Category Archives: British Royals

King Henry I of England

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

King Henry I of England; Credit – Wikipedia

King Henry I is the tenth longest-reigning British monarch, reigning 35 years, 120 days. He became King in 1100 at about the age of 32 and reigned until his death in 1135 at about the age of 67. Henry was the fourth and the youngest son of William the Conqueror (King William I) and Matilda of Flanders. His birth date and birthplace are uncertain, but he was probably born in September 1068 in Selby, Yorkshire, England.

Henry had at least nine siblings. The birth order of the boys is clear, but that of the girls is not. The list below is not in birth order.  It lists Henry’s brothers first in their birth order and then his sisters in their probable birth order.

William and Matilda had four sons and at least six daughters.  The birth order of the boys is clear, but that of the girls is not. The list below is not in birth order.  It lists the sons first in their birth order and then his daughters in their probable birth order.

It seems that Henry received a good education, learning to read and write in Latin and also studying English (unusual for the time) and English law. As a younger son, it is probable that his destiny was to enter the Church. He earned the nickname “Beauclerc” (fine scholar), of which he was very proud. Later in life, he said that “an unlettered King was but a crowned ass.” Contrary to plans, Henry was knighted by his father in 1086.

In 1087, King William I divided his lands between his two eldest surviving sons. Robert Curthose was to receive the Duchy of Normandy and William Rufus was to receive the Kingdom of England. Henry was to receive 5,000 pounds of silver and his mother’s English estates. After his father died in 1087, Henry was constantly being forced to choose between his two brothers, and whichever brother he picked, he was likely to annoy the other. In 1096, Robert left for the Holy Land on the First Crusade. In order to raise money for the crusade, he mortgaged the Duchy of Normandy to his brother King William II. The two older brothers made a pact stating that if one of them died without heirs, both Normandy and England would be reunited under the surviving brother. On August 2, 1100, King William II was killed in a hunting accident in the New Forest. Robert was still on Crusade, so Henry was able to seize the crown of England for himself. The day after William’s funeral at Winchester, the nobles elected Henry king and he then left for London where he was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

On November 11, 1100, Henry married Edith of Scotland (renamed Matilda upon her marriage), the daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret of Scotland.  Through her mother, Matilda merged the bloodline of the Anglo-Saxon kings with Henry’s Norman bloodline. Saint Margaret was born an Anglo-Saxon princess. Her father was Edward the Exile also called Edward Ætheling, the son of King Edmund Ironside (King Edmund II).

Henry and Matilda had two surviving children:

In 1101, Robert Curthose tried to recapture the crown. His campaign failed, and under the Treaty of Alton, Robert recognized Henry as King of England. Four years later, Henry led an army across the English Channel to Normandy to avert another threat by his brother Robert. Henry defeated the Norman army in the Battle of Tinchebray, imprisoned his brother, and annexed the Duchy of Normandy as a possession of England.

On November 25, 1120, William Ætheling, Henry’s only legitimate son, was returning to England from Normandy when his ship hit a submerged rock, capsized, and sank. William Ætheling and many others drowned. See Unofficial Royalty: The Sinking of the White Ship and How It Affected the English Succession.

King Henry I holds the record for the British monarch with the most illegitimate children, 25 or so illegitimate children, but the tragedy of the White Ship left him with only one legitimate child, his daughter Matilda. Henry’s nephews were the closest male heirs. In January of 1121 at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Henry married Adeliza of Louvain, hoping for sons, but the marriage remained childless. On Christmas Day of 1126, King Henry I of England gathered his nobles at Westminster where they swore to recognize Matilda and any future legitimate heir she might have as his successors. That plan did not work out.

Henry died on December 1, 1135. He had fallen ill after eating a number of lampreys against his doctor’s advice. It is possible the cause of death was ptomaine poisoning. Henry was buried in Reading Abbey in Reading, England, which was mostly destroyed during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. In March of 2015, it was announced that after the successful search for the remains of King Richard III, a search for King Henry I’s remains would be conducted under the ruins of Reading Abbey.
BBC: A search for bones of Henry I is planned in Reading

Upon hearing of Henry’s death, Stephen of Blois, one of Henry’s nephews, quickly crossed the English Channel from France, seized power, and was crowned King of England on December 22, 1135. This started the terrible civil war between Stephen and Matilda known as The Anarchy. England did not see peace for eighteen years until Matilda’s son acceded to the throne as King Henry II of England in 1153.

