Royal Jewels

Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch

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A watercolour of the arrival of Queen Victoria at St Paul’s Cathedral, surrounded by crowds – by Robert Taylor Pritchett

20th June, 1897 – Queen Victoria’s diary entry

“This eventful day, 1897 has opened, and I pray God to help and protect me as He has hitherto done these sixty long eventful years!… God will surely help me on! How well I remember this day sixty years ago when I was called from my bed by dear Mama to receive the news of my accession!”

Some nine months after she became the longest reigning monarch in British history, surpassing her grandfather, George III, Queen Victoria reached another milestone: her Diamond Jubilee. Among the many wonderful gifts she received, including an beautiful lace fan from the ‘Worshipful Company of Fan Makers’ and a jade incense burner from the Emperor of China, there were more the personal gifts from children to their mama, or grandchildren to ‘Gangan’.

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On this day · Royal Weddings

The Royal Wedding of Victoria and Albert

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“At about ½ p. 12, I sent for Albert, who came to the Closet, where I was alone, & after  few minutes I said, I thought he must be aware why I wished him & his brother to come here, & that it would make me too happy if he would consent to what I wanted (that he should marry me). We embraced each other over & over again & he was so kind & so affectionate. To feel I am loved by such an angel as Albert, is too great a happiness to describe, & really I felt it was the happiest & brightest moment in my life, which made up for all I had suffered & endured.”

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Royal Weddings

The Royal Wedding of Willem-Alexander and Máxima

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On this day, twenty three years ago, the world witnessed the marriage of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, to Máxima Zorreguieta, the daughter of an Argentine politician. Held in the historic Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, this union bridged two distinct worlds: Dutch royalty and that of the Argentinian political elite. However, the path to their happily-ever-after was not entirely smooth.

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Biographies

The Life and Legacy of Princess Alice of Battenberg

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27th January is International Holocaust Remembrance day, a date chosen to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

On this day, we remember the systematic murder of 6 million Jews, and, this year, to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation, King Charles III will attend commemoration events in Poland, alongside other European Heads of State. There is, perhaps, a personal element in this day for Charles, as his Grandmother was instrumental in saving a Jewish family from Nazi persecution.

Her Serene Highness, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was not a typical princess by anyone’s measure. And whilst her early life was that to be expected of a German princess, and great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, it certainly did not progress that way.

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On this day · Royal Weddings

Wedding of Victoria, The Princess Royal

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On this day in 1858, Victoria, The Princess Royal, eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, married Prince Frederick William of Prussia in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace.

The couple had first met back in 1851, when Frederick, along with his parents, Prince William of Prussia, and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, attended the opening of the Great Exhibition — Victoria had been 10 at the time, and Frederick 19. Victoria and Albert asked their daughter to be Frederick’s guide through the exhibition. Fortunately, Vicky (as she was known) was able to converse in fluent German, because Frederick’s English was very limited. Frederick also impressed her father, Prince Albert, during his visit, and shared many of his liberal ideas.

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On this day

On this day – 22nd January, 2018

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Jonathan Brady/Getty Images

On this day 7 years ago, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of HRH Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank. The groom-to-be had popped the question in front of Nicaraguan volcano, and then sealed the deal with a stunning padparadscha sapphire engagement ring. With its centre stone surrounded by a halo of 10 round cut diamonds, the ring is reminiscent of the one worn by her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York.

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Fashion

Queen of the High Street!

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I make no secret of the fact that Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is one of my favourite stylish royals – in fact, she’s only just edged into second place by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. From her elegant, ivory duchesse silk wedding gown by Pär Engsheden, to her vibrant, princess-worthy gowns, and those tailored trouser suits that she absolutely rocks!!

And while she does look stunning in couture, and my personal favourite will always be this one-shoulder, beaded Elie Saab gown that she first debuted at her pre-wedding ball in 2010:

Creator: Elisabeth Toll/Kungl. Hovstaterna 

I also love how she is also not afraid to include more accessible pieces in her wardrobe.

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Birthdays

Bagshot Park & the Connaught Wedding Veil

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Reportedly the late Queen’s favourite daughter-in-law, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is celebrating her 60th birthday today. Buckingham Palace shared a new portrait to mark the special occasion, taken at Bagshot Park – Sophie’s home since her 1999 wedding to Prince Edward – by talented fashion and portrait photographer, Christina Ebenezer.

Bagshot Park was built back in 1879 for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught – the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert – and his wife, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia. They married that same year in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and went on to have three children who were all raised at the property. The Duke died at Bagshot in 1942 and, following this, the property was requisitioned by the army for use as a Staff College for the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) until the end of WWII.

by Hughes & Mullins, albumen cabinet card, 1893
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