Features

The royal bridesmaid who became a queen

As 1922 got under way, newspapers began to run excited articles about a royal wedding. The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary was about to say ‘I do’ and every moment of her marriage ceremony was up for scrutiny. Princess Mary’s wedding dress, choice of venue and honeymoon destination were pored over even if actual details were hard to come by (sound familiar?) but one…
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Features

The princess named after Ireland's patron saint

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…
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History

The history behind one of the world's most recognized palaces

When people think of London, there are probably a few things that come to mind. From Big Ben to red phonebooths there are iconic images of the capital that everyone knows. But if there is any palace someone recognises, it’s likely Buckingham Palace. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building was a large town home built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on land that had been in…
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Features

How Princess Anne revived a forgotten royal name

A is for Anne but why did the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II end up with a name that, at the time, wasn’t a usual one for members of the Royal Family? The answer can perhaps best be found in the summer of 1930 and the arrival of another princess. In August that…
FeaturesJapan

The world's oldest reigning monarchy

While there are several monarchies that date back over one thousand years, there is one throne that dates back over two thousand years. The Japanese monarchy, also known as the Chrysanthemum Throne, was officially founded in 440 BCE. The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world, and its official founding date is 11 February, 660 BCE. While the…
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