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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Royals At Buckingham Palace Reception For Team GB

  October 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm by

Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes were honoured yesterday at a glittering Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. British Royals turned out in force to show their appreciation for the sporting heroes who had won Britain an unprecedented haul of gold, silver and bronze medals during the spectacular London 2012 Games. Team GB did the country proud with an outstanding performance during the Olympic … Continue reading →

Posted in The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Day in History: 350 years since Charles II sold Dunkirk to France

  October 22, 2012 at 7:33 pm by

350 years ago Charles II sold Dunkirk to France for approximately £400,000.  It was a hugely unpopular move that was influenced by financial and political needs. The port, although a valuable strategic outpost, was a huge drain on the King’s financial resources. However, there can be no doubt that even a greater motive was the vital need to forge closer relationships with France. Dunkirk was essentially a liability to the … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Historical Royals, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Camilla Greeted by her Grandsons on a Visit to Marlborough

  October 20, 2012 at 3:12 pm by

The Duchess of Cornwall visited Marlborough, Wiltshire, as part of the ongoing Diamond Jubilee tours. During her visit, she unveiled a 10ft long mosaic – part of the town’s local history exhibition – which was designed by local children. The Duchess also had a guided tour of the prison cells at Marlborough Town Hall, which she described as “spooky”. A 200-strong crowd had gathered to greet the Duchess. Delighted, Camilla … Continue reading →

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Day in History: Jadwiga is Crowned King of Poland

  October 18, 2012 at 7:54 pm by

The coronation ceremony that took place in the Wawel Cathedral in Krakow on 16 October 1384 was truly a splendid event: Polish nobles spared no expenses and the grandeur of the coronation impressed everyone present. But the historical significance was even greater. For one thing, the young girl who was being crowned (only 11 years old at the time) was to go down in history as one of Poland’s greatest … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, Other Royals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Letters from Prince Charles to Ministers to Remain Private

  October 18, 2012 at 7:53 pm by

The Government has blocked the release of around 20 private letters the Prince of Wales wrote to ministers between 2004 and 2005. The letters were requested under the Freedom of Information Act but the Attorney General stopped their release, maintaining that the publication could potentially undermine the Prince’s position of political neutrality. The High Court had previously ruled that two dozen letters should be accessible under Freedom of Information Act. … Continue reading →

Posted in The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Day in History: Battle of Hastings

  October 14, 2012 at 2:49 pm by

On October 14th one of the most important battles in British history was fought – Battle of Hastings. Not only did it signify the end of Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of the Norman one, it was also the very last successful invasion of England. Since then, for nearly 1,000 years, no one succeeded to repeat the feat of William the Conqueror, the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Day in History: King John Loses Crown Jewels

  October 14, 2012 at 11:59 am by

The period between 1214-1216 was a particularly difficult one for King John: most of his country was occupied by the French King, Louis VIII The Lion (who had been declared King in London), even his most ardent supporters were deserting John’s side, the Barons forced him to sign Magna Carta, the Pope issued a proclamation whereby anyone who tried to seize the Crown from John would be entitled to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Death of Paddy Roy Bates, “Prince” of Sealand

  October 13, 2012 at 4:36 pm by

Paddy Roy Bates, the self-proclaimed Prince of Sealand, passed away on October 9.  Prince Roy was the founder and first sovereign of the non-recognised Principality of Sealand. Bates was born on 29 August 1921 in London to Harry and Lilyan Bates He served in the British Army, rising to the rank of Major. After leaving active service, he was briefly a fisherman before moving into pirate radio. In 1965, Paddy ousted … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Day in History: Assassination of Alexander I of Yugoslavia

  October 11, 2012 at 6:19 pm by

On October 9, 1934 His Majesty King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was assassinated in Marseille during a state visit to France, along with the French Foreign Minister Louis Barthou. Alexander I was the first King of Yugoslavia, and the last King of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. His assassination was one of the first assassinations captured on film: the shooting occurred right in front of the cameraman. Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, Serbia/Yugoslavia | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Prince William Attends Funeral of Former Nanny

  October 11, 2012 at 4:31 pm by

Prince William cancelled high-profile engagements in the North East of England to attend the funeral of his childhood nanny, Olga Powell. The Prince also represented his brother, Prince Harry, who was unable to attend as the latter is currently in Afghanistan. The Duke of Cambridge paid an emotional goodbye to the woman who was by his side for most of his life, from childhood to adult years. He was joined … Continue reading →

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Reburial of Prince Paul and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia

