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The Queen, Prince Harry and Princess Diana among the Royals to visit the county

It's hard to visit a town in the county without a claim to fame when it comes to the royal family.

From childhood trips by the princess who would become Queen Victoria, war-time morale boosting jaunts by King George VI to a host of visits by the new generations of royalty, Kent has enjoyed the regal seal of approval on countless occasions.

We take a look at some of the most memorable visits from those with blue blood over the years - and those members who spent their childhood growing up here.

Princess Diana

It is hard to imagine it is now more than 20 years since Diana, Princess of Wales, died in such tragic circumstances. But during her short life, she spent plenty of time in the county - most notably attending the exclusive West Heath Girls' School near Sevenoaks as a child. It is now a special school - saved from closure in 1997 by Mohamad Al-Fayed - father of Dodi Al-Fayed, who died in the same car crash as Diana.

From 1983 to 1995 she visited the likes of Dover, Aylesford, Cranbrook, Deal and Sevenoaks. She opened Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, the Paula Carr diabetic centre at Ashford's William Harvey Hospital, Tenterden Leisure Centre and made several trips to Howe Barracks in Canterbury where the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was based.

She once told the soldiers: "It has to be said that for a 31-year-old woman to have 2,500 men under her command is some feat."

In 1992, she and her sons, William and Harry, all enjoyed a day at Chatham's Buckmore Park karting circuit - an event pictured at the race track to this day.

Princess Anne

The only daughter of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne was another to enjoy a childhood in the county.

The Queen and her daughter travelled down on the night train from their Scottish residence in Balmoral for Anne's first day.

She would stay at the school until 1968, leaving with six O-Levels and two A-Levels.

She is now known as the Princess Royal.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Sophie Rhys-Jones , as she was once known, was Kentish through and through before she married into the world's most famous family.

The wife of the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, grew up in a 17th century farmhouse in the village of Brenchley, near Tunbridge Wells, and attended the public Kent College in Pembury before enrolling for a secretarial course at Tonbridge's West Kent College.

After a career in PR, she met the young prince in 1993 - and married, at Windsor Castle, in 1999. They adopted the titles of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

They have two children with Sophie known to be particularly close to the Queen.

Countess Mountbatten

In the quiet village of Mersham, just outside Ashford, the eagle-eyed were often treated to an unheralded visit by some very senior members of the royal family.

Before her death in 2017 , at her home in the village, Countess Mountbatten of Burma would host the likes of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales when they were 'off-duty'.

As third cousin to the Queen, the families were close - her father, Earl Mountbatten had a special bond with a young Prince Charles. She was on the fishing boat off the coast of Ireland blown up by an IRA bomb in 1979 - killing Earl Mountbatten and her 14-year-son, Nicholas.

Her daughter, Lady Amanda Knatchbull's wedding at Ashford's St Mary's Parish Church in 1987 saw a turn out of all the major royals - with the exception of Princess Diana - to the church service and then back to Mersham, with crowds lining the route.

Queen Victoria

The links to Queen Victoria, who reigned between 1837 and 1901, with the county are perhaps naturally strong. She was, after all, the only daughter of the then Duke and Duchess of Kent.

And as you wind your way up and out of Ramsgate's picturesque marina, it would be easy to drive by a place of royal relevance. Because in what is now the Albion House hotel, is the room in which Victoria stayed as a child with her mother and Sir John Conroy, the Duchess' confidante and advisor.

It was there, in 1835, and at the age 16, she suffered a severe fever and had to be nursed back to good health - apparently using a secret tunnel to take her down to the beach. They were no stranger to Ramsgate - she'd stayed in the town as a four-year-old where she played with other children and enjoyed donkey rides.

They were also regular visitors to Tunbridge Wells at the opposite end of the county - attending services at the Church of King Charles the Martyr in the Pantiles. She stayed at what was then Calverley House - now the swanky Hotel du Vin, opposite the town centre police station.

The town would be given its 'Royal' status by Victoria's successor to the throne, Edward VII.

The list of royal visits stretch long and wide with the Queen a regular visitor.

In 1989 she attended the Kent Show - deciding to return to Windsor by train. Thus a special service was laid on from nearby Bearsted Station to get her back home and not disrupt the busy Friday night commuter service. She visited Brompton Barracks in Medway in 2007, Invicta Barracks in Maidstone in 2011 and bid farewell to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders when they left their long-time home of Howe Barracks in Canterbury in 2013.

Margate received a visit from her and the Duke of Edinburgh in November 2011, and in 2015, on a damp and gloomy day, she officially opened The Wing - a tribute to the Battle of Britain at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone.

A few majestic days for Kent

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla made a visit to the Whitstable Oyster Festival 2013 , while two years later, a heavily pregnant Duchess of Cambridge toured Margate - including the Turner Contemporary.

Prince Harry officially opened the First World War Memorial Arch in Folkestone in 2014.

Going back in time, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (who would later become the Queen Mother) toured Folkestone and Dover during 1944 as part of the war effort on one of a number of visits during the conflict.

