UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Sept 5, 2020 19:35:40 GMT
Three more bodies found close to royal dwelling places
"In 2010, the body of a 46-year-old woman was found on the crown estate near Windsor Castle. She had apparently been killed by hammer blows to her head. Her estranged husband was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 26 years in prison." www.nbcnews.com/id/45850427/ns/world_news-europe/t/murder-inquiry-after-female-remains-found-uk-queens-estate/Then there was this from 2012: “A woman found dead on the Queen's Sandringham estate has been named. The body is that of Latvian Alisa Dmitrijeva, 17, from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk police said today. Her remains were spotted by a dog walker in woods on farmland near Anmer, about a mile from the main gate to Sandringham House.” www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083872/Body-Queens-Sandringham-estate-identified-Alisa-Dmitrijeva.htmlThere was also the body found on an island in St. James’s Park, close to Buckingham Palace, in 2011: “Authorities have conducted an inquest into the death of an American royal fanatic who is believed to have died three years ago in the park abutting Buckingham Palace. According to news reports, Robert James Moore, 69, was mentally ill and obsessed with the Queen to the extent that he moved to London and secretly set up a small camp, just about 100 yards from Buckingham Palace, on a secluded island in St. James Park. Records show that Moore arrived in the UK in 2007, and investigators believe that he died sometime in 2008.” www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/10/royal-roundup-body-undiscovered-for-years-in-st-jamess-parkIs all this and the Kensington Palace cases just a coincidence? The island and Buckingham Palace: 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Oct 31, 2020 20:08:19 GMT
The Queen Mother and the Hastings Winkle Club
The Hastings Winkle Club, first mentioned in the Sussexes thread, has had many illustrious members and honorary members, including Winston Churchill and various royals. The Winkle Club has presented gold winkles to the Duke of Edinburgh and also to the Dukes of Kent and Norfolk. Gold brooches have in the past been presented to both the Queen and the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother visited the club in 1980 and saw the members 'winkle up' i.e. show their winkle shell membership badges: 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 7, 2020 8:39:33 GMT
Grey Owl and the royal family
Grey Owl, whose connection to the seaside town of Hastings was mentioned in the Sussexes thread, was invited to give a lecture at Buckingham Palace in 1937. Queen Mary, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and her parents and the little princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were all there to hear him speak about conservation. He began by saluting King George and saying “How Kola”, which he explained to the King was a Sioux greeting meaning “I come in peace brother”. The command performance is said to have been a great success, with Princess Elizabeth asking for more. Unfortunately there are no pictures of them together, but this one shows Grey Owl giving a lecture in England: 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 27, 2020 17:53:04 GMT
The Festival of Britain and the monaarchy
The Festival of Britain was THE big event of 1951. An exhibition and a funfair were the main attractions in London. King George VI performed the opening ceremony on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in May in the presence of three queens, past, present and future:  Commemorative stamps were issued: 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 28, 2020 19:04:01 GMT
Royals at the Festival of Brexit Britain?
A big festival is planned for 2022, similar in spirit and purpose to the 1951 Festival of Britain. It will be interesting to see how many royals take an interest or will be welcome to participate. I doubt whether Prince Andrew or the Sussexes will be seen at this festival. In 1951, in addition to the three queens many other major and minor royals of the time were assembled on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral including Prince Philip, Princess Margaret and some Kents, Mountbattens and Gloucesters. Will there be a similar turnout in 2022? 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 30, 2020 18:40:50 GMT
Queen Mary at the Festival of Britain
Queen Mary visited the Festival of Britain South Bank site in 1951 with her grandsons Prince William of Gloucester and Prince Michael of Kent. Prince William died in a plane crash in 1972 but Prince Michael is still with us. Will he come to the 2022 festival? We shall see.  
