History

The prince of hope who became his dynasty's despair: the birth of Edward VIII

His birth secured the succession in a way the British royal family had never known before. When Mary, Duchess of York delivered a healthy boy on June 23rd 1894 she ensured that her royal dynasty had three heirs in direct line to the throne. But the baby who arrived that day would take the crown from ultimate security to compete crisis. Today is the 125th anniversary of the birth of Edward VIII…
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History

Wallis and Edward: Love Over Duty

It was on January 10, 1931 at Burrough Court that Miss. Wallis Simpson was introduced to Edward, Prince of Wales for the first time. Wallis was a divorced woman who was then married to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, a shipping executive, and Edward was the Heir Apparent to the…
British Royals

Letters reveal Edward VIII felt he did not earn his Military Cross

The Imperial War Museum is putting letters from two future kings on display for first time, one of which describes how the future Edward VIII felt he had not earned his military cross. King Edward VIII, then the Prince of Wales was award the gallantry medal in 1916 for his frequent morale-boosting trips to the trenches. The medal is intended for “acts of exemplary gallantry during active…
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Palaces & Buildings

The Ghosts of Windsor Castle

It is The Queen’s weekend home and is apparently her favourite royal residence. But did you know that Windsor Castle is also the home of many royals from years and centuries gone by. In this piece we explore the ghostly goings on at Windsor Castle and just who haunts the…
Insight

Names you may have heard: Sir Alan Lascelles

Sir Alan Frederick Lascelles was born on 11 April 1887 at Sutton Waldron House in Dorset. He was the sixth and youngest child, and only surviving son, of Commander Frederick Canning Lascelles. Lascelles was also the grandson of the fourth Earl of Harewood. His mother…
British RoyalsQueen Elizabeth II

Henry VIII crowned this country’s ‘worst’ monarch

The “self-indulgent” King Henry VIII has earned himself the title of the worst monarch in history granted by the Historical Writers Association. Twenty per cent voted the obsessive tyrant the worst monarch citing his “self-indulgent” and “syphilitic” wife-murdering ways. The Spider of Sarajevo, by prize-winning author Robert Wilton, described King Henry as a…
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