State & Ceremonial

Royal succession law faces challenge in Quebec court

Two law professors in Canada are challenging the change to royal succession rules which now mean that a girl can succeed ahead of a younger born brother. They are arguing that the alterations this made to Canadian law are ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘colonialist’. The legal case begins in Quebec today. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their 2011 tour of Canada – now two professors in…
Read more
FeaturesHistory

The Execution of a Queen

Anne Boleyn is probably best remembered as the most controversial Queen in British history, which is perhaps not entirely deserved. Even though much is said about her, there are a lot things we don’t know, such as her birthday. Unfortunately for women of that time…
FeaturesHistory

How Elizabeth I used Accession Day celebrations to protect her crown

On 17 November 1558 England’s first undisputed Queen regnant, Mary I, died, paving the way for the accession of her half-sister Elizabeth I. Mary had been a staunch Roman Catholic and she had been determined to bring England back to what she believed to be the true faith. Her short reign and early death ended her ambitions of re-establishing Roman Catholicism in England and she reluctantly…
Read more
Palaces & Buildings

Security alert as tourist flies drone over Windsor Castle

An American tourist caused quite a scare by flying a drone close to Windsor Castle, where The Queen was in residence. The unmanned aircraft was spotted flying within 50 metres of the castle, and was being controlled by a remote. The drone was reportedly being used to film a video, and was brought down due to the security risks involved. By flying the drone over the A tourist has been spoken to by…
Read more
History

The King that stormed the Commons

Charles I was never popular with his Parliament. Upon his accession to the throne in 1625, members made clear that they would not be bullied. In an unprecedented break with tradition, England’s law-making body decided to allow the king to collect customs duties for only one year, as opposed to previous monarchs who had been granted the right for life. Despite this, Charles decided to levy tax…
Read more