King Edward VIII may have been a 'blink and you missed him' monarch in the 1930s (he abdicated less than a year after taking the throne after triggering a constitutional crisis over his proposed marriage to US divorcee Wallis Simpson), but prior to handing over the crown to his younger brother and becoming the Duke of Windsor, Edward, as the Prince of Wales, had been a regular on the royal circuit.

And in 1928, in that capacity, he attended the South East Counties Agricultural Society event held in Tunbridge Wells. The future King was cheered by enormous crowds, all waving their hats, as he toured the site.

And no round-up of royalty in Kent would be complete without the obligatory reference to the rich history - and royal patronage - of the county's many castles.

Dover Castle hosted visits by the likes of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, while Leeds Castle was in royal ownership dating back to the 13th century and King Edward. Henry VIII took a particular shine to it and is acknowledged for transforming it into a royal palace.

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Royal visit on Sunday in Chatham

It’s a very special weekend in Chatham-Kent and Essex County, as royalty will be coming to the region.

Prince Michael of Kent, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth and Colonel-in-Chief of the Essex and Kent Regiment, will be here for the changing of the regimental colours.

Gord Prentice, commanding officer of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, said this is called the lay up of the old colours.

“The colours represent the life blood of the regiment,” he said at municipal council Monday evening. “These colours never go anywhere except under armed guard.”

Colours, which showcase the regiment’s battle honours, wear out over time, Prentice said.

The last time the colours were laid up was 1994.

This time around, they will be laid up in Christ Church on Sunday. Prentice said Christ Church has a long history with the Kent Regiment and now the Essex and Kent.

Following that ceremony, the regiment will march from Christ Church to the Civic Centre, travelling down Wellington Street to King Street and to the Civic Centre, for the Exercise of the Freedom of the City. Prentice said the march is an excellent time for public participation in the weekend festivities by the regiment, as the public can come out to watch the parade and Exercise.

From the Civic Centre, the regiment will march through the downtown, stop and lay a wreath at the cenotaph, and then move on to the Chatham Armoury in Tecumseh Park for an afternoon reception.

The new colours, which will be presented in Windsor on Saturday, will feature new battle honours for the War of 1812 and Afghanistan, Prentice said.

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Kent's Royal Links

As we're in the midst of a coronation period of King Charles, we’re taking a look at Kent’s royal links of past and present. As the county with the most castles in England, naturally Kent is bursting with links to British royalty and has played a part in some of British history’s most crucial moments, from the birthplace of queens to the modern royals patronages today. 

Dover Castle 

Known as the ‘key to England’, this great fortress has played a crucial role in the defence of the realm for over nine centuries, a span equalled only by the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. It was King Henry II who spent vast sums transforming Dover Castle into his most powerful fortress – but it did you know it was actually a result of Thomas Becket’s murder and aftermath that caused him to devote so much time and money to his Great Tower at the centre of the castle? English Heritage tells the fascinating history of how the events unfolded here.

Hever Castle 

As the second wife to King Henry VIII and mother to Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn is one of Britain’s most famous queens, perhaps due to her sticky end - but her story begins right here in Kent. With so much written about the elusive figure, look to her childhood home of Hever Castle for their 2022 exhibition ‘Becoming Anne: Connections, Culture, Court’ to explore the factors that moulded Anne’s character and the rise of the Boleyn family – you can even take a peek at King Henry VIII’s bedchamber from their courting days.

Penshurst Place

In 1519, Henry VIII visited Penshurst Place as the guest of then-owner Edward Stafford, the Third Duke of Buckingham. The Duke, wanting to impress the King, spent an extortionate £2,500 on banquets and entertainment during the King’s visit, which equates to over £1 million in today’s money! Despite the excess, things didn’t fair well for Buckingham, and when Henry had him executed for treason in 1521, Penshurst Place became the King’s Hunting Lodge. However it is Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, who would go on to visit Penshurst the most, regularly holding audiences during her reign - and could see where her mother grew up, at nearby Hever. 

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle has been rolling out the red carpet for Hollywood stars to parliamentarians since it’s inception, so it’s no surprise this stunning castle has been associated with six Queens of England before Henry VIII himself transformed it from a fortified stronghold to a magnificent royal place for him and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. During the Lady Baillie years, the new owner enlisted the desginer Stephane Boudain to create the lavish settings for it's future parties - and his other clients included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. In these grand party years, Leeds Castle became a centre for lavish hospitality for British and European royals alike. 

Recognise this guy? Yep, he's been mentioned a fair few times now! But almost all British monarchs have left their mark on UNESCO World Heritage Site Canterbury Cathedral. From King Ethelbert, the first British king to convert to Christianity, via tales of Elizabeth I's lavish birthday celebrations including a feast in the Cathedral grounds, the wedding of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence and Henry II's disputes with Archbishop Thomas Becket, which resulted in a shocking murder. Discover monarchs immortalised in stone, wood and stained glass which adorn the Cathedral's walls, including the special statues of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip which were unveiled in 2015.