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England: House of Normandy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

James VI, King of Scots/King James I of England

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2015

James VI, King of Scots/King James I of England; Credit – Wikipedia

King James VI’s reign in Scotland was 57 years and 246 days, longer than any of his predecessors. In 1603, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James also became King of England and reigned there for nearly 22 years. James was born in Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 19, 1566. He was the only child of Mary, Queen of Scots and her second husband (and first cousin) Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, both grandchildren of Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England and sister of King Henry VIII of England. James was baptized Charles James in a Catholic ceremony at Stirling Castle. His godparents were King Charles IX of France, Queen Elizabeth I of England, and Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy.  All of the godparents were represented by other people at the christening.

James’ parents, Henry, Lord Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots; Credit – Wikipedia

James was only eight months old when his father was murdered by an explosion at Kirk o’ Field, the house where he was staying in Edinburgh, Scotland. When James was 11 months old, Protestant rebels arrested his Catholic mother and imprisoned her in Loch Leven Castle. Mary never saw her son again. She was forced to abdicate on July 24, 1567, in favor of James and to appoint her illegitimate half-brother, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, as regent. Little James was crowned on July 29, 1567, at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling, Scotland.

A young James VI, King of Scots; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1568, Mary escaped from her imprisonment at Loch Leven Castle. After being defeated at the Battle of Langside, Mary was forced to flee to England and was subsequently imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth I of England. She remained imprisoned until her execution in 1587, after her implication in the Babington Plot, a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I. Initially buried at Peterborough Cathedral, Mary’s remains were exhumed upon the orders of her son in 1612, then King of England, and were reburied in a marble tomb with an effigy in Westminster Abbey in a chapel opposite the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I.

James was consigned to the care of John Erskine, Earl of Mar. He was brought up in the Protestant Church of Scotland and was educated by a group of tutors led by the Scottish historian and humanist George Buchanan. During his childhood, James was controlled by powerful nobles and the clergy of the Church of Scotland and was merely a pawn in their machinations.

Throughout his life, James had close relationships with male courtiers, which has caused debate among historians about the nature of the relationships. However, marriage was necessary to provide heirs to the throne. On August 20, 1589, James was married by proxy to Anne of Denmark at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, Denmark. Anne was the eldest daughter of King Frederik II of Denmark and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, who conducted the marriage negotiations after the death of her husband in 1588. Ten days after the proxy wedding, Anne set sail for Scotland, but severe storms forced her to land in Norway. Upon hearing this, James set sail to personally bring Anne to Scotland. On November 23, 1589, the couple was formally married at the Bishop’s Palace in Oslo, Norway. After a prolonged visit to Denmark, James and Anne landed in Scotland on May 1, 1590.

by Renold or Reginold Elstrack (Elstracke), line engraving, early 17th century

King James I of England and VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark by Renold or Reginold Elstrack (Elstracke) line engraving, early 17th-century NPG D25686 © National Portrait Gallery, London

James and Anne had seven children, but only three survived childhood:

by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Willem de Passe, mezzotint, published 1814

‘James I and his royal progeny’ by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Willem de Passe mezzotint, published 1814 NPG D9808 © National Portrait Gallery, London

James was the author of several works including Daemonologie (1597), in which he supports the practice of witch-hunting, True Law of Free Monarchies (1598), in which he sets out the doctrine of the divine right of kings that proved fatal to his son and successor King Charles I, and Basilikon Doron (1599), written as a book of instruction for his heir Prince Henry. After Prince Henry’s death in 1612, James gave it to his second son, later King Charles I.

Henry, Prince of Wales, circa 1610; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1586, James signed the Treaty of Berwick, a peace agreement between Scotland and England. The treaty included a defensive pact should either Scotland or England be invaded and provided James with an annual pension of £4,000 from England. This led many to believe that Queen Elizabeth I already considered James an heir to the English throne. Since none of the children of King Henry VIII had children, James was the senior heir of King Henry VII through his eldest daughter Margaret Tudor. From 1601 onward, Sir Robert Cecil, Queen Elizabeth’s chief minister maintained a secret correspondence with James to facilitate a smooth succession. On her deathbed, Queen Elizabeth gave her assent that James should succeed her. Elizabeth died on March 24, 1603. James entered London on May 7, 1603, and his coronation was held on July 25, 1603.

James was now James VI, King of Scots and King James I of England. The following Stuart monarchs of England were also Kings/Queens of Scots until 1707 when Scotland and England were united into a single kingdom called Great Britain: Charles I, Charles II, James II, Mary II, William III, and Anne.

