Royal family
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Westminster Abbey: 1,000 years of coronations, from King Harold and William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II and Charles III
The setting of Charles III’s crowning in Westminster Abbey in London lends grandeur and history to this great ceremony. John Goodall considers the evolution of this remarkable building and its role in celebrating the authority and antiquity of the monarchy.
By John Goodall Published
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Coronation memorabilia: Future heirlooms, or future charity shop tat?
Love it or loathe it, royal memorabilia is big business. Huon Mallalieu takes a look at the commemorative souvenirs of the past and considers if they ever really make an investment for the future.
By Huon Mallalieu Published
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What the Charles III coronation invitations look like — and why they'll likely be worth a fortune one day
Invitations to coronations have always been highly prized. Since the 18th century, they have also been designed to reflect the solemnity and splendour of the occasion, as John Goodall discovers.
By John Goodall Published
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Camilla, the Queen Consort: The 'best listener in the world' and the King's secret weapon
Whether she’s highlighting domestic abuse, championing literacy, dining with pensioners or quietly supporting her husband, our new Queen is excelling in her royal role, says Jane Wheatley.
By Jane Wheatley Published
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All the King's gardens, by Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh considers the new monarch’s extraordinary contribution to British gardening, which is always underpinned by organic methods and a strong belief in husbandry and stewardship.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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What it's like to have a prime seat at a Royal Coronation by John Betjeman, who reported for Country Life in 1953
The late, great Poet Laureate John Betjeman was among the congregation when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953 — and he wrote about it for Country Life. We're very proud to reproduce that article now — The Queen's Coronation: In The Abbey by John Betjeman.
By John Betjeman Published
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The coronation of King Charles III: What you'll find inside Country Life's 350-page commemorative issue
Country Life 26 April 2023 commemorates the coronation of King Charles III with an extraordinary issue of over 350 pages paying tribute to the monarch.
By Country Life Published
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Carla Carlisle: 'What do the Sussexes want? How does this saga end?'
Our US-born, Norfolk-based columnist Carla Carlisle was only too happy to welcome Meghan Markle into the sisterhood of American women married to Englishmen. How things have changed since that 'hopeful and happy time'.
By Carla Carlisle Published
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What sort of man is King Charles III, and what sort of king will he be?
A brilliant conversationalist, a cracking host and, surprisingly, an excellent actor, Charles III genuinely cares for people and strives to make a difference to their lives. Anna Tyzack speaks to some of those who have crossed his path.
By Anna Tyzack Published
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Country Life's forthcoming special issue on King Charles III
Country Life's forthcoming issue on November 9th, 2022, will take an in-depth look at His Majesty The King.
By Toby Keel Published
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Carla Carlisle: Wallis Simpson's great gift to Britain? Swapping vain, impulsive Edward for the patience, steadiness and kindliness of George and Elizabeth
Carla Carlisle may be a free-born American, but she doffs her cap to the late Queen, the new King, and how Britain's centuries-old balancing act can trump the whims of political mood in a republic.
By Carla Carlisle Published
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The flowers and pictures left in tribute to Her Majesty The Queen
Literally millions of flowers and other tributes have been laid out around the country in honour of The Queen — here are just a few of them.
By Toby Keel Published
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The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: The tale of the final farewell to Her Majesty
Details and images of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19th September, 2022.
By Toby Keel Published
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'In over a thousand years, no monarch has been more loved or more esteemed': Her Majesty The Queen remembered, by royal biographer Matthew Dennison
The twist of fate that led the young Princess Elizabeth to become heir to the throne could not have gifted us a better sovereign, says Matthew Dennison, as he looks in depth at Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy.
By Matthew Dennison Published
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Balmoral: A Highland paradise, and the much-loved royal family summer escape since 1848
Mary Miers takes a look at a much-loved home of the Royal Family, Balmoral.
By Mary Miers Published
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The Royal Yacht Britannia: How The Queen created a floating home and theatre of state
The Queen was the best-travelled monarch in British history. John Goodall looks at the story of the Royal Yacht Britannia, now permanently moored in Leith, Edinburgh. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
By John Goodall Published
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A witness to history: How The Queen spanned 70 years of global events, from astronauts to actresses
How Her Majesty was so often face-to-face with the people who shaped the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
By Toby Keel Published