Walmer Castle and Gardens 

The seaside fortress of Walmer Castle is a hidden gem to many, but well known to the royals! A former home to the Duke of Wellington (the castle still houses an original pair of Wellington boots!), the most famous royal connection is their Queen Mother gardens. The Queen Mother was Lord Warden for 23 years, and this contemporary garden was created in honour of her 95th birthday. The Queen Mother declared, "I have been given many presents before, but never a garden." Featuring an elegant arched pavilion over still water and blooms throughout the season, we love this romantic and peaceful spot – and with a statue of a corgi sitting on a bench, so we know Her Majesty The Queen would approve too!

The Battle of Britain Memorial 

The Battle of Britain Memorial’s links with royalty go back to its unveiling in July 1993, when Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother braved storm force wind and rain on the helicopter ride that brought her to the Memorial’s clifftop home.   The weather was so atrocious that the pilot bringing The Queen Mother to the unveiling asked if she wanted to turn back. She is said to have told him in no uncertain terms that “her boys” had never turned back and that she wouldn’t do so either.   Nearly 22 years later, in March 2015, the weather was nearly as bad when Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Late Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, returned to open the new visitor centre at Capel-le-Ferne, that tells the story of the Battle.  

Copper Rivet Distillery

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened Copper Rivet Distillery on the banks of the River Medway in 2017, and now just this month The King visited the distillery to celebrate the launch of the third whisky in Copper Rivet Distillery’s new trio of quintessentially English Masthouse whiskies. You too can try their newest creation now, and take the tour around their stunning distillery – we might add that stopping for lunch in their plush new Pumproom restaurant is way to feel pampered, if not like royalty, for the day!

Historic Dockyard Chatham 

King Charles has been Patron of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust since 2013, and made his third visit to the Kent attraction to celebrate their 2022 visitor season opening and the exhibition, Diving Deep: HMS Invincible 1744 on 2 nd  February 2022. This immersive exhibition showcased objects and findings from the Diving Deep: HMS Invincible archaeological excavation, a project which was supported in its infancy by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Also home to the legendary Mary Rose (Henry VIII's favourite ship, no less!) and Lord Nelson's legendary flagship, HMS Victory, there's plenty of royal connections to explore at the Dockyard. 

Rochester Guildhall Museum 

While King Charles visited Historic Dockyard Chatham, Queen Camilla was greeted by Dickensian characters as she visited The Guildhall Museum in Rochester, touring their brand new exhibition, "The Making of Mr Dickens". The new exhibition, which opens on 8 th February, chronicles the lesser-known side of Dickens’ life including his happy childhood in Chatham, all the way to his return to Kent in Higham near Rochester in his later life.

Elmley Nature Reserve

Continuing on his North Kent tour, King Charles also visited Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey to meet with pioneering farmer and conservationist Philip Merricks, and to tour the Estate. His Royal Highness became aware of Elmley through his own deep interest to save the breeding curlews of Dartmoor and made a trip to the Reserve to find out more, first hand, about how land at Elmley is most effectively managed for breeding ground nesting birds. The incredible wildlife experiences are just one of the reasons people flock (if you pardon the pun!) to Elmley – the only nature reserve in the UK you can actually spend the night in – and their gorgeous shepherd huts make for the perfect local escape.  

Thanet's Royal Connections

Being a British seaside resort, Thanet has seen its fair share of the Royal family visiting, with traces as far back as 1613 with Princess Elizabeth Stuart setting sail for the continent from Margate; to Princess Victoria staying in Ramsgate to recuperate from illness in 1835 and Prince George, Duke of Kent opening the first section of the Ramsgate Tunnels in 1939. If you'd like to find out a few more facts including who visited modern day landmarks such as the Turner Contemporary, Visit Thanet have a dedicated page .  

Photo credit: @kayleigh_k_photos_ 

The town of Dover

Tales of the castles have been told in the sections above, but there's much more to tell of the areas in the White Cliffs Country that involve the towns themselves. Before King Henry VIII's reign, he held the office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and was Constable of Dover Castle. In more recent history, on the 14th November 1842, Queen Victoria & Prince Albert arrived in the area on short notice driving from Dover to Walmer Castle. Despite the quick turnaround, Deal Road and Castle Hill were full of people waving flags. 

Gravesham's connections 

The Royal Terrace Pier is a grade II listed building and was built in 1844 as The Terrace Pier, a rival to the Town Pier. It was renamed Royal in 1863 after Princess Alexandra of Denmark arrived there before her marriage to the future Edward VII. Overlooking the Thames, the Clarendon Royal Hotel was built in 1665 as a residential home for the Duke of York as Lord Admiral. Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, stayed at the hotel in 1863 when he greeted his future bride, Princess Alexandria who disembarked from Royal Terrace Pier. It was this visit which enabled the hotel to add the 'Royal' moniker to its name, becoming The Clarendon Royal Hotel. In more recent history, a Queen Elizabeth II statue was sculpted by Douglas Jennings and unveiled by the Bishop of Rochester Rt Rev James Langstaff and Cllr David Turner, which is said to be the only seated sculpture of the Queen in existence. 