King James I of England in his coronation robes; Credit – Wikipedia

Some important events of King James I’s reign:

  • “Golden Age” of Elizabethan literature and drama continued, with writers such as William Shakespeare, John Donne, Ben Jonson, and Sir Francis Bacon
  • Survived two plots to overthrow him in 1603: Bye Plot and Main Plot
  • Made peace with Spain in 1604: Treaty of London ended Anglo-Spanish War
  • Gunpowder Plot, 1605: Catholic Guy Fawkes conspired with others to blow up Parliament, plot averted
  • Popish Recusants Act, 1606: required citizens to take an Oath of Allegiance denying the Pope’s authority over the king
  • English colonization starts in North America with the founding of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607
  • King James Version of the Bible: an authorized version of the Bible completed in 1611
  • James I dissolves Parliament in 1610 and 1614: James I reigns without Parliament from 1614 – 1621
  • Spanish Match, 1614 – 1623: a proposed marriage between James I’s son and heir Charles and Infanta Maria Anna, the daughter of Philip III of Spain, the negotiations were closely related to British foreign policy and religious policy and were ultimately unsuccessful

Anne of Denmark, 1617; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1619, James’ wife Anne died, aged 44, from dropsy (edema) after suffering extended bouts of debilitating illness since 1617. She was buried in the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London, England. James’ health began to suffer from arthritis, gout, and kidney stones when he was about 50 years old. During the last year of his life, he was rarely well enough to visit London. In March 1625, James became ill with a recurring fever and then suffered a stroke. He died on March 27, 1625, aged 58, at Theobalds House in Hertfordshire, England, one of his favorite country homes. He was buried in the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey in the vault of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, his great-great-grandparents. Plans were drawn up for a monument in the classic style, but the monument was never built. Only an inscription on the floor of the chapel marks his grave.

Inscription on the floor of the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey marking the nearby grave of James I; Photo Credit – findagrave.com

House of Stuart Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Longest Reigning British Monarchs

Credit – Wikipedia; Joel Rouse/ Ministry of Defence – https://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/archives/5000-Current%20News/Archive%20(Navy)/RoyalNavy/2015/March/45158590.jpg

On September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II will surpass her great great grandmother Queen Victoria as the longest reigning British monarch. In honor of this milestone, we will be publishing a series of articles about the longest reigning British monarchs (listed below)  starting August 26, 2015 and continuing through September 8, 2015.

Top 10 Longest Reigning British Monarchs

  1. Queen Elizabeth II, reigned February 6, 1952 – Present
  2. Queen Victoria, reigned June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901; 63 years, 216 days
  3. King George III, reigned October 25, 1760 – January 29, 1820; 59 years, 96 days
  4. King Henry III, reigned October 18, 1216 – November 16, 1272; 56 years, 29 days
  5. King Edward III, reigned January 25, 1327 – June 21, 1377; 50 years, 147 days
  6. Queen Elizabeth I, reigned November 17, 1558 – March 24, 1603; 44 years, 127 days
  7. King Henry VI, reigned August 31, 1422 – March 4, 1461 AND 31 October 31, 1470 – April 11, 1471; 38 years, 347 days
  8. King Æthelred II, reigned March 18, 978 – December 25, 1013 AND February 3, 1014 – April 23, 1016; 37 years, 362 days
  9. King Henry VIII, reigned April 22, 1509 – January 28, 1547; 37 years, 281 days
  10. King Henry I, reigned August 3, 1100 – December 1, 1135; 35 years, 120 days

Honorable Mention: Scottish and Welsh Monarchs Who Could Be Included in the List

  • King James VI of Scotland, reigned July 24, 1567 – 27 March 27, 1625; 57 years, 246 days (from March 24,1603, also King James I of England)
  • King William I of Scotland, reigned December 9, 1165 – December 4, 1214; 48 years, 360 days
  • Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd, reigned January 1, 1195 – April 11, 1240; 45 years
  • King David II of Scotland, reigned June 7, 1329 – February 22, 1371; 41 years, 260 days

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Windsor Castle

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2012

Windsor Castle from the air. source: Wikipedia, photo by Mark S. Jobling

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of The Sovereign, and where the late Queen Elizabeth II spent most weekends and several weeks each year. The castle is also used often as the site of State and official visits, and each year hosts the service for the Order of the Garter. With its imposing silhouette, Windsor Castle has become a symbol of the British monarchy.

Following the Norman invasion in 1066, William the Conqueror built a fortress on the site, which has been enlarged and expanded greatly by successive sovereigns. The original Round Tower was built and large walls surrounded the entire complex. A century later, King Henry II rebuilt much of the fortress in stone, including the Round Tower, outer walls, and many other structures. These included the Upper Ward, which contained the Royal Apartments. Successive sovereigns made their own changes and expansions to Windsor Castle – Edward III added the St. George’s Hall for the newly created Order of the Garter, and Edward IV began the construction of St. George’s Chapel in the Lower Ward.

