mary
Mary I of England

The many faces of Queen Mary I

Mary was first painted circa 1525 when she was engaged to her cousin, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. You can see her wearing a brooch with the inscription “The Empour (the Emperor)”. During the King’s Great Matter no portraits were painted of her, and it wasn’t until 1544 that Mary appears once more. In the [read more]

hatsehepsut
Egypt

Foremost of Noble Ladies – Hatshepsut

One of the most fascinating historical female royal to research and learn about is the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt: Hatshepsut. James Henry Breasted, American archaeologist and Egyptologist, said she was the “first great woman in history of whom we are informed.” So just who exactly was this well-known Egyptian, and what did she accomplish? [read more]

buckingham
Alice of the United Kingdom

A Palace fit for a Queen – Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks. The building dates from 1703 when it was named Buckingham House. It was owned by the Duke of Buckingham until King George III purchased it for his growing family with Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Most of their children were born there, including Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth of [read more]

Book Reviews

I Love You Madly: Marie-Antoinette and Count Fersen: The Secret Letters by Evelyn Farr Book Review

Delve deeper into the world of the BBC hit drama series Versailles, and discover the real Marie-Antoinette in this ground-breaking study of her secret love affair with the Swedish diplomat Count Axel von Fersen. For the first time an historian has compiled all the known letters between Swedish count Axel von Fersen and Marie-Antoinette, including six [read more]