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The legendary series of photographs in which the Queen Mother sips a beer became the source of the cover image for a new biography by the Northern Irish writer Gareth Russell, Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of…

The legendary series of photographs in which the Queen Mother sips a beer became the source of the cover image for a new biography by the Northern Irish writer Gareth Russell, Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The

Archive · London · Monarchies · Mores

Alexandra of Denmark and Mary of Teck, two queens of England and in-laws

Two Queens of England, the Queen Dowager Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925), "darling Mama", as George V called her, and George V's consort Mary of Teck (1867-1953), out for a stroll. Alexandra of Denmark was widowed at the age of 66 and lived to 81.

NB! · Monarchies · Humour

When you find out that your coronation is not until 6 May next year

In a watercolour, a man in a top hat and a woman in a bonnet and shawl stand on a park path beside a pavilion under trees.

Archive · Monarchies · Mores · Humour

A lady alone with a gentleman on a park path by a pavilion, watercolour

Queen Victoria and King Louis-Philippe of France at the Château d'Eu during the royal visit of 1843. Alone with a man. What a scandal!

Aristocracy · Archive · Monarchies · People

Lady Pamela Hicks, who at 93, after the death of Elizabeth II, became the oldest of Queen Victoria's descendants, told her daughter India on her podcast how Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice (1885-1969), asked Lloyd George to…

Alice, of course, modestly hinted that if the question of rescuing the unfortunate girls had anything to do with their future maintenance, lodging and provision, she would take all of it upon herself. Naturally, the matter lay quite elsewhere. And she was, of course, told that it was impossible. Princess

Medieval miniature of a funeral procession with a coffin under a blue pall with golden fleurs-de-lis, accompanied by men in red and dark robes.

NB! · Monarchies · People

John I the Posthumous, King of France, lived five days in November 1316

John I was King of France for just five days in November 1316, from birth to death. He entered history under the name of John the Posthumous

London · Monarchies · Observations · Humour

Buckingham Palace unveils King Charles III's new cypher for documents and postboxes

Buckingham Palace has unveiled King Charles III's new cypher, "CIIIR", which will gradually appear on documents, government buildings, signs and pillar boxes. Tell me, am I the only one who looks at this cypher and thinks of Richard III rather than Charles? R is the first

NB! · The East · Monarchies · Mores · People

In his will Alexander the Great asked that his coffin be carried through all his dominions, with one of his hands left hanging outside, so that all might see that he goes to the grave empty-handed

London · Monarchies · Observations · Society · Pop Culture

Wristbands for the farewell to Queen Elizabeth are sold on eBay from 200 pounds

Wristbands for bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth go on sale at eBay for fabulous sums, from £200 to tens of thousands of pounds. The wristbands come in different colours, as they were issued on different days. The administration of the marketplace promised to remove all these listings, though it is

Black and white sketch of a bearded old man in a cap seated in an armchair, resting his head on one hand and leaning on a staff with the other.

NB! · Art · Monarchies · People

Seated Ivan the Terrible in a Sketch by Viktor Vasnetsov

Ivan the Terrible. Sketch by Viktor Vasnetsov

NB! · Aristocracy · Archive · Monarchies

Queue at the Imperial Palace in Vienna on the day of the requiem for the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, summer 1914

Art · Monarchies · Museums · Paris · Saint Petersburg

The Cossacks of the Ataman Regiment

The Cossacks of the Ataman Regiment. The painting "The Return to Camp at Krasnoye Selo of the Cossacks of the Life-Guards Ataman Regiment" was painted by Jean-Baptiste Édouard Detaille in 1889 on commission from the Tsarevich Nicholas. It adorns the corner drawing room of the Alexander