In the previous instalment, we looked at
some Kings and Queens who succeeded their elder sibling and ruled a
country despite the odds. Now, in light of the
recent revelation that Prince George’s younger brother or
sister will arrive in April, here are some more rulers who, at one
point or another, were once nothing more than royal siblings. King
James II King James II and VII of England and…
The 11th Duke of Marlborough, who
recently died on October 16th, left a widow, Lily. Now the Dowager
Duchess, over thirty years the Duke’s junior, she married him in
2008 and became his fourth wife and second duchess. It was she who
was instrumental in reconciling the Duke…
On ceremonial occasions, the Lord Great
Chamberlain wears a gold key of his office which hangs from his
waist, a scarlet court uniform and carries a white stave as the
insignia of his office. The Lord Great Chamberlain has authority,
entrusted by the Queen, for certain areas…
They are chosen by The Queen on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister and may be peers or commoners.
Lord Lieutenants were at first selected as part of the
restructuring of local Government during King Henry VIII’s reign.
The plan was for those chosen to take over the military obligations
of the Sheriff and manage the military forces of the Crown. They
were given full control of the military…
Today the Master of the Horse is mainly a
ceremonial office and seldom is seen apart from on state occasions,
and particularly when the Sovereign is mounted. Such events as the
State Opening of Parliament and Trooping the Colour will see the
Master of the Horse in…
Coins convey a message to citizens, and
have a symbolic meaning that has consistently been used over the
past millennium. The Royal Mint is the largest exporter of coins in
the world, and ship to approximately fifty countries each year.
During the 1800s The Royal Mint began…
Upon the death of the Sovereign, he is in
charge of organising the funeral as well as the accession and
coronation of the new monarch. The Earl Marshal is a senior figure,
which takes precedence after the Lord Great Chamberlain before all
peers of his own degree other than Royal Dukes. The Earl Marshal
and the Lord Great Chamberlain also preside at the State Opening of
Parliament. The Earl…
Our journey of influential queen mothers
continues with Cecily Neville, the mother of two King’s of
England. Cecily was born in 1415 with royal lineage that linked her
to John of Gaunt, King Henry IV and Edward III of England. By the
age of nine she was betrothed to…
King William II and King Henry I When
William the Conqueror died in 1087, his eldest son Robert was made
the Duke of Normandy, leaving the throne of England for his
next surviving son, William Rufus, who ruled as King William
II. But less than 15 years later, William II…
A Painting Fit For The Queen: Royal Central talks to Michael Hanrahan
6th October 2014
Michael Hanrahan, who lives in Lahinch
and has a studio and gallery in Ennistymon, is the
only living Irish artist with work in the Royal Collection.
His claim to fame came after being given media accreditation to
access the historical Irish State Visits; firstly of Her Majesty
The Queen to Ireland in 2011 and then that of Irish president,
Michael D. Higgins, to the UK in 2014. In 1974…
