Queen Elizabeth IIState & Ceremonial

Queen hosts State Banquet for Singaporean President

Held at Buckingham Palace, The Queen was joined by Tony Tan Keng Yam and Mrs Tan as guests of honour on their visit to the UK. The extended family attended the banquet, with Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra and The Duke of Kent also there. A total of 170 guests were at the Palace. Other guests included Prime Minister…
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History

Official Royal Posts: The Royal Watermen

Whether a State occasion or travel between the Tower of London, Windsor, Hampton Court, Westminster or Greenwich, the Thames was the means for travel and the men who rowed the Royal barges up and down the river were known as the Royal Watermen. Grand Ceremonial events often were held on the Thames such as Henry VII’s Queen Elizabeth traveling from Greenwich by barge for her coronation in 1487…
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History

Official Royal Posts: Lord Steward

Until 1782, the office was one of great political significance and held Cabinet rank. After 1924, the office would change over as the government changed. The Lord Steward was at one time head of his own department of the Household that was in charge of the ‘below stairs’…
History

Richard III's reinterment route is announced

The route which Richard III’s remains will follow before being reinterred in Leicester Cathedral has now been revealed to the public. On Sunday 22nd March 2015, the last Plantagenet King will make his final journey before being laid to rest in the cathedral on Thursday 26th March. During the late morning on 22nd March, the hearse of the King will leave the University of Leicester, which is where…
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History

Queen Victoria's bloomers sell for £6200

The knee-length bloomers were one of a number of items to be sold at auction this week. The overseas buyer of Britain’s longest reigning monarch’s bloomers wishes to remain anonymous, according to the auctioneer. A pair of silk stockings, also belonging to Victoria, sold…
History

Regicide: how Queen Victoria survived seven assassination attempts (part two)

Victoria faced the most assassination attempts in centuries 5. In June 1850, Robert Pate became the fifth person to make an attempt on Victoria’s life. Once more, her children witnessed the attack – Bertie, Alice, and Affie – and this time, Victoria was injured. Pate, a former army officer, waited for Victoria in Picadilly, where she was visiting the dying Duke of Cambridge, also her…
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