At 75, King Charles has seen all kinds of changes within the monarchy, yet one thing has remained a constant: as Christmas approaches he will head to Sandringham, the royal residence where he has spent most of his Christmases to date. And like most families, the royals have their own traditions, which we are being … Read more
By Zac Campbell Published: 06:00 GMT, 7 November 2023 | Updated: 13:21 GMT, 7 November 2023 King Charles will lead the State Opening of Parliament for the first time on Tuesday November 7. Expected to pay tribute to his late mother in his speech, It will be the first time since 1950 – when George VI … Read more
It’s more than familiar from our coins and notes – the magnificent George IV Diadem once worn by the late Queen Elizabeth. This morning we saw it again, but this time on the head of Queen Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament – the first to be conducted by a King since the days … Read more
King Charles is set to address MPs and Lords tomorrow as they return following the annual summer recess. Charles will open Parliament as monarch for the first time since his ascension to the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. It will be the first time since 1950 – when George … Read more
King Charles III will be present at the State Opening of Parliament as monarch for the first time today. It will be the first time since 1950 – when George VI spoke amid Britain’s involvement in the Korean War – that a King has opened Parliament. So, what exactly are the Imperial State Crown and … Read more
Charles III today used the first King’s Speech for more than 70 years – his first as British monarch – to pay a poignant tribute to his ‘beloved mother’ Queen Elizabeth II at the State Opening of Parliament. Addressing MPs and peers in the House of Lords this morning, he spoke of Her Majesty’s ‘legacy of service and devotion’ … Read more
Black Rod summoned MPs to the House of Lords in line with centuries of tradition today before the King addressed them for the first time as monarch at the State Opening of Parliament. His Majesty and Queen Camilla travelled to Westminster from Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, with the Imperial State Crown … Read more
Wealth doesn’t have to mean extravagance – a point made by the British Royal Family who, for all their many palaces and bulging bank accounts are surprisingly careful with the cash. Tales of the late Queen Elizabeth’s thriftiness abound, from turning off the lights in empty rooms to sending half a lemon (squeezed over her salmon … Read more
Have I boasted before that my grandfather, Dermot Morrah, wrote possibly the most famous and frequently quoted speech ever delivered by our late, beloved Queen? Well, you’ll have to forgive me, because I’m going to brag about it again. The speech I mean was the one she broadcast on her 21st birthday in 1947, in … Read more
It is often said that the late Queen Elizabeth was much influenced by her father, George VI, particularly when it came to questions of duty. The way he stuck to the task thrust upon him thanks to the feckless behaviour of his elder brother, Edward VIII, is still admired today. But when it came to … Read more