Feo Monck’s brother-in-law was governor general Viscount Monck, and her husband, Richard Monck, was military secretary to the governor general from 1864 to 1869. When Lady Monck was absent, she acted as the hostess for viceregal social occasions, including the ball held during the Quebec Conference of 1864. She recorded her experiences in the book, My Canadian Leaves: An Account of a Visit to Canada in 1864–1865.
Click here to my read my article about Feo Monck in the Canadian Encyclopedia
I discussed Harry and Meghan’s Netflix deal, Camilla’s charity work and the history of royal philanthropy with Janet Davison at CBC News for this week’s Royal Fascinator newsletter.
Click here to read “Why Harry and Meghan have a ‘long road ahead’ with Netflix” at CBC News
My new article in the Historica Canadian Canadian Encyclopedia is about Anna Leonowens, an educator, author and lecturer who became famous as the British governess to the wives and children of King Mongkut (Rama IV) of Siam (now Thailand) in the 1860s. After leaving Siam, she emigrated to Canada, where she advocated for women’s suffrage, taught at McGill University and helped found what is now the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. She was the inspiration for Margaret Landon’s historical novel, Anna and the King of Siam (1944), and the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I (1951).
Click here to read my article about Anna Leonowens in the Canadian Encyclopedia
I will be teaching my course about The Romanovs and the Russian Revolution online at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies in October-November 2020. Click here for more information and to register.
The consequences of the Russian Revolution continue to influence Russia’s politics and society, and indeed the whole world’s. In 2017, Russia quietly marked the 100th anniversary of the turning points: the abdication of Czar Nicholas II and Lenin’s seizure of power for the Bolshevik party. Follow the quick succession of crises: the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, the end of Russia’s participation in the First World War, the emergence of the Provisional Government, and the fateful rise of Lenin and the Soviet Union.
I discussed Queen Elizabeth II and the history of the monarchy during times of plague and pandemic with Carly Ledbetter at the Huffington Post.
Click here to read When Will We See Queen Elizabeth Again? in the Huffington Post
Links to all of my recent royal interviews are available here
My new article in the Historica Canada Canadian Encyclopedia is a short biography of King Edward VIII.
Edward toured Canada on several occasions and purchased a ranch in Alberta. He is best known for abdicating the crown and marrying American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Edward is mentioned in novels by several Canadian authors, including Robertson Davies, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Timothy Findley.
Click here to read my article about King Edward VIII in the Canadian Encyclopedia
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
My Historica Canada Canadian Encyclopedia articles about Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are now updated to include sections about Stepping Back from Royal Duties in 2020.
Click here to read my article about Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Click here to read my article about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
My new article in the Historica Canada Canadian Encyclopedia is about Royal Tours of Canada from the late eighteenth century to the present day, including early visits by King George III’s sons, the travels of Queen Victoria’s children, the 1939 royal tour by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), and official visits and working visits during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Click here to read my article about Royal Tours of Canada in the Canadian Encyclopedia
I discussed the relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry with Janet Davison at CBC News as well as past royal brothers, such as Edward VIII and George VI, and royal parenting in the public eye.
Click here to read Going their separate ways: Scrutiny grows on bond between William and Harry at CBC News