Today marks the wedding of King Edward VII and Danish Princess Alexandra, who were married at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor in 1863.
To mark the occasion, we will be looking back at the history and reign of King Edward VII…
A Brief Look at the History of the ‘Graces’
This year, we have been influenced by William Wyons’ classical Three Graces design for the new 2022 Her Majesty’s Graces Platinum Jubilee Gold Sovereign range, celebrating the incredible Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen.
However, what do we actually know about the ‘Graces’ and where the inspiration for the design came from? In this blog, we will be looking back at the history of the Graces.
The House of Windsor – Edward VIII
Edward VIII was king for less than a year before he stepped down to marry an American divorcee, making him the only British sovereign to abdicate voluntarily.
During this instalment of our “House of Windsor” series, we take a look at the life of Edward VIII.
The Unknown Warrior
The Unknown Warrior was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey on 11th November 1920. Part of the inscription on his tombstone states: “They buried him among the kings, because he had done good toward God and toward his house”.
But how did the idea for this tribute come about, and how did the Unknown Warrior come to be laid at Westminster Abbey? Here, we take a look at the history of what has become one of the most visited war graves in the world.
A Short History of the Halfcrown
Dating back to the reign of Henry VIII, the halfcrown has nearly a five-hundred-year history. It ceased to be legal tender on 1st January 1970 in preparation for “Decimal Day” in Britain, which happened the following year. It was equivalent to one-eighth of a pound, or two shillings and sixpence.
Here, we take a brief look back at the history of one of Britain’s last pre-decimal coins.
The House of Windsor – George V
As the second son of Edward VII, George was never meant to be king of Britain. However, fate would intervene and this strict disciplinarian and devoted husband, would go from a career in the navy, to becoming a father figure of the nation, leading Britain into the 20th century where the world would rapidly change.
He would also change the name of the British royal family. In our latest blog of “The House of Windsor” series, we take a look at the life of George V.
