Category Archives: British Royals

Royal Ascot

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Zimbio

source: Zimbio

This article discusses the history of Royal Ascot, and many of the details during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. With the accession of King Charles III in September 2022, it is likely that the events surrounding Royal Ascot will evolve. At that time, we will update the information below.

Each year, the third week of June marks Royal Ascot. Also known as the Royal Meeting, it is held from Tuesday through Saturday at the Ascot Racecourse, and has been a highlight of the royal calendar since the 1820s.

Queen Anne founded the Ascot Racecourse in 1711, and the inaugural event – Her Majesty’s Plate – was held later the same year. It would be some years later that the Royal Meeting would find its origins. The first 4-day meeting was held in 1768, but the current event seems to have begun with the first running of the Gold Cup in 1807, in the presence of King George III and Queen Charlotte. In 1813, Parliament enacted legislation to ensure that Ascot Racecourse would remain a public racecourse. A few years later, it was King George IV who began the tradition of the Royal Procession, marking the daily arrival of the Sovereign. Like many of her predecessors, Queen Elizabeth II attended nearly every year of her reign.

Comprised of over 30 races, in different classes, there are seven Group 1 events. The first is the Queen Anne Stakes, honoring the founder of the racecourse. The Group 1 events are:

  • Queen Anne Stakes – Tuesday
  • King’s Stand Stakes – Tuesday
  • St James’s Palace Stakes – Tuesday
  • Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Wednesday
  • Ascot Gold Cup – Thursday
  • Coronation Stakes – Friday
  • Diamond Jubilee Stakes – Saturday

 

Of these, the most prominent is the Gold Cup, held on Thursday. The trophy was usually presented to the winner by The Queen. However, in 2013, The Queen was the winner!  While she had 22 winners at Royal Ascot over the years, this was the one and only time that she won the Gold Cup. She was awarded the trophy by The Duke of York.

 

Each day begins with the Royal Procession, at which time the Queen and other members of the Royal Family processed in open horse-drawn carriages. They were often accompanied by other foreign royals, extended family, and invited guests. The procession travelled along the track, in front of the racegoers, and the Royal Standard was raised. The Queen then proceeded to the Royal Box in the Royal Enclosure to watch the day’s events.

The Royal Enclosure is the most exclusive area of the grounds, and access is very limited. Strict dress codes are also enforced, with women required to wear a dress and hat, and men required to wear morning dress with a top hat. Each year, one sees all kinds of hats – from very stylish and demure, to over-the-top creations. One wonders how one manages to see any of the racing when seated behind some of them!

 

And it isn’t just the hats that draw a lot of media attention. Massive amounts of wagers were placed on which color The Queen would be wearing each day of the event.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Garter Day – United Kingdom

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Embed from Getty Images

Each year in June, the Monday before Royal Ascot is known as Garter Day. Founded in 1348 by King Edward III, The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in the United Kingdom. Unlike many of the other orders and honours which are awarded on governmental advice, The Order of the Garter is solely in the gift of the Sovereign. New members are traditionally announced on St. George’s Day, April 23rd, as St. George is the patron saint of England. On Garter Day, new members are invested with the insignia of the order, and an installation service is held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

 

By the 1800s, the services were only held occasionally, and at various times of the year. In 1948, the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Order, King George VI revived the tradition of an annual service and it has been held every year since.

Membership in The Order of the Garter is limited to the Sovereign, The Prince of Wales, and 24 Knights and Ladies Companion. In the early years of the order, women were admitted as Ladies of the Garter but were not considered Companions. This practice ended in 1488 after King Henry VII appointed his mother as the last Lady of the Garter. Over 400 years later, King Edward VII created his consort, Queen Alexandra, a Lady of the Garter in 1901, beginning a tradition that continued with Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth in 1910 and 1936 respectively. Finally, in 1987, the statutes were revised to allow women to be Ladies Companion.