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Feb 14, 2021 9:13:56 GMT
Royal connections to Kent
Avacyn mentioned two royals with apparent Kent connections in the Brexit thread. There are several posts about the current Duke of Kent and his brother Prince Michael of Kent on here; I don't think that any present-day royals have strong ties to Kent, any more than the Sussexes do to the county of Sussex. These are just titles. There are a few connections from the past though. Royal Tunbridge Wells got the 'royal' because Queen Victoria, who was the daughter of the then Duke of Kent, loved the place. She stayed there as a girl and patronised the spa. Visiting with her mother in 1834: 
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Post by UnseenI on Feb 16, 2021 18:44:38 GMT
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Post by Avacyn on Feb 17, 2021 21:36:39 GMT
Royal connections to Kent
Avacyn mentioned two royals with apparent Kent connections in the Brexit thread. There are several posts about the current Duke of Kent and his brother Prince Michael of Kent on here; I don't think that any present-day royals have strong ties to Kent, any more than the Sussexes do to the county of Sussex. These are just titles. There are a few connections from the past though. Royal Tunbridge Wells got the 'royal' because Queen Victoria, who was the daughter of the then Duke of Kent, loved the place. She stayed there as a girl and patronised the spa. Visiting with her mother in 1834: If I have energy and memory, I will try to work out better what connections they have. |
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Post by UnseenI on Feb 18, 2021 18:44:38 GMT
Henry VIII and Kent
The county of Kent is often called 'The Garden of England'. It was Henry VIII who gave it that name. He had many connections there: “The mighty King Henry VIII favoured many parts of Kent and flaunted his wealth, inheriting Dover, Leeds and Rochester Castles. He also acquired Hever Castle near Edenbridge, the home to his second wife Anne Boleyn, as well as Knole and Otford Palace in Sevenoaks and Penshurst Place near Tunbridge Wells. Henry also built a fort in Walmer for an invasion that actually never came.” www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/how-henry-viii-gave-kent-4429850A Victorian engraving of King Henry VIII at Hever Castle: 
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Post by UnseenI on Oct 10, 2021 18:21:53 GMT
Michael Collins and Princess Mary
One of the many stories told about IRA leader Michael Collins was that he was going to marry George V's only daughter Princess Mary! She was said to be breaking off her engagement in favour of the dashing Irishman. This seems unlikely to me – surely he would have been seen by his people as a traitor Tsar ? It seems that this was an unfounded rumour; it started as a casual joke that some people took seriously at the time. Princess Mary married Viscount Lascelles – allegedly reluctantly – in 1922.  
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Post by Tsar on Oct 10, 2021 20:22:00 GMT
This seems unlikely to me – surely he would have been seen by his people as a traitor Tsar ? He is, by many, for being realistic and accepting an imperfect (but good) deal rather than continue to spend lives fighting for a pipe-dream. He's been vindicated: 99 years on, the North still isn't ready to be absorbed into an Irish republic. The rumours about the Princess are almost certainly just a funny story! |
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 1, 2021 19:40:48 GMT
Royal jubilees: George III
The planned Platinum Jubilee celebrations for 2022 will be the first ever, as no previous British monarch reigned for 70 years. For that matter, only a handful ever reigned for 50 years and only two for 60. King George III was the first British monarch to mark the occasion of 50 years on the throne in a big way. A few kings before him reached the 50-year milestone, but they inherited the title at an early age and there is no record of great celebrations so they don't really count. George III was a popular monarch; there was a national day of celebration for the start of his Golden Jubilee year on October 25th 1809. People everywhere had fêtes, feasts and fireworks. There were speeches and services of thanksgiving; a statue was installed in Weymouth, many prisoners were pardoned and set free and there was some commemorative merchandise including coins:    
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 3, 2021 8:08:53 GMT
George III's Golden Jubilee: rummers and prunts
Among the commemorative items made to celebrate King George III's Golden Jubilee in 1809 were some 'rummers' with 'prunts'. I had to look those words up: a rummer was a type of large drinking glass studded with glass prunts to ensure a safe grip. George III was not a mason, but some of his Jubilee rummers have the All-seeing Eye at the top:   “Engraved for the Golden Jubilee George III. Inscribed Jubilee Oct 25th 1809, 50 Year, GRIII. On the reverse a monogram JAH“
