London visitor

It is a dream for many Brits to one day be called “Sir” or “Dame” when they receive a knighthood from the Sovereign. In the past, we have covered the various orders of chivalry that make up the honors but have not covered the process from beginning to end. Even the process can have many routes as there are several different times at which individuals can be nominated to receive an honor. Join us as we cover the times and means by which British citizens can find themselves receiving knighthood from the King.

The process starts with a nomination for an honors list, which can happen at multiple times in a given year. The most common are the Birthday and New Year’s Honours, the former taking place on the Sovereign’s Official Birthday (as opposed to their actual birthday, which is a different time of the year). As it sounds, the New Year’s Honours are awarded around New Year’s Day every year. A less-common time for honors is the Prime Minister’s Resignation Honours when the Prime Minister ominates individuals for honors prior to leaving office (there have been more than the usual number of those lately…). Other opportunities include Special Honours, which can happen at any point in the year, Demise Honours at the death of a monarch or consort, and Coronation Honours.

For Birthday or New Year’s Honours, virtually anyone in the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth can nominate anyone else whom they feel has contributed to either. However, it should be noted that the individual will need to meet the requirements of the award for which they are nominated (and you can’t nominate yourself). The Cabinet Office oversees the process, and it is to that office that members of the public submit applications for their nominees. If the applicant has done their service overseas, the Foreign Office takes those applications. Applications should include what the person has done and how they have made a difference, with detailed examples of what they have done. Nominations also require a minimum of two letters of support, though more can be helpful to the nominee.

The Cabinet Office or Foreign Office will inform the applicant by mail when the application has been received. The offices then begin going over the application materials to verify qualifications and the nominee’s work. This process can take anywhere from 18 months to 2 years, so it is not uncommon to wait quite some time for a response. The Cabinet Office informs applicants not to resubmit their nominee until they hear back about the status of the application, or else the newer application will be rejected. Nominations are then divided into their various subject areas and assessed by independent experts and senior civil servants. The committees come up with their lists independent of the government and pass them on to the Prime Minister, who in turn makes recommendations to the monarch.

The Sovereign then informally approves the list since the truth is that the Prime Minister has already approved the list. The monarch’s approval is little more than a formality of their office. The list is formally approved after each nominee accepts or turns down the honor. The London Gazette, the official Crown newspaper, then publishes the full list twice per year—once for the New Year’s Honours and again for the Birthday Honours. The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood makes the preparations for the investitures at St. James’s Palace, including setting the dates for the awards and determining which member of the Royal Family will present the honor.

One last thing to mention is that honors can, and sometimes are, taken away. The Honours Forfeiture Committee looks at a potential forfeiture candidate to see if their actions “raise the question of whether or not they should continue to be a holder of the honor.” This typically includes being convicted of a crime, though other actions can also result in forfeiture, such as when Royal Bank of Scotland head Fred Goodwin had his removed for the part he played in the bank’s near-collapse. Some individuals have returned their honors, such as John Lennon, to protest the British Government’s supportive role in the American war in Vietnam. Still, others have refused the honor, including such celebrities as French and Saunders, Roald Dahl, and David Bowie.

When the day comes, it can be quite the sight as a nominee kneels before the King or another member of the Royal Family and rises as a “Sir” or “Dame.” The Sovereign “dubs” the nominee by tapping them with a sword on the right, then the left shoulder, and announcing their new title. The award does not come with any tangible benefit but can help raise the person’s profile and any charity work in which they are engaged. For many honors recipients, it is the greatest award they could hope for, apart from their work, of course.

Since the English Reformation, when King Henry VIII split with the Catholic Church and created the Anglican Church so he could grant himself an annulment, the monarchy has held a certain sway over Christianity in the United Kingdom. While the Sovereign is also the head of the Anglican Church, it’s more a ceremonial position as the Archbishop of Canterbury acts as the Anglican Church’s de facto administrative head. However, there are some Anglican churches that are still under the Sovereign’s direct control, which are referred to as Royal Peculiars within the church parish system.