There are currently three open positions.  The current members of the order (as of 2024), in order of seniority:

  1. The Duke of Abercorn (1999)
  2. The Lord Butler of Brockwell (2003)
  3. Sir John Major (2005)
  4. The Lord Luce (2008)
  5. Sir Thomas Dunne (2008)
  6. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers (2011)
  7. Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Stirrup (2013)
  8. The Baroness Manningham-Buller (2014)
  9. The Lord King of Lothbury (2014)
  10. The Lord Shuttleworth (2016)
  11. Viscount Brookeborough (2018)
  12. Lady Mary Fagan (2018)
  13. The Marquess of Salisbury (2019)
  14. Lady Mary Peters (2019)
  15. The Baroness Amos (2022)
  16. Sir Tony Blair (2022)
  17. The Baroness Ashton of Upholland (2023)
  18. The Lord Patton of Barnes (2023)
  19. The Baron Peach (2024)
  20. The Baron Kakkar (2024)
  21. The Lord Lloyd-Webber (2024)

In addition to the limited membership, there are two additional categories – Royal Knights and Ladies, and Stranger Knights and Ladies. The Royal Knights and Ladies of the Garter are members of the British Royal Family. This category was added by King George III in 1786 so that he could bestow the order on his many sons without infringing upon the statutory limit of 24 members. By statute, this group is limited to descendants of King George I. Currently, the Royal Knights and Ladies of the Garter are:

The Stranger Knights and Ladies of the Garter are foreign sovereigns who have been awarded the Order, the first being Alexander I, Emperor of All Russia in 1813. Currently, there are eight Stranger Knights and Ladies, three of whom are former reigning monarchs:

And finally, there are six officers of the Order:

source: Wikipedia

Garter Day begins with an Investment ceremony for any new members, followed by a luncheon for the members and their spouses. After lunch, they all process, on foot, through the wards of Windsor Castle to St. George’s Chapel where a service is held, and new members are formally installed. Following the service, they all return, by carriage and car, to the castle.

Inside St. George’s Chapel, each companion is assigned a stall, over which is displayed a banner of his or her Arms, along with a helmet, crest and sword and a brass enameled stall plate. Upon the companions’ death, these are all removed, but the stall plate remains. Today, the walls of St. George’s Chapel are adorned with the stall plates of most of the members of the Order since its creation.

The Investment Ceremony
If there are any new members of the order, the day begins with an Investiture ceremony held in the Throne Room at Windsor Castle. The Knights are assembled (with their spouses seated at the rear of the room), and The Sovereign, followed by the Royal Knights, is led into the Throne Room by the Garter King of Arms and Black Rod.

Each new knight is called forward and stands before The Sovereign. While the Prelate reads out the oath and admonitions of the order, the new member is invested with the various insignia. A Page of Honour attaches the garter to the recipient’s leg. The Sovereign places the Riband over the left shoulder and then pins on the Star of the Order. With the assistance of two current Knights (chosen by the new member), the mantle is placed on the new member, followed by the Collar of the Order.

Once all new members have been invested with the insignia, the ceremony is over and they all proceed to the Waterloo Chamber where The Sovereign hosts a luncheon for the members and officers of the Order and their spouses.  (You can read more about the insignia of the Order of the Garter, as well as the other British Orders and Honours, here.)

 

Procession to St. George’s Chapel
Following the luncheon, the members of the Order process to St. George’s Chapel, in the lower ward of Windsor Castle, for the Garter service. Led by the Military Knights of Windsor, the Knights and Ladies Companion head the procession, followed by the Stranger Knights (who rarely attend) and the Royal Knights and Ladies in order of precedence. The officers then process, followed by The Sovereign.

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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s 94th birthday

Photo Credit – www.zimbio.com

On June 10, 1921, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, was born at Mon Repos on the Greek island of Corfu. Born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, Philip was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Instead, it can land you in an emergency room in case any Erectile Disunion medicine gives you an erection that sustains for longer duration. cheap viagra The medication is not intended for use by viagra from uk women or anyone under the age of 18. Try to get the other partner involved in the levitra shop uk study. Call or go online at vitasave.ca to place your order viagra uk purchase and proceed with checkout. Denmark (a son of King George I of Greece) and Princess Alice of Battenberg (a granddaughter of Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Alice).  Philip is the longest-serving, oldest-ever spouse of a reigning British monarch and the oldest living great-great grandchild of Queen Victoria as well as her oldest living descendant.  Read more at Unofficial Royalty: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Galliera

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Beatrice of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Galliera; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Beatrice (Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria) was the youngest child of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (the second son of Queen Victoria) and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (the daughter of Alexander II, Emperor of All Russia). She was born Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria on April 20, 1884, at Eastwell Park in Kent, England, her parents leased country home.

