Greece is a democratic republic that carefully balances a history that dates back to the 12th century BC and a push for modernisation.
But if we take a look back about 55 years, we would see a much different picture. Following the tragedy that was World War II, Greece experienced a civil war that saw the communists being banned and would ultimately lead to the 1967 military…
King Albert, Queen Paola and Prince Laurent took part in a Te Deum (or Thanksgiving Service) in St Michael and Gudule Cathedral in Brussels.
The service is held every year on the 15th of November in the main church in Brussels to celebrate King’s Day.
The…
Queen Sonja's jewels for the State dinner: a tiara from a lost Empire
10th November 2021
One of the most awaited moments of any State Visit, especially those that include Monarchs, is the State Dinner.
Coming usually at the end of the first day, the State Dinner is a glittering affair, with fancy clothing (gala uniforms or white tie for men, ballgowns for…
Up until 1861, when the peninsula was reunited to include more or less its current territory, Italy was home to three major states: the centre was under the rule of the Vatican, the south was called the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the north was under the domain of the Savoy dynasty.
Ultimately, the latter prevailed, and the Italian peninsula was reunified under King Victor Emmanuel II of…
Charles II, the Merry Monarch, had several different mistresses. However, one of these mistresses stands out from the rest for several reasons- Barbara Villiers. John Evelyn pronounced her the “curse of the nation”, and she would hold sway over the Restoration court for…
Arabella Churchill - mistress and ancestress of popular royal
16th August 2021
King James II tends to be largely ignored. Following his brother’s long Restoration reign and removal during the Glorious Revolution for his Protestant daughter and son-in-law, his reign can feel like a footnote in a lot of discussions. And unfortunately, those in his life…
Diane de Poitiers - the older mistress as an unofficial adviser
10th August 2021
There have been countless French royal mistresses throughout the centuries, but some are better known than others. Diane de Poitiers was brought back into the spotlight in teen drama Reign in 2013 but has largely been forgotten in favour of later mistresses. This sixteenth-century noblewoman was not only a loyal companion to the king but established in her own right.
Diane was born on 9…
For the last millennium, royal mistresses have played a substantial role at court – given that most royals were not allowed to marry for love and instead served as strategic national alliances. So it makes sense that in many marriages, one or both partners would look…
Last week, Sarah, Duchess of York announced that she would be co-authoring a Mills and Boon romance novel about her great-great-aunt, Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott. Royal romances are a popular topic both in books and on the screen.
Queen Victoria and Prince…
Lady Jane Grey, or Lady Jane Dudley, was proclaimed Queen on this day in 1553. She has been commonly referred to as The Nine Days Queen. She was the great-granddaughter of Henry VII through his daughter Mary, Queen of France. From 10 July to the 19 July, she was the de facto monarch of England and Ireland.
It has been reported that she was born in October of 1537. However, more recent research…
