FeaturesHistory

Painting by ground breaking artist rediscovered in a royal storage room

The Royal Collection Trust has just announced that a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi has gone on display at Windsor Castle for the first time in almost two centuries. The announcement comes at the end of a much-needed restoration work that the painting has undergone, as it was misattributed to “French School” and left in disrepair in a Hampton Court Palace storage room. The…
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The Sword of State in the Honours of Scotland

The Crown of Scotland, a sceptre and the Sword of State make up the Honours of Scotland and they are the oldest regalia items in the British Isles. The Sword of State dates back to 1507. It was a gift from Pope Julius II to King James IV. It was in honour of James’s…
British RoyalsFeaturesHistoryKing Charles III

The last king crowned with the Honours of Scotland

King Charles III will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Giles’s Cathedral on 5 July. However, King Charles II was the last monarch to be crowned with the Honours of Scotland in 1651. King Charles II was crowned in England in 1661 but was crowned in Scotland a decade earlier. On 1 January 1651, Charles was crowned as head of Scotland at Scone…
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The other kings called Charles

With the death of his mother on Thursday 8 September 2022, King Charles III is now the sovereign of the United Kingdom, as well as fifteen other nations. While it was thought previously that he may take the regnal name of George VII, The King has chosen to keep his given name. Who are the other kings called Charles before him? King Charles I King Charles I reigned from 27 March 1625…
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FeaturesHistory

Royal Mistresses: Louise de Kérouaille

Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth was born 5 September 1649 and is the daughter of Guillaume de Penancoët, Seigneur de Kéroualle and Marie de Ploeuc de Timeur. Nobles in Brittany, France, the family name is derived from an heriess whom an…
British RoyalsFeaturesHistoryHistoryInsightInterestsKing Charles III

History of unlucky royal names: Charles

Many names are considered unlucky by some and in royal circles, unlucky names are something ruling dynasties wish to avoid at all costs. From superstitions to strange goings-on during their reigns, Royal Central is looking at the history behind such monikers. For such a popular name, it is surprising that there have only been two kings with the name Charles; however, to say they both had…
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