Glamour, glitter, sparkling crowns, majestic palaces. While there is plenty of that in the British royal family, there are also many secrets. I created this website because we didn't have enough time in our presentation, and there is so much more to say about this topic. I will also update it often, as there is still so much more to discover. Enjoy reading :D -Zoe.
Here is a historical portrait of the British royal family – the Royal Family Portrait (1846) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, from the Royal Collection Trust.
In 1937, King George VI was crowned. Ten years later, in 1947, Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, married Prince Philip. Her coronation took place in 1953, marking the beginning of a long reign. In the following decades, many significant events occurred: In 1973, Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in her first marriage. In 1982, Prince William was born, the eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Tragically, Princess Diana passed away in 1997, an event that sparked worldwide mourning. In the 21st century, royal weddings became a major focus: In 2011, Prince William married Catherine Middleton. Their first child, Prince George, was born in 2013. In 2018, both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, celebrated their weddings. In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their active royal duties, marking another significant moment in the family’s history. Additionally, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated several milestones during her reign, including her Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees, honoring her long and dedicated service.
1066 - First coronation in Westminster Abbey (William the Conqueror -----13th century - First use of the Crown Jewels at coronations-----1661 - Creation of St. Edward’s Crown for Charles II.-----1707 - Trooping the Colour becomes the official ceremony-----1910 - Westminster Abbey also becomes central for state funerals-----2023 - Coronation of Charles III with St. Edward’s Crown.
crown represents authority, power, and continuity and is the most recognizable piece. One of the most important crowns is the St. Edward's Crown, which is only used during coronations. It was last worn by King Charles III in 2023 at his coronation.
The earthly power of the monarch under God is symbolized by the scepter with the cross, which is part of the crown jewels. It contains the famous Cullinan I diamond (also known as the 'Great Star of Africa'). This is the largest cut diamond in the world.
Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church of English and later British monarchs since the year 1066. Almost all coronations of the last 1,000 years have taken place here. In addition, it is also the burial site of many monarchs and significant figures.
This annual ceremony, celebrated in June in London, marks the official birthday of the monarch. It includes a large military parade with regiments of the British Army, the Household Division, as well as a flyover by the Royal Air Force, which the royal family observes from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
What is this tradition anyway?
Klick here to find out more.
Prince Harry Preparing to Return to the UK — Possible Reunion with King Charles Prince Harry is set to return to the UK in early September for a charity event, opening the door to a potential reunion with his father, King Charles, marking their first in-person meeting in nearly 20 months. However, Prince William is reportedly declining to take part in any reconciliation, citing trust issues.
Timothy Laurence Receives Royal Honor Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, husband of Princess Anne, has been honored by King Charles with the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) during a private ceremony at Balmoral Castle on August 21.
Princess Beatrice Focuses on Business Over Royal Duties Princess Beatrice is stepback from the notion of becoming a full-time working royal. She currently holds a career outside royal duties—as Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at software firm Afiniti—and recently co-founded a tech company, Purpose Economy Intelligence Ltd.
Queen Camilla Returns to Royal Duties Queen Camilla was recently seen wearing a familiar, repeated outfit during a public appearance, underscoring her continued presence and style consistency in royal engagements.