Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the Royal Maundy Service at Leicester Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, April 13th, in Leicester. Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The Queen commemorates Maundy by offering ‘alms’ to senior citizens in recognition of service to the church and to the local community. Continue reading
Later today, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Royal Maundy Service at Leicester Cathedral, where she will distribute ceremonial Maundy money to 91 men and 91 women from the local community. Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The Queen commemorates Maundy by offering ‘alms’ to senior citizens in recognition of service to the church and to the local community. take a look below at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at the Maundy Thursday Service 65 years ago, on April 10, 1952, at Westminster Abbey, which was also the Queen’s first public engagement since her accession that February. Continue reading
While last year’s group picture from the Annual Diplomatic Reception was a first, it wasn’t the first time cameras had been at Buckingham Palace during the event. In 1991, the BBC were given special access to the Queen, when they filmed her for a whole year for a Special documentary released in honour of her 40th Jubilee in 1992. Among the many events they covered was the Reception. Take a look at some of the scenes (and Tiaras) below- Continue reading
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh opened the new Centre for Elephant Care at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and opened the Priory View Independent living scheme in Bedfordshire on April 11th. Continue reading
Members of the Swedish Royal Family attended an official ceremony and a minute of silence to commemorate the victims for the Stockholm Attack on April 10th at the Stockholm City Hall. Continue reading
An early and illustrious contender for this years Royal Jewels at Auction, this Diamond Bow Brooch is going be be auctioned at the Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale on April 26th in New York. It belonged to Queen Marie-Jose, the last Queen of Italy, the Belgian Princess who became the last Queen of Italy, who possessed the vast jewellery collection of the House of Savoy!
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, who got married in traditional and western ceremonies on this day in 1959. The Crown Prince of Japan and the daughter of a Japanese Industrialist, the couple received a lot of opposition from the Imperial Household Agency but won the love and support of the Japanese people. They have three children and acceded to the Throne in 1989. Despite the continued pressures of the Imperial Household Agency, Empress Michiko is very popular among the people of Japan, and is said to be the embodiment of traditional values such as modesty and purity. Take a look below at some scenes from the wedding- Continue reading
The Prince of Wales, attending on behalf of the Queen, was accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France on April 9th. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General David Johnston were also present, as was President Hollande of France. The Battle took place between 9th – 12th April 1917, and was part of the opening phase of the Battle of Arras. The four divisions of the Canadian Corps, as well as other Allies, faced off against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. It is seen as Canada’s most notable military victory and a symbol of the birth of Canadian National pride. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is the largest Canadian Memorial to the First World War in Europe.
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Today marks the Wedding Anniversary of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium, who got married on this day in 1953! A match arranged by the bride’s grandmother, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, and the groom’s mother, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, both were reportedly in love with other people, but eventually the marriage was very happy. The couple had five children and succeeded to the Grand Duchy in 1964. Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte reigned until 2000, when he abdicated in favour of their son, and the couple had a 52-year marriage. Continue reading
Happy Wedding Anniversary to King Charles III and Queen Camilla! Two Kings, Two Queens, and the Heirs of Norway, Romania and Serbia led Royal Guests and Relatives at the Wedding Blessing of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles at Windsor Castle on this day in 2005, 20 years ago, after being delayed for a day so the Prince could attend the Funeral of Pope John II.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this post so soon after the last one. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Royals from around the world have been sending messages of condolence to Stockholm following the despicable terrorist attack in Westminster on April 7th. Here are some of the messages; Continue reading
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended the opening of the ‘Forbidden Porcelain Exclusive for the Emperor’ exhibition at the Prinsenhof Museum in Delft in The Netherlands on April 7th. Continue reading
Members of the British Royal Family attended the Service Of Thanksgiving for Antony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon, ex-husband of the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, who died in January, at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey in London on April 7th. Continue reading
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain are on a State Visit to Japan from April 4th-7th with the aim of strengthening friendly relations between Japan and Spain. They are based in Tokyo, and on April 7th, traveled by train to Shizuoka City with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The royal couples also visited the Fugetsuro Complex. Continue reading
Given as a wedding present from Queen Victoria to her eldest daughter, who eventually became Empress of Germany, in 1858, this magnificent Diamond Tiara was later given to her third daughter, eventually the Queen of Greece, who left it to her second daughter, the Duchess of Aosta, being sold at auction after her death. Continue reading
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall completed their two-day visit to Austria on April 6th. On the final day of their tour of Europe, they visited the Jewish museum in Vienna, enjoyed a rehearsal of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, visited a vineyard and ‘Buschenschank’, saw a demonstration at the Spanish riding school, and . Click HERE for Day 1. Continue reading
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain are on a State Visit to Japan from April 4th-7th with the aim of strengthening friendly relations between Japan and Spain. They are based in Tokyo and will also visit Shizuoka. On the morning and throughout most of the afternoon of April 6th, the King and Queen had separate engagements. The joined for bilateral mettings at the Akasaka Palace, and attended a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Japan. Continue reading