Base yourself to discover the connections

If you're on a tour around the county discovering all of Kent's connections and links, you'll have to stay somewhere to compliment that! Thankfully Keeper's Cottages have a number of homes for rental which can include Sonnet Cottage nr Sandwich , that has pieces of memorabilia of the Royal family and has a classic English cottage feel or nearby Moat Farm House , which is an exquisite Tudor farmhouse that'll certainly make you feel Royal! 

Medway town visits

Being one of the UK's key hubs for military and maritime activity, Medway has seen its share of Royal visits. In 1540, King Henry VIII (him again!) encountered the woman who would be his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Queen Elizabeth I came to Rochester in 1573, staying at the Crown Inn, which is still in place today. The notably named 'Restoration House' was where Charles II stayed at in 1660 before his restoration to the throne - giving the Elizabethan home its name - which was then in turn the basis for Miss Haversham's house in Charles Dickens 'Great Expectations'. Just 22 years later, James II became a prisoner at 'Abdication House' on the High Street in Rochester before he made an escape by boat to France. In 1855, Queen Victoria paid a visit to wounded Crimean War soldiers at Fort Pitt Military Hospital in Chatham and for the aviation enthusiasts, King George VI visited the works of plane manufacturers the Short Brothers on Rochester Esplanade. No doubt King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit and continue this history! 

Beatrice and Eugenie could perform 'a small number of engagements' amid Kate and monarch's cancer battles

WATCH NOW: Princess Beatrice speaks at World Econoimic Forum

By Dorothy Reddin

Published: 06/05/2024

The Princesses of York are not currently working members of the Royal Family

• The Royal Family could use Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's help, a royal historian has claimed
• King Charles and Princess Kate are currently battling cancer
• Have your say: Would you like to see Eugenie and Beatrice become working royals? Click the comment button above now

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Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could perform "a small number of engagements" amid Kate's and the monarch's cancer battles, a royal historian has claimed.

Prince Andrew's daughters are not working members of the Royal Family, however, amid the current shortage of working royals, many have suggested Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 34, would make good options to fill some gaps in the royal diary.

King Charles, 75, and Princess Kate, 42, are currently battling cancer and are not carrying out as many public engagements.

Marlene Koenig, a royal historian, spoke exclusively to GB News to explain how Beatrice and Eugenie could be incorporated into the Firm.

She said: "I wrote an article not long after the Queen died, saying maybe this is time for Beatrice and Eugenie.

"We have elderly and I'm using the words 'elderly royals' in the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, both of whom have served since they were teenagers, and they've served the crown admirably with numerous engagements and charities of their own.

"And my thought was, Beatrice and Eugenie already have offices covered by the sovereign grant.

"They, like most members of the Royal Family, lost their 24-hour security at least more than a decade ago now, and only have it when they go on engagements. But they do have a small office.

"My thought was, [King Charles] can just provide Beatrice and Eugenie with a small number of engagements because they can't do the King's job and they can't do Catherine's job, but there are still the bread and butter engagements that need doing.

"There has been no announcement about divvying up the late Queen's patronages. Of course, some go automatically to Charles. But there are plenty of patronages that he can't do."

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have several private patronages, however, they do not carry out duties on behalf of the monarchy.

Koenig suggested that the Royal Family will not have as many patronages in the years ahead.

Princess Alexandra and the Duke of Kent are still performing royal duties

She added: "What we're also seeing is a change in how royals carry out engagements, and that they won't have a huge portfolio of patronages and charities anymore.

"King Charles certainly will not be replacing Alexandra and the Duke and Duchess of Kent's charities with other royal patrons, it's not going to happen.

"But my point is that at this point, both Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie work and have jobs. They are private and they don't get any funding."

Koenig pointed out that King Charles would not have to worry about providing housing for two more working royals, as the York sisters already have homes.

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Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice have homes with their families

She explained: "One of the costs you don't have to worry about is housing. Beatrice and Eugenie have homes.

"Regarding security, the King can just transfer the people who cover the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra on their rare official engagements to Beatrice and Eugenie. So taxpayers are not paying more money.

"Say, they do five engagements a month. That's it. They can spend two days going to different parts of the country.

"I'm not saying their own charities should be moved up, but they could ask again for the King to decide. Although, there's been no movement for that."

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King Charles’ Niece Broke Royal Protocol While Visiting Him Amid Cancer Battle

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Nearly three months after the monarch announced his cancer diagnosis, Zara Tindall and King Charles finally had the chance to reunite at a recent royal outing. The pair greeted each other with a hug—and it turns out that the king’s niece broke a pretty major royal practice in the process.

While the royal family’s website claims there are “no obligatory codes of behaviour,” around greeting a monarch, royal protocol in the United Kingdom is built on many longstanding traditions and expectations around how people should interact with the king. Apparently, hugging the monarch can break these protocols for several reasons.

