Friday October 13 Toronto Public Library Lecture: A History of Royal Weddings from Victoria and Albert to Harry and Meghan

I will be delivering an evening lecture (7pm) at North York Central Library in Toronto on Friday October 13 about the history of royal weddings from Victoria and Albert to Harry and Meghan! All are welcome.

Click here for more information!

Fall 2023 University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Course: Behind the Crown: The Monarchy from Victoria to Charles III

I will be teaching an eight week course on Tuesday afternoons in October-November 2023 at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies – Behind the Crown: The Monarchy from Victoria to Charles III. Click here for more information and to register.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

The personal lives of royalty are a popular subject for fiction in novels, films and TV series but the real history is more interesting. Each generation of royalty must respond to the challenges of their times to keep the monarchy relevant and engaged with public opinion. Join Carolyn Harris, historian, commentator and author of Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting for a lively discussion of the history, politics and cultural significance of the monarchy in the UK and Canada.  

Click here for more information and to register for “Behind the Crown: The Monarchy from Victoria at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

Winter 2022 Online Course: Behind the Crown: The Monarchy from Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II

My new eight week online course at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies starts Wednesday January 12, 2022. Click here for more information and to register.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

The year 2022 marks Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. It’s an opportunity to look back on the social, political and cultural changes during her long reign.  The personal lives of royalty are a popular subject for fiction in novels, films and TV series but the real history is more interesting. Each generation of royalty must respond to the challenges of their times to keep the monarchy relevant and engaged with public opinion. Join Carolyn Harris, historian, commentator and author of Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting for a lively discussion of the history, politics and cultural significance of the monarchy in the UK and Canada.

Click here for more information and to register.  

CBC News Interview: Princess Beatrice: A private — but not a secret — wedding

I discussed the circumstances of Princess Beatrice’s wedding with Janet Davison at CBC News. Media commentary on the event has sometimes used the terms “private wedding” and “secret wedding” interchangeably. Princess Beatrice married in private ceremony following precedents set by previous private royal weddings including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in 1935 and Princess Alice and the Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1862. I also discussed the Queen’s role as Head of the Commonwealth.

Click here to read The Royal Fascinator Newsletter at CBC News

Global News Interviews: Princess Beatrice’s Title and The Queen’s Youngest Grandchildren

I discussed Queen Elizabeth II’s younger and lesser known grandchildren in a series of interviews with Meghan Collie at Global News. We discussed whether Princess Beatrice’s wedding will result in a change to her title and why the Queen’s two youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn are so little known to the public, especially outside the United Kingdom.

Click here to read “Meet the queen’s youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn” at Global News

Click here to read “Princess Beatrice won’t become a duchess after her wedding. Here’s why” at Global News

Global News Interview: Prince Andrew’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, announces private wedding venue

Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, Princess Beatrice of York, will marry  Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi  on May 29, 2020 in the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace. The Chapel Royal has not been a venue for royal weddings in more than 100 years but was the setting of important historical royal weddings including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840 and the future King George V and Queen Mary in 1893. I discussed Princess Beatrice with Meghan Collie at Global News.

Click here to read “Prince Andrew’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, announces private wedding venue” at Global News

Global News Interview: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie: Who are Prince Andrew’s daughters?

I discussed Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with Meghan Collie at Global News, amidst speculation that their public role will expand following the departure of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, from the United Kingdom. As Princess Beatrice is expected to get married in 2020, the two sisters have been the focus of increased media scrutiny.

Click here to read “Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie: Who are Prince Andrew’s daughters?” at Global News