Church parishes have been around since the days of the Anglo-Saxons. Most are under the control of their diocese, a church district that’s administered by a bishop. Sometimes, however, a church would be created out of land donated by a local lord. These churches were exempt from the diocese authority and referred to as donative parishes, or “peculiars.” Peculiar churches often had their own archbishop or bishop, and if it was a cathedral, its own dean and chapter. In the 19th Century, Parliament did away with nearly all peculiars with the exception of Royal Peculiars, and any non-royal peculiars now fall under the jurisdiction of their individual diocese.

In the modern era, there are over a dozen Royal Peculiars, with the vast majority located in London. These include some obvious churches, such as Westminster Abbey, officially known as the College Church of St. Peter, Westminster. Westminster Abbey also contains the King Henry VII Chapel, which is the chapel of the Order of Bath. A number of other Royal Peculiars can be found within London palaces, such as the Chapel Royal and the Queen’s Chapel at St. James’s Palace, the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace, and the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist and the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. The Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft was once the crypt of St. Stephen’s Chapel in Westminster Palace. Other Royal Peculiars in London include the Royal Foundation of St. Katherine, Temple Church, and the King’s Chapel of the Savoy, which is the chapel of the Royal Victorian Order.

Still, other Royal Peculiars exist outside of London, including the Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. In Cambridge, the Church of St. Edward the Martyr is one of the only Royal Peculiars not associated with a palace or Royal Order and is considered the first church where an “openly evangelical” sermon was preached at the start of the English Reformation (and the church is sometimes considered the “Cradle of the English Reformation”). Naturally, the Market Town of Windsor has two Royal Peculiars, one known as St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, and the other is the Royal Chapel of All Saints located on the grounds of the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. There are also a number of churches that were once Royal Peculiars but were eventually turned over to the control of the local diocese for one reason or another.

Royal Peculiars have often been popular sites for Royal weddings, with many having been conducted either at Westminster Abbey or the Chapel of St. George. Additionally, most Royal Peculiars are actually closed to the public, though there are three notable exceptions in Westminster Abbey and St. John’s Chapel, and the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. In these churches, you can feel the connection not only to God, but to the history of past Royals stretching all the way back to King William I. As such, their historical and cultural significance cannot be understated when it comes to the Royal Family and to the United Kingdom.

Luxury cruise line Cunard is to celebrate 100 years of onboard photographs with an exhibition curated by Mary McCartney.

Images showing Hollywood stars, including Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant are among the pictures from the archives, which could be displayed along with photos from guests in the Sea Views exhibition.

Photographer Mary McCartney, daughter of Beatles star Sir Paul, will curate the exhibition of 100 images.

She said: “I’m pleased to curate an exhibition within this treasure trove of 100 years of onboard photography.

“I’m looking forward to exploring the archives and the crowdsourced images to hand-pick a portfolio of iconic images that will reflect a century of luxury travel.”

Sian Wilks, Cunard archivist at the University of Liverpool Library, added: “With over 14,000 images stored in the Cunard archives in Liverpool – the founding home port of Cunard Line – we have a wealth of memories from the 1920s to present day to choose from.”

Guests are being asked to share photographs they have taken while on a cruise for the collection, which will mark 100 years since onboard photographers were introduced to the ships and since the first-ever round-the-world cruise on the Laconia.

Cunard president Sture Myrmell said: “We’re extremely proud of Cunard’s 183-year history and particularly the fact we pioneered the round-the-world voyage 100 years ago.

“What better way to celebrate this centenary anniversary than by curating a fantastic selection of images from our guests who’ve traveled with us.

“We’re delighted to be working with the wonderful Mary McCartney to create this exhibition and can’t wait to see the unforgettable moments that our guests have captured over the years.”

The digital exhibition will go live later this year, with further details to be announced nearer the time.

