Here is an article about the Duke and Duchess's very modern royal wedding. It compares their wedding with previous royal weddings.
Did you miss the German royal wedding?
15 years ago
Friday, July 8, 2011
A Very Modern Royal Wedding
Here is an article about the Duke and Duchess's very modern royal wedding. It compares their wedding with previous royal weddings.
Monday, June 27, 2011
The Victoria Lily
When Joseph Paxton on behalf of the Duke of Devonshire presented Queen Victoria with a beautiful, large and exotic water-lily, she must have been absolutely delighted! The gorgeous flower was named Victoria Regia after her - now it is known as the Victoria Amazonica. This strange tropical water-lily, which has leaves that can be up to 3 metres in diameter and extremely large flowers which can be 40 centimetres wide, must have looked incredible to Victoria. One wonders if she knew that the flowers, which only last a short time, are white on the first night and pink when they bloom for a second night.
The German scientist, Haenke, first discovered the 'Giant Water Lily' in 1801 along the Amazon River in South America. Before he reported his find, however, Sir Richard Schornburgk told the London Botanical Society about his noting of the flower in 1837 in British Guiana. The Victoria Amazonica
is Guiana's national flower.
Two English dukes took a great interest in this flower and held a competition to see who could first grow it in England. These dukes were the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Northumberland. Joseph Paxton, the Duke of Devonshire's landscape gardener, won the contest. He did this by creating a great conservatory and replicating the plant's warm, swampy environment. The ribbed undersurface of the plant and the veins on the leaves also inspired his design of the Crystal Palace.
The German scientist, Haenke, first discovered the 'Giant Water Lily' in 1801 along the Amazon River in South America. Before he reported his find, however, Sir Richard Schornburgk told the London Botanical Society about his noting of the flower in 1837 in British Guiana. The Victoria Amazonica
is Guiana's national flower.
Two English dukes took a great interest in this flower and held a competition to see who could first grow it in England. These dukes were the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Northumberland. Joseph Paxton, the Duke of Devonshire's landscape gardener, won the contest. He did this by creating a great conservatory and replicating the plant's warm, swampy environment. The ribbed undersurface of the plant and the veins on the leaves also inspired his design of the Crystal Palace.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Be Careful Who You Choose As Governess For Your Daughter! (Part One)
Young Kat Champernowne must have been thrilled when she was appointed governess to little Princess Elizabeth. She probably gained her position in the Princess's household because of her court connections. Her brother, John, was a favourite of Henry VIII and her sister, Joan, was married to Anthony Denny, a Gentleman of the King's Privy Chamber. She also impressed Thomas Cromwell with her humanist principles. Champernowne was appointed a companion to Elizabeth before she became governess.
Estremely well-educated, she taught the young Elizabeth many subjects, including Spanish and astronomy. She also taught her domestic skills, including needlework. Even Roger Ascham was impressed with how she inspired the young girl in clasics and languages. The young governess was attractive, kind and warm-hearted so the little Princess became very fond of her. She became a surrogate mother to the young girl.
The problem was that, according to Tracey Borman, Champernowne was also 'naive, impulsive, and overly romantic'. This would lead to trouble later on.
Champernowne married John Astley when she was over 40. Elizabeth became very fond of him as well. The marriage was a happy and enduring one.
Astley was very keen for her young charge to get married. She was disappointed when the former Queen, Katherine Parr, married the dashing Thomas Seymour. Astley had been hoping for a match between her charge and the handsome Lord-Admiral.
The Princess and her governess joined Katherine Parr at Hatfield. Parr was also like a surrogate mother to Elizabeth. It must have been rather frightening for the fourteen year old to have her step-mother's husband suddenly start visiting her in her bedroom inappropriately. Astley didn't nip this in the bud until it was almost too late. When Seymour tried to kiss Elizabeth, Astley told Lady Katherine.
Parr told Elizabeth to leave. After Lady Katherine died, Astley hoped for the match yet again but Elizabeth had learned her lesson. She told her governess that it was out of the question unless the Sovereign consented. Anything else was treason. She did agree to clandestine meetings with the Admiral, however.
Rumours began that the two were going to marry. Thomas Seymour was arrested and so were Kat Astley, Thomas Parry, and the Princess herself.
The governess's interrogators got nothing out of her until Parry told them the story. Astley knew there was no choice then and she was suffering in an extremely uncomfortable cell so she admitted to her actions.
Princess Elizabeth was very brave, however, and she didn't implicate either of them or admit to anything. She told her interrogator, Tyrwhit, that she had told Kat Astley that she needed the Council's consent to marry Seymour. They were saved, but Seymour was beheaded for treason. Elizabeth was devastated when her governess was removed from her for a time.
Estremely well-educated, she taught the young Elizabeth many subjects, including Spanish and astronomy. She also taught her domestic skills, including needlework. Even Roger Ascham was impressed with how she inspired the young girl in clasics and languages. The young governess was attractive, kind and warm-hearted so the little Princess became very fond of her. She became a surrogate mother to the young girl.
The problem was that, according to Tracey Borman, Champernowne was also 'naive, impulsive, and overly romantic'. This would lead to trouble later on.
Champernowne married John Astley when she was over 40. Elizabeth became very fond of him as well. The marriage was a happy and enduring one.
Astley was very keen for her young charge to get married. She was disappointed when the former Queen, Katherine Parr, married the dashing Thomas Seymour. Astley had been hoping for a match between her charge and the handsome Lord-Admiral.
