Banbury Cross is of course, synonymous with local Oxfordshire folklore for many, because of the popular rhyme which has a ‘fine lady’ riding to it on her cockhorse. Indeed, this is the main reason why many people know of the existence of the Cross at all. Far less known is the fact that the Cross commemorates a royal marriage, a topical thought in the light of the recent royal wedding at…
In addition to the private gifts exchanged at royal weddings were also those public gifts given on behalf of a nation. Either to accompany its native bride on her marriage, or increasingly, to take the form of diplomatic presents, such as the Sevres porcelain dinner service…
Royal wedding dresses aren’t just about what the bride wants to wear. While the woman in white has a big say in the design, her dream dress also has to fit the rather regal occasion which will see her and her intended say ‘I do’.
Autumn Kelly and Zara Phillips both had…
It’s the cake that keeps on giving. The flower strewn bake that took centre stage at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on April 29th 2011 still makes its presence felt with slices of it popping up at auction with what seems like an almost metronomic regularity. But then there was plenty to go round as this was a whopper of a cake. Standing eight tiers tall and weighing in at over…
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was the first of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s children to wed and she was also the first to contract a second marriage. For both ceremonies, she chose striking outfits which would take their own places in royal wedding…
Some royal wedding dresses stand the test of time, others are always very much of the era they were worn but some are such instant hits that they take on a fame all of their own. The gown worn by the Queen’s only sister, Princess Margaret, for her wedding to…
The only daughter of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh is known for her down to earth, no-nonsense approach to life and in many ways, the flowers chosen by Princess Anne for her wedding in 1973 to Captain Mark Phillips were that attitude in petal form. As she became the first royal bride of her generation, the Princess chose a simple selection of flowers that fit perfectly with her classic…
The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, on July 23rd 1986, was really rather floral indeed. We expect all brides to carry a bouquet but Sarah, unlike many women in recent royal history, chose to wear flowers in her hair, too. As she made her way into Westminster…
Within the historical collections of the Royal Armoury [Livrustkammeran] in Stockholm are preserved some astonishing examples of Swedish royal wedding dresses. Some are in the forms of fully preserved dresses, others sections from the same, such as trains or loosely…
The tradition of myrtle being used in a bridal bouquet is long established and largely European, although its associations with marriage has its origins in both ancient Greek mythology, as well as in Roman ritual, the myrtle being “dear” to Venus, as it had once been considered “sacred” to the goddess Aphrodite. Jewish liturgy also incorporated it occasionally in the form of branches…
