British RoyalsFeaturesQueen Elizabeth II

An ancient tradition hitting the headlines again - what is the 'kissing of hands'?

By
4th September 2022
When The Queen appoints her 15th prime minister, she’ll do so with an ancient custom called the kissing hands ceremony. What is this element of a government change? Buckingham Palace has confirmed that, on 6 September, The Queen will receive the out-going Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, for a farewell audience at Balmoral followed by an audience with the new Prime Minister—either Liz Truss…
Read more
British RoyalsQueen Elizabeth II

What is the 'Royal Prerogative'?

By
1st September 2022
As we look into the role The Queen plays in appointing a new prime minister, we’re looking at Royal Prerogative and how it is exercised. Simply put, Royal Prerogative is the authority and powers vested in the sovereign to govern. However, in modern times, it is…
HistoryQueen Elizabeth II

Back to School with The Queen

By
30th August 2022
The Queen has broken many records in her lifetime but one less known is that she and her sister, Princess Margaret, were the last to be educated by private tutors from home. Up to the age of seven, Princess Elizabeth was educated by her mother in reading and…
British RoyalsQueen Elizabeth IIThe Gloucesters

Contents of the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester’s Northamptonshire manor up for auction

By
27th August 2022
A stately manor house once belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester is the centre of an auction that will see its contents—in some cases with royal provenance—up for sale. Prince Richard and Birgitte lived at Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire until the mid-‘90s, when they moved to Kensington Palace because they could not afford to pay for the 436-year-old home any…
Read more
British RoyalsQueen Elizabeth II

A hat to say thank you to The Queen

By
25th August 2022
The Queen has worn countless hats throughout her 70-year reign, but her newest one has a special meaning behind it. On 24 August, as Ukraine celebrated its independence day, The Queen received a new hat from Ukraine as a symbol of the relationship shared between the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Melinda Simmons, the UK Ambassador to Ukraine, tweeted a photo of her receiving the hat on behalf…
Read more
British RoyalsQueen Elizabeth II

The Queen officially welcomed to Balmoral – behind closed doors

By
10th August 2022
The Queen has officially begun her annual stay at Balmoral Castle this week following a change in arrival that saw the traditional welcoming ceremony held behind closed doors for the first time. The Queen traditionally inspects a guard of honour from the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland at a ceremony outside the castle gates while pipers play and the public…
Read more