“Nothing ordinary ever happened here, nor could it.”
That’s the motto of Cliveden House, the famous five-star hotel in Berkshire. Cliveden is no stranger to the headlines; most recently, it captured the media’s attention when Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, stayed there on the eve of her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Moreover, it has its own documentary series, A Very British Country House, on Channel 4. Continue reading “Cliveden House – Britain’s Most Aristocratic Hotel?”
Living in a historic, prestigious property without the burden of a mortgage or rent sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But for hundreds of years, this has been the reality for a chosen few: the inhabitants of Britain’s grace-and-favour homes. The properties range from flats to sprawling estates that rival the National Trust’s country houses.
Grace-and-favour residences are typically owned by the Queen. Their name points to the fact that they’re leased at her discretion to notable, favoured individuals. A grace-and-favour home might be an official residence for someone whose work is of national importance or a reward for services to the monarchy or state (for a retired member of the Queen’s household staff or military veteran, say). The widowed spouse of a distinguished individual can also be housed in this way. Continue reading “Looking through the Keyhole at Britain’s Grace-and-Favour Homes”
On 4 August, the Duchess of Sussex – undoubtedly one of the most talked-about, influential women in the world – celebrated a highly memorable occasion: her 40th birthday. And of course, the world was watching.
Also known as Meghan Markle, this royal duchess and former actress, who gave birth to her second child a couple of months ago, starred in a short birthday video. (Her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, made a memorable cameo appearance, showing off his juggling skills!) Filmed at the couple’s chic California mansion, the slickly produced, well-rehearsed video quickly went viral. Every aspect of it, from Meghan’s body language to her Hermès blanket, has since been analysed by the international press. Continue reading “Meghan Markle, the Most Modern Duchess, Turns 40”