  October 8, 2012 at 5:28 am by

The ceremony of reburial of Prince Paul and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia took place on October 6, 2012. It was a semi-state event attended by the country’s highest dignitaries and virtually the entire Serbian Royal Family. Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine, Hereditary Prince Peter, Princes Philip and Alexander, Princess Elizabeth (daughter of Prince Paul and Princess Olga) and other members of Karadjordjevic Royal Family paid final respect to … Continue reading →

Posted in Serbia/Yugoslavia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Japanese Princesses May Be Allowed to Form Imperial Branches

  October 8, 2012 at 4:26 am by

The Japanese Government has released a review of its plans of changes in the imperial family system whereby females may be allowed to retain their titles, styles and status after marriages to commoners, and to create their own Imperial branches. Currently, two versions of the proposal exist. The first version allows female members of the family to not only create their own branches within the Imperial Family and retain their … Continue reading →

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Death of Prince Albert of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen

  October 7, 2012 at 7:23 pm by

Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen passed away on 6 October 2012, just a month and a half short of his 78th birthday. He was the disputed head of the Royal House of Saxony. The Prince was born on 30 November 1934 as the fourth child and youngest son of Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen (second son of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Louise … Continue reading →

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New Addition to the Wales Family: Bluebell the Rescue Pup

  October 3, 2012 at 1:55 pm by

Sometimes fairytales do come true, even for dogs. Found abandoned in a park at just four weeks old, Bluebell didn’t have the best start in life. The tiny Jack Russell was in very bad shape; she suffered from starvation, cold, a severe skin condition that had stripped her of much of her hair, and was scared and bewildered. Now, however, Bluebell has been nursed back to health and will have … Continue reading →

Posted in The United Kingdom | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Prince Giorgi Bagration-Bagrationi Celebrates His First Birthday

  September 29, 2012 at 6:02 pm by

Prince Giorgi Bagration Bagrationi turned one year old on September 27. He is the son and heir of Prince David Bagration of Mukhrani and Princess Anna Bagration-Gruzinsky. The young Prince was born at 22:40 local time on September 27th, in Madrid, weighting 3.7 kilograms. From birth, he has been styled and titles His Royal Highness The Prince Giorgi Bagration Bagrationi. The press release for the Georgian Royal Family at the … Continue reading →

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New Official Portrait of Queen Elizabeth Unveiled

  September 29, 2012 at 2:32 pm by

A new portrait of the Queen to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee has been unveiled in Australia. Painted by Australian-born artist Ralph Heimans, it depicts the Queen in the Sacrarium of Westminster Abbey. The magnificent artwork shows the Queen in a moment of solitary reflection at the centre circle of the Cosmati pavement, exactly where she was crowned over 60 years ago. The Cosmati pavement is the spot ever English monarch … Continue reading →

Posted in The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Day in History: Battle of Stamford Bridge

  September 25, 2012 at 4:52 pm by

1066 is nowadays remembered as the year of the Norman Invasion of England, but it could have as easily been the Norwegian invasion. The death of the childless Edward the Confessor triggered a succession crisis as there was no clear-cut heir to the Throne. At some point, it was believed he would be succeeded by Edmund Ironside’s son, Edward Aetheling. And indeed, the King ensured the young heir returned to … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, Norway, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Day in History: Coronation of George III and Queen Charlotte

  September 23, 2012 at 10:49 am by

When George II died on 25 October 1760, his grandson succeeded him as George III at the age of 22. The new King was very popular; as Dr Johnson said, he enjoyed “the great advantage of not being his grandfather”. Unlike his two predecessors of the House of Hanover, George III was raised in England and spoke English as his first language, which furthered endeared him to people. George III … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Prince Harry Re-deployed to Afghanistan

  September 7, 2012 at 1:31 pm by

Prince Harry has arrived in Afghanistan for his four-month tour of duty as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, the Ministry of Defence has announced. Captain Wales, as the Prince is known in the military, arrived on Thursday night at the main British base, Camp Bastion in Helmand, where he will be based with the 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps. Looking relaxed if somewhat tired, Harry gave a thumbs-up … Continue reading →

Posted in The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Jewel of the Day: The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

  September 5, 2012 at 8:07 pm by

The tiara was named after its original owner Maria Pavlovna, Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia, the wife of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (third son of Alexander II and brother to Alexander III). The Grand Duchess had impeccable taste in sparkling gems and wore them to great effect. Maria Pavlovna never tried to hide her disdain for Empress Alexandra, wife of Nicholas II, and went as far as to establish a … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Royals, Russia, The United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments