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Showing posts with the label london

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 is followed by a 41-gun sal

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 and to Bulgaria. Called to join the arm

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 neglected her upbri

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

Westminster Hall, a very royal destination with lots of history

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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 conflagration both Hous