Elizabeth Woodville is considered to be the first commoner to be crowned as Queen of England. Her coronation, soon after her marriage to King Edward IV was revealed, was controversial at the time and would mark a formal beginning to a royal tenure that was filled with drama and conflict.
Elizabeth Woodville was born in 1437. She was the first child of Richard Woodville and Jacquetta of…
As the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla inches nearer, the historic gems that will be used in the ceremony are under the spotlight. Among those historic pieces is the Black Prince’s Ruby which sits in the Imperial State Crown.
Located on the front of…
Queen Camilla made the headlines in February when it was announced that she would wear Queen Mary’s crown for the 6 May coronation at Westminster Abbey. Throughout the centuries, some consorts have re-worn previously created crowns. However, several consorts have also had…
King Felipe and the Catholic Church: a changing tale of faith and diplomacy
11th February 2023
To analyse the religious situation in Spain, one must consider faith and diplomacy as inextricably linked.
Spain is one of the world’s most religious countries, officially, with some statistics putting the percentage of the population that ascribes to the Roman Catholic Church as high as 96%.
To put that number in context, that same survey put Italy’s percentage of Roman Catholics at…
Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, known as the “last Hawaiian Princess,” who passed away in December 2022, has returned to Iolani Palace.
Kawānanakoa was the daughter of Lydia Liliʻuokalani Kawānanako, a member of the deposed Hawaiian Royal Family. She was…
While Buckingham Palace has been making changes with a new reign underway, some old royals are moving back into the palace.
The family who originally bought the then-Buckingham House is returning again. A new Royal Collection Trust exhibition focused on the…
The royal reason a Christmas tree stands in London's Trafalgar Square
30th November 2022
Every year since 1947, a 20-metre tall tree has been donated to the British as a thank-you from Norway. Now, that tree shines in London’s Trafalgar Square every holiday season.
The tree was given to thank the British for their support during World War II. In April 1940, Germany invaded Norway and attempted to capture King Haakon VII, the royal family, and other members of the Norwegian…
An incredible discovery has given back an emperor to history, as Professor Paul Pearson of King’s College London discovered that a gold coin was not fake as previously thought.
So, what happened? In 1713, archaeologists in Transylvania found a small hoard of coins…
Lucille Ball is my favourite actress of all time, and the show, I Love Lucy, is one I can watch all day (I know that at 31 it is surprising to have my favourite actress and television show from four decades before I was born). So, when I watched an interview with her and…
The Gold State Coach, the piece of history to star in Charles III's Coronation
22nd October 2022
On 6 May 2023, the world will watch as King Charles III is coronated alongside Queen Consort Camilla. During their coronation, the world will also see a symbol of royal history, The Gold State Coach.
The enclosed, eight-horse-drawn carriage was commissioned in 1760 by Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings, for King George III. Samuel Butler was the one to build it in one of his…
