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Showing posts with the label london

Who was Giovanni di Bicci de'Medici?

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 As we are with the royal destination blogposts in Florence with the de' Medicis, we can't go on,  without some family history.  The founder of the de Medici bank and thus the one who laid the fa'mily's wealth and influence in Florence was: Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici. Who was Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici? Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici was born in Florence, Italy. He was the son of Averardo de' Medici and Jacopa Spini. His father, Averardo died in 1363 with a respectable amount of wealth. This inheritance was divided among Giovanni and his four brothers, leaving Giovanni with very little. However, his uncle, Vieri de' Medici, was still a prominent banker in Florence. Vieri helped Giovanni begin his career in the Florentine banking system. He worked his way up through the ranks, eventually becoming a junior partner in the branch located in Rome. Vieri de' Medici retired in 1393 leaving the...

Royal Event: Remembrance Sunday in London 2024

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Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in November (the Sunday nearest to 11 November, Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of hostilities in World War I in 1918). This Remembrance Sunday took place at the London Cenotaph. In 2024, royal  photographer and friend, Bjorn Hoex had a wonderful place in front of the London Cenotaph. And there he made some lovely pictures for us. King Charles III at the Remembrance Sunday own picture of the Cenotaph taken in London in July 2024 The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh   The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester Duke of Kent and Timothy Laurence, husband of The Princess Royal Thank you for your amazing photo report Bjorn! Source pictures: ...

Royal Events: Trooping the Colour 2024

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Bjorn Hoex, royal photographer and friend is in the United Kingdom and especially in London to attend some wonderful royal events such as Trooping the Colour. What is Trooping the Colour? In the United Kingdom, Trooping the Colour is also known as the "King's Birthday Parade" ("Queen's Birthday Parade" when the monarch is female).  First performed during the reign of King Charles II (1660–1685), in 1748 it was decided that the parade of Trooping the Colour should mark the official birthday of the Sovereign.  In 1760, after the accession of King George III, it became an annual event. Seamus, an Irish wolfhound, is the mascot of the Irish Guards.  Some history Edward VII kept Trooping the Colour in May or June, because of the vagaries of British weather (his actual birthday being in November). It coincides with publication of the Birthday Honours List, and usually takes place at Horse Guards Parade by St James's Park, London. It ...

Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark

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The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Margarita was born at the Royal Palace in Athens on 18 April 1905.  Family Through her mother, Margarita was the eldest great-great grandchild of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom . Contrary to the custom of the time, her father attended her birth because her grandmother, Queen Olga, believed that "it is only justice that men see the suffering they cause to their wives, and from which they completely escape". She also was a great-great grandchild of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia ,trough her father. With their mother, Margarita and her sisters communicated in English, but they also used French, German, and Greek in the presence of their relatives and governesses. The princesses were formally educated in English and Greek. Balkan War Between 1912 and 1913, Greece engaged in the Balkan Wars, which put the country in opposition to the Ottoman Empire a...

Charlotte, Princess of Wales

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Charlotte, the Princess of Wales was born on January 7th. 1796 at Carlton House in London.  own picture taken in 2023 Family She was the daughter of the later King George IV. In 1811 he became regent. Her mother was Caroline of Brunswick. Her paternal grandparents were King George III and Queen Charlotte. Yes Bridgerton :-)  Her maternal grandparents were Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick and Princess Augusta of Great Britain. Wellington called her father the worst man he had ever met in his whole life, the most, selfish, the most false ... almost with no extenuating circumstances."  💡 Princess Charlotte was a member of the royal famil of Hanover.  own picture taken in the royal palace of Brussels in 2017 Childhood Charlotte Augusta wasn't exactly lovingly raised. Her parents, who live together as husband and wife for no more than three weeks, separated shortly after she was born. They also did nothing to keep up appearances. The parents grossly negl...

The Tower of London and its royal connection

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One of the main historic castles in London is the Tower of London located on the north bank of the River Thames.  It is not only a tourist vistor place but the Tower of London also has a great royal history. Royal History Between 1066 and 1087, William the Conqueror established 36 castles, although references in the Domesday Book indicate that many more were founded by his subordinates. The Normans undertook what has been described as "the most extensive and concentrated programme of castle-building in the whole history of feudal Europe". William sent an advance party to prepare the city for his entrance, to celebrate his victory and found a castle; in the words of William's biographer, William of Poitiers, "certain fortifications were completed in the city against the restlessness of the huge and brutal populace.  At the time, London was the largest town in England; the foundation of Westminster Abbey and the old Palace of Westminster under Edward the Confessor had...