History, Royals and Other Things

There are more statues of Queen Victoria than of other British Monarch, commissioned before and after her death. One of my favourites is the one in Scarborough by Charles Bell Birch, unveiled by Princess Beatrice in 1903. Beautiful statue in a glorious setting.

A Happy 53rd Wedding Anniversary to TRHs the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who were married on 8th July 1972.

Princess Victoria, the favourite sister of George V was born on 6th July 1868.

The future George V and Queen Mary were married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on 6th July 1893. Painting by Laurits Tuxen.

King Edward VI died on 6th July 1553. In his Device for the Succession, with no available male heirs, he excluded his two half sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, choosing his cousin Lady Jane Grey.

This postbox is situated at Osborne House, the Isle of Wight home of Queen Victoria. The Queen being a avid letter writer it would be nice to think her letters plopped into this box, but no, it was installed in 1997, the centenary of her diamond Jubilee. #postboxsaturday

A happy 83rd Birthday to HRH Prince Michael of Kent born 4th July 1942.

Born on 2nd July 1903 on the Sandringham Estate, Prince Alexander of Denmark, later King Olav V of Norway, only child of the future King Haakon and Queen Maud.

Princess Alice, the third child of Queen Victoria, married Prince Ludwig of Hesse on 1st July 1862 at Osborne House.

On the anniversary of her birth on 1st July 1961, iconic dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales displayed in 2018/19 at Kensington Palace and the gates of the Palace at the time of her 60th birthday.

Tower Bridge was officially opened on 30th June 1894.

A Happy 47th Wedding Anniversary to TRHs Prince and Princess Michel of Kent who married in Vienna on 30th June 1978.

Lady Margaret Beaufort died on 29th June 1509. Although never Queen herself, her son and grandson were both crowned during her lifetime.

Henry VIII was born 28th June 1491.

The Coronation of Queen Victoria took place on 28th June 1838.

The new statue of Aphra Behn by Christine Charleswoth in Canterbury. I really like looking at the back of statues.

Born on 26th June 1914, Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark, the youngest sister of the late Prince Philip. By marriage a Princess of Hesse and later Hanover.

Born on 26th June 1899, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, third daughter of the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia.

George IV died on 26th June 1830 to be succeeded by his brother William IV and his wife Adelaide.

Born on 25th June 1900, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, born Prince Louis, the youngest child of Prince and Princess Louis of Battenberg. His eldest sister Alice was the mother of the late Prince Philip and the younger Louise became Queen of Sweden.

Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, the younger sister of King Henry VIII, died on 25th June 1533. Now buried in St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds.