London · Monarchies · Society · Ethnography
In 1824 the King and Queen of Hawaii, Kamehameha II and Kamamalu, visited Britain. The second ruler of the islands, Kamehameha, like his father, the founder of the kingdom, relied on the might of British and American arms, particularly in view of the revolts that kept flaring up against him.
Monarchies · Museums · Heritage · Paris
The Louvre announces a tender for the restoration of Empress Eugénie's crown, dropped by the robbers as they fled the scene of the crime. The crown, set with diamonds and emeralds, was deformed, lost part of its decorative elements and one of its golden eagles. According to the
Faith · London · Monarchies · Observations · Society
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been spirited out of Royal Lodge under cover of night, the official country residence in Windsor Great Park, formerly the residence of Elizabeth II, and has begun his exile at Sandringham. The police are considering allegations from his victims arising from the Epstein files. But, you
Archive · Faith · Monarchies · Paris · People
15 August, 4.30 in the morning. My God, have mercy on me! My eyes have no more tears with which to weep for you, my poor children; farewell, farewell! Marie Antoinette The Queen of France wrote this line in her prayer book a few hours before her death, knowing
Faith · Monarchies · Rome
Last week, at the closing of the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the liturgy with a new papal ferula. The silver ferula with a crucifix was first used by Saint Paul VI in 1965, on the occasion of the closing of the Second
The East · Monarchies · Society · People
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Announces Readiness to Return to Iran. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and Empress Farah Pahlavi, the son and wife of the last Shah of Iran, have expressed a wish to return to their country throughout all 47 years of their forced exile. And now, after two weeks
Aristocracy · Monarchies · Mores · Saint Petersburg
The First Olympic Medal of the Russian Empire. In 1765 Catherine II instituted a special contest, held in a special arena with stands for spectators, in which the competitors rode on horseback and fired at mannequins. The contest was accompanied by a festivity with a display of costumes and jewels,
Aristocracy · Archive · Monarchies · Mores · Saint Petersburg
Group photograph of the guests at the court masked ball held in the Hermitage on 13 February 1903 to mark the 290th anniversary of the House of Romanov, at which the whole nobility of the Russian Empire appeared in costumes of the pre-Petrine era. The hall, filled with ancient
Archive · Books · Monarchies
The Book of Degrees of the Royal Genealogy (Stepennaya kniga), written around 1563. A passage on the reign of Vasily III. wherefore ever, his royal heart and mind keeping watch and pondering wisely, steering all with care in lawfulness, and with might driving off the torrents of lawlessness, let not
Archive · Monarchies · Moscow · Society
The administering of the oath will continue from the 20th day of December, to persons of the male sex of every rank and station, other than state peasants and the serf peasants and servants of landowners, for which purpose all churches will be open after the Liturgy From the collection
NB! · Archive · Monarchies · Observations · Mores
Prince Edward, the future Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra play with inflatable toys on the grass under the supervision of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, at their residence, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire, in October 1940. I have never before seen inflatable figures used for play away from the water
Faith · London · Monarchies · Observations · Society
In his Christmas message, King Charles III of Great Britain speaks with rapture of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and the "diversity of communities" But Christmas is surely not about inclusivity, nor about the brotherhood of foreign creeds, nor about any Oriental rites or political truisms. Christmas is the feast