The number of independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland has reached a 10-year high following an “astonishing” number of new entrants to bookselling during the pandemic.

The Booksellers Association (BA), which represents both chain and independent bookshops, said its annual membership survey indicated the number of independent bookshops had grown for the sixth consecutive year.

New independent bookshops which opened in 2022 included ChocoLit in Clapham, Hold Fast in Leeds and Paperxclips in Belfast, as BA membership grew from 1,027 shops in 2021 to 1,072 at the end of 2022.

It marks the highest number of independent bookshops in BA membership in a decade, it said.

Meryl Halls, managing director at the Booksellers Association, said: “We are clearly delighted at the continued increase in the number of indie bookshops on our high streets.

“Taken with the expansion seen within the Waterstones estate last year, this news confirms that bookshops are crucially important and valued parts of our high street communities.

“Bookshops bring social and cultural capital to every town, village, suburb or city center they are part of, and punch way above their weight in terms of impact and engagement locally, and nationally.

“The number of bookshops has grown gradually and slowly since 2016, during the pandemic we saw a frankly astonishing number of new entrants to bookselling.

“Drawn by the cultural relevance of books, reading and bookshops, inspired by the activism on display amongst current booksellers, seeing bookselling as a valid and rewarding career choice, these are all reasons why people open bookshops, and we want each and every one of the shops to succeed.”

However, Ms Halls urged people to continue supporting bookshops as the economy in the UK is forecast to plunge into recession following the extreme volatility of 2022.

She added: “With the economic headwinds coming our way, recession, inflation, labor shortages and massive cost increases across the board, bookshops need support.

“Margins are extremely tight, and for bookshops to thrive on high streets they need governments to take action to protect small businesses from the cost-of-living crisis, as well as unequal tax burdens such as business rates.”

BA is the membership organization for booksellers in the UK and Ireland and represents more than 95% of booksellers, it said.

A royal post box which Queen Victoria once used has been discovered at a house in Surrey, with a Christmas card inside.

The 140-year-old item was found in a cottage after being used as a table letter box at Osborne House, the monarch’s Isle of Wight holiday home.

The late 19th-century curved wooden box features the royal ‘VR’ cypher – meaning Victoria Regina – and will be put under the hammer by Derbyshire firm, Hansons Auctioneers, on Saturday, January 28.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “It’s a first-class find fit for a queen dating back to circa 1880. We can only imagine the tone and content of the notes the queen must have placed inside but one thing we can be certain of is that she enjoyed sending letters and cards.

“Most people still do but, sadly, postal strikes, high stamp prices and the cost-of-living crisis have curbed that simple pleasure.

“I wonder what Queen Victoria would have thought about postal costs rising from a penny in the 1800s to 95p for a first-class stamp today. Her profile featured on the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp issued in 1840.

“My family received hardly any Christmas cards compared to previous years and many people I know say the same. That’s such a shame.

“Christmas is often the only time we hear from old friends or family far away. It’s a festive tradition that’s delivered joy for generations. Costs appear to be crushing this annual gesture of goodwill.

“I was reminded of this when we discovered the letterbox because the seller found a vintage Christmas card inside.

“The price of a couple of stamps could buy a pack of cards today. With soaring inflation and winter fuel bills to contend with, it’s not surprising some people didn’t send many, or any.”

The item, which has an estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000, was found during a routine visit to the home of an antique collector.

The post box would have previously been used as a table letter box at Osbourne House, in East Cowes, which was built for Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, as a country retreat.

Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hansons London, said: “I discovered it during a routine home visit at a cottage in Surrey.

“I was called in to assess items gathered by a keen antique collector over a lifetime.

“It was purchased decades ago by the seller’s grandfather. He lived on the Isle of Wight.

“We understand he acquired it at a Carisbrooke sale which offered items relating to Osborne House in 1944 or 1945.

