Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, Hawaii’s “last princess”, has passed away aged 96

Wednesday, 14 December 2022, 12:08 Moniek Bloks 0

Abigail died peacefully at her home in Honolulu on 11 December 2022 with her wife by her side. She was known for her support of the traditional Hawaiian culture. “Abigail will be remembered for her love of Hawaii and its people,” said her wife, Veronica Gail Kawānanakoa. “I will miss her with all of my [read more]

Royal crypt in Delft expanded

Wednesday, 14 December 2022, 9:28 Moniek Bloks 0

The royal crypt in the new Church in Delft in the Netherlands has been expanded with a further 20 spaces. After the deaths of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 2004, the royal crypt had basically reached its capacity. The new spaces have been created in a simple fashion and a more practical entrance has [read more]

Book Review: Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II by Linda Porter

Wednesday, 14 December 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

*contains affiliate links* *review copy* King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland famously left no legitimate children with his wife, Catherine of Braganza. However, he did leave plenty of illegitimate children fathered with his many mistresses. Linda Porter, who has also written about one of my favourite Queens – Queen Mary I, writes most [read more]

Royal Wedding Recollections – Anne, Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence

Monday, 12 December 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Anne, Princess Royal divorced her first husband, Mark Phillips, in 1992, and they had been separated since 1989. She remarried Timothy Laurence later that year. Timothy Laurence had served as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II, and their relationship had developed in 1989. The Church of England would not allow remarriage at the discretion of [read more]

Empress Elisabeth’s diet & exercise

Saturday, 10 December 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Empress Elisabeth felt the constant pressure to remain youthful, and her continuous dieting and excessive exercise kept her waist at 50 cm (19.5 inches) and her weight at a maximum of 50 kilos (110 pounds). She also often laced so tightly that she suffered from shortness of breath. The lacing frequently took up to an [read more]

Queen Elizabeth II’s Wedding Bracelet

Friday, 9 December 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding bracelet was a gift to the then Princess Elizabeth from her future husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Like her engagement ring, it was designed and made by Philip Antrobus using the stones taken from a tiara belonging to Prince Alice of Battenberg, the Duke’s mother. Embed from Getty Images The bracelet [read more]