A portrait of Katherine Parr has just set
the record for the most expensive Tudor portrait ever sold at
auction. It comes at a time of revived interest in the life of
Henry VIII’s last queen. And her story is a fascinating one.
Written off as a nursemaid to Henry, Katherine was, in fact, one of
the most influential people of the king’s reign, as Lydia Starbuck
explains. On a hot…
Portrait of Katherine Parr becomes a record breaker
6th July 2023
A rare portrait of Katherine Parr has set
a record for the most expensive Tudor portrait to be sold at
auction. The painting, attributed to Master John, went under the
hammer at Sotheby’s and fetched over four times the highest
pre-sale estimate as bidding heated…
We all love a royal ‘what if’ and perhaps
one of the most intriguing of recent times revolves around the
question of the king who renounced his throne for love. On December
11th 1936, 86 years ago, Edward VIII announced to the world that he
was ending his reign to marry…
A rare portrait of Katherine Parr is
about to be sold in one of the most anticipated auctions of the
year. Sotheby’s will sell the work, believed to be the only
contemporary rendering of the queen, online on July 5th 2023. The
painting is thought to be the work of Master John, an artist
recorded in the Privy Purse expenses of the time. Courtesy of
Sotheby’s Katherine Parr…
The Sword of State in the Honours of Scotland
5th July 2023
The Crown of Scotland, a sceptre and the
Sword of State make up the Honours of Scotland and they are the
oldest regalia items in the British Isles. The Sword of State dates
back to 1507. It was a gift from Pope Julius II to King James IV.
It was in honour of James’s…
It’s the ultimate British summer question
and now we have another royal entry in the debate. And it’s seen
the holder of one of the oldest titles associated with the Royal
Family take a very definite side in a situation that perplexes
many. As she joined a tea…
The Crown of Scotland
5th July 2023
The Crown of Scotland will be presented
to King Charles III in a special ceremony in Edinburgh. It will
mark a milestone moment in his reign. Although this won’t be a
coronation, it will be a recognition of his role as King of
Scotland and the Crown involved has a special history. A separate
Crown of Scotland was present for King James I’s coronation in
1603, King Charles I’s…
The ultimate royal image maker to take starring role in new Buckingham Palace exhibition
5th July 2023
The Royal Collection Trust is staging a
landmark exhibition this winter focusing on some of the most
impressive portraits from the Tudor period. “Holbein at the Tudor
Court” will showcase many of the surviving works from Tudor artist
Hans Holbein. Hans Holbein the…
They are the oldest Coronation regalia in
any part of the United Kingdom and as the reign of King Charles III
begins, they will be presented to His Majesty in an historic
ceremony. The Honours of Scotland will be ceremonially handed to
The King in a service at St.
A Declaration to a King
4th July 2023
On this day in 1776, the Original 13
Colonies sent their message to King George III – we want out of the
kingdom and independence. The Declaration of Independence is one of
the most important documents in American history, and it ties right
to the British monarch. He was who the document was aimed at;
however, there’s no proof that the King ever read the document or
was even ever…