Windsor Castle in 1658. source: Wikipedia

It was King Charles II who, following the Restoration, set out to turn the Castle into a showplace, hiring the best craftsmen and artists to build and decorate new State Apartments in the northern wing of the Upper Ward. Most of these rooms still exist and are included in the public tours of the castle.

During the reign of King George III, he made further changes, installing his wife and large family in the east and south wings, while the King himself lived in a small suite of rooms in the northern wing. Due to his illness, he wanted to be sure that his wife and family were insulated from his bursts of madness. His successor, King George IV, also made significant changes to the castle – often credited with turning the mere ‘castle’ into a true ‘palace’. During his reign, the Waterloo Chamber was added to recognize Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.

Queen Victoria and her family used Windsor Castle quite often, and in 1861, it was where her beloved Prince Albert died of typhoid. The Queen turned his rooms into a virtual shrine to her late husband, insisting that they remain as they were the day he died. Following Albert’s death, the Queen spent even more time at Windsor, only using Buckingham Palace in London when absolutely necessary. Later generations have used Windsor quite regularly. During World War II, it is where the late Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, lived, along with other members of the extended royal family.

In 1992, on Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh’s 45th wedding anniversary, a massive fire broke out at the castle. During some restoration work in the Private Chapel, a curtain came into contact with a spotlight and sparked a fire that damaged or destroyed over 100 rooms and took over 15 hours to contain. The subsequent restoration took nearly 5 years and cost £37million (the majority of which was met by opening the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace to the public). You can read more about the fire at Windsor Castle here.

Despite its grand State Rooms and imposing stone walls, Windsor Castle was very much a home to the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh. As well as staying at Windsor on most weekends, Queen Elizabeth II officially took up residence at the castle for a month in March or April, over Easter. She also spent a week in June, which coincides with Royal Ascot and the service for the Order of the Garter.

The Castle can be broken down into three sections – The Lower Ward, The Middle Ward, and The Upper Ward.

St. George’s Chapel. photo © Susan Flantzer

St. George’s Chapel. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Lower Ward contains St. George’s Chapel, The Albert Memorial Chapel (originally The Lady Chapel) and the Horseshoe Cloister. It also contains lodgings for the Military Knights of Windsor and the residence of the Governor of the Military Knights.

The Round Tower. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Round Tower. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Middle Ward consists primarily of The Round Tower, which stands in the center between the Lower and Upper Wards. The Round Tower was part of the original fortress and was rebuilt by King Henry II in 1170. Today, it houses the Royal Archives.

Queen Elizabeth II reviewing troops during the Diamond Jubilee Parade and Muster, May 2012, in the quadrangle of the Upper Ward. To the left is the Guest Entrance, and to the right is The Queen’s Entrance. source: Wikipedia, Defence Imagery under the Open Government License v1.0

The Upper Ward is the primary section of the castle and contains the State Apartments as well as the private apartments of the Royal Family. Built around a large quadrangle, the Upper Ward has over 950 rooms, and about 225 of those are bedrooms!

The State Apartments are located in the northern wing. These include the apartments of King Charles II and Queen Catherine (Catherine of Braganza). Also within the State Apartments are:

St.George’s Hall; Credit – Wikipedia

St. George’s Hall runs along the northern wing of the Upper Ward, overlooking the quadrangle. The majestic hall is the site of State dinners.

The Waterloo Chamber. source: The Daily Mail

The Waterloo Chamber was created in the 1820s and displays portraits that commemorate Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Today, it is often used for receptions and luncheons, including the luncheon for Knights and Ladies of the Garter prior to the Garter service at St. George’s Chapel each June.

The Semi-State Apartments, located in the eastern wing, are also considered part of the Private Apartments. Some of the prominent rooms include:

 

Located in the eastern wing of the Upper Ward, the Crimson Drawing Room is the principal room in the private apartments and is often used for private meetings and official functions. This is one of the rooms which was destroyed by the fire in 1992.

 

The Green Drawing Room, at one time the library, is next to the Crimson Drawing Room in the eastern wing and is also used for formal entertaining. During State visits, it often features a display of items from The Royal Collection pertaining to the country of the visiting Head of State. It is also used occasionally for meetings of the Privy Council.

 

The White Drawing Room, in the eastern wing, is typically used for official visits. It is often where The Sovereign meets with ministers and foreign guests. It was also the site of the formal photos taken after the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2005.

 

The State Dining Room, located in the northeastern corner of the Upper Ward, is used for smaller functions and meetings.

 

The Garter Throne Room is used primarily during the investiture of new Knights and Ladies of the Garter. It is located in the northern wing, overlooking the North Terrace.

The eastern wing overlooking the East Terrace. source: Wikipedia, photo by David Stanley

The actual private apartments of The Sovereign are in the eastern wing, overlooking the East Terrace and Gardens. These are accessed through the Queen’s Entrance, located in the south-eastern corner of the quadrangle.

Frogmore House in the Home Park. source: Wikipedia, photo by Gill Hicks

Outside the castle walls is the Home Park. Located primarily to the east of the castle, the Home Park is the private park of the castle and covers about 655 acres. Within the Home Park are The Frogmore Estate, two farms, the Windsor Farm Shop, and the Windsor Home Park Lawn Tennis Club. The Home Park is also the site of the Royal Windsor Horse Show each year.

The Copper Horse, Windsor Great Park. source: The Crown Estate

The Copper Horse, Windsor Great Park. source: The Crown Estate

Extending further to the south is Windsor Great Park. Covering over 5,000 acres, and managed by the Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park includes the majestic Long Walk, which extends from the southern wing of the palace and proceeds 2.65 miles to The Copper Horse, a statue of King George III on horseback. Also within Windsor Great Park are several other royal residences including Royal Lodge, Cumberland Lodge, and Fort Belvedere.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

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End of August: Tragic British Royal Family Deaths

Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore near Windsor Castle, Photo Credit – Wikipedia

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Balmoral Castle

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle, located on the large Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is the Sovereign’s private residence in Scotland. Originally purchased in 1852, it has been a favorite residence of the royal family ever since.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made several visits to Scotland beginning in 1842 and quickly fell in love with the Highlands. After staying at several other houses, Prince Albert arranged to acquire the lease on Balmoral Castle following the death of its previous tenant, Sir Robert Gordon, despite never having seen the castle or property before. Victoria and Albert first stayed at Balmoral in September 1848. Almost immediately, they realized the existing castle was too small for their large family and household, and plans were made to expand the building. However, Prince Albert was already in negotiations to purchase the estate. In June 1852, Albert purchased the castle and estate for £32,000, as well as purchasing the neighboring Birkhall estate, and leasing Abergeldie Castle.

In lieu of making any additions, it was decided instead to build a new castle just next to the existing one. In September 1853, Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone for the new castle, which was completed in 1856. At that point, the original building was torn down. That year, The Queen and her family began the tradition of spending time at Balmoral each year, where she was somewhat able to escape the formality of the court in London and indulge in her passions for painting and writing. Queen Victoria continued to visit Balmoral annually, making her last visit just a few months before her death.

The palace remained much the same until the reign of King George V and Queen Mary, who updated the building and designed many of the formal gardens. With the purchase of the neighboring Delnadamph Lodge and estate in 1978, the Balmoral Estate now comprises 50,000 acres, and include grouse moors and farmland, as well as the 2,500-acre Ballochbuie Forest, which was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1878 to save it from destruction.

The Queen greeting the Prime Minister at Balmoral. source: The Mirror

Queen Elizabeth II greeting the Prime Minister at Balmoral. source: The Mirror

The late Queen Elizabeth II spent her summer holiday at Balmoral, often with other members of the Royal Family. While there, she and the Duke of Edinburgh undertook many local engagements, as well as traditionally hosting the Prime Minister for a weekend. She also held a ball for the estate workers, known as the Ghillie’s Ball. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.

 

Also on the estate is Craigowan Lodge. This is typically used for guests and was where the Prince and Princess of Wales usually stayed while visiting Balmoral. Today, it is best known for being where Queen Elizabeth II stayed when she first arrived in Scotland for her summer holiday. As Balmoral was usually still open to the public, she stayed at Craigowan Lodge for several days until the tours have ended.

Birkhall. source: Wikipedia, photo by Alan Findlay

Several miles to the east is Birkhall, which is currently the Scottish home of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (Now The King and Queen Consort). The Birkhall estate, as mentioned above, was purchased by Prince Albert at the same time as Balmoral. It was initially given to the future King Edward VII, but he preferred to stay at Abergeldie Castle. It later became housing for staff and extended family and served as the residence of the Keeper of the Privy Purse to King Edward VII, Dighton Probyn.

In the 1930s, King George V gave Birkhall to the Duke and Duchess of York who used it quite often prior to their accession in 1936. Following their marriage in 1947, Birkhall was often used by then-Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh. Following George VI’s death in 1952, Birkhall became the home of The Queen Mother until her death in 2002. Soon after, The Prince of Wales took over the property, and it is where he honeymooned with the Duchess of Cornwall following their marriage in 2005.

Abergeldie Castle. source: Wikipedia, photo by Peter Gordon

Abergeldie Castle was originally leased by Prince Albert as part of the purchase of Balmoral and Birkhall. It was first used by Queen Victoria’s mother, The Duchess of Kent, and later by Empress Eugenie of France. It then became the preferred residence of the future King Edward VII. While no longer holding the lease to the castle itself, the Royal Family still retain the lease to the estate’s game lands.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

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.

