When Edward VII had headed to Biarritz
for a springtime break in 1908, his government had been under the
stewardship of Liberal Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. But his health
was failing fast and on April 3rd, he resigned. Herbert Asquith,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was selected as his successor
without opposition ensuring a smooth transition – with one small
obstacle. The king was still in…
All The King's Prime Ministers: a trio of politicians who have held the keys to Number Ten in a brand new reign
5th July 2024
King Charles is about to appoint the
third Prime Minister of his reign. Just 22 months after his
accession, The King will ask another politician to form a
government. It took Queen Elizabeth II five years to reach the same
tally of Prime Ministers. Brand new Prime…
It was a quiet country house, described
by several who knew it as ‘’little’’ and a ‘’pied a terre’, given
as a wedding present to a royal couple who were expected to linger
on the fringes of regal life. Yet on July 2nd 1903, it became the
birthplace of one of…
The stunning aquamarine and diamond
diadem of Sweden’s royal family is an unusual jewel and it has a
rather poignant history to go with it. But it’s become most famous
in recent years as the tiara that a popular princess wore to create
a modern day fairytale. Princess Madeleine has a soft spot for the
aquamarine tiara held in her family vaults. She’s worn it several
times at the Nobel…
She was the ‘May Queen’ whose reign
lasted little more than a month but left its mark in royal history.
Marie-Jose was always a bit of a maverick who had her own views and
no fear of sharing them. Those opinions would become a saving grace
for the dynasty she married…
They are the people who will one day
reign and their role has an importance that pervades every element
of their lives. Being the heir means preparation for a throne that
starts early and only ends with accession. From the first in lines
who grew up in pole position to those…
The Empress of Japan wore one of the most
famous jewels belonging to the Imperial Royal Family when she was
guest of honour at a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. Empress
Masako wore the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara and her choice was
historic. [getty src=”2158676158″ width=”396″ height=”594″
tld=”com”] It’s an all diamond tiara and it is worn exclusively by
the…
Royal weddings are now major
celebrations, glittering events that capture the imagination and
draw huge crowds who cheer the vows and shout demands for a kiss
when the deal is done. However, in centuries past a royal union
might be a discreet event, witnessed by just a…
How many kings called Edward have there
been? If you think you know the answer, this special feature by
Liam Foley might make you think again. One aspect of the evolution
of monarchy that I find interesting is the development of Ordinal
numbers, or regnal numbers, and…
The tiara left by a princess to her young godson to give to his future bride
26th June 2024
The Duchess of Gloucester has a jewellery
collection to rival some of those held by royal dynasties in
Europe. Some of her pieces come from Queen Mary thanks to the
current duke’s mother and her mother-in-law, Princess Alice. But
one tiara in particular has a different origin, coming from a
lesser-known branch of Queen Victoria’s family tree. It’s known as
the Cartier India Tiara. And the…
