The Queen's January

January is always a low key month for the Queen. She stays at Sandringham throughout the month and we mostly get to see her as she heads out to church. But while the public appearances have been as restrained as usual, Elizabeth II has found herself hovering close to the headlines in what's proved to be a busy month for the monarch.

The Queen, in all her guises

So this is kind of cool. Trawling around on the internet, as you do when you're waiting for the baked potatoes to finish cooking, I came across this rather clever graphic of the Queen growing older, on banknotes.

The A-Z of the Windsor 2018

The old year is almost done with us but as we prepare to say goodbye to 2018, there is just enough time to look back and cherish some of the standout moments of the past twelve months. And for the House of Windsor it really has been a major year. From weddings to babies and all kinds of engagements in between, 2018 will go down in the history books as a special one. As the clock ticks down to midnight, here's the Windsor A-Z of 2018...

The Royal Family's Best Loved Photo of 2018....

...is....Harry and Meghan's official wedding portrait. The image of the couple, taken by Alexi Lubomirski, topped the likes list on the Kensington Palace Instagram account and across all royal social media channels for 2018. And the final rundown of the Windsor winners provides an interesting insight into what royalty means today.

The Queen tops the TV ratings

The Queen's Christmas speech has topped the TV ratings for 2018. HM's message of goodwill was watched by 6.4 million people on the big day itself when audiences on BBC, ITV and Sky (which produced this year's speech) were combined.

The Palace the Queen Leaves Behind...

Here it is, in all its winter glory, the palace the Queen is leaving behind. For Christmas, that is. The festive period is well and truly on its way as HM has hopped on the train on her way to Sandringham.

A Queen's Christmas: the first televised speech

The countdown to Christmas is under way. The bells are jingling, the tinsel is tinseling and it's time to get festive. Yes, there will be sparkle and season's greetings and plenty of royal Christmas trees here over the coming weeks but there's also going to be a December special. I called this blog 'Queens of England' because I am totally fascinated by the amazing women who have held that role. So in the run up to Christmas, every day will focus on a festive season that was special or stand out for a Queen of England. And first of all, it's the present Queen and the day she made history by broadcasting to the nation on TV.

George H. W. Bush: a President and the Windsors

George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States of America, has died. He was 94. President Bush was in charge of the White House between 1989 and 1993 and also served as Vice President to Ronald Reagan between 1981 and 1989. And during his time in office, as you would expect, he had plenty of brushes with royalty. The man now being remembered for his diplomacy, strength of character and determination spent years at the highest levels of power and during that time, entertained the Queen and her family several times. Here's a look back at some of President Bush Senior's most famous meetings with the House of Windsor.

The Windsor Wrap, January 28th 2018

January is almost done, the Queen is getting ready to leave Sandringham after her Christmas break and the royal year is warming up nicely. It's been quite a busy week for the Windsors as the royal diary cranks back into action and to get everyone feeling sparkly for the year ahead, another regal grandchild went and announced their engagement. Here's the Windsor's week in a minute....

The Windsor Week: let's make it a keeper

We've had high profile TV interviews, so many engagements it's been hard to keep up with, fashion as a way of helping others and a man's sartorial choices making the biggest headlines. It's been a good week for the House of Windsor. Speaking very personally, this is how I want my royals to be. OK, I'm one voice but I'm going to share it anyway. If this is the future then all is looking rosy. Why have the past seven days worked so well for the bods at Buck House?

The Queen and the Corsetiere

There's a word you don't get to write every day. Corsetiere. And so much more sophisticated than bra supplier even though they have both been used to describe a lady who has just fallen foul of the Queen of England. To much fanfare, and headlines around the world, Rigby & Peller has lost its royal warrant because one of its leading ladies wrote a book about bras and Buckingham Palace.

Meghan Markle's Media Day

For a woman who made her name in the media, perhaps it shouldn't be that surprising that Meghan Markle's first public engagement of 2018 was dominated by communication. Meghan, along with Prince Harry, was a guest at a radio station. But while they heard about this take on the oldest form of broadcast media, a new way of getting the message across was making headlines, too. Yes, Meghan has closed down her social media accounts. Anyone would think she was marrying into royalty or something.

The Windsor Wrap, January 6th 2018

A new year, a new start and some lovely news as 2018 begins. The Windsors might still be on their Christmas break but that didn't stop them making headlines. Here's what the Royal Family got up to this week, all in one minute (and there's music, too, just make sure you're not on mute).

The Royal 2018: January's Aquarians

January brings a shower of regal birthdays. In fact, there are so many celebrations going on, it's hard to keep count. So we've fallen back on signs of the Zodiac and having lined up the Capricorns (find them all here), it's time for the royal age of Aquarius. Eight more regal birthdays including a milestone that will likely pass all but unmarked and yet more opportunities for cute photos of younr royals. Who am I talking about? Read on to find out more about January's later royal birthdays....

The Royal 2018: January's crop of Capricorns

After all that Christmas feasting, don't think you're out of the party woods yet. January is a bumper month for royal birthdays with kings, queens, consorts and heirs packing out the month with celebrations. If you get a day off from all this anniversary cake and candles, count yourself lucky. To keep it manageable, this year's birthdays are served in two parts with a little help from the signs of the zodiac. Here come the royal birthday girls and boys for January born as Capricorns.....

The Royal 2018: 6 reasons to look forward....

It's here! The bumper royal year that is 2018 is under way and already excitement is mounting. So much to look forward to and so much to celebrate, what better way to start a new year than with hearts filled with smiles at happiness still to come? Here's what we already know we can look forward to in 2018 and that's before our royals have even got their jammies off after a night of celebrations. Happy New Year!!

George and Charlotte, Changing the Guard

Changing the Guard usually takes place in the morning but there was a royal version of it on the balcony of Buckingham Palace this Saturday afternoon. Prince George and Princess Charlotte made their second appearance there for the Queen's Official Birthday celebrations and, without really knowing, took on a new role in their royal career. For their great grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, is retiring in a few weeks' time and this could be the final time he makes an appearance at this event. Prince Philip seemed full of pride and joy as he watched the next generation enjoying a spectacle he has been part of for over six decades. Today, the royal guard began to change.

Elizabeth and Isabella

Two women who were both born third in line to their country's thrones mark their birthdays today. Both bear a version of a name that has been used for royal women for centuries.  And both share a common ancestor or two, claiming descent from both Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark.  But life is very different for the two royals marking birthdays today.  Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Isabella of Denmark were born 81 years apart with very different futures beckoning them.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 88th birthday on April 21st 2014

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary found herself heiress to the throne after the beautiful uncle who was the great hope of the monarchy on the day of her birth abdicated when she was just 9 years old.  Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe waits behind her father and brother in line for her country's throne and will only see her place in the succession move her further away from the crown as she gets older.  

Princess Isabella of Denmark in a photo taken by her mother, Crown Princess Mary, to mark her sixth birthday. There were no official photos for her seventh birthday

But their names share the same roots with Elizabeth the very English version of the French Isabelle or Isabeau that translated into the Italian and Spanish Isabella.  And they share another honour - both were first granddaughters for monarchs who found themselves all but surrounded by princes in their palaces.  A similar name, the same birthday but very different destinies.