Artemisia

About Artemisia

I'm of mixed Armenian-Russian ancestry and have lived abroad most of my life. A devote Francophile, I also happen to be an Anglophile (an unusual combination, I know). My interests can probably be summed up in just a couple of words - astronomy, physics, sci-fi, genealogy, and jewellery.
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Queen Elizabeth Discharged From Hospital

  March 4, 2013 at 5:09 pm by

Despite the rumours the Queen will have to spend at least two days in hospital, Her Majesty was today discharged and judging by her glowing appearance is back to normal. Queen Elizabeth left King Edward VII Hospital at around 2.45pm following a visit from her personal physician, Professor John Cunningham. Before leaving, the Queen thanked doctors and nurses at the hospital for their care and professionalism. Her Majesty had to be … Continue reading →

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Queen Elizabeth Hospitalised with Gastroenteritis

  March 4, 2013 at 2:09 am by

Queen Elizabeth was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital for immediate medical treatment on Sunday afternoon. Her Majesty is recovering from gastroenteritis, and her physicians thought it best for the Monarch to be treated in a hospital. Gastroenteritis may cause dehydration so it is possible Queen Elizabeth needed an intravenous therapy. The Queen is reportedly in good health and spirits. It isn’t currently known how long she will stay in … Continue reading →

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The Duchess of Cambridge Visits Action on Addiction’s Hope House

  February 22, 2013 at 3:24 am by

The Duchess of Cambridge returned to her official duties with a visit to Hope House, a residential treatment centre run by Action for Addiction, in Clapham. This was the Duchess’s second visit to the charity; her first was a private trip she made to learn more about the charity before becoming its Patron. Catherine was greeted by dozens of photographers and journalists upon her arrival, all eager to see the … Continue reading →

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Charles and Camilla to visit Jordan, Qatar and Oman

  February 14, 2013 at 7:03 am by

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will pay official visits to Jordan, Qatar and Oman from March 11 to March 19, 2013. According to the Clarence House’s press release, “the tour will help to strengthen the United Kingdom’s bilateral relations with key partners in the region, relations which are underpinned by the close personal friendships that exist between Their Royal Highnesses and the Royal Families in each … Continue reading →

Posted in Jordan, Oman, Qatar, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Beatrice and Eugenie Represent Britain in Germany on Their First Official Foreign Visit

  January 19, 2013 at 3:03 pm by

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie undertook their first joint official foreign duty to help promote British business in Germany. The royal sisters were in Berlin on request from Prime Minister David Cameron for a two-day tour promoting the Britain as part of the GREAT Campaign – a global initiative to attract visitors, business and students to the UK. The sisters began the tour to Berlin and Hanover by driving a Mini … Continue reading →

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William and Kate’s Children to be Princes and Princesses

  January 9, 2013 at 1:19 pm by

The Queen issued the first Letters Patent of 2013 by granting all the future children of William and Kate the style of Royal Highness and titles of Princes and Princesses. The Letters Patent was issued on December 31, 2012 and made public on January 9, 2013 – the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge. The text reads: “The Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of … Continue reading →

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Prince Charles and The Duke of Westminster Come To Farmers’ Aid

  December 25, 2012 at 10:46 am by

  The Prince of Wales donated £150,000 to aid those struggling through the winter months. The announcement was made following a meeting called by the Prince of Wales with the leaders of farm charities. The money will come from The Prince’s Countryside Fund and constitutes the entirety of its emergency fund. Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster – the richest person in Britain – has already pledged to donate the … Continue reading →

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UK to Name Part of Antarctica “Queen Elizabeth Land”

  December 20, 2012 at 4:10 pm by

  The Foreign Office today announced part of the British Antarctic Territory was to be named “Queen Elizabeth Land” in honour of Her Majesty. The territory makes up almost a third of Britain’s claim on the continent and covers 169,000 sq miles – almost twice the size of the United Kingdom. In future, all British maps will bear the new name although other countries will have the freedom to decide … Continue reading →

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Queen Elizabeth Becomes the First Monarch in 231 Years to Attend a Cabinet Meeting

  December 20, 2012 at 3:57 pm by

  Queen Elizabeth attended a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, as part of her Jubilee celebrations. The visit was a historic one for, as David Cameron revealed, it marked the first time the Head of State attended such a meeting in over 230; the last British Monarch to be present at a peace-time cabinet meeting was George III in 1781, although the Queen’s father, George VI, attended a war … Continue reading →

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Letters Written by Nicholas II Sell For a Record Price

