FeaturesHistory

History's Royal Kates: Katherine of Valois

For a woman who founded one of the most famous royal dynasties in British history, she is surpisingly enigmatic. Katherine of Valois was the first Kate to be Queen of England and yet much of the modern imagining of her comes from her fleeting appearance in the works of Shakespeare. But what little we do know seems to indicate that the ‘fair Kate’ of Henry V was every bit as ambitious…
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European Royals

French Queen's heart stolen from museum

A 16th-century gold case containing the heart of Anne of Brittany has been stolen from the Thomas-Dobrée Museum in the western French city of Nantes during the weekend. Robbers broke in through a window and got away with the six-inch oval case despite setting off an alarm. Philippe Grosvalet, the president of the Loire-Atlantique department which owns the museum, said: “The thieves attacked…
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FeaturesHistoryInternational royals

Strange and insulting historical royal nicknames

The use of nicknames or epithets to describe a royal or a local ruler was quite common until recent times. Before pictures were easily accessed, or in places where the first name was repeatedly used for consecutive rulers, a nickname was a useful way to distinguish one person from another. Sometimes these names were chosen by the bearer themselves, sometimes they were gained through a courageous…
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History

The Royal Coat of Arms Explained

The Royal Coat of Arms acts as the official coat of arms for the British monarch. The Royal Coat of Arms features a shield divided into four quarters. The quarters represent the symbols of Ireland, England, and Scotland. Wales does not play a role in the Royal Coat of Arms as when the Act of Union came about the Kingdom of Wales was already integral to England. The upper left and lower right…
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