We’re assuming Tindall gets a pass on this front, given that she’s a member of the royal family herself. However, there is also the understanding that people aren’t meant to initiate physical contact with the monarch unless the monarch takes the lead. In this instance, Us Weekly reports that King Charles looked somewhat “surprised” when his niece went in for the hug. The outlet also revealed that those without royal titles are usually expected to avoid physical contact with the monarch altogether.

Given her innocent slip up, we’re going to go ahead and assume that King Charles can forgive his niece—if there’s anything to forgive, that is! After all, Tindall’s hug comes amid His Majesty’s ongoing cancer battle. Her encounter with the monarch also marked the first time seeing him in public since Buckingham Palace announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer . The king’s outing at the royal horse show was one of three recent engagements he attended since returning to his royal duties at the end of April 2024, following a short break as he received treatment for his condition.

Related: Who Will Inherit King Charles’ Money? Some Royals Might Get Left Out Of His Will

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The ultimate guide to the coronation weekend: What's still to come

The King's coronation will be a three-day extravaganza of ceremony, celebration and tradition. From the opening procession to the bank holiday Big Help Out, here's everything you need to know about what's happened so far and what is still to come.

News reporter @jos_franks

Saturday 6 May 2023 18:33, UK

The King has been crowned, but celebrations will take place all weekend - including a concert and nationwide lunches.

Here's what's happened and what's still to come.

The ceremony

The coronation ceremony of the King - and his wife, Queen Camilla - took place at Westminster Abbey.

Royals, celebrities and foreign dignitaries arrived for the momentous event.

There were big hats, fabulous outfits, lots of crowds and lots of rain.

Here's what you might have missed:

• Harry and Andrew sat in the third row
• Ant and Dec, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were just some of the celebrities in attendance
• The head of the anti-monarchy group Republic was arrested

The procession route

The King and Queen Consort took a 1.3-mile route to the ceremony.

They travelled down the Mall via Admiralty Arch, took the south side of Trafalgar Square, went along Whitehall and Parliament Street, took the east and south sides of Parliament Square to Broad Sanctuary, before arriving at the abbey.

The Queen took a much longer route after her coronation, travelling five miles through Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, and finally down the Mall to end at Buckingham Palace.

The new King and queen used the Diamond Jubilee State Coach on their way to the ceremony. For the way back, the 260-year-old Gold State Coach was chosen.

Spectators got wet

Viewing spots along the procession route were in high demand - particularly as the royals took a shorter journey than the late Queen in 1953.

Outside Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace as well as along the Mall, the Horse Guards Parade and Parliament Square were all prime spots, with royal fans pitched up and getting soaking wet.

A muted flypast

More than 60 aircraft were expected to take to the sky over London - but bad weather meant a slimmed-down flypast .

The display opened with helicopters cutting through the low cloud over the palace, before the Red Arrows soared overhead trailing red, white and blue.

The flypast lasted for less than three minutes - when it was scheduled to last for more than six.

The much-awaited balcony moment

Exactly who would appear on the balcony was shrouded in mystery until the moment the Royal Family stepped out.

Speculation had been rife as to why the palace did not announce who would be up there, with some claiming it could be a ploy to eschew newspaper headlines indicating Prince Harry had been "banned" from the balcony.

The King and Queen were met with roars from the waiting crowd as they appeared on the balcony for the first time after the coronation .

To the right of the King and Queen stood the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children Prince Louis and Charlotte.

With them stood the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Earl of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor.

The eight pages of honour stood closest to the King and Queen, including second in line to the throne, Prince George, and Camilla's grandchildren.

To the right of the King and Queen stood Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - the Prince is the late Queen's cousin.

Stood behind Camilla were her ladies in attendance - her sister Annabel Elliot and longtime friend and current Queen's companion Lady Lansdowne.

What else will happen over the coronation weekend?

Sunday 7 May

• Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle
• Lighting up the Nation - locations across the UK will be lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
• Coronation Big Lunches - people will be invited to get together with their neighbourhood or community for a shared lunch, cup of tea or street party.

Monday 8 May

• The Big Help Out - will encourage people to try volunteering in their local area.

Tell me more about the concert

The coronation concert will see music stars descend on Windsor Castle, with Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie on the line-up.

It will also feature "the coronation choir", a diverse group of community choirs and amateur singers from across the UK, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs.

The audience will be made up of 10,000 people drawn from a ticket ballot, along with volunteers from charities affiliated to the King and Queen.

More information about the concert here.

Where was it shown on a big screen?

The government provided funding for big screens at more than 60 locations across the UK.

Parks, town squares and libraries were all transformed into coronation viewing venues, with crowds gathering despite damp weather across much of the country.

When is the bank holiday?

The Monday after the coronation - 8 May 2023 - will be a bank holiday for all of the UK.

The day has been set aside for volunteering and is being billed as "The Big Help Out", with people encouraged to pitch in with projects in their local communities.

Will the pubs be open later?

Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am for the weekend.

People will be able to enjoy an "extra pint or two" between Friday 5 May and Sunday 7 May, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said.

