What's Occurring? The Queen loses the Christmas Day top spot to Gavin and Stacey

She's been the Christmas Day star for the past few years but as the decade draws to a close, the Queen has lost top spot to some long lost favourites. Initial ratings for the UK festive TV ratings shows Her Majesty coming in second to the return of one of the BBC's best loved comedies.

Red roses for a king, from the Queen who followed him

He was the king whose actions led to a Conquest seen as the turning point in royal power in England. She is the woman who wears the Crown that was claimed in Conquest and which has wielded power ever since. On a cold October day in London, Elizabeth II left red roses at the tomb of Edward the Confessor, one more chapter in the royal story that links them both and all played out in a building associated with the Monarchy for centuries.

The Widowhood of Isabella of France

But did she do it? Isabella, Queen of England was widowed on September 21st 1327. But there were no widows weeds for this consort. Isabella had already helped usurp her husband in a coup months before his timely death in Berkeley Castle. But the question that's remained ever since is - did this Queen of England help finish off her husband?

Royal Wedding Dresses: Queen Victoria

May is Victoria month, marking two centuries since the start of her story

It's one of the most famous royal wedding dresses of all but very hard to define. The gown worn by Queen Victoria on February 10th 1840 at St James' Palace to marry her already beloved Albert is credited with making white weddings top of every stylish bride's wish list but try and describe it and you might just come a cropper. Of course, there are no photos (well, possibly but that's a whole other great big royal row) and many of the images we have are of the dress on mannequins in exhibitions. But it is a truly beautiful gown and a part of a royal story integral to the history of the British Monarchy. As May, the month marking the 200th anniversary of her birth, gets under way, here's a look at one of Victoria's most famous moments.

The Queen's Birthday 2019

(photo ITV still, fair use)

The Queen's 93rd birthday fell  on Easter Sunday which meant we all got a glimpse of the monarch on her special day. And while the papers might have been talking about brothers at war, the Queen did what she always did - smiled and got on with things. On a sunny day in Windsor, she made sure the image of royalty remained calm and serene. Still ruling at 93, here's the Queen's birthday photo album for 2019.

The Queen at 93: from unexpected monarch to greatest of them all

The Queen of England is 93 today. We'll see her at Windsor as she marks Easter with her family. Celebrated today as the longest reigning, the longest lived and perhaps the most beloved of all monarchs, she began life over nine decades ago as a princess with no prospect of a throne.

Queens of England

It's been a bit quiet here recently but all that is about to change. Firstly, thank you for sticking with the blog in its sleepy period. And secondly, let me tell you all about the changes that are coming now that spring is here.

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.

Royal Brides: Princess Astrid of Norway

Princess Astrid of Noreway on her wedding day with her father and husband

(photo kongehuset.no)

If you're expecting a great big train and endless veil, look away now. The marriage of Princess Astrid of Norway was a relatively simple affair with a relatively simple dress which ended up being converted into a gala gown by the thrifty bride. But while there's no eighteen feet of tulle following this royal bride up the aisle, there is a very pretty dress that's very of its time and all the more standout because it's so different from many that we've seen before and since.

16 royal birthdays for January 2018

Here's hoping you stocked up on birthday cards in the sales because January is a bumper month for royal celebrations. There are kings, queens, consorts, heirs, spares and twins on the list of birthday royals for January with just about every week of the month already packed with cake and candles featuring regal monograms. Get the stamps ready, here are sixteen royal birthdays for January.

January's Royal Brides

January. Not really the month you think of when someone says ''wedding''. But there are plenty who choose to say 'I do' as the new year gets under way and three modern royal brides are among them. And they're all sisters of sovereigns. As the wind bites and the chill sets in, get warmed up and loved up with these three January royal brides....