Blog
A Royal Portrait like no other
A few days ago I asked how many of the Queen's royal relatives from Europe and beyond would attend her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year, all gathered together in one place, and if the numbers would match the thirty-five who were all under one roof for her...
How many European royal relatives will visit the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022?
This fabulous portrait always catches my eye when I step into the Saloon at Sandringham House. It was painted by Andrew Festing to mark the Queen and Prince Philip's Golden Wedding Anniversary, and includes nine monarchs (current at the time or deposed). Can you spot...
Will the Queen return to Sandringham in the New Year?
I wouldn't be surprised if the Queen returns to Sandringham sometime in the New Year, as soon as is safely possible, to reflect on the memories of happy days spent there with her beloved Philip, and to mark the anniversary of her father's death on 6 February - the...
The Queen’s annus horribilis 2021
This year must surely rank as the Queen's annus horribilis 2021, after 1992 It is memorable for being the year she lost her soul mate and beloved husband, Prince Philip, the year of Oprah's shock interview with Harry and Megan, while uncertainty still faces the fate...
Our Grieving Queen’s First Christmas Without Prince Philip
The world's eyes will be on our Queen as she spends Christmas with her family at Sandringham. It’s easy to forget that the Queen is a also a grieving widow. Like any woman who has lost the husband she adored, a man who was her rock and she was married to for...
Who will be the Queen’s official biographer?
Having seen both Tracy Borman and Jane Ridley speak in Ely in the last week at Topping author events, it is a great honour to see my ebook nestled between theirs on Amazon’s Royalty biography and memoir chart. Even if just for a fleeting moment. I felt The Royal...
Wolferton Station, “Absolutely stunning in every way”, says former royal train driver
You don’t have to just take it from me how special the Royal Station at Wolferton is, and central to my book, The Royal Station Master's Daughters. Here are some of the glowing comments left by visitors who stepped onto its platform where royalty once trod and took a...
‘A heartwarming historical novel’ – Rosie Goodwin
I am thrilled and delighted beyond words to have received warm words of praise from Rosie Goodwin, the Queen of historical saga authors, for The Royal Station Master’s Daughters. She describes it as 'A heartwarming historical novel', and I cannot thank her enough. I...
Royal Commission into coastal erosion – more than 100 years ago!
I wonder if Greta realises that her demands for action on climate change is not being called for the first time. It was a conversation started more than one hundred years ago. At the time urgent recommendations were made to save our coastline from further erosion....