Princess Helena as a child, by Winterhalter, c1849. Royal Collection Trust. The gas lamps flickered faintly against the heavy drapery of Buckingham Palace. Whispers floated through the adjoining rooms. It was the early hours of May 25, 1846, and the palace was filled with anticipation and anxiety. Queen Victoria was in protracted labour, “longer and more than the other times,” wrote her husband, Prince Albert. A day before, the Queen, who turned 27 that day, already felt the discomfort. Prince Albert was beside her while she endured the excruciating pain.  Also present were seve ..read more

Princess Michael of Kent has long been a captivating figure within the British Royal Family. Known for her elegance, intellect, and the controversies which she was involved with, she has navigated a path that blends the traditions of royalty with a modern spirit. As she turns 80, let us celebrate her  life and the remarkable journey shaped by noble heritage, achievements, and  resilience. Was Princess Michael of Kent the queen of outré, more-is-more 1980s style? As she celebrates her birthday, here's a look at her greatest fashion moments https://t.co/RXUkQNmtQX pic.twitter.com/EL ..read more

In its January 5, 1953 issue, TIME magazine named Queen Elizabeth II as "Woman of the Year" for 1952. The cover featured a portrait of the Queen by artist Boris Chaliapin. The accompanying article highlighted the impact of her ascension to the throne: "What, then, was Elizabeth’s significance? It was no more—and no less—than the significance of a fresh young blossom on roots that had weathered many a season of wintry doubt. The British, as weary and discouraged as the rest of the world in 1952, saw in their new young Queen a reminder of a great past when they had carved out empires under Eli ..read more

King Felipe VI,  accompanied by Queen Letizia and high-ranking government officials, visited Paiporta on Sunday (November 3), the flood-ravaged region of Valencia. Historic flash floods struck last Tuesday, unleashing a year’s worth of rain in mere hours and leaving a tragic path of destruction. The death toll stood at 217 but the figure may still rise as recovery efforts continue in the mud-soaked ruins. According to El Pais, the visit was a personal initiative of the Spanish king in spite of warnings of possible animosity from locals enraged by the government's reaction. Upon the roya ..read more

Measuring approximately 8ft 6in by 6ft 6in, the massive oil on canvas portrays the King adorned in his distinctive red Welsh Guards uniform against a matching backdrop. Notably, Charles is depicted wielding a sword with a butterfly alighting on his shoulder, symbolizing themes of transformation and renewal, reflective of his enduring commitment to environmental causes. Yeo started working on the portrait when Charles was still Prince of Wales with the first sitting held at Highgrove in June 2021. Queen Camilla, upon viewing the artwork, reportedly affirmed its likeness, remarking to Yeo ..read more

Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest child, has long appeared to be eclipsed by popular wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the more well-known members of the British royal family. Despite his privileged background, his early life was faced by a slew of scandals and public disasters that eclipsed his dreams of becoming a theatrical professional. His father, Prince Philip, expressed disapproval of his decision to leave the Royal Marines after just three months of training. Edward, however, took comfort in the entertainment industry, where he worked as a producti ..read more

Princess Alice of Albany, Countess of Athlone, c1911. Image from Wikimedia Commons A most interesting personality has the young Princess who recently became the wife of Prince Alexander of Teck. The daughter of a Prince who was renowned for his scholastic attainments, and of a Princess who also has abilities of no mean order as well as much natural sweetness of disposition, Princess Alice has developed many of the distinguishing traits of both, and is, in fact, highly accomplished even for a Princess. In these days, when a royal personage must require an encyclopaedia knowledge of me ..read more

London, Christmas of 1948. Image from Pinterest London, Friday (O.S.R.). The King and Queen, who thought they would now be preparing for a strenuous but enjoyable trip to Australia and New Zealand, will have an austerely different Christmas at Buckingham Palace. It is the first time in their 12-year reign that they will spend Christmas actually in London— instead of at Sandringham, which is King George's birthplace and his favorite family retreat. The King's illness over shadows the whole family celebration. He is making good progress, but doctors have advised—and the King is a faith ..read more

Sir George Hayter's coronation portrait of the Queen. Image from Wikimedia Commons. Queen Victoria was crowned on  June 18, 1838. She was 19 years old. The coronation was primarily planned by the prime minister, Lord Melbourne. Amidst objections from numerous parties, the Cabinet announced on Saturday, April 7, that the coronation would be at the end of the parliamentary session in June.  A budgeted of £70,000 was proposed, twice the amount of William IV's "cut-price" 1831 coronation, but nevertheless a huge pittance compared to the £240,000 spent for George IV lavish but c ..read more

The Coronation Regalia. Image from The Royal Collection Trust The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 at Westminster Abbey will see the United Kingdom stage the much-awaited but seldom-witnessed spectacle that is the coronation. Filled with pomp and circumstance, the Coronation will be the first time in almost seven decades. Aside from witnessing the parade of royals, heads of state, and celebrities, the coronation will also feature the appearance of the precious coronation regalia, the  precious objects which symbolise the temporal and sacred service ..read more