Extending closing time for two hours beyond the normal 11pm was backed by 77% of the public who took part in a month-long consultation.

Who was at the coronation - was Harry there?

Prince Harry was at the coronation, while Meghan stayed in California with their children.

Westminster Abbey's 2,200 seats were filled with members of the Royal Family, the prime minister, representatives from the Houses of Parliament, heads of state, other royals from around the world and people with links to the royal couple or the charities they support.

Ant and Dec, Lionel Richie, Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones, Vogue's UK editor Edward Enninful and the magician Dynamo were among the famous faces at Westminster Abbey .

They were on the guest list because of their connection with the Prince's Trust.

More than 850 community and charity representatives were also invited, including the "boy in the tent" , who raised more than £750,000 for North Devon Hospice by camping in his garden for three years .

Invitees received an invitation that was handwritten by calligraphers from London Scribes Calligraphers, using traditional italic dip pens and bespoke mixed inks.

Veterans and NHS workers were front row in 3,800 seats in a specially built grandstand in front of Buckingham Palace.

Was Queen Camilla's ex-husband there?

Yes. Andrew Parker Bowles was there to watch the crowning of the new king and queen.

He was also present at their wedding in 2005.

Here's more about Andrew and the Parker Bowles family .

What's in the ceremony?

Like every coronation in the last 900 years, the ceremony for the King took place at Westminster Abbey, where the Queen's funeral was held in September and where the Prince and Princess of Wales married in 2011.

The service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, a position currently held by Justin Welby. The Archbishop of Canterbury has presided over almost every coronation since the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The Earl Marshal - the Duke of Norfolk - is in overall charge of the coronation.

He is Oxford-educated father-of-five Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 67, and was responsible for organising Elizabeth II's funeral, as well as the Accession and State Openings of Parliament.

He was banned from driving for six months in September for using his mobile phone behind the wheel despite claiming he needed his licence to arrange the upcoming coronation.

This is the order of service here .

Why was Camilla also crowned?

According to the Royal Family's website: "A Queen Consort is crowned with the King, in a similar, but simpler ceremony."

The last Queen Consort to be crowned was the Queen Mother alongside King George VI in 1937.

Find out more about why Camilla was also crowned here.

What happens during a coronation?

There are six basic phases to the coronation: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture (which includes the crowning), the enthronement and the homage.

During the ceremony, the King swore to uphold the law and the Church of England, was anointed with holy oil, received the Royal Orb and sceptres and was crowned with the solid gold St Edward's Crown. Read more about the crowning ceremony here.

More than 50 people, including representatives from orders of chivalry, the military and wider public life, were chosen to take part in the historic event, and were selected because of their "significant service", the palace said.

Among them was TV presenter Floella Benjamin, former MI5 chief Baroness Elizabeth Manningham-Buller and Lincolnshire farmer Francis Dymoke.

Mr Dymoke, as he is the owner of the Scrivelsby country estate, was the King's champion and carried the Royal Standard.

In the procession into Westminster Abbey, faith leaders and representatives went first followed by governors-general, prime ministers and flag bearers from each of the 15 realms where the King is head of state.

Ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, the UK's flag bearer was Cadet Warrant Officer Elliott Tyson-Lee.

The King and Queen Consort's procession followed, led by the Marquess of Anglesey, the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Caledon and the Earl of Dundee, who carried the Standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and the Standard of the Principality of Wales.

How was it different to the Queen's coronation in 1953?

While the 1953 coronation was three hours long and had 8,000 guests in attendance, the ceremony for the King was shorter and smaller in scope.

The Queen's coronation was the first to be televised and was credited with bringing TV into the mainstream.

More than 20 million people watched the service on television, many crowded around neighbours' screens, outnumbering the radio audience for the first time.

How to watch all the coronation events on TV

In a milestone for TV broadcasting, Sky customers were able to watch the King and Queen crowned in the clarity of Ultra HD , for free on Sky News channel 501.

Multiple live streams were also available on the Sky News website, app and on our YouTube channel .

Joanna Lumley joined Sky News presenters for the coverage.

The Absolutely Fabulous actress, who provided commentary for Sky News for the Queen's Jubilee last year, attended the service at Westminster Abbey in May as a guest of Charles and Camilla.

Dame Joanna, 76, then joined the broadcaster's coronation line-up, which includes royal events commentator Alastair Bruce and presenters Kay Burley and Anna Botting.

Every aspect of the big day was televised, from royal fans gathering in the streets to the ceremony and processions.

To stay up-to-date with the coronation - including details like timings of the day, news, features and analysis - bookmark our special coronation page for all the latest: skynews.com/coronation .

Related Topics

• King's Coronation
• Meghan Markle
• Prince Harry

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• Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation, Moscow
• Guide to Russia

What is the history of Gorky Park?

