The crown jewels of the United Kingdom are precious ceremonial objects used by the British monarchy. Also referred to as the Regalia, these jewels represent a collection of historical pieces of fine objects and vestments in relation to crowning of kings and queens. It is believed that the use of Regalia in England dates back to as early as 200-150 B.C. Its use continues up to the present.

Image

The Collection

Through time, the crown jewels of the United Kingdom became a collection of important objects that were of great significance to transfer of power. The collection is made up of crowns, sceptres, orbs, swords, rings, spurs, colobium sindonis, dalmatic, armills, the royal robe or pall, and other objects that have connection with crowning ceremonies and other state functions. Some of the vestures such as the colobium sindonis and dalmatic resemble those worn by bishops.

The oldest piece of the Regalia is the 12^th century gold Anointing Spoon. It is used to anoint the Sovereign with holy oil. The main piece however in the collection is St. Edward’s Crown. This is the very crown that is used by the Archbishop of Canterbury  to crown a king or queen.  It was the crown used in Queen Elizabeth II’s crowning ceremony in 1953.

The most famous piece in the collection is the Imperial State Crown probably because of the gems used in it numbering to about 3,000. The stones actually came from the old Imperial Crown which has been remade several times. It is traditionally worn by the Sovereign during the coronation’s conclusion as he or she leaves Westminster Abbey. Another occasion where this famous crown is worn is during the State Opening of Parliament.

Abolition and Restoration of Royalty

There was a time that the Regalia’s destruction was ordered in representation of the abolition of royalty. The Regalia was ordered destroyed by Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War that happened in 1649-1650. The symbols of royalty were melted with their gemstones removed. These last remnants of royalty were sold to the highest bidders to raise funds after the devastation of war.

A new set of Regalia had to ordered when royalty was restored. The collection can be seen by visitors at the Tower of London and is guarded by the so-called “Beefeaters“. There had been attempts to steal the crown jewels but none have succeeded so far.

About the Author:

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information to offer to her readers. She currently maintains four personal blogs.

London has many sites and attractions but usually the most prominent tourist destinations are not really specifically children’s attractions. If you’re traveling with children you’ll want to squeeze in sites that your children will like.

Here are three places in London that you can visit, which your children will have fun exploring: [Read more…]

 

The public is so interested in the pregnancy of celebrity moms.  However, the interest goes far more for royal pregnancies because these babies are not only the children of well-known people, they are also heirs to a throne.  Royal pregnancies will always be associated with royal succession since an heir’s position moves with the addition of  each child.

Every appearance, whether public or private is highly anticipated with special focus on the physical condition of the mother and her growing tummy.  Even fashion statements are noted and scrutinized by the public who seems to be forever hungry for every bit of trivia and information about the pregnancy.  It is no secret how reporters find ways to invade the private moments of the royalties and they do it because they know there will always be readers who will appreciate it.

Royal pregnancies also sometimes start a trend in baby names. Health problems experienced in pregnancy also receive fair share in discussion.  Also, there is the inevitable comparison between royalties during their respective pregnancies.

 

 

 

 

The great interest in royal pregnancies arises not only from the natural inclination towards wanting to know about specific details in the lives of famous people. Much as the public would like to see the physical changes undergone by a royal mother, there is a lingering question that always persists.  This is the question of what particular effect will the new baby bring in terms of royal succession.

It is no secret that the chances of those who are farther down the line to ascend to the throne becomes slimmer as the members of the family of those who are first in line increases.  With the coming of the child of Prince William of Wales for example, the place of his brother Prince Henry of Wales will move down one notch.  The ranking of all those next in line will naturally be affected.

There are very serious matters that concern royal succession including the prohibition of having Catholic heirs to the throne and the preference for the male gender  regardless of birth sequence. These issues would probably take some time to be settled, if they are indeed to be changed at all. In the mean time, the public’s obsession with royal pregnancies continues.

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: thefashionfoot.com

A lot of car enthusiasts, particularly the men, love to own and drive vintage cars. For these people, it gives them prestige and a different kind of high to be able to have one or more of these classic vehicles and still being able to drive them around. Having an old car of a popular brand is indeed a morale booster to many of these male car lovers.