“The Isle of Wight is home to Carisbrooke Castle Museum. It was founded in 1898 by Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter.

“The Princess died in 1944, and a sale of items took place around that time.”

Queen Victoria enjoyed the second-longest reign of any British monarch in history, with her reign of more than 63 years surpassed only by Queen Elizabeth II, who was on the throne for more than 70 years.

The seller, from London, who has been kept anonymous, said: “My grandfather collected amazing objects over the course of his life. He was fascinated by antiques and collectibles.

“We think the post box may have been given as a festive gift as we found a Christmas card inside.

“It’s hard to part with family heirlooms but this royal item deserves to be seen and enjoyed.”

The item will be sold by Hansons Auctioneers at their London showroom at the Normansfield Theatre, in Langdon Park, Teddington.

We knew as soon as we previewed the Coronation Collection from Victoria Eggs, we would have to offer, and we placed our order months ago because we knew it would sell out. Victoria Eggs have produced a beautiful and tasteful collection of goods, starting with mugs and teacups, plus textiles, bunting, home furnishings, and more! We have a little bit of everything.

The King Charles III Coronation design bears the National flowers from the UK along with oak, a symbol of strength and stability, and Ivy, the symbol of commitment, which trails throughout this intricately hand-drawn design. Subtle nods to the King’s life are hidden amongst the wildlife and foliage; the eagle, swords, and anchor representing the British Armed Forces, a parachute, pens, and paintbrushes – representing his love and support for the Arts, young people, the countryside and his life-long environmental activism.

The Coronation Collection has an estimated ship date of March, and what we have marked in stock is all we will be getting in our initial shipment; there’s a good chance this is all we’ll be able to get. So, it’s very important to order soon if you want to ensure you get some of these beautiful collectibles for your collection in time for the big day in May!

Royal Mail has created 12 Iron Maiden stamps to pay tribute to the “bona fide rock legends.”

The heavy metal band are the fifth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue – following on from The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, and The Rolling Stones in 2022.

Eight stamps feature performances of Iron Maiden and all current members of the band.

Guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, and lead singer Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain and bassist Steve Harris all appear in the commemorative project.

Four stamps pay homage to the band’s mascot Eddie, including him as a samurai warrior from their recent Senjutsu album.

Iron Maiden’s 17th studio album, released in 2021, made it to number two in the charts.

Harris said: “We were all absolutely astounded – in a good way – when we heard first about the commemorative project, and equally pretty much speechless when we saw the stamps for the very first time.

“They look superb and I think they really capture the essence and energy of Maiden.

“We’re all very proud that Royal Mail has chosen to honor the band’s legacy like this and we know our fans will feel the same way,”

Formed in London in 1975 by Harris, Iron Maiden have had one number one in the UK with 1988 single Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter and 35 songs in the top 40, according to Official Charts Company.

They have also had five number-one albums including Fear Of The Dark, The Book Of Souls, The Final Frontier, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son and The Number Of The Beast.

In total, the band have had more than 100 million record sales and around 2,500 live performances across 64 countries.

Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood said: “As a band who have never played by anyone else’s rules for over 40 years, it’s very gratifying to see them honored in their home country in this way.

“We’re proud to show how these six band members are still appealing to more and more fans every year with their music and their legendary shows – which I think these stamps really capture well.

“It’s also fantastic that Eddie has been honored too – it’s incredible to think that Her Majesty, may she rest in peace, saw these and lent her iconic silhouette to them too.”

David Gold, director of external public affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said: “Few bands in the history of rock music can be called bona fide rock legends – but Iron Maiden are just that – and more.”

The Royal Mail stamps are available to order from January 5 2023 and are on sale from January 12 2023. You can order them directly on the Royal Mail website (yes, they ship internationally).

Official chinaware commemorating the life of the late Queen has gone on sale, incorporating the King’s poignant tribute to his mother.