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 4, 2021 8:31:56 GMT
Royal jubilees: Queen Victoria's 50 years
Queen Victoria was the next monarch after George III to reign for 50 years. Her Golden Jubilee of 1887 was celebrated with a huge banquet to which 50 European kings and princes were invited. There were many processions and lavish events. The usual merchandise was produced for patriotic subjects to buy. A panting of the state banquet and a photograph of the Queen's procession:   A souvenir for the scrapbook and a commemorative plate:  
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 7, 2021 8:54:18 GMT
Royal jubilees: Queen Victoria's 60 years
Queen Victoria was the first British monarch to have a Diamond Jubilee, although George III almost made it. The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in June 1897. The British Empire was at its height and Queen Victoria reigned over 450 million people; the Jubilee was celebrated globally for the first time; the Queen telegraphed a message to all nations in the Empire: "From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them.” There was a whole fortnight of celebrations, including a state banquet and a garden party for the royals. Another first was the use of film to record some of the procedures. Queen Victoria in 1897:  “The longest reign” on a commemorative mug: 
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 8, 2021 8:23:25 GMT
Royal jubilees: Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession
Queen Victoria travelled by carriage from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral for a thanksgiving service. The British Army, the Royal Navy and many troops from Canada, India, Africa and the South Pacific took part in the six-mile procession. Some of this was captured on film, but it isn't very good quality. Some of the Indian soldiers:  The Queen was 78 at the time and arthritis prevented her from climbing the steps, so the service was held outside while she remained in her carriage. Her son and heir Edward, Prince of Wales can be seen on horseback on the left of the close-up of Queen Victoria, who is in dark clothes:  
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 9, 2021 8:33:22 GMT
Royal Jubilees: King George V's 25 years
The four-generation bronze medal is just one of the many coins and medals struck to commemorate the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. It shows her heir the future Edward VII, his heir the future George V and his heir the future Edward VIII:   Of these three kings, George V was the only one to reign long enough to reach a significant milestone. In 1935, he celebrated his 25 years on the throne in a big way. It was the first ever Silver Jubilee celebration of any British monarch in history. Perhaps he made the most of it because he knew that he would not live to see another major milestone. He died less than a year later. Queen Mary took part alongside him in everything:  
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 11, 2021 8:23:32 GMT
Royal Jubilees: King George V memorabilia
Some of the merchandise for George V's Silver Jubilee is still obtainable; it is marketed as 'antiques and collectibles'. I don't find most of the coins, medals, stamps, mugs, plates, glassware etc. very interesting, but these books and the coin glass with prunts stand out:   
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 12, 2021 8:14:24 GMT
Royal Jubilees: three for the Queen with another one next year
Queen Elizabeth II has celebrated three Jubilees so far: Silver in 1977, Golden in 2002 and Diamond in 2012. Next year's Platinum Jubilee will be the UK's first ever: no previous monarch has ever reached the 70-year milestone. Some details of the celebrations have been announced: a special birthday parade, beacons, a Platinum Party at the Palace, the usual Service of Thanksgiving and a pageant are just a few of the forthcoming attractions. No need to wait for everything: there is plenty of royal purple and gold Platinum Jubilee merchandise available already, this chinaware for example:  www.royalcollectionshop.co.uk/chinaware/collection/the-platinum-jubilee.html
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 13, 2021 8:25:01 GMT
The Silver Jubilee of 1977
There were events, parades and street parties everywhere in the UK to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 25 years on the throne. The Queen spent most of the year on the move, travelling all over the UK. She also toured many Commonwealth countries. She had many engagements and walkabouts, and she wore many different outfits. One hat was very unusual – for her:   All the usual products were on sale. Here is a very colourful selection of memorabilia: 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 14, 2021 19:03:23 GMT