England is one country that has produced a number of popular cars. They have graced the roads of various countries since the olden times and some have been well preserved.

Classic cars are a worthy investment. They can still run and can last long if you know how to keep its mileage low each year. And should you decide to sell it at a later time, their value appreciates which means you can earn a significant profit from it.

The Jaguar E-Type is one of the famous English classic cars. A luxury sports car launched in 1961, it has a stylish design and can run as fast as the modern sports car.

The Lotus Esprit is Britain’s version of the Ferrari. It gained popularity after appearing in the James Bond film entitled The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977.

The Triumph Spitfire is considered a great example of British engineering excellence. It boasts of a stylish design and was one of the more affordable sports cars during its time.

The Saab 900 is another favorite classic car in the U.K. Launched in 1979, it features a low closed cabin and angular style.

The Morgan 4/4 has a unique style and considered to have the longest production run back in 1936. It was one sports car that stood out from the crowd.

Learn more about the vintage cars and the most dangerous ones on the road in this inforgraphic we’re sharing below.

Source: CheapAutoInsurance.Org

Formerly known as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization which developed from the former members of the British Empire.  With the present 54 member states, only Rwanda and Mozambique were not members of the Empire. The framework as outlined in the Singapore Declaration guides the operation of this organization.

The current members of the Commonwealth include Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica  The Gambia,  Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India , Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Lone, Singapore, Solomo Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, and Zambia.  In its history, there were four member countries which were dissolved consisting of Malaya and Newfoundland; two withdrawn members including Ireland and Zimbabwe; and one suspended member  which is Fiji.

At present, there are six countries applying for membership namely Algeria, Madagascar, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen. Queen Elizabeth II is the symbolic Head of the Commonwealth although she has no political power over the member-countries. The goals of the Commonwealth is founded on the principles of democracy, good governance, individual liberty, free trade, world peace, human rights, and rule of law, among others.  The Commonwealth functions like an international organization more than a political association with no country exercising any control over the others.

About the Author:

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: ilga.org

Being an international city, London has some of the world’s most advanced transportation system. It is the center of road, rail and air networks in the United Kingdom. Despite the advancements, however, it has also retained its traditional vehicles such as the double deck buses that travel around the city.

A visit to the London Transport Museum is the best way to learn about the city’s transport heritage. Situated in the Covent Garden Piazza, its permanent location, the museum showcases old vehicles preserved since the 1920’s. From a small collection of two Victorian horse buses and a motorbus, the collection has grown to include all modes of transport such as bicycles, taxis, trams and river vessels to art (posters, films and photographs) and design works.

The museum’s main objective is to relate to visitors the evolution of the city’s transportation system from the past to the present and even up to the future. Different exhibitions are in place with themes such as public transport at war, London’s massive expansion in the 20th century and world city comparisons.

A library is also available providing valuable research materials plus a museum depot which stores more than 370,000 items not displayed at the Covent Garden building. The depot, however, is open to the public only during special events.

For this year 2013, heritage vehicle runs and other exciting events are lined up to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground entitled Tube 150. It was in January 1863 when the world’s first underground train made its first journey beneath London’s streets from Paddington to Farringdon. In its first six months alone, the train accommodated some 26,000 passengers.

Worth noting here is the fact that the London Transport Museum goes beyond merely displaying artifacts and transportation collections. Inside are shops where souvenir items such as posters, gifts, clothes, toys and vintage house ware can be purchased as well as a café and bar at the Upper Deck that offers snacks and drinks.

This popular tourist attraction is open daily starting at 10 a.m. except on Fridays which opens at 11 a.m. Individual tickets can be purchased but large groups can avail of lower fees. Guided tours are offered as well.

If visiting London is not possible, learning about this historical museum and the city’s different modes of transport can be done through its website ltmuseum.co.uk. The site provides comprehensive information covering everything you’d like to know from the history and collections to upcoming events and activities. A blog is also available where visitors can get updates on the museum’s activities, people and other valuable details.

Photo via londontown

About the guest author:

Regine is a travel writer who hopes to visit the London Transport Museum someday. She frequently visits Expedia for some great deals.