Features

I can't get enough of this royal love story - surely the stand out palace romance of the 20th century

It’s the royal wedding you’ve probably never heard of and yet it marked the crowning moment of a regal romance that has all the drama of a Hollywood film. It involves an actress from Swansea and a prince whose loyalty to his country’s crown is legendary. On December 7th 1976, Bertil of Sweden finally wed Lilian Craig. The bride wore blue, a brand new king and queen were the…
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European Royals

The royal bride who wore a wedding dress designed by her future husband

She was the beautiful princess who had been the subject of endless royal wedding speculation, he was the handsome prince with a crown waiting in his future. When Marie-Jose of Belgium married Umberto, heir to the throne of Italy, in January 1930 their marriage had all the echoes of history about it, a union of dynasties that would secure a throne. Tens of thousands flocked to Rome to see the…
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European RoyalsFeaturesThe Netherlands

King Willem-Alexander opens the doors to his palace

King Willem-Alexander’s working palace Noordeinde Palace in The Hague will open its door for four Saturdays in a row. Noordeinde Palace began its life as a medieval farmhouse in 1533.This was converted into a spacious residence, which was bought for Louise de Coligny, the widow of William I, Prince of Orange, in 1595. It was her son who enlarged the house even more, and it was…
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Palaces & Buildings

Dutch royal palace due to be converted into hotel

A Dutch palace is to be partly converted into a hotel following a bid of 1.7 million euros. The purchase follows a competition in which the government sought to find a new function for Soestdijk Palace. Over a hundred ideas for the future of the palace were submitted and narrowed down to three. The Eden Soestdijk which was inspired by the Eden Project in England would have developed a biodome of…
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