All About Royal Families

Coronation day is finally there! On 6 May 2023, a historic event took place: the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. 👀 How to watch the coronation?  Check it on BBC on this link . You can even follow the coronation on Youtube. See this link .  Happy Coronation day!  Their Majesties are underway in a procession screenshots The King and his crown! The King and Queen are crowned After the service in Westminster Abbey there was a lovely procession to  Buckingham Palace. At Buckingham Palace we got a view of the gardens and all the regiments bringing a salute to their Majesties.  Later King Charles III and Queen Camilla appeared on the balcony of Buckingham  Palace, just as the rest of the working royals and the fly past took place.  It really was a very well organized event and it felt if we all were a part of living history.  I received on 24 August 2023 a special postcard  Screenshots BBC

Falconry is the hunting of wild animals in their natural habitat and stay by means of a trained bird or prey.  The practice of hunting with a conditioned falconry bird also is called "hawking".  Falconry is an art. It requires long hours, constant devotion, finesse, subtlety and skill.  The falconer must train a bird of prey to fly free, hunt for a human being and then  accept a return to captivity.  Falconry was just not a hobby. It was a lifestyle. Falconers must devote time to their birds each and every day. It must be no surprise that  falconry has a long and royal history just as horse riding. In many countries owning a falcon was and is a status symbol.  Some history of Falconry Medieval sports were chances for men to practice their mental and physical skills. However falconry also was practiced by women.  Royals and Falconry Bahrain Emir Isa bin Salman al Khalifa of Bahrain and his family owned the Sulman Falcon Centre. The royal family can...

Recently (in 2021), the Duchess of Cambridge revealed the newest hobby of her  youngest son, Prince Louis. This is cycling.  Is he the only royal who like(s)d to ride on a bike and what's the history of cycling?  History Bicycling was introduced around the 1800's and it became soon very popular. In 1868, the first bicycling race was held near Paris. In Europe cycling went strong until the 1950's. However it is still a favourite sport.  Belgium King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians are often pictured while riding on a bike and their children: Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore as well. During their holidays in France they like to be out and around on bike. However they are pictured in  Belgium as well on their bikes: while they were promoting tourism during covid-19 and on Car Free Sundays.  It is no secret that Queen Fabiola of Belgium liked to ride on a bike as well.  Princ...

Some royals do have a fantastic garden around their estates. These always  give fantastic ideas for your own garden or balcony ....  So let's take a closer look to Highgrove, the home of Charles, Prince of Wales. It is no secret at all that Highgrove has a wonderful garden too.  Highgrove is the family residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. It lies southwest of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, England. Near Tetbury, in the County of Gloucestershire in South West England, Gatcombe Park, the country residence of Anne, Princess Royal is located between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening.  History Highgrove  House was built in 1796 to 1798 by John Paul Paul and believed to have designed by architect Anthony Keck.  In 1864 the house was sold to a barrister, William Yatman. Yatman was described as one of the "chief preservers of foxes."  Yatman left Highgrove following a fire in 1893. The house was rebuilt by Arthur Mitchell. T...

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021. Who was Prince Philip? Source picture: Book Cover   Family Prince Philip was born on 10 June 1921 at Mon Repos on Corfu in Greece.  More about Mon Repos on this link . His parents were Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and  Princess Alice of Battenberg.  His paternal grandparents were King George I of Greece and Olga Constantinovna of Russia. His maternal grandparents were Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.  Prince Philip was a member of the House of Glücksburg and later a member of the House of Mountbatten. Education Prince Philip first went to The Elms, an American school in Paris run by Donald MacJannet.  In 1928, Philip went to the United Kingdom to attend Cheam School, where he lived with his maternal grandmother, Victoria Mountbatten, Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven at Kensington Palace and his uncle George Mountbatten, 2nd. ...

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...

The noise of motors on the black asphalt ... the tension and of course  the competition. Who will win the race? Who will lose?  Car racing certainly is a nice hobby for everyone who likes cars,  technique and especially speed.  But what's the history of Car racing and which royals love(d) the high speed of cars. Read it in the following paragraphs. own picture taken in 2013 in Monaco History The first prearranged match race of two self-powered road vehicles over a prescribed route took place on 30 August 1867.  On 28 April 1887, the first organized contest took place. This was organized by the chief editor of Paris publication Le Vélocipède, Monsieur Fossier. It ran 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Neuilly Bridge to the Bois de Boulogne near Paris. It was won by George Bouton. He used a car constructed by Albert, the Comte de Dion.  On 22 July 1894, the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal organized the world's first motoring competition from Paris to Rouen in Fran...

"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in."  This was quoted by King Frederick the Great of Prussia. History  Since 1987,  the Belgian Fabienne Delvigne has specialized in the  design of Haute Couture Hats, jewellery and headgear. After  studying Marketing she launched her own company and she became one of the most influential hat designers of Europe.  In 2001, Fabienne Delvigne became Royal Warrant holder of the royal family of Belgium. Then Albert II and Paola were King and Queen of the Belgians.  At the inauguration of King Philippe on 21 July 2013, Fabienne Delvigne made for Queen Mathilde a wonderful symbolic hat.  King Philippe also granted Fabienne Delvigne a royal warrant.  The shop of Fabienne Delvigne is located at: 8 André Fauchille Street 1150 Brussels - Belgium.  Royal clients: * Queen Paola of Belgium;  * Queen Mathilde of the Belgians; * Princess Elisabeth of Belgium; * Queen Máxima of the Netherlands;  * Ma...

Running is described as a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running in humans is associated with improved health and life expectancy.  Running also has an amazing (royal) history.  Royal History The Pharaos of Egypt had to prove their ability to reign by running in the Heb-Sed Feast also called the Sed festival. In the Midlle Ages knights had running as a part of their education. It also was in the education of future kings.  At the coronation of King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia there was an important part of physical tests just as running.  Nowadays it is known that many royals like to run.  Belgium * King Philippe of Belgium has already participated in the 20 km of Brussels.  He runs almost every day to clean up his mind. More on this link . * Princess Astrid of Belgium, the sister of King Philippe, has participated in The marathon of New York.  * Crown Princess Elisabeth, while announcing she ...

Music is all over the world. People can play it everywhere, from the smallest houses to the biggest royal palaces.  But this blog is about royal families in past and present. So, let's take a closer look to the royals who played amazing music themselves.  Music was in the past an obligated part of the education of princesses and future queens. Although I found some dukes, princes and Kings who played music too. Enjoy this post! piano at the royal palace in Brussels own picture taken in 2015 Nowadays Queen Máxima of The Netherlands and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are trying to promote more music and culture at school. It's their amazing mission. In the past, Belgium has had some musical queens. The most famous without doubt is Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, who played the violin herself. A well-known music competition was called after her. On the picture you see her favourite violin.  In The Netherlands it is known that Catharina Amalia, the current princess of  Orange lov...

On 13 September 1843, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert visited Belgium. The visit Their Royal Yacht brought the couple to Ostend. During this visit, the Queen of the United Kingdom and her husband were officially received in Bruges, Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. Ostend nowadays - a lot of differences when Queen Victoria paid a visit there ...  Of course the Queen and her husband visited uncle King Leopold I of Belgium and his wife Queen Louise-Marie. Waterloo In these days the battlefield of Waterloo wasn't officially visited. King Leopold I of Belgium didn't want that the ties between France and England deteriorated.  However in all silence, lord Aberdeen, the British minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the battlefield of Waterloo. His younger brother had died there in 1815. The Return In Antwerp the royal company embarked to their yacht to return to London. Source pictures: Wikipedia