Beatrice was christened at Eastwell House on May 17, 1884. Her godparents were:

Beatrice had four siblings:

Beatrice (on her mother’s lap), with her mother and siblings. source: Wikipedia

Due to her father’s military career, as well as his future role in Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Beatrice grew up in England, Malta and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The youngest child in the family, she was perhaps more doted upon than her elder sisters and was known as ‘Baby’ or ‘Baby-Bee’. In July 1893, Beatrice was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of her first cousin The Duke of York, to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later King George V and Queen Mary). The following month, her father became the reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha upon the death of his uncle. The family moved permanently to Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now in the German state of Bavaria, taking up residence at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg. During their years in Coburg, Beatrice’s sisters were all married, and her brother survived an attempted suicide but died in a sanitorium a month later.

Following her father’s death in 1900, Beatrice remained with her mother in Coburg, living at the Palais Edinburg (which her father had purchased in the mid-1880s) and Schloss Rosenau. In 1902, she became involved in a relationship with her first cousin, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia. However, the Russian Orthodox Church forbade marriages between first cousins, and Michael’s brother Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia refused to allow an exception. Michael ended the relationship the following year.

In 1906, Beatrice’s cousin, Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, married King Alfonso XIII of Spain in Madrid. It was at the wedding that Beatrice met her future husband, Alfonso XIII’s first cousin Infante Alfonso of Spain, son of Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera, and Infanta Eulalia of Spain.

The couple was married on July 15, 1909, in Coburg. A civil ceremony was held at Schloss Rosenau, followed by a Catholic Ceremony at St. Augustine’s Church, and a Lutheran ceremony at Schloss Callenberg. Unlike her cousin, Victoria Eugenie, Beatrice chose not to convert to Catholicism before her marriage. She did later convert in 1913.

Because of the difference in religion, there was dissent within the Spanish government. While King Alfonso XIII of Spain personally encouraged and supported the marriage, the government would not allow him to give formal consent. Therefore, upon marriage, the couple was banished from Spain, and Alfonso was stripped of his honors and titles, including that of Infante of Spain. They settled in Coburg until 1912 when they were permitted to return to Spain, and Alfonso’s titles and honors were restored. Beatrice and Alfonso had three sons:

  • Infante Alvaro (1910-1997) – married Carla Parodi-Delfino, had issue
  • Infante Alonso (1912-1936) – killed in action during the Spanish Civil War, unmarried, no issue
  • Infante Ataúlfo (1913-1974) – unmarried, no issue

Beatrice with her three sons, c. 1913. source: Wikipedia

In 1916, the couple was sent to Switzerland. Under the guise of an official mission, rumors quickly spread that it was due to either Beatrice’s influence on Queen Victoria Eugenie or because she had rebuffed the romantic advances of King Alfonso XIII, a notorious womanizer. After some time in Switzerland, the couple moved to England where their sons were educated at Winchester College. Eight years later, they were finally permitted to return to Spain.

In the following years, the Spanish monarchy was overthrown and the country was thrown into Civil War. Beatrice’s second son Alonso was killed in action, and the family lost their properties. Initially exiled to England, they eventually returned to Spain in 1937, and settled at a new estate, El Botánico, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where they would live for the rest of their lives. Beatrice died on July 13, 1966, at El Botánico. She is buried with her husband at the Convent of Capuchin Fathers in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain.

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Royal News: Friday 5 June 2015

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Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; source: Wikipedia

Princess Alexandra (Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria) was the third daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (son of Queen Victoria), and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (daughter of Alexander II, Emperor of All Russia). She was born on September 1, 1878, at Schloss Rosenau near Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now in the German state of Bavaria. Her christening took place a month later at Palais Edinburg in Coburg. Among her godparents was her maternal uncle Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia.

