All About Royal Families

Victoria was born on Easter Sunday at Windsor Castle in the presence of her maternal grandmother, Queen Victoria on 5 April 1863. Her parents were Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom.  She was christened in the Lutheran faith in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, in the arms of the Queen on 27 April. Her godparents were: * Queen Victoria, * Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, * Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (represented by Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine), * the Prince of Wales and Prince Heinrich of Hesse and by Rhine Childhood Her early life was spent at Bessungen, a suburb of Darmstadt, until the family moved to the New Palace in Darmstadt when she was three years old. There, she shared a room with her younger sister, Elisabeth, until adulthood. She was privately educated to a high standard and was, throughout her life, an avid reader. During the Prussian invasion of Hesse in June 1866, Vic...

In August 2023 we finally could see the Westminster Palace and especially the Westminster Hall. A place full of history. We booked a tour with a splendid guide called Ralph. We were able to enter Westminster Hall and to take pictures there. In other parts of the Palace we were not allowed to take pictures.  Our suprise was big because of course we recognized the Westminster Hall immediately due to the Lying-in-State of the Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which took place from September 14th. 2022 till September 19th. 2022 in Westminster Hall.  However its history dates back from long ago.  Some history The oldest existing part of the Palace (Westminster Hall) dates from the reign of William I's successor, King William II (r. 1087–1100). Source picture: Wikipedia On 16 October 1834, a fire broke out in the Palace after an overheated stove used to destroy the Exchequer's stockpile of tally sticks set fire to the House of Lords Chamber. In the resulting co...

3 May 1870 marks the birth of Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. Family Princess Helena Victoria (always known to her family as Thora) was born at Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle. Her father was Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the third son of Christian, Duke of Augustenburg and Countess Louise af Danneskjold-Samsøe. Her mother was Princess Helena, the fifth child and third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her parents resided in Britain from marriage. She was baptised in the private chapel at Windsor Castle on 20 June 1870. Her godparents were Queen Victoria, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Prince Valdemar of Denmark, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Princess Louise Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein and Princess Caroline Amelie of Schleswig-Holstein (the latter two represented by the Duchess of Roxburghe). Princess Helena "Thora" was a bridesmaid at the 1885 wedding of her matern...

During the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, a lot of new books are issued, which is a delight for us royalty watchers and bloggers. One of the newest is The Queen - 70 Glorious years. About the book This is an official souvenir publication of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and issued by the Royal Collection Trust.  Through photographs the book illustrates the most memorable events in the reign of Britain's longest serving monarch.  It is like browsing in a beautiful family album. The book is divided in clear chapters as: - early life; - iconic portraits; - the role of the monarch; - traveling in the kingdom and the commonwealth; - the day job; - family; and milestones. The Queen 70 glorious years is issued on 3 February 2022 and it is a wonderful item to have in my royal book collection.  See more at the royal Collection shop on this link . 

Angela Kelly has worked with The Queen and walked the corridors of the Royal Household for 25 years, initially as Her Majesty's Senior Dresser and later as Her Majesty's Personal Adivsor and Curator (The Queen's Juwellery, Insignias and Wardrobe) and In-house Designer. The Queen even gave Angela her blessing to share their extraordinary bond with the world. This was written down in the book: The other side of the coin. Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth Alexandra was born on 21 April 1926 as the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.  On 6 February 1952 she became Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms. She is perhaps one of the most powerful women on earth.  My review In "the other side of the coin" tells Angela Kelly about her time as  Her Majesty's senior dresser and her other functions she had. She speaks openly about her work, which is extraordinary and she lifts a tip of the veil about who The Queen really is.  It is n...