Just over a century ago in the town of Cullinan, South Africa, one of the world’s most famous diamonds was discovered.

Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company, uncovered a huge diamond in a mine owned by Sir Thomas Cullinan. The stone was named for Cullinan and was purchased from him by the Transvaal government. It was then given to King Edward VII as a birthday gift and as a sign of loyalty from the newest portion of the British Empire. The Transvaal had been under Boer control, but at the conclusion of the Second Boer war in 1902, it became British territory.

The Cullinan was cut into three large parts by Dutch jeweler Joseph Asscher. The three big portions were eventually cleaved into 9 large gem-quality stones and small fragments. The largest polished gem from the stone is referred to as Cullinan I, or the Greater Star of Africa. It weighs in at a whopping 530.2 carats. The second largest gem, known as Cullinan II or the Lesser Star of Africa, weighs 317.4 carats.

These massive gems remained with the British Royal Family, and are still seen today. Cullinan II is mounted in the brow band of the Imperial State Crown, seen above. Cullinan I is mounted within the sceptre, which the Queen holds in her coronation photos.

The chips are worn as pieces of jewelry. The Queen wears a large pear-shaped ring that is a cleaving of the Cullinan, and Cullinans III and IV were worn as brooches by Queen Mary.

The Cullinan Diamond was discovered 105 years ago, and is still leaving people awestruck. Happy birthday to a legend.

Prince William in New Zealand and Australia

A team of experts are currently trying to identify a set of bones discovered at Germany’s Magdeburg Cathedral. They believe they may have found 10th century Anglo-Saxon princess Eadgyth, the sister of King Athelstan and the granddaughter of Alfred the Great.

Tests on the bones are still pending at Bristol University in England, and if conclusive, will prove that it is indeed Eadgyth – pronounced Edith – whose remains were wrapped in silk and sealed inside a lead coffin. It will be the oldest remains of an English royal ever discovered.

Eadgyth’s description is reminiscent of Queen Marie of Romania: both were born charismatic British princesses who were sent abroad to marry well. Eadgyth became the wife of Otto I, the Holy Roman Emperor. The former Marie of Edinburgh wed Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania.

Eadgyth was born at the beginning of the 10th century and her brother, King Athelstan is considered the first king of England.

Image: Sacred Destinations

The Independent

Mandy

Letizia, a former newsreader, married Crown Prince Felipe of Spain on May 22, 2004. Since then, the already elegant Leti has had her image honed to perfection. That includes even making the height ratio attractive.

To close the gap in their height difference, special shoes are designed for Her Highness to maximize her stature. In the photo below – during a visit with the Sarkozys – you will notice that the princess’ shoes have ‘boosters’ on them:

A pair of black boosters:

Sleek gray:

A Handsome Pair:

The darker colors look more stylish than the lighter colors. I wouldn’t mind wearing a pair in deep navy blue, myself. To the rest of the ladies in the audience: would you wear these shoes?

The Countess, 45, is being recognized for her service to the Queen and to the monarchy. The RVO, founded in April 1896 by Queen Victoria, is given to people ”who have served the Queen or the monarchy in a personal way”, according to Buckingham Palace. It is a personal gift from the Sovereign.

To see the different grades and photos of the order, see Wikipedia: Royal Victorian Order.

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GPD © AP

The official Maori greeting

Holding a Kiwi (weka) bird

Wearing the traditional Kiwi feather cape

Opening the Supreme Court Building in Wellington

Flashback: Maoris greet the Queen in 1954 on her first foreign royal tour

Flashback: 12–30 March 1970: The Queen participated in the James Cook bicentenary celebrations and introduced The Prince of Wales and The Princess Anne to New Zealand. This tour marked the first ‘walk-about’ in a Royal visit.

Her Majesty wears the traditional Kiwi cape

Prince Philip talking to Maoris

Flashback: April 1983 – Diana visits Gisborne, New Zealand

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There is no going back. As he walked off the aircraft at Auckland International Airport, Prince William must have known it: the next significant stage in his development as a senior royal is under way.

BBC News

ITN’s coverage of Prince William’s New Zealand visit:

Take the Scandinavian troika of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria: all three are close friends and, like most European royals, are distantly related through Britain’s Queen Victoria.

These three all have close ties with one another, as they share a unique position of being the heir to a throne. The burden is eased knowing that they can talk and share ideas with someone who understands the pressures. Both Frederik and Haakon have always regarded Victoria as a “lillesøster” (little sister), attending royal ceremonies and performing official duties together whenever they can.

“We share experiences from travel, and talk together on complex issues where we need to exchange ideas,” says Princess Victoria.

“We always have a really nice time together. Meeting points are obviously not as frequent as you want. Full calendars sometimes prevent you from being united, but I am very fond of both the Crown Princes and grateful for their support.”

One of their joint outings occurred when Frederik, Haakon, and Victoria visited the Antarctic as patrons of the International Polar Year, a project which allowed them to schedule working time together. They all have a keen interest in the environment and are usually seen together for such causes. In December 2009, they spent time in Frederik’s homeland of Denmark, where they attended the opening of the Bright Green Expo in Copenhagen.

Previously, Victoria was the only unmarried royal among the group, and would often accompany her princely “brothers” and their wives at royal functions. Now Victoria is escorted by Daniel Westling, her fiance, who will become a royal prince and the Duke of Västergötland upon their marriage on June 19th. The Crown Princess will walk down the aisle the same day her parents married in 1976.

The Scandinavian triumvirate are so close that Victoria was named godmother to Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Christian, the eldest children of Prince Haakon and Prince Frederik, respectively.

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The Crown Princesses of the Netherlands and Belgium are close friends through their royal husbands. Even their countries are intertwined. Belgium was once a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but gained independence in 1830. Both nations remain close allies.

Princess Maxima of the Netherlands and BFF Princess Mathilde carry out several engagements for their respective countries, but try to make it a joint effort as much as possible.

Many say that the pair work ‘seamlessly‘ when they attend events together. The opening of a new museum in Leven, Belgium, was no exception: Maxima and Mathilde smiled and greeted the crowds with warm enthusiasm and clearly enjoyed each other’s company as well.

Mathilde and Maxima have a lot in common. Close in age, they both married heirs of thrones; both women are university-educated; they speak several languages fluently; and both were successful career women when they met their husbands.

Argentine-born Maxima was working at the New York branch of Germany’s Deutsche Bank when she began dating Prince Willem-Alexander. Mathilde was employed as a speech therapist when she met her future husband, Prince Philippe, during a casual game of tennis.

The pair of princesses also share a love of being hands-on, attentive mothers. Maxima has three girls and Mathilde has two boys and two girls. Mathilde is godmother to Maxima’s middle daughter, Princess Alexia.

Add your favorite royal pairings in the comments below!