Alexandra had four siblings:

 

As the family moved around often due to her father’s naval career, Alexandra grew up in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Malta, and Coburg. From the mid-1880s, the family spent significant  time in Coburg, as her father was the heir-presumptive to his childless uncle Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. When Alfred succeeded to the ducal throne in August 1893, the family took up permanent residence in Coburg. Alexandra was then styled HRH Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Alexandra and her husband Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; source: Wikipedia

It was at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now in Bavaria, Germany on April 20, 1896, that Alexandra married Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. He was the eldest son of Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Leopoldine of Baden. Alexandra and Ernst were second cousins. Their grandmothers, Queen Victoria and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, were half-sisters.  The couple had five children:

When Alexandra’s father died in 1900, her husband Ernst served as Regent for the new Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Alexandrta’s first cousin Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany until he reached his maturity in 1905. As her husband pursued his ambitions elsewhere, Alexandra often spent time with her mother in Coburg and visited her sisters. In 1913, her father-in-law died, and she and her husband became the Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, taking up residence as Schloss Langenburg. Living a relatively quiet life, Alexandra worked during World War I as a nurse with the Red Cross. After her mother died in 1920, Alexandra and her sisters inherited Palais Edinburg in Coburg, and, along with her sisters, leased Schloss Rosenau from the state until the late 1930s. In 1937, Alexandra joined her husband, and some of her children, as a member of the Nazi Party.

Princess Alexandra died on April 16, 1942, in Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. She is buried in the family cemetery at Schloss Langenburg.

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62 years ago today, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned

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Read about it: Unofficial Royalty: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh (known as ‘Ducky’ in the family) was born on November 25, 1876, at the San Anton Palace in Malta, where her father was stationed with the Royal Navy at the time. She was the second daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. She was a granddaughter of both Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Alexander, Emperor II of All Russia.

Victoria Melita was christened on  January 1, 1877, at San Anton Palace in Malta by a Royal Navy chaplain. Her grandmother Queen Victoria was one of her godparents.

Ducky had four siblings:

During her childhood, the family’s primary homes were Clarence House in London and Eastwell Park in Kent. They also spent several years at the San Anton Palace in Malta when her father was stationed there with the Royal Navy. In addition, they had homes in Coburg – Palais Edinburg and Schloss Rosenau – where her father was heir to his childless uncle Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

In 1891, Queen Victoria began promoting the idea of a marriage between Ducky and her first cousin, Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine. He was the son of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, and Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and by Rhine. When the two were visiting Queen Victoria, she observed that they got along well and, coincidentally, even shared the same birthday.

Victoria Melita and Ernst Ludwig, 1894. source: Wikipedia

In 1893, Victoria Melita’s father succeeded to the Grand Ducal throne of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and she became Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The following year, on April 9, 1894, she and Ernie (who was now Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine) married at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg. The couple had two children:

Despite Queen Victoria’s observations, the new Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine and her husband were terribly mismatched. Victoria Melita craved Ernie’s attention, while he focused more on their daughter than his wife. For a few years, they seemed to make the best of it, enjoying each other’s company and entertaining friends and family from around Europe. By the late 1890s, it was clear that the marriage was a mistake. Allegedly, the final blow for Ducky was finding her husband in an intimate situation with a male servant. Despite this, Queen Victoria would not permit a divorce and the two continued their unhappy lives. Following Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, there was no longer any obstacle to ending their marriage, and they divorced on December 21, 1901. Ducky returned to her mother in Coburg, and she and her former husband shared custody of their young daughter. Two years later, while visiting the Russian Imperial Family, Ducky’s and Ernst’s daughter Princess Elisabeth fell ill with typhoid. Before Ducky could arrive, the young princess died. Her daughter’s death finally severed the connection that Ducky had with her former husband and her former home.

On October 8, 1905, Ducky married for a second time. This time her husband was another first cousin, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia, with whom she had had a mutual attraction for many years. They had first met in 1891 when Ducky traveled to Russia to attend the funeral of her aunt by marriage, Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna (the former Princess Alexandra of Greece). However, while the two were attracted to each other, Ducky’s mother made every effort to dissuade her from the thought of marrying him, as the Russian Orthodox Church did not permit marriages between first cousins.

Despite this, the two maintained their attraction and eventually decided to marry. When Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia found out about the marriage, he stripped Kirill of his royal funding, his titles, and his military appointments. Nicholas also banished Kirill from Russia, so the couple settled in France. They had three children:

Victoria Melita with her husband Kirill and their two daughters; source: Wikipedia

In 1908, Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia put his personal feelings aside and permitted Kirill and Victoria Melita to return to Russia. Recent deaths in the Imperial Family brought Kirill to third in the line of succession, and it was deemed necessary to allow his return and restore his funding and military appointments. Victoria Melita was given the style of Imperial Highness and created Grand Duchess Viktoria Feodorovna.

