Charles II, the Merry Monarch, had several different mistresses. However, one of these mistresses stands out from the rest for several reasons- Barbara Villiers. John Evelyn pronounced her the “curse of the nation”, and she would hold sway over the Restoration court for decades, exerting huge influence on the king.
Barbara Villiers was born in St. Margaret’s, Westminster on 27 November…
Arabella Churchill - mistress and ancestress of popular royal
16th August 2021
King James II tends to be largely ignored. Following his brother’s long Restoration reign and removal during the Glorious Revolution for his Protestant daughter and son-in-law, his reign can feel like a footnote in a lot of discussions. And unfortunately, those in his life…
Taking a look at the christenings of Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine
12th August 2021
With the christening of Prince Julian of Sweden, on 14 August, we are taking a look back at the christenings of his father and his aunts.
Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, Duchess of Västergötland, was born on 14 July 1977 to King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen…
All big royal events have symbolism attached to them and when Prince Julian of Sweden is baptised, on August 13, 2021, at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace, he will find himself wrapped in one of his family’s best-known traditions. The little royal, youngest child of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, will be christened wearing the gown that has been used by Bernadotte babies for over…
Diane de Poitiers - the older mistress as an unofficial adviser
10th August 2021
There have been countless French royal mistresses throughout the centuries, but some are better known than others. Diane de Poitiers was brought back into the spotlight in teen drama Reign in 2013 but has largely been forgotten in favour of later mistresses. This…
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…
The first famous Windsor woman to be born on August 4th lived most of her adult life in the spotlight and yet one very basic detail of her story is shrouded in mystery. For no one is really sure exactly where Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was born. And no one did more to get people guessing than the Queen Mum herself.
In 1980, as preparations were under way for her eightieth birthday…
On top of a small hill in southern Italy is a completely unique building with a long royal history. Castel del Monte, Italian for “Castle of the Mountain,” is a 13th-century citadel situated by the village of Andria.
The history of this unique building started…
For the last millennium, royal mistresses have played a substantial role at court – given that most royals were not allowed to marry for love and instead served as strategic national alliances. So it makes sense that in many marriages, one or both partners would look…
With the Olympics underway, let’s take a look at the Scandinavian royals and their connection to the Olympics. Although there haven’t been that many Scandinavian royal competitors, these families are very closely intertwined with the Olympics.
Sweden
There haven’t been any Swedish Royal Family members who’ve competed in the Olympics, but King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia met at the…