• In the pre-revolutionary period, Gorky Park was a city dump and wasteland, which was cleared in 1923 to host the All-Russian Agricultural and Artisan Industrial Exhibition
• In 1928, a huge park was planned on the former site of the exhibition. It would not just be a place of leisure, but a place to proudly display Soviet culture and daily life
• Gorky Park has remained a cultural hub ever since, and has been renovated and added to over the years to make it one of Moscow’s top attractions today

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation

Gorky Park is the most famous park of Moscow, created during the Soviet period as a hub for relaxation and cultural activities. The park is beloved by Muscovites and tourists alike, who visit in all seasons to stroll, enjoy sports, admire the park’s attractions, and attend cultural events. Gorky Park is the central part of an ensemble of four green spaces – Muzeon Park of Arts, Neskuchny Garden, and Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve – which curve around the southern bank of the Moskva River to the south-west of Moscow city centre. Here you may spend some time and enjoy nature and contemprary art during your vacation in Moscow .

History of Gorky Park

Imperial russia.

In the 17th century, the eastern bank of the Moskva River beyond Moscow’s city limits was home to floodplain meadows, where palace horses grazed. From the mid-1850s, events such as cockfights, fistfights, and races were held here, and by the 20th century this area had become a city dump where the unemployed and homeless people of Moscow lived, which remained this way until the Soviet period. This wasteland lay in stark contrast to the adjoining Neskuchny Sad – ‘merry garden’ – which lay to its south, an area of aristocratic country estates and elaborate gardens.

Soviet Russia

Photo from  https://parkseason.ru/

Following the October Revolution, Vladimir Lenin travelled around Moscow to find a suitable site for the first All-Russian Agricultural and Artisan Industrial Exhibition, which would reveal opportunities for socialist development of agriculture and industry. Lenin decided on the wasteland alongside the Moskva River, which was cleared with a programme of community work. In 1923, the exhibition began. It encompassed 250 pavilions dedicated to different themes of agriculture and industry, and was divided into thematic zones, such as villages, livestock, crops, engineering, railways, republics of the USSR, and foreign countries. The organisation of the exhibition demarcated the future layout and size of Gorky Park, and the paths, ‘zones’, and main square of the exhibition have been preserved until the present day. In March 1928, Moscow City Council decided to establish a park of culture and recreation on the site of the former exhibition, which would also encompass the Neskuchny Garden. Moscow’s residents were instrumental in the construction of the park – they voiced their desires for events spaces, physical education and leisure facilities, and gave up their weekends to build the park. The park’s main architect was Konstantin Melnikov.

Did you know? Konstantin Melnikov also helped to construct Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Rusakov Worker’s Club, one of Moscow’s Constructivist masterpieces .

Over 100,000 Muscovites flocked to the opening of the park on 12th August 1928. The brand-new park was equipped with two theatres, a cinema, nursery, reading room, restaurant and café, music stages, sports arenas, rowing boats, and even a giant helter-skelter slide. Unfortunately, because of the vast size of the crowd and the general excitement, the park was damaged and closed until September.

Did you know? The park was not named after Maxim Gorky, writer and founder of Socialist Realism, until 1933.

In 1929, Betty Glan – at the mere age of 26 – became director of the park. She decided to reconceptualise it, uniting leisure, design, and ideology with the help of Moscow’s most eminent architects, designers and artists. Over the next decade, more cultural venues were established in the park, the Pushkinskaya Embankment along the Moskva River was developed, and the landscaping of the park was carefully cultivated. Architect Alexander Vlasov was particularly influential, and won the Grand Prix at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris for his design of Gorky Park. This period under Glan’s directorship until 1937 was known as the ‘golden age’ of Gorky Park, which became not just a place for recreation, but a public space where Soviet culture and everyday life could be proudly displayed.

Did you know? During the Second World War topical events were held in Gorky Park, such as the championship in bayonet combat, grenade-throwing competitions, and air defence training. What’s more, an exhibition of captured enemy weapons – tanks, artillery, aeroplanes, and more – was organised in Gorky Park and continually updated throughout the war.

In the post-war decades new attractions were continually added to Gorky Park. These included the majestic 24-metre triumphal arch at the entrance to the park, an astronomical observatory (which remains open today), the famous Ferris wheel (unfortunately dismantled in 2008), and a fountain with lights and music.

Russia today

Photo from  https://countryscanner.ru/

The Gorky Park ensemble continued to flourish as a centre of culture and recreation in post-Soviet Russia. The adjoining Muzeon Park of Arts was founded in 1992, and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art was established in Gorky Park in 2008. The ensemble underwent serious reconstruction in 2011. Many new sports facilities were added, including centres for beach sports and extreme sports, bicycle paths and sports equipment rental hubs, and much effort was devoted to reviving original buildings, sculptures, and landscape compositions. Two years later, the embankment of the Moskva River from the southern tip of Zamoskvorechye Island all the way to Sparrow Hills was redeveloped and pedestrianised, making it possible to peacefully walk or cycle along the Moskva for many kilometres.

What can you do at Gorky Park today?

• Explore the park and see architectural attractions, fountains, and beautiful gardens
• Visit Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and the Gorky Park Museum
• Go boating on the lakes and stroll down the Pushkinskaya Embankment
• Rent bicycles or scooters, skateboard, and visit the sports centres

What can you do at Gorky Park?