During World War I, Ducky worked as a nurse with the Red Cross. Soon after Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia’s abdication in 1917, Ducky and Kirill decided it was best to leave Russia. They traveled to Finland and remained there for over two years. In the fall of 1919, they moved on to Munich where they reunited with Ducky’s mother, and then they all moved to Zurich, Switzerland.

After her mother died in 1920, Ducky’s family now had two homes at their disposal – her mother’s villa in Nice and the Villa Edinburg, which later became known as the Kirill Palace, in Coburg, now in Bavaria, Germany, and for the next several years, split their time between the two. In 1926, they settled for the last time in France, purchasing a villa in Saint-Briac. Here they settled into a quieter life, while Victoria Melita put her energies into raising her son and ensuring her daughters made significant marriages.

Victoria Melita with her husband Kirill and their two youngest children. source: Wikipedia

In February 1936, while attending the christening of her fifth grandchild, Victoria Melita suffered a stroke. She passed away on March 1, 1936, at the age of 59. She was first buried in the Ducal Mausoleum at the Glockenburg Cemetery in Coburg, Bavaria, Germany. In March 1995, her remains, as well as those of her husband, were moved to the Grand Ducal Burial Vault at the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, Russia.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

State Opening of Parliament – United Kingdom

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

The State Opening of Parliament marks the beginning of a new session of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It is traditionally attended by the Sovereign, who gives a Speech from the Throne. This takes place in the chamber of the House of Lords, as the Sovereign is not permitted to enter the House of Commons. The last sovereign to enter the Commons was Charles I, in 1642, who stormed in attempting to arrest several members.

King Henry VIII opening Parliament, 1523.  source: Wikipedia

The practice of opening Parliament goes back to the 1400s, although the earliest detailed records are from 1510, recounting King Henry VIII’s first Opening of Parliament. The King, accompanied by the Peers and his attendants, would usually travel on horseback from the Sovereign’s official residence to Westminster Abbey where a service would be held. Following the service, they would proceed to the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening. The service was discontinued in 1679 when it (along with the procession) was canceled due to fears of a Popish Plot. The procession resumed the following year and was soon slimmed down to just the Sovereign and his entourage.

In the Georgian era, carriages began to be used regularly, to transport the Sovereign and other members of the Royal Family and their attendants. Back then, the Sovereign would usually just say a few words before the speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. It was King James I who began the practice of reading the speech himself. This varied for the next several reigns, and by 1679 it became traditional for the Sovereign to read the speech with the exception of King George I who barely spoke English, and Queen Victoria who typically left the speech to the Lord Chancellor.

Queen Victoria opening Parliament, 1866.  source: Wikipedia

For nearly 200 years, the Sovereign was almost always in attendance. However, Queen Victoria did not attend for several years after the death of The Prince Consort in 1861. She returned in 1866 under pressure from her ministers, her children, and the British public, but would only be present seven times in the remaining 34 years of her reign.

In 1901, the new King Edward VII brought much of the pageantry and tradition back to the ceremony. One of the most significant changes took place on the dais itself. Previously, a single throne for Queen Victoria had stood surrounded by an iron railing. King Edward VII had the railing removed, and had a second throne (just slightly smaller) placed immediately to the left of his own. Thus began the tradition of the Consort sitting beside the Sovereign.

King Edward VIII at the Opening of Parliament, 1936.  source: Wikipedia

King Edward VIII only attended once during his brief reign in 1936. Since he had not been crowned, he did not wear the Imperial State Crown with his Robe of State. (He would abdicate just weeks later.) Queen Elizabeth II also opened Parliament for the first time before being crowned and wore the George IV State Diadem. Since 1953, she wore the Imperial State Crown and attended every year other than 1959 and 1963 – when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward- and 2022 when she was in ill health.

