History

Home of royal ghosts: The Tower of London

The Tower of London remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in London, with thousands of visitors arriving daily at the royal fortress in the heart of London. However, the Tower is also home to several ghosts.  While many thousands of people have lived and died at the Tower of London, there are only a select few who have said to remain there after death. Several notable Tower…
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History

The life, scandals and loves of Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret Rose was born on 21 August 1930, the younger daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York. She was born at Glamis Castle in Scotland and was the first major royal to be born in Scotland since Charles I over 300 years earlier. At the time of her birth, she…
History

The story behind the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

At the main entrance of Westminster Abbey lies the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, the body of an unknown British soldier from the First World War. On 11 November 1920, the body was brought from France to be buried at The Abbey. While there is one body that lies in The Abbey, it was between themselves and three other heroes who would be put to rest there. On 7 November 1920, four bodies covered in…
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History

The royal duchess who went from mistress to matriarch

t was a famous royal love story that shocked as much as it thrilled. John of Gaunt was the ultra-ambitious prince whose desire to be a king almost cost him his life, Katherine Swynford was the mysterious commoner who supplanted a queen in his affections. Their relationship…
HistoryHistoryInterestsSweden

A childhood marked by tragedy: a look at King Carl XVI Gustaf's early years

Many people are used to thinking about members of royal families as people with immense privilege and a life free from pain and suffering. However, this was far from the truth for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Born Prince Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus on 30 April 1946, he was the last child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sybilla. On 26 January 1947, Prince Gustaf…
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British RoyalsHistory

The Coronation Ceremony: The Oath

A crucial part of any Coronation is the oath that the new Sovereign takes. Just like the ceremony itself, the oath that is part of it has changed throughout the centuries, according to historical context and the will of the Monarch. The last big change to the oath came in 1937, when other “territories and realms” were also included in the formula, an acknowledgement of all the…
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