The Golden Jubilee of 2002
The year 2002 started badly for the Queen: Princess Margaret died in February and the Queen Mother died in March. However, the Golden Jubilee celebrations went ahead: the royal show must go on. This was the big one. This was a show-biz extravaganza with a cast of millions! Parades, parties and pop concerts in the gardens of Buckingham Palace were among the many attractions. The royals watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony:  Just reading the list of the Queen's engagements is exhausting. She went everywhere, did everything and saw everyone. She went on 55 walkabouts! It was quite the bucket list. Here is an extract from a statement by her Press Secretary: “The Queen has travelled on or been aboard the following methods of transport during the Jubilee: a 777 airplane, 727 airplane, Falcon airplane, 146 airplane, helicopter, Skyrail, golden bus, metro, Royal train, steam train, aircraft carrier (HMS Ark Royal), a minesweeper (HMS Bangor), Royal barge, lifeboat, Gold State Coach, horse drawn carriage, Rolls Royce, State Land Rover, Jaguar and new Bentley.“ www.royal.uk/50-facts-about-queens-golden-jubileeThe Gold State Coach gets wheeled out only for very big occasions. The Queen rode in it to St. Paul's Cathedral for the usual thanksgiving service: 
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 16, 2021 19:02:43 GMT
Huge crowds for the 2002 Golden Jubilee
Thousands of enthusiastic people came to The Mall, which connects Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, to see various processions and parades and stand outside the Palace. This demonstration of interest and support was not good news for the anti-Monarchists of the time!  
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 17, 2021 19:07:50 GMT
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 18, 2021 19:15:58 GMT
The Diamond Jubilee of 2012
The Queen celebrated her 86th birthday and 60 years on the throne in 2012. She did not repeat all the travelling that she had done for her Golden Jubilee 10 years earlier; the Cornwalls attended some events on her behalf. The Queen's Press Secretary provided a summary of the celebrations in the usual official statement. Beacons, concerts, Big Jubilee Lunches - community events in which over 8 million took part - a multi-faith reception at Lambeth Palace and a river pageant were among the highlights. www.royal.uk/60-facts-about-diamond-jubilee-celebrations-ukThe events were broadcast live on the big screens that were installed in key locations in major cities, and the Daily Mail provided a large number of spectacular pictures. Bad news for Republic members:  The concert stage in front of Buckingham Palace, where a specially-written song was performed:   www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2155198/Diamond-Jubilee-2012-A-look-glorious-weekend-Red-Arrows-fly-past-1-000-boat-flotilla.html
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 19, 2021 19:17:20 GMT
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 20, 2021 18:58:52 GMT
Diamond Jubilee 2012: Maoris on the river Thames
The Queen may not have been able to visit the Commonwealth, but the Commonwealth could come to her. A Maori war canoe took part in the river pageant, and some other New Zealanders demonstrated the traditional sign of defiance:  
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 22, 2021 19:09:25 GMT
So now we wait
The Diamond Jubilee of 2012 could well be the last milestone of its kind for many years to come. The Queen may not reach her 70th anniversary; assuming that the monarchy continues, Prince Charles is very unlikely to reign for 25 years and it would be quite a while before King William's Silver Jubilee. The many articles, images and videos of the highlights of past Jubilees that can be found online may be all that we get; on the other hand, next year may see the biggest and best celebration ever. We will just have to wait and see. Merchandise for the Platinum Jubilee is already on sale. They should consider selling something like this: 
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Post by UnseenI on Nov 24, 2021 19:05:15 GMT
Derek Jarman's Jubilee: a by-product of 1977
The title of Derek Jarman's controversial cult film Jubilee (1978) is an ironic reference to Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee of 1977. The Elizabethan astrologer Dr John Dee shows Queen Elizabeth I a vision of her realm 400 years in the future:  England is over-run by roving gangs of girl punks and thuggish police. Dorset has become a fascist state within a state where the rich luxuriate behind barbed wire. An anarchist called Bod strangles Elizabeth II and steals her crown: 
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