Sandringham House

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

By John Fielding – This file has been extracted from another file: Sandringham House from the air.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72040973

Sandringham House

Sandringham House, located on the 20,000 acre Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, is The Queen’s privately owned home. Originally purchased as a home for King Edward VII, it remains a favorite residence of The Queen, where she spends several months each year. The large Sandringham Estate is also the home to several other current and former royal residences, including York Cottage, Park House, Appleton House (demolished in 1984), and Anmer Hall which is currently the country home of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In addition, over half of the estate is leased out as farmland. Like Balmoral Castle, Sandringham is owned privately by the Sovereign, and not part of the Crown Estate. It is privately managed by an estate agent and includes two studs, a fruit farm, and a public country park.

The house was purchased for the future King Edward VII in the spring of 1862, with its surrounding estate of nearly 6,900 acres (at that time), from Charles Spencer Cowper. Having come of age, Edward was given Marlborough House in London as his principal residence, but it was deemed important that he should have a country home as well. His father, Prince Albert, had been conducting the search for a suitable home but passed away in December 1861. Queen Victoria insisted that Albert’s work continue, and Edward himself visited Sandringham and decided that it was the most suitable home and quickly arranged for the purchase, for the then-staggering cost of £220,000.

At the time, the house was a plain Georgian building with a white stucco facade and had been built in the late 1700s. Edward took up residence shortly after his marriage to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in March 1863. Soon finding that the house was too small for their growing family, Edward had the house demolished and built a new grand house. The main house was finished in 1870, and further additions would follow: a ballroom in 1881, and a guest wing in the 1890s. The estate was also enlarged through the purchase of several neighboring farms and estates through the years.

Sandringham was used regularly for shooting, a favorite pastime of the future King Edward VII. He famously changed the clocks in the house set forward half an hour to allow for more light for hunting. This became widely known as Sandringham Time. The tradition continued until the accession of King Edward VIII in 1936.

Of Edward and Alexandra’s six children, only their youngest, Prince Alexander John, was born at Sandringham. Sadly, he died the following day. However, the house has been the site of several deaths in the royal family. Edward and Alexandra’s eldest son, Prince Albert Victor (Eddy), The Duke of Clarence and Avondale, died at the house in January 1892, just weeks after becoming engaged to Princess Mary of Teck.

 

Following King Edward VII’s death in 1910, Sandringham House remained the home of his widow, until her own death in 1925. At that point, King George V and Queen Mary were able to leave York Cottage on the estate, and take up residence in the main house. In 1932, King George V made the first Christmas broadcast to the Empire, via radio, which was broadcast live from the house. (And it was at Sandringham, 25 years later, when his granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, made her first televised broadcast from the library.) King George V passed away at Sandringham in January 1936.

After the abdication of King Edward VIII at the end of 1936, his successor, King George VI, was forced to purchase Sandringham (and Balmoral) from his elder brother, as Edward remained the owner of both. The new King and his family stayed at Sandringham often, and during World War II, the two young princesses spent large amounts of time on the estate. It was here that the King succumbed to cancer and died in his sleep on February 6, 1952.

source: Wikipedia, Elwyn Thomas Roddich

Each year, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, most members of the Royal Family spent Christmas at Sandringham. After everyone arrived (on a very specific timetable based on precedence), the family gathered in the White Drawing Room for tea, while finishing touches are made to the Christmas tree. Presents, displayed on tables in the nearby Red Drawing Room, were opened. Then, following drinks, a formal dinner was served in the Dining Room.

On Christmas Day, the entire family attended church at Saint Mary Magdalene Church on the estate. Most of the family walked from the house, while Queen Elizabeth II arrived by car. Over the next few days, nearly all of the royal family returned home, but Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Duke of Edinburgh remained at Sandringham, making it their base until early February. Queen Elizabeth II traditionally spent her Accession Day – February 6 – at Sandringham before returning to London.

As mentioned, there are several other current and former royal residences on the estate.

York Cottage. source: Wikipedia

York Cottage was the home of King George V and Queen Mary from the time of their marriage in 1893, and where most of their children were born. Today, it is used as offices for the estate.

Park House. source: The Sandringham Estate

Park House. source: The Sandringham Estate

Park House was the birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales. Read more about Park House here!

Appleton House

Appleton House

Appleton House was given to Princess Maud, the daughter of King Edward VII, upon her marriage to the future King Haakon VII of Norway. It was also the birthplace of their son, the future King Olav V, in 1903. After Maud’s death, King Haakon returned the house to the royal family, and it was used occasionally to house visiting members of the royal family. After years of not being used, the house was torn down in 1984.