Queen Elizabeth II opening Parliament, 1952. source: The Daily Mail

Queen Elizabeth II opening Parliament, 1952. source: The Daily Mail

The ceremony which occurs today dates back to the opening of the new Palace of Westminster in 1852. Having been rebuilt after the old palace was destroyed by fire in 1834, the new building was laid out to best show off the pageantry of the official procession. Much of the detail has remained mostly unchanged since then, including the order of the procession and seating in the House of Lords. The photo below is from the 1866 Ceremonial and shows the procession and the precise seating. A ceremonial is issued each year, usually with very few changes.  Below is the 1886 Ceremonial, showing the procession and where everyone is positioned around the throne.

1886-Ceremonial-QV

Searching of the Cellars
The pageantry of the day begins with the searching of the cellars. In 1605, a group of English Catholics attempted to blow up Parliament to kill the Protestant King James I and place his daughter Elizabeth on the throne. This became known as the Gunpowder Plot. Having been warned of the plot, the Yeoman of the Guard (the Sovereign’s bodyguard) searched the cellars at Westminster and found Guy Fawkes guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder, more than enough to destroy the entire building and everyone in it. Since then, the Yeomen of the Guard have searched the cellars before every opening of Parliament. Of course, today it is merely part of the pageantry. The building and grounds are fully searched by police and security officers, but officially, it is the Yeomen of the Guard who ensure that the Palace of Westminster is secured before the Sovereign’s arrival.

 

In the meantime, the two houses of Parliament assemble in their respective chambers. Members of the House of Lords are in their robes and finery, with many of their wives, and other peers in attendance. Also seated in the House of Lords are members of the diplomatic corps and senior members of the judiciary. Until the 1999 House of Lords Act, other members of the Royal Family who were peers and peeresses often attended.

Royal Hostage
In another tradition that goes back for a few hundred years, a senior member of the House of Commons, traditionally the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, is held hostage at Buckingham Palace to ensure the Sovereign’s safe return from the Palace of Westminster. This tradition goes back to the Restoration in 1660. The previous Vice-Chamberlain had been involved in the beheading of King Charles I, and this was seen as the best way to ensure the safety of the monarch.

 

The arrival of the Royal Regalia
Before the Opening of Parliament, the Imperial State Crown, Great Sword of State, and the Cap of Maintenance are brought from the Jewel House at the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace. On the morning of the Opening, the Crown is transported to the Palace of Westminster, traditionally in Queen Alexandra’s State Coach, by the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s office. Also traveling with the Crown are the Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance, accompanied by two other members of the Royal Household. The carriage is accompanied by the Sovereign’s Bargemaster – a throwback to the days when the Crown Jewels were often transported by barge from the Tower of London. Just like the Sovereign, the Crown is escorted by the Household Cavalry and receives a royal salute.

Upon arriving at the Sovereign’s Gate at the Palace of Westminster, the Crown, Sword, and Cap are taken to the Regalia Room where the Court Jeweler transfers the Crown to a large cushion for the remainder of the procession. This is done by the Crown Jeweler as he is the only one, aside from the Sovereign, who can handle the crown. The Comptroller then carries the Crown up the Norman Staircase to the Royal Gallery and presents the Crown to the Lord Great Chamberlain who places it on display along with the Sword and Cap. Once the Sovereign has left Buckingham Palace, the Crown is then taken into the Robing Room to await the Sovereign’s arrival.

 

The Imperial State Crown currently used dates from 1937. It was made for the coronation of King George VI, as a replica of the one worn from Queen Victoria’s coronation. This one was made lighter and easier to wear. It was modified slightly in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, lowering the arches and making it appear more feminine. It is typically only worn at the Coronation and the State Opening of Parliament.  The Crown includes 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies. Amongst these are:

  • St Edward’s Sapphire
  • A sapphire from the ring, or coronet, of Edward the Confessor
  • The Black Prince’s Ruby (actually a spinel)
  • The Cullinan II (also known as the Lesser Star of Africa)
  • The Stuart Sapphire
  • Pearls worn by Queen Elizabeth I

 

In recent years the former Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (now King Charles III and Queen Camilla) also attended the State Opening of Parliament. They traveled in a separate procession, following the royal regalia. Traveling in a State Coach, they would arrive at the Sovereign’s entrance, where they were greeted by the Earl Marshal and proceeded to the Robing Room to await the Sovereign.