  December 17, 2012 at 11:52 am by

Letters by the last Russian Tsar written during World War I sold for a record $130,000 at a Swiss auction house. They were initially estimated to fetch in the region of $15,000 but a private Russian collector paid nearly ten times the price to acquire the historical documents. The letters were sold by Prince Nicholas Romanov, a second cousin of the late Tsar and one of the claimants of the … Continue reading →

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The Duchess of Cambridge at Sports Personality of the Year Awards

  December 17, 2012 at 11:37 am by

The Duchess of Cambridge made her first formal appearance since announcing her pregnancy to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony in London where she presented two awards. The first one was a Lifetime Achievement Award to Lord Sebastian Coe; Lord Coe was the chairman of the London Organising Committee and is widely credited as being instrumental at securing the London will host the 2012 games, as … Continue reading →

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Baby Girl for Prince Aimone and Princess Olga

  December 16, 2012 at 3:42 am by

The Duke and Duchess of Apulia welcomed their first daughter on December 14, 2012. The baby girl was born at 9:00 in Paris; she is the first daughter and third child of Prince Aimone and Princess Olga. The newborn Princess joins her elder brothers, Umberto and Amedeo. According to the press release from the House of Savoy, both mother and baby Princess are doing well. Prince Aimone, Duke of Apulia … Continue reading →

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Expecting Their First Child

  December 3, 2012 at 1:00 pm by

The Buckingham Palace announced today that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her first child. No approximate due date was given. It will be the first child for William and Kate. Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are “delighted” with the news. The news was announced earlier, as the Duchess has been admitted to hospital requiring extra fluids and hydration: “The … Continue reading →

Posted in The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

The State Banquet: Jewels, Orders and Decorations

  November 28, 2012 at 10:47 pm by

As with all State Visits, the hosts and the guests pay special attention to the Orders and Decorations they are wearing. The rule of thumb is to wear the highest honour available from the other country, and the Banquet in honour of the Kuwaiti State Visit was no exception in that respect. The Queen already held the Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great and is also Member Special … Continue reading →

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Queen Hosts State Banquet in Honour of the Emir of Kuwait

  November 28, 2012 at 10:32 pm by

To celebrate the tree-day State Visit of 83-year-old Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth hosted a State Banquet in Emir’s honour at Windsor Castle. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, and other members of the Royal Family were in attendance. Also … Continue reading →

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Thousands Gather for King Zog of Albania’s Re-Burial

  November 19, 2012 at 10:37 am by

Over 3,000 Albanians turned out on Saturday to pay their final respects to the late King Zog I of Albania, whose remains were re-buried with state honours after their repatriation from France. They arrived in the international airport of the Albanian capital, Tirana, where they were greeted by family members and officials, including Prince Leka (the King’s grandson) and his fiancée. The King was interred in a newly built Royal … Continue reading →

Posted in Albania, Historical Royals | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Remembrance Day: The Queen Leads Tributes to War Dead

  November 12, 2012 at 11:03 am by

On November 11, Britain fell to remember its war dead at services across the country as the Queen led the nation in honouring the fallen. As the first stroke of 11am sounded, the country observed a traditional two-minute silence in honour of all those who had given their lives for their country and the Queen in all conflicts since World War One. The Queen laid the first wreath at the … Continue reading →

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The Duchess of Braganza Presents the Order of St Isabel to European Royals

  October 27, 2012 at 7:36 pm by

On October 27, the Duchess of Braganza conferred the Order of Saint Isabel upon several European royal ladies in recognition of their philanthropic work. Those honoured were Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein, Princess Christine of Orleans-Braganza ( née Princess de Ligne, wife of Prince Antonio of Orleans-Braganza) and Princess Eleanora of Ligne (née Princess of Orleans-Braganza and Wittelsbach, wife of Michel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium, Brazil, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jewel of the Day: The Queen Mother’s Heart Shaped Amethyst Pendant Necklace

  October 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm by

As first pictures of the Duchess of Cornwall at Skyfall première emerged, a lot of people (at least, lot of jewellery watchers) wondered about the amethyst necklace she was wearing. It was certainly not one she had ever worn before, and not an easily recognizable piece from British Royal Jewellery collection. My first thought was that the necklace was brand new, and had it not been for a more careful … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Charles and Camilla Attend Skyfall Première

  October 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm by

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended the world première of Skyfall in London. The screening, held at the Royal Albert Hall, was in aid of charities that support former and current members of Britain’s intelligence agencies. Skyfall is the 23rd official Bond film, and Daniel Craig’s third appearance as the world-famous super-spy. Prince Charles and Camilla spoke to the enthusiastic fans who had gathered for the … Continue reading →

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