Amner Hall; Credit – By Richard Humphrey, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39950853

Anmer Hall is currently the country home of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Previous residents also include the Duke and Duchess of Kent, who leased the property from 1972 until 1990.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

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Palace of Holyroodhouse

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2012

source: Wikipedia, David Monniaux

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is The Sovereign’s official residence in Scotland. It’s located in the ‘Old Town’ area of Edinburgh, at the end of the Royal Mile. The Palace is set in about 10 acres, which are part of the much larger Holyrood Park, and features gardens laid out by Prince Albert. Immediately adjacent to the palace are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

The palace’s origins begin with a monastery founded in 1128 by King David I. The name, Holy Rood (‘Holy Cross’) is believed to have come from the fragment of the True Cross which was in the possession of the King’s mother, St. Margaret of Scotland (born Margaret of Wessex, she was the wife of King Malcolm III of Scotland). For many years, the Scottish royals chose to live in the guesthouse at the Abbey, instead of the more fortress-like Edinburgh Castle at the opposite end of the Royal Mile. The first palace on the site was built by King James IV in 1501-1505 and was enlarged by King James V in 1528-1536.

Mary, Queen of Scots. source: Wikipedia

Perhaps the most well-known resident of the Palace of Holyroodhouse was Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary took up residence in 1561 and would remain at Holyroodhouse until her abdication in 1567. She married Lord Darnley in the palace chapel in 1565, and then married her third husband, The Earl of Bothwell, in 1567 in the great hall. The palace was also the site of the murder of David Rizzio, in the Queen’s apartments in the northwest tower, in 1566.

By the beginning of the 17th century, the Sovereigns spent little time at Holyroodhouse. In 1646, King Charles I appointed a hereditary Keeper of Holyroodhouse to oversee the property. The Dukes of Hamilton holds this position to this day, although it is merely ceremonial now. It would be over 175 years before the Palace of Holyroodhouse was once again used as a formal residence for the Sovereign.

From 1671-1678, the palace was rebuilt and restored after years of neglect and several fires. The result was the building that we see today. It was used for many years as grace-and-favour residences for members of the nobility. It also housed some foreign royals. Following the French Revolution, King George III provided apartments at the palace for the Comte d’Artois, the brother of the French king Louis XVI, who lived there from 1796 until 1803. He later returned again in 1830 before moving to Austria in 1832.

It was during this time that the Palace began its return to glory as a royal residence. King George IV visited the palace in 1822, the first reigning monarch to do so since King Charles I in the mid-1600s. Although he did not stay there, he held several functions and instructed that necessary repairs be made, and the palace be updated. He ordered that the apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, remain unaltered and be preserved as they were, and to remain so forever.

It was King William IV, in 1834, who made provided a home at the palace for the High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The High Commissioner (whoever is appointed), continues to have use of apartments at the palace during the sitting of the Assembly. The Queen herself has opened the Assembly several times, and each of her four children has served as High Commissioner.

Queen Victoria first visited Holyroodhouse in 1850, and a few years later, part of the palace was formally opened to the public for tours. Slowly, the royal household began clearing out the many grace-and-favour residents, and The Queen was able to reside at the palace for the first time in 1871.

King George V is credited with the modernization of the palace, with heating and electricity being added prior to his first visit in 1911. And in 1920, he had the palace formally designated as the Sovereign’s official residence in Scotland. He and Queen Mary began the tradition of spending a week each year at the palace and hosted the first garden party in the palace gardens in 1928.

Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh arrive at the palace, June 2015. source: The Daily Mail

The late Queen Elizabeth II spent a week at Holyroodhouse each year at the end of June and the beginning of July. Upon her arrival, an ancient ceremony – The Presentation of the Keys of the City of Edinburgh – took place in the palace forecourt. The Lord Provost welcomed Her Majesty and presents her with the great key of the city. The Queen accepted the key and then hands it back to the Provost to be kept safe until her next visit.

During Holyrood Week, Queen Elizabeth II held an investiture in the Great Gallery, and she and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted nearly 8,000 people for a garden party on the grounds. While in Edinburgh, The Sovereign attends a service for the Order of the Thistle at the nearby St. Giles’ Cathedral and hosts a luncheon for members in the Throne Room at the palace. The Sovereign also hosts official visits, including the First Minister of Scotland, and other dignitaries. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Pope Benedict XVI as part of his State Visit to the United Kingdom.

The former Prince of Wales, as Duke of Rothesay – now King Charles III – also stayed at Holyroodhouse for a week each year, and other members of the Royal Family stay there occasionally when in Scotland. In July 2011, many of the Royal Family were in residence for the wedding of Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal, and Mike Tindall, who married at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.

The bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots. source: The Royal Collection

The bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots. source: The Royal Collection

The chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, are perhaps the palace’s biggest attraction for visitors. Located on the second floor of the northwest tower, they consist of an audience chamber with two turret rooms (one of which was her private dining room), the Queen’s bedchamber and an outer chamber. In the outer chamber was the Queen’s oratory, a prayer niche. It was here that David Rizzio was savagely murdered by Lord Darnley and his supporters. Immediately below, on the first floor, are a series of matching rooms, which were used by Lord Darnley. The two bedrooms were joined by a private spiral staircase.

The State apartments are primarily located on the first floor of the southern and eastern wings of the palace, while the private apartments of The Sovereign and members of the royal family are located on the second floor. The State Rooms include the Throne Room, the Evening Drawing Room, the Morning Drawing Room, and the Great Gallery.

The Throne Room was previously used as the Guard Hall at the time of King George IV’s visit in 1822. Today, it is used for formal events, including the luncheon for Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle.

Queen Elizabeth II with the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, in the Evening Drawing Room, 2015. source: The Daily Mail

The Morning and Evening Drawing Rooms are used today for private audiences with The Queen.

 

The Great Gallery is the largest room in the palace and had once joined the King’s and Queen’s apartments in the east and west wings of the palace. It is decorated with 110 portraits of real, and legendary, Scottish monarchs. During the residence of the Comte d’Artois, it was used as a Catholic chapel. Today, it is used for Investiture ceremonies, banquets, and other larger functions.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

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530 Anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth Field

Stained glass window in St James Church in Sutton Cheney, England where it is believed Richard III (left) attended his last Mass before facing Henry VII (right) in the Battle of Bosworth Field; Credit – Wikipedia

August 22, 2015 is the 530th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth Field, the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, where the last king of the House of York and the Plantagenet dynasty, 32 year-old King Richard III of England, lost his life and his crown. The battle was a decisive victory for the House of Lancaster, whose leader Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, became the first monarch of the House of Tudor.  Richard’s remains were rediscovered in 2012 and reburied at Leicester Cathedral on March 26, 2015.
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Check out the details at Unofficial Royalty – Richard III: Lost and Found

Royal Lodge, Windsor

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: The Daily Mail

source: The Daily Mail

Royal Lodge

Set on 40 hectares within Windsor Great Park, Royal Lodge has been the official residence of The Duke of York since 2004. It is perhaps best known as the residence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who lived there for over 70 years until her death in 2002.

There appears to have been a house on the property as far back as the mid-1600s, and by the mid- 1700s, it was used as part of an adjacent dairy. At different times, it was known as Lower Lodge, Great Lodge, and Dairy Lodge. It then became the home of the Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park and was known as the Deputy Ranger’s House.

In 1812, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) used the house as temporary lodgings while he undertook the rebuilding of nearby Cumberland Lodge, which was his intended residence. The house became known as the Prince Regent’s Cottage. He expanded the house, which then became known as King’s Cottage following his accession, with the intention of using it to house guests during Royal Ascot. In 1825, the Royal Chapel of All Saints was built, as the chapels in both the King’s Cottage and Cumberland Lodge were too small to accommodate the household. Around this time, the house became known as Royal Lodge.

When William IV became King in 1830, he ordered the demolition of the house and had it rebuilt more in the style which we see today. For the next 100 years, it was used primarily as a residence for officers of the Royal Household.

Y Bwthyn Bach, in the grounds of Royal Lodge. source: The Daily Mail

Y Bwthyn Bach, on the grounds of Royal Lodge. source: The Daily Mail

In 1931, King George V gave the house to the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) as a country retreat. Two wings were added on each side, and the grounds were also developed further. Two lodges were constructed at the entrance to the estate, with three smaller cottages on either side of them. The following year, the people of Wales gave a small cottage – Y Bwthyn Bach – to then-Princess Elizabeth. The cottage sits on the grounds of Royal Lodge and was a favorite play site of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, as well as later generations. The cottage was recently restored and updated by Princess Beatrice of York.

 

After their accession in 1936, George VI and Elizabeth took up residence at Windsor Castle but continued to use Royal Lodge regularly. Following the King’s death in 1952, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother returned to Royal Lodge and made it her home for the remainder of her life. It was here, on March 30, 2002, that The Queen Mother passed away, at the age of 101.  The property was returned to the Crown Estate.

Following extensive renovations, Royal Lodge became the home of Prince Andrew, The Duke of York in 2004, who leased the property from the Crown Estate on a 75-year lease. In lieu of annual rent, it was agreed that he would make a one-time payment of £1million, as well as paying for the renovation in full (a project with exceeded £7.5million).

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

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.