 

The Arrival of the Sovereign
The Sovereign departs from Buckingham Palace in a State Coach accompanied by four divisions of the Sovereign’s Escort, led by the Blues & Royals and the Life Guards. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II traveled in the new Diamond Jubilee State Coach which was used for the first time. In previous years she often traveled in the Irish State Coach or Australian State Coach.

As the Sovereign’s carriage approaches the Palace of Westminster, a military band places the national anthem, and the Royal Standard is raised to indicate the Sovereign’s presence. The carriage is followed by several other carriages, carrying several members of the Royal Household. The Sovereign is greeted at the Sovereign’s Entrance by the Lord Great Chamberlain and processes up the Norman Staircase to the Robing Room.  There, the Sovereign puts on the Imperial State Crown and Robe of State, and the Collar of the Order of the Garter.  Upon arrival, gun salutes are fired in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.

 

Finally, the doors open and the Sovereign emerges from the Robing Room, with a fanfare announcing the royal procession. The procession is led by the Officers of Arms and Heralds, then the Great Officers of State. The Sovereign is attended by four Pages of Honour who carry the sovereign’s train. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, she was typically escorted by The Duke of Edinburgh,  followed (in the last few years) by the then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and then ladies-in-waiting and other members of the Royal Household. The procession goes the length of the Royal Gallery and through the Prince’s Chamber, into the House of Lords.

 

Upon arrival in the House of Lords, the Sovereign takes his/her seat on the throne, while the Pages of Honour arrange the Robe of State. At this point, the Sovereign says, “My Lords, pray be seated” and the entire chamber takes their seats. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh was seated immediately to her left, on a throne that was just slightly smaller than hers. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were seated in smaller chairs to the Queen’s left. The Pages of Honour stood to the side of the Prince and Duchess, while the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting stood on the opposite side of the dais.

 

Royal Summons to the Commons
The signal is given to instruct The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to summon the members of the House of Commons. He proceeds through the central lobby, and upon arrival at the doors of the Commons, the door is slammed. This symbolizes the independence of the House of Commons from the Sovereign.

Black Rod bangs on the door three times before it is opened for him. He proceeds into the Commons, acknowledging the members, and says, “Mr. Speaker…His Majesty The King commands this honourable house attends His Majesty, immediately, in the House of Peers.”

The members of the House of Commons then proceed to the House of Commons, led by Black Rod and the Speaker. They take their place, standing, at the bar at the far end of the House of Lords. At this point, the Lord Chancellor approaches the throne and hands the Speech to The Sovereign. The speech, although called The King’s Speech, is written by the government of the day, and lists the Government’s plans for the current session of Parliament.

After The Sovereign has read the speech, he processes back out of the House of Lords, through the Prince’s Chamber and Royal Gallery, and back into the Robing Room. Once the Imperial State Crown and Robe of State have been removed, The Sovereign descends the Norman Staircase and returns to the carriage for the procession back to Buckingham Palace.

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Princess Marie of Edinburgh, Queen of Romania

by Scott Mehl    © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Marie of Edinburgh, Queen of Romania – source: Wikipedia

Queen Marie of Romania was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and perhaps one of the most polarizing royals of her time. Called Missy in the family, she was born Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh on October 29, 1875, at Eastwell Park in Kent, England. Her parents were Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Through her mother, she was also a granddaughter of Alexander II, Emperor of All Russia.

Marie had four siblings:

Missy, as she was known in the family, was christened on December 15, 1875, in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle, with the following godparents:

Marie grew up primarily at Eastwell Park in Kent, England and Clarence House in London, England, The family also lived in Malta where her father was stationed several times during his career in the British Royal Navy. Later, the family took up residence in Coburg, where Marie’s father had become heir-presumptive to his childless uncle, Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Marie’s mother quickly worked to make her daughters more ‘German’ than ‘British’, and had them confirmed in the Lutheran Church instead of the Anglican church in which they had been raised.

Marie had always been very close with her cousin, the future King George V. He had been a frequent guest while the family lived in Malta, and the two considered marriage. While Queen Victoria and both of their fathers were very supportive of the match, their mothers were not. The Princess of Wales disliked everything German, still reeling over the Schleswig-Holstein Question. The Duchess of Edinburgh disliked all things British. She did not want her daughter to remain British and was also against the marriage of first cousins, which was forbidden in her Russian Orthodox faith. When George did propose, Marie was obliged to refuse. The two remained devoted to each other for the rest of their lives.

