Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England and the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The present structure was built between 1070 and 1077 replacing an earlier structure that had been destroyed by fire. The Cathedral and the nearby St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church which both date from the 6th century are a…
The Order of the Garter is considered the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. Created over 700 years ago by King Edward III, the Order was inspired by King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Today the 24 Knights of the Garter are men and women…
Monarchy is all about traditions and that includes naming conventions. Throughout the royal families of Europe there are common threads to be found for those who ascend to the throne.
Today, we’re looking at some of the most common regnal names.
Denmark
The…
The coronation of a monarch is marked with ceremony and celebration and, often, time in other parts of their new realm as they introduce themselves to their people. Karl Johan became King of Norway and Sweden 205 years ago but his time amongst those he was now to rule almost ended in disaster. For the man anointed as king almost died within days of being crowned.
Karl XIV Johan has been…
It was a ground breaking and glamourous royal wedding and the images of it remain as familiar now as they have ever done. The world watched, enthralled, when Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 19th 1956. Her wedding dress has become one of the most…
Her gown she wore for her religious marriage is one of the most famous royal outfits ever worn and an icon of the 20th century but Grace Kelly had another wedding dress before that celebrated creation. Grace and Prince Rainier III of Monaco said ‘I do’ in a civil…
Wednesday marks the 63rd running of the Nell Gwyn Stakes – a group 3 horse race held annually in Newmarket.
Ten fillies line up in the 2024 contest, which is run in memory of the small-time actress who became mistress to King Charles II.
Gwyn was one of at least seven mistresses who were linked to King Charles II during his nearly 25-year-reign, so why was she so special in continuing…
A romantic tiara that links two royal families sparkles again at a glittering State Banquet
17th April 2024
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg chose to wear one of her royal family’s most famous tiaras at the State Banquet that began her State Visit to Belgium. And her pick had a sentimental element, too. For the diamond diadem worn by the Grand Duchess was taken to…
Only Queen Margrethe could sport one of the most unusual tiaras in existence: the Golden Poppies tiara.
Designed in 1976 by Arje Griegst, Queen Margrethe was only four years into her reign when she started wearing the Golden Poppies. It was the Queen’s own commission…
As she stepped into the Royal Opera House for a concert marking one of the biggest political events of her reign, Elizabeth II was the picture of serenity. But just minutes earlier she had had to perform a tiara swap as her jewels fell apart in the back of her royal car.
Queen Elizabeth II was on her way to attend the Fanfare for Europe gala in central London on January 3rd 1973 when the…