The Royal Collection Trust pieces feature the late monarch’s personal cypher as Princess Elizabeth – an E beneath a crown, as well as the King’s moving words “May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest” from his televised address to the nation.

The quotation Charles used from Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet is inscribed in gold lettering on the memorial china, which is also decorated with a pale pink bow, delicate grey motifs and the Queen’s funeral flowers.

The pieces include a mug, costing £25, a £40 pillbox, a tankard for £45 and a teacup and saucer priced at £70.

There is also a tea towel, costing £10.95, and a candle votive for £65.

Flowers which rested on the Queen’s coffin during her state funeral, including roses, myrtle, rosemary, and oak leaves taken from the gardens of royal residences, appear in the decorative border.

The myrtle was cut from a plant grown from a sprig of myrtle in Princess Elizabeth’s wedding bouquet in 1947. Rosemary is a traditional emblem of remembrance while oak symbolizes strength of love.

The cypher – which also featured on the side of the Queen’s bespoke state hearse – is set in an oval frame featuring two cherubs – inspired by Queen Victoria’s drawings.

The chinaware is handmade in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, using methods and techniques that have remained unchanged for 250 years and is finished in 22-carat gold.

All profits from sales of the official chinaware range and commemorative items go to The Royal Collection Trust charity.

Popular dinosaur exhibit Dippy the Diplodocus, which has drawn millions of visitors around the country, is heading to Coventry.

The city’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum will be hosting the 26-meter-long replica skeleton for three years, from February 20, in time for the start of the spring half-term holidays.

Museum bosses, fresh from helping host Coventry’s City of Culture festivities, including the 2021 Turner Prize, said there will be free ticketing to see the Jurassic giant so all can enjoy the “world-class exhibit”.

The huge model was cast from five different skeletons, including one dug up by railway workers in the United States in 1898.

It was first assembled and put on display at London’s Natural History Museum in 1905.

The 292-bone structure fascinated crowds in the city for 110 years, but recently went on an eight-city tour to Dorchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Rochdale and Norwich.

More than two million people went to see the sauropod model while it was traveling around the UK, with another million visitors filing past once it was back in London.

Dippy is more than four meters high and 4.3 metres wide, bringing to life the scale of a species which lived between 156 and 145 million years ago.

Dr. Doug Gurr, Natural History Museum director, said the “much-loved and hugely popular attraction” was “the perfect ambassador for nature” and would continue to “educate and inspire.”

He added: “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Dippy will now be taking up residence in Coventry.”

Paul Breed, chief executive of CV Life, which runs the Herbert, welcomed the chance to host the UK’s “most popular dinosaur,” adding it was “a huge opportunity for Coventry and the wider economy”.

He added: “This kind of world-class exhibit should be available to all, and I’m glad that with our free ticketing system Dippy will be accessible to everyone, from Coventry school kids to international tourists – it’s going to be a brilliant three years.”

Free tickets will be available to book on the gallery’s website nearer to Dippy’s arrival.

The Princess of Wales has become Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role previously held by her husband, Buckingham Palace has announced.

This comes as the Palace also revealed that the King’s Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour, will be held on June 17 in central London.

The King and the Prince of Wales will ride on horseback during the display, while other members of the royal family, including Kate and the Queen Consort, will watch from carriages and the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Buckingham Palace said three members of the family have been appointed Colonels within the Foot Guards, including Camilla as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

This role was previously held by the Duke of York and has been vacant since he was stripped of his royal titles.

Meanwhile, Kate will become Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role previously held by William, who will take the Colonel of the Welsh Guards title from his father.

There will be no change to the existing Colonelcies of the other Regiments within the Household Division, the Palace said.

Trooping the Colour has marked the monarch’s official birthday for over 260 years, and 2023 will mark Charles’ first appearance at the event as King, and follows his coronation, which is due to be held on May 6.

Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians take part in the display of military precision, horsemanship, and fanfare.

The parade travels from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, and closes with a Royal Air Force fly-past.