HistoryHistoryNorway

The special relationship between Queen Sonja and Boris Yeltsin

The fact that Europe’s queens and princesses have good relationships with each other is well known. But it’s more perhaps more unusual to hear about friendships between Europe’s royals and Russian politicians. et this was exactly what happened when Queen Sonja first met the first democratically elected leader of Russia, Boris Yeltsin. The free-spirited former Communist managed to…
Read more
CoronavirusRoyal WeddingsThe Yorks

Princess Beatrice to have no guests at her wedding if it goes ahead in May

Princess Beatrice’s upcoming wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi will not be permitted to have any guests present should it go ahead in May as planned. New guidance from the Church of England states that the number of people attending church weddings during the coronavirus crisis should be limited to the legal minimum of five. These five people consist of the priest, the bride, the groom…
Read more
HistoryInsight

Liliuokalani, Last Queen of Hawaii

While most of our “Last Queens” series focuses on consorts, this particular last queen was a reigning monarch. Liliuokalani was the only queen regnant and the last monarch of Hawaii before the Hawaiian kingdom was overthrown. It became the shortlived Republic of Hawaii before being annexed by the United States in 1898. Her Early Life Lydia LiliÊ»u Loloku Walania KamakaÊ»eha was…
Read more
HistoryInsightPalaces & BuildingsSpain

The life and times of the 18th Duchess of Alba, who had more titles than Queen Elizabeth II

The 18th Duchess of Alba, María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, was born on 28 March 1926 at the vast Liria Palace, which has served as the Madrid residence of the Dukes of Albas for generations (most of the home was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and was rebuilt by the Duchess’s father and the Duchess). The Fitz-James Stuarts, the most powerful aristocratic…
Read more