised…
Who was the first commoner to be Queen of
England? There has been a long debate on the matter, because the
parameters for being classified as “commoner” have shifted though
the centuries. Elizabeth Woodville is considered the first commoner
to be crowned as queen consort. The glittering ceremony, in 1464,
came just months after her shock marriage to Edward IV. But was
Elizabeth…
Amidst the chronicle of lost tombs at
Westminster Abbey is that of Queen Anne Neville, wife of King
Richard III. Queen Anne’s invisibility in these terms underlines
the purported neglect on behalf of Richard III; this lack of a
memorial was rectified however when a bronze…
Royal weddings bring all kinds of
expectations and among them is one filled with sparkle and glitter.
For we all assume a royal bride will arrive for her marriage
wearing a tiara. When the wedding will result in them becoming a
consort or consort in waiting, the expectation…
If ever a wedding dress summed up its wearer, it was the gown chosen by Sophie for her marriage to Prince Edward
1st August 2023
It was the last Windsor wedding of the
20th century and a turning point for the Royal Family after a
troubled time. The bride chose a modern gown with nods to history
and it soon became a classic. If ever a royal wedding dress summed
up its wearer, it was the gown chosen by Sophie Rhys-Jones for her
marriage to Prince Edward on 19 June 1999 at St George’s Chapel,
Windsor. Subtle, elegant and…
The queen who refused to play by royal rules and founded history's most famous royal family
1st August 2023
For a woman who founded one of the most
famous royal dynasties in British history, she is surprisingly
enigmatic. Katherine of Valois was the first Kate to be Queen of
England and yet much of the modern imagining of her comes from her
fleeting appearance in the works of…
Sweden was a monarchy long before its
current ruling house arrived on the throne. However, it was the
last dynasty to accede to the throne that made it famous. Its
founder was born in France, and the Kingdom of Sweden was his
reward for a well-conducted campaign during…
The marriage of King Baudouin of the
Belgians and Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, on December 15th 1960, gave
a country a new queen and began a royal partnership that would
become one of the most successful in modern regal history. The
discreet monarch and his equally dignified bride went on to enjoy a
long and happy union that would help stabilise the Belgian monarchy
after years of turbulence. Their…