CoronavirusHistoryHistory

The King whose illness led to the naming of a pandemic

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12th March 2020
While the coronavirus continues to spread, we can rewind a little over a hundred years in time. In 1918 and 1919, another virus as ravaged countries across the globe. It caused widespread devastation but, despite its origins, it became known as Spanish flu because of a much maligned king.The Spanish flu came not from Spain, but from France at the very end of the First World War. The…
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HistoryInsight

Liliuokalani, Last Queen of Hawaii

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8th March 2020
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…
BelgiumCoronavirusState & Ceremonial

King and Queen of Belgium’s State Visit to Italy cancelled over coronavirus fears

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4th March 2020
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium’s State Visit to Italy next month has been cancelled amidst the coronavirus outbreak.Their Majesties, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Defence and the Prime Ministers of various Belgian regions, were due to visit Italy from 23-25 March.Italian President Sergio Mattarella requested that the visit be postponed as the country…
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FeaturesHistoryHistory

A Calendar of Kings: March

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2nd March 2020
Every royal life is peppered with milestones, the moments that mark beginnings and ends, filled with joy and sometimes sadness. On Royal Central, we’re charting the famous dates throughout the year in our Calendars of Kings and Queens. And as March gets well and truly…
Palaces & Buildings

The Queen's guards perform Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' outside Buckingham Palace

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28th February 2020
The Queen’s guards performed a special medley of Bon Jovi hits on Friday morning outside of Buckingham Palace.The Band of the Household Guard performed some of the rock band’s most famous tunes, including Livin’ on a Prayer, It’s My Life and You Give Love A Bad Name. ?Guard Change at Buckingham Palace!Today the @ScotsGuardsBand played a special @BonJovi medley to…
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HistoryMiddle East

Farah, Last Empress of Iran

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28th February 2020
Early LifeBorn on 14 October 1938, Empress Farah Pahlavi was the only child of Sohrab Diba and Farideh Diba Ghotbi in Tehran.Less than ten years later, in 1947, she would lose her father at an early age; as Farah was very close to her father, his death deeply…
Palaces & Buildings

Mistress who cast doubt on a royal marriage returns to Buckingham Palace

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25th February 2020
Her king called her his ”wife of heart and soul” even though their actual, secret union was declared invalid. Now the woman who cast a shadow over the reign of George IV and even the succession to his throne has returned to Buckingham Palace.A portrait of Maria Fitzherbert, who wed the future George IV after they fell hopelessly in love, is now displayed at the Queen’s home as part of an…
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