Engagment!

Buckingham Palace has announced the engagement of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle! We wish them every happiness.

I will be writing about Meghan Markle here soon!

Riot at Watford!

I was a bit surprised to read about a riot in Watford when King Edward VII's Coronation was cancelled!

Earl Spencer Says That He Was Told Lies

Interesting article: Earl Spencer Told Lies

Should these poor boys have had to walk behind their mother's coffin?

Did Thomas Seymour Abuse Princess Elizabeth?

I like the film Young Bess so I got quite a shock when I read Aidan J McQuade's review of Lamentation by C J Sansom in which he criticised the movie-makers for changing the relationship between Thomas Seymour and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth 1) into a romance.

Since then I have read two views about whether Thomas Seymour sexually abused the young princess. Susanna Lipscomb argues that he did in this article from History Extra, while Claire Ridgeway graciously gives Seymour the benefit of the doubt in this article from The Elizabeth Files.
Both writers present compelling cases.

Queen Visited Manchester Victims

Unfortunately, there has been another terrible terrorist attack in the UK since the Manchester bombing, so I am a bit late putting this up.

Harry Kisses Daphne

Prince Harry brought the English rain with him, unfortunately.  I don't think 97 year old Daphne minded, though: War Widow Steals Kiss.

Prince Albert's Anti-Slavery Speech in 1840

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Portrait of Prince Albert by John Partridge
; the three chains are (from top to bottom) the collars of the orders of the Golden Fleece, Bath and Garter 

The large audience at Exeter Hall in the Strand waited expectantly for their new young president to give his first speech in Great Britain. There was great excitement in the air because the President of The Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilisation of Africa was the new Prince Consort, Albert, only 20 years old. The audience included many important people, such as the former Prime  Minister Sir Robert Peel and Disraeli, and several American ladies who passionately opposed slavery, which was still legal in their country.

The young German prince wrote his speech out in German and translated it with his new wife, Queen Victoria's help.  He also practised his speech on her. He probably felt that this was his first big test and he was extremely nervous about his English and his public speaking.  However, it was an excellent speech, and, as soon as the prince began, the crowd started cheering. They especially liked his words: 'I sincerely trust that this great county, will not relax in its efforts until it has finally and forever put an end to that state of things so repugnant to the principles of Christianity and to the best feelings of our nature….” 

Disraeli wrote that: 'All the world has been to Exeter Hall this morning to see Prince Albert in the chair'.  Indeed, the prince estimated his audience at the World Anti-Slavery Convention of 1840 to be between five and six thousand people.  The young and handsome husband of Queen Victoria certainly made a fine impression. 

I can't help wondering, however, whether Prince Albert was as good-looking as Tom Hughes, who plays him in the new series! He certainly looks extremely dashing in the portrait by John Partridge.

Did A Cyclone Presage Prince Phiip's Retirement?

Prince Philip visiting Brisbane in 1954 By Contributor(s): Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

These Islanders think so.

New post

i have been away for a while, but I hope to write a new post soon.

Princess Caroline's Loss

'The calamity has overwhelmed me with grief and sickness, and it is only the hope that I may soon follow her that consoles me'. (Princess Caroline upon learning of the death of Queen Sophie Charlotte who was her mother in all but name).

(Princess Caroline married George 11).