The Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace has
provided the setting for many historical events, most particularly
royal weddings and christenings, most recently that of HRH Prince
George of Cambridge in 2013; it is only ever open to the public for
religious services. To enter the Chapel Royal though is to walk in
the footsteps of at least four royal brides and to process up its
aisle is to retrace…
In Prince & Patron, the Summer Opening
Exhibition at Buckingham Palace, a bust of Prince Albert is
displayed, labelled simply as ‘William Theed (1804-91) Prince
Albert, 1862; marble.’ But it is no ordinary bust, nor is it just
one among other memorial busts commissioned…
An exquisite oil on panel painting by
Franz Xavier Winterhalter, that fashionable artist of European
court portraiture, is currently on display in Prince & Patron, the
Summer Opening Exhibition of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace,
showcasing some of the personal…
Philippe d’Auvergne’s life was that of a
great adventurer. In his life, he rose through the ranks of the
Royal Navy, saw service in the American Revolution, earned the
confidence of an ageing duke, led the defence of his homeland
against the barbarity of the French Revolution, funded the royalist
cause, and marched with his contingent at the Battle of Waterloo.
His is a life that is barely…
‘Where is Pollie?’ (Lotte Hofmann-Kuhnt,
Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni
Becker-Bracht, 2009). Princess Alix of Hesse paused to add these
words, almost as an afterthought, to a letter to her close friend,
Toni Becker-Bracht, from…
Depicted by many a story and film
presentation in years past and present, Cleopatra has represented
the epitome of feminine beauty. Many ascertain her as an example to
look up to when in need of advice to accomplish a well-maintained
life of beauty and romance. But who…
As his name suggests, Crown Prince
Mohammad is the son of King Salman. He was born on the 31st August
1985 as the son of King Salman and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah
bin Sultan bin Hathleen. He is the eldest of her children and is
considered to be the power behind the throne and has brought in
many reforms which have given women relatively more freedom in
Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammad…
Frederick II, King ‘in’ Prussia, upon
whom was bestowed the celebrated sobriquet of ‘the Great’ in his
lifetime, was in his own words ‘a philosopher and want[ed] to be
buried as such…” This was eventually carried out in 1991, in
accordance with his wishes…
The marriage of Harald and Sonja of
Norway on August 29th 1968 was a groundbreaking royal wedding. But
the bride chose some very traditional blooms for her bouquet while
the church where she said ‘I do’ was decked with popular flowers
and foliage. As Sonja Haraldsen…
This month, King Harald and Queen Sonja
of Norway celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. The then
Crown Prince of Norway married Sonja Haraldsen on 29
August 1968 at Oslo Cathedral. Their wedding, attended by
royalty from around Europe, came five months after the announcement
of their engagement which was marked by Harald presenting his bride
with a diamond and ruby ring with a very personal…