The Princess and her governess joined Katherine Parr at Hatfield. Parr was also like a surrogate mother to Elizabeth. It must have been rather frightening for the fourteen year old to have her step-mother's husband suddenly start visiting her in her bedroom inappropriately. Astley didn't nip this in the bud until it was almost too late. When Seymour tried to kiss Elizabeth, Astley told Lady Katherine.
Parr told Elizabeth to leave. After Lady Katherine died, Astley hoped for the match yet again but Elizabeth had learned her lesson. She told her governess that it was out of the question unless the Sovereign consented. Anything else was treason. She did agree to clandestine meetings with the Admiral, however.
Rumours began that the two were going to marry. Thomas Seymour was arrested and so were Kat Astley, Thomas Parry, and the Princess herself.
The governess's interrogators got nothing out of her until Parry told them the story. Astley knew there was no choice then and she was suffering in an extremely uncomfortable cell so she admitted to her actions.
Princess Elizabeth was very brave, however, and she didn't implicate either of them or admit to anything. She told her interrogator, Tyrwhit, that she had told Kat Astley that she needed the Council's consent to marry Seymour. They were saved, but Seymour was beheaded for treason. Elizabeth was devastated when her governess was removed from her for a time.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Sarah Bernhardt's Two Princes
Sarah Bernhardt wasn't always 'The Divine Sarah'. She despaired at 18 of ever becoming an actress, let alone a great one. Her mother told her that her acting was ridiculous and the distraught girl resigned from The Gymnase. This was a theatre which showed light comedies.
Bernhardt decided to go on a trip. She may have gone to Spain. She fell in love with the Belgian Prince Henri de Lignes, the great love of her life. He wanted to marry her but his family persuaded her that he would lose his inheritance and be looked down upon by society if she accepted. She gave him up.
She did have his son, however. Bernhardt called him Maurice. When Maurice was much older the prince officially recognised him and offered him his name and a large fortune. He decided to remain 'Bernhardt'.
There is a legend that Maurice and his father were catching a train but they'd lost the tickets. The ticket officer told the prince that he'd never heard of him. However, he knew the name 'Bernhardt' so they got on the train!
The Prince of Wales
Did 'the Divine Sarah' and Edward, Prince of Wales have an affair? Her granddaughter said that they were the best of friends. We will probably never know.
However, his first acknowledged mistress, Lily Langtry, certainly got quite jealous of the frizzy-haired, beautiful Frenchwoman.
The prince and the young actress often dined together in Paris. He also showered her with expensive jewellery and loved to go to her performances. When she went to London in 1879 the air was buzzing with gossip about the couple.
Lady Cavendish complained that Bernhardt was 'shameless' yet she was invited everywhere. She probably wasn't very happy about the speculation that Bernhardt and the prince were involved!
The only evidence of an affair seems to be that they spent many hours together and Bernhardt told her theatre manager that she was late because she was with the prince until the early hours of the morning.
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Former Maharaja of Jaipur
Crowds flooded the streets of Jaipur to mourn the death of its beloved Maharaja in April. Even though he had technically lost his title in 1971 due to a constitutional amendment, he was still regarded by many as His Royal Highness, the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur’s birth was greeted with widespread rejoicing and delight because he was the first male heir to be born to the royal family
for generations. The fountains at the royal palaces overflowed with champagne, so he was given the nickname, Bubbles.
The Maharaja’s Career
The young boy attended Doon School in Dehradun and the prestigious Harrow. After this he decided to serve in the army. He became the CO of the 10th Parachute Regiment (one of the Special Forces regiments.) He was awarded the Mahavir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award, for his part in the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971. He also helped train the Mukti Bahini before the Bangladesh war. He became a Brigadier in 1974.
After his retirement, Singh Bahadur became the Indian High Commissioner to Brunei for some years. He was also an expert polo player and started the Jaipur World Cup of Polo. Singh Bahadur also ran for an election unsuccessfully, and ran many of his palaces as hotels.
The Maharaja’s Marriage
Singh Bahadur married Princess Padmini Devi in 1966. They had one daughter, Princess Diya Kumari. She attended the Maharani Gayatri Devi School for Girls. The former Maharaja’s stepmother, Gayatri Devi had started this school.
He adopted his grandson, Maharaj Kumar Padmandbh Singh as his heir in 2002.
The former Maharaja famously did not get along with his stepmother. However, he persuaded her to give some property and the secession rights to her grandchildren.
Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur’s birth was greeted with widespread rejoicing and delight because he was the first male heir to be born to the royal family
for generations. The fountains at the royal palaces overflowed with champagne, so he was given the nickname, Bubbles.
The Maharaja’s Career
The young boy attended Doon School in Dehradun and the prestigious Harrow. After this he decided to serve in the army. He became the CO of the 10th Parachute Regiment (one of the Special Forces regiments.) He was awarded the Mahavir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award, for his part in the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971. He also helped train the Mukti Bahini before the Bangladesh war. He became a Brigadier in 1974.
After his retirement, Singh Bahadur became the Indian High Commissioner to Brunei for some years. He was also an expert polo player and started the Jaipur World Cup of Polo. Singh Bahadur also ran for an election unsuccessfully, and ran many of his palaces as hotels.
The Maharaja’s Marriage
Singh Bahadur married Princess Padmini Devi in 1966. They had one daughter, Princess Diya Kumari. She attended the Maharani Gayatri Devi School for Girls. The former Maharaja’s stepmother, Gayatri Devi had started this school.
He adopted his grandson, Maharaj Kumar Padmandbh Singh as his heir in 2002.
The former Maharaja famously did not get along with his stepmother. However, he persuaded her to give some property and the secession rights to her grandchildren.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
