FeaturesHistory

The Wives of the Georgian Kings: Caroline of Ansbach

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1st November 2014
<![CDATA[Lucy Worsley has called Caroline of Ansbach "the cleverest queen consort ever to sit on the throne of England". In many ways, she really was. The wife of King George II was a patron of the arts and never missed an opportunity to branch out her knowledge. She was extremely well read, and during her husband's reign, she popularised inoculation among the masses. Caroline…
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History

The Queen's former scribe discusses Letters Patent

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28th October 2014
<![CDATA[Last January I stepped down from my position as a scribe and illuminator to Her Majesty the Queen to focus completely on my fine art. Before I close that particular portfolio I thought it would be a good idea to talk a little about the work I did for those here…
FeaturesHistoryInsight

Official Royal Posts: The Queen's Piper

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26th October 2014
<![CDATA[The Queen’s Piper principal duty is to play every weekday at 9 am for approximately 15 minutes under Her Majesty’s window when she is in residence at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle or the Palace Holyroodhouse. The piper though does not travel to Sandringham and play due to the shortage of accommodations there. At Windsor, Balmoral and Holyroodhouse, he also…
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FeaturesHistory

Rivals to the Crown: Royal Siblings - Part II

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23rd October 2014
<![CDATA[In the previous instalment, we looked at some Kings and Queens who succeeded their elder sibling and ruled a country despite the odds. Now, in light of the recent revelation that Prince George’s younger brother or sister will arrive in April, here are…
History

The Royal W: Who is Black Rod?

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22nd October 2014
<![CDATA[The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is a Royal Household member. He is appointed by the Crown by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Order of the Garter. Black Rod, as he is known, is the Chief Gentleman Usher to the Sovereign and an officer of the Order of the Garter. The primary duties take place at the Palace of Westminster where he is Serjeant at Arms in attendance upon…
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FeaturesHistory

The Duchess of Marlborough and the Aylesford Affair

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20th October 2014
<![CDATA[The 11th Duke of Marlborough, who recently died on October 16th, left a widow, Lily. Now the Dowager Duchess, over thirty years the Duke’s junior, she married him in 2008 and became his fourth wife and second duchess. It was she who was instrumental in reconciling the Duke with his son, Jamie, now the 12th Duke – for historically it seems that relationships have rarely run…
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