British Royals

This presenter made Queen Elizabeth II want to switch off the TV

A famous TV presenter left Queen Elizabeth II far from amused and annoyed her so much that she used to switch her favourite sport off when he made an appearance. Despite her deep love of horse racing, the late Queen was so frustrated by John McCririck’s style of presentation that she used to press the off button when he appeared. For years, John McCririck was a familiar face on…
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Features

This is why your brand new £1 coin was actually made three years ago and has Queen Elizabeth II on it

Millions of brand new £1 coins are about to enter tills across the UK but the will say 2022 and you won’t find King Charles on them. If that left you scratching your head or wondering if there’d been some kind of time slip, then I can provide the answer. Your brand new coin is actually three years old. On August 20 2025, the Royal Mint released 29 million shiny £1 coins into…
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Royal News

This is who chose Princess Anne's first name - and it's not the royal you are expecting

A is for Anne but why did the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II end up with a name that, at the time, wasn’t a usual one for members of the Royal Family? The answer can perhaps best be found in the summer of 1930 and the arrival of another princess. In August that year, the future George VI and his Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) welcomed their second daughter. The baby girl was…
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Features

Queen Elizabeth’s closest confidante: The untold story of Margaret Rhodes - MI6 secretary and the late Queen’s best friend

Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most iconic public figures in modern history, instantly recognisable around the world. While much has been written about her father and paternal ancestors, less attention has been paid to her maternal family – the Bowes-Lyons. Yet, it was from this side of the family that The Queen’s closest confidante and lifelong best friend emerged: her cousin Margaret…
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