HistoryThe Edinburghs

#OnThisDay in 1999: Prince Edward marries Sophie Rhys-Jones

Today the Earl and Countess of Wessex celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary. The couple met in 1993 at a tennis event and began dating afterwards, ultimately for six years before an engagement. The prince proposed with an engagement ring from Garrard & Co. worth an estimated £105,000. Sophie’s engagement ring is set in 18-karat white gold and features a two-carat oval diamond surrounded…
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History

Wallis and Edward: Love Over Duty

It was on January 10, 1931 at Burrough Court that Miss. Wallis Simpson was introduced to Edward, Prince of Wales for the first time. Wallis was a divorced woman who was then married to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, a shipping executive, and Edward was the Heir Apparent to the…
History

#OnThisDay in 1683: The Rye House Plot, to assassinate English king Charles II was discovered

On this day in 1683 a plot to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother/heir James was discovered. King Charles II was unpopular with the Protestant members of Parliament because although he was officially an Anglican, both he and his brother/heir were very sympathetic to Catholics. Most of King Charles II’s foreign allies were Catholics and this was seen as a threat by some…
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HistoryQueen Elizabeth II

#OnThisDay in 1953: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Takes Place

The Queen ascended to the throne on 2 February 1952, upon the death of her father King George VI, but was not crowned for more than a year afterwards, as the period of mourning required wouldn’t allow a swift ceremony, and the planning behind it would take some time. The Queen’s coronation date was chosen reportedly because it was the most likely to be a nice day, weather-wise, however, it…
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History

#OnThisDay in 1972: the former King Edward VIII died in Paris of cancer

A controversial figure in the 1930s, this King caused a scandal when he became the first royal to abdicate the throne – and he did it for love. Born on 23 June 1894 as David, he was the first son of the future George V and his wife, Mary of Teck. Edward VIII became King on 20 January 1936 but by the end of the year would relinquish his title to his younger brother, Prince Albert, who became…
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