 

Instead, Marie was soon engaged to the Crown Prince of Romania. Born Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, he was the heir-presumptive to his uncle, King Carol I of Romania. After gaining the approval of Queen Victoria, Marie and Ferdinand were married on January 10, 1893, at Sigmaringen Castle in Sigmaringen, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Following the civil ceremony, both Catholic and Protestant ceremonies were held due to their different religions.

The couple officially had six children. The two youngest children are believed to have been fathered by Marie’s lover but were formally acknowledged by Ferdinand as his own:

Marie found her new life quite challenging. Being very free-spirited, she found the strict Romanian court to be stifling. Her husband’s uncle King Carol I controlled every aspect of the couple’s lives. Her relationship with Ferdinand was also a struggle, as the two tried to settle into a content relationship. She later wrote to her husband that “it is such a shame that we had to waste so many years of our youth just to learn how to live together!”

With a growing family and a stifled existence in the Romanian court, Marie is alleged to have embarked on several affairs, possibly even giving birth to a child by one of her reported lovers. It is also speculated that several of her younger children were from another man.

Just after World War I started, King Carol I died and Marie’s husband Ferdinand ascended the Romanian throne. Drawn quickly into the war, Queen Marie threw herself into her charitable work, rallying support for the war effort, and serving tirelessly as a nurse. In 1919, after the end of World War I, she represented Romania at the Paris Peace Conference, replacing the Romanian delegation which had left due to extreme conflict with the French prime minister. Marie is credited with smoothing the situation and helping to bring about Romania’s huge gains at the end of the conference.

In 1922, Ferdinand and Marie were crowned King and Queen of Romania in Alba Iulia. A Romanian Orthodox cathedral, the Coronation Cathedral, was built there and the two were crowned in an elaborate ceremony full of pomp and pageantry. A few years later, Marie converted to the Orthodox faith, which further endeared her to the Romanian people.

 

The next years saw Marie travel extensively. Visits to Britain and the United States brought huge crowds out to see the famous Queen of Romania, and she did not disappoint them. While in the United States in 1926 with two of her children, Queen Marie met with President Calvin Coolidge and his wife. She also traveled to Washington State, where she presided at the dedication of The Maryhill Art Museum in Maryhill, Washington State, being opened by her friend, Samuel Hill. Marie later donated many possessions to the museum, which are still displayed today. (Read more about Queen Marie and The Maryhill Museum HERE.)

Soon after her return to Romania, King Ferdinand died on July 20, 1927. As their son Carol had previously renounced his right to the throne, Marie’s grandson Mihai succeeded King Ferdinand. Mihai was just five years old, and a Regency Council was established, led by Marie’s younger son Prince Nicholas. Three years later, Carol returned to Romania and reclaimed the throne. He would abdicate in 1940, returning Mihai to the throne.

In January 1928, after several months in seclusion following her husband’s death, Queen Marie returned to public life. Following her son Carol reclaiming the throne in 1930, Queen Marie found herself more on the fringes of the Romanian monarchy. She spent her remaining years enjoying the company of her grandchildren and her homes at Bran Castle and Balchik Palace. Throughout the years, shewrote her memoirs which were published in several volumes.

portrait of Queen Marie by Philip de László, 1936. source: Wikipedia

Queen Marie of Romania died on July 18, 1938, at Pelişor Castle in Sinaia, Romania, in the presence of her son Carol, daughter Elisabeth, and grandson Mihai. Her body lay in state for three days at Cotroceni Palace before she was buried at the Curtea de Argeş Cathedral, Curtea de Argeş, Romania. At her request, her heart was interred in the Stella Maris chapel at her beloved Balchik Palace. After Balchik became part of Bulgaria, Queen Marie’s heart was moved to a chapel at Bran Castle by her daughter Ileana. After the chapel at Bran Castle was desecrated by the Communists, Marie’s heart was moved to the National History Museum. Finally, in 2015, Queen Marie’s heart was brought to its final resting place, at Pelişor Castle, where it was placed on display in the room where Marie died.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Romania Resources at Unofficial Royalty