queen victoria's daughters-in-law john van der kiste
Book Reviews

Book News April 2023

*contains affiliate links* The Windsors at War: The Nazi Threat to the Crown  Hardcover – 9 March 2023 (UK) & 18 April 2023 (US) The Windsors at War tells the story of the turbulent and seismic decade in between 1937 and 1947, including the bombing of Buckingham Palace in May 1940, the Duke of Windsor’s ill-advised [read more]

Diamond diadem
Royal Jewels

The Diamond Diadem

The Diamond Diadem, also known as the King George IV State Diadem, is one of the British monarchy’s most recognisable pieces of jewellery. Embed from Getty Images It was ordered from the jeweller Rundell in 1820, and it was completed in May 1820. The design, probably made by their chief designer Philip Liebart, incorporates the [read more]

marie antoinette
Marie Antoinette

The daily life at Versailles

Daily life at Versailles went by a strict set of rules of etiquette and routine. Marie Antoinette wrote her own account of the “maddening” and “ridiculous” routine to her mother in Austria in 1770. She woke up between nine and ten and dressed informally. She would then say her morning prayers, eat breakfast, and visit [read more]