Everyone knows of the ancient Library of Alexandria, which was located in Egypt and later destroyed – losing a wealth of knowledge from the ancient world. But who was the monarch responsible for its creation?
It is thought the idea of the library was first brought up to Ptolemy I Soter by Demetrius of Phalerum – an Athenian orator living in Alexandria who had been exiled – in…
As we prepare for Princess Iman of Jordan’s wedding, we look at the weddings of her grandfather King Hussein, who was famously married four times.
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Three years after his accession to the throne, King Hussein’s first wife was Dina bint…
The exotic precedent set by a Monarch for appointing a Prime Minister away from Buckingham Palace
16th August 2022
As the Queen prepares to appoint the fifteenth Prime Minister of her reign, the question of where she will welcome them is much discussed. Her Majesty is now in Balmoral for her annual summer break but is understood to be planning to return to London to accept Boris…
No one knew it at the time but on August 4th 1900, a woman who would change the course of royal history had made her debut. The birth of a daughter to Claude and Cecilia Bowes-Lyon didn’t trouble the papers of the day one jot. But as baby Elizabeth, later queen and empress, settled into her royal nursery, another royal woman who would have a major impact on her life was claiming all the…
She lived most of her adult life in the spotlight and yet one very basic detail of her story is shrouded in mystery. For no one is really sure exactly where Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was born. And no one did more to get people guessing than the Queen Mum…
Historic tiaras and gems highlighted in special event from the Royal Collection Trust
29th July 2022
The Royal Collection Trust has held an online talk to offer royal watchers a behind-the-scenes look at The Queen’s impressive jewellery collection.
On Thursday, 28 July, the RCT held “Royal Jewels: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration”. Deputy Surveyor of The…
The wildflowers that have taken over the moat at the Tower of London have got the royal seal of approval during a special visit.
The Princess Royal has toured Superbloom to see how it’s transformed the space around the ancient royal residence into a wildlife haven.
Superbloom was planted to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and, in the last months, has blossomed into a glowing…
In the sunny days of 1911, all eyes were on one royal. Queen Mary had been consort for just over a year and was now accompanying her husband to a major event that would begin a summer of celebrations for their Coronation. Mary was the leading figure at the Festival of Empire…
On 25 May 1961, British-born Toni Avril Gardiner married King Hussein of Jordan as his second wife.
The wedding took place in the Zahran Palace in Amman and was followed by a procession through the city.
Toni, who took on the name Princess Muna al-Hussein after her…
In the first days of the summer of 1939, an accident befell the Royal Family that led to a widespread outpouring of sympathy. Queen Mary, mother of King George VI, was involved in a car crash. Her son was touring Canada as the country prepared for what felt like a growing inevitability of war when the dowager’s car collided with another vehicle. Queen Mary, in the back seat, was badly bruised…