Park attractions.

While exploring the treelined paths of Gorky Park, you’ll come across a number of attractions. To the west of the main entrance, near the river, is a beautiful geometric bandstand used for music and literary evenings in the Soviet period. As you head down the central alley of Gorky Park from the main entrance, you’ll see a statue of Maxim Gorky on your right, and discover the light and music fountain with its dancing jets of water – find the schedule of its performances here .

Did you know? Don’t be afraid to feed the red squirrels and birds you encounter on your walk around Gorky Park – there are even vending machines which sell special food for the animals!

The southern section of Gorky Park is occupied by the Golitsynsky Garden. In 1802, the Golitsyn Hospital was founded here as a hospital for the poor; it still adjoins Gorky Park today. Gardens were created as a relaxation place for patients, extending from the hospital building to the riverbank, and included landscaped gardens, a Chinese Bridge, and two ponds. On the riverbank is the Rotunda of the Golitsyn Hospital, which has been preserved since the 19th century. There is also a rose garden and fountain by the Bolshoi Golitsynsky Pond.

Did you know? In the Golitsynsky Garden is also located an unusual architectural monument – a public toilet designed by Alexander Vlasov in the 1930s, which is recognised as an ‘object of cultural heritage’!

Outdoor activities

Gorky Park’s extensive and varied grounds aren’t only good for walks! You can relax on the water by renting boats to sail on the Pionersky and Bolshoi Golitsynsky Ponds, or visiting the Olivkovy Beach on the Pushkinskaya Embankment to sunbathe. As well as this, you can hire bicycles, electric scooters, longboards or even roller skates to explore the park and embankments, play table tennis, visit the sports complex to play football, basketball, handball, badminton or volleyball, or visit the Vans skatepark or Nike sports centre for workouts and classes such as rooftop yoga.

Gorky Park Museum

Photo from  http://themedium.ru/

Visit the Gorky Park Museum, located in the left pier of the entrance arch. The current exhibition is dedicated to Gorky Park in the ‘golden age’ of the 1930s, and shows the development of Moscow’s central park through the eyes of Betty Glan. There is an observation deck on top of the arch, which offers a lovely view over the park and Moscow’s skyline.

Did you know? In the entrance arch there is also a gift shop where you can purchase balls, frisbees, blankets, and other items to enjoy your visit to Gorky Park.

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

Photo from  https://muzeolog.com/

In Gorky Park you will find Garage Museum, Russia’s first philanthropic institution dedicated to contemporary art, founded in 2008 by Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova. 10 major exhibitions are hosted each year to showcase the work of established and up-and-coming artists. Also organised are a rich programme of events including curator-led excursions, workshops, masterclasses, lectures, concerts, performances, festivals, and film screenings at Garage’s outdoor cinema. Read our article about Garage Museum of Contemporary Art to learn more.

Food and drink

There are plenty of excellent cafes and restaurants dotted around Gorky Park, where you can stop for a quick coffee or enjoy a long meal with a view. They include the stylish lakeside café Ostrovok (Little Island) and upmarket restaurant Vremena Goda (Seasons) which serve European and Russian food, colourful lakeside Thai restaurant Lebedinoe Ozero (Swan Lake), trattoria Merkato with its huge summer terrace, restaurant Syrovarnya (Cheese Factory) with a menu focused on its homemade cheese, food-truck court Restoparking which is stylised as a drive-in café, and ice-cream and tea shop Chaynaya Vysota.

What’s nearby?

Gorky Park is bordered by Muzeon Park of Arts, Neskuchny Garden, and Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve. This huge ensemble curves for eight kilometres along the bank of the Moskva River, providing a beautiful oasis of green in Europe’s biggest city.

Muzeon Park of Arts

Photo from  https://new-magazine.ru/

Muzeon Park of Arts is the largest open-air sculpture museum in Russia, home to 1,000 sculptures by Soviet and Russian sculptors, including those by famous artists. A large part of Muzeon is occupied by the New Tretyakov Gallery , which houses Russia’s most complete exhibition of national art from the 20th century to the present day. The pedestrianised Krymskaya Embankment which extends alongside Muzeon has recently undergone redevelopment, and is one of Moscow’s most popular spots to relax.

Neskuchny Garden

Neskuchny Garden is the oldest park in Moscow, founded in 1728 by Prince Nikita Trubetskoy, who threw fantastic festivities in his manor house and gardens – neskuchny means ‘merry’ in Russian. Many other noble families also built their country estates in this area, which became a public park and garden after being acquired by the royal family. Today, the Neskuchny Garden is home to historical buildings, fountains, and gardens from the 18th and 19th centuries, sports facilities, an open-air theatre, and a huge greenhouse which supplies flowers to Gorky Park.

Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve is a huge forest park lining the steep bank of the Moskva River and the only specially protected nature area near the city centre. It is home to ecological trails, ponds, natural springs, rare species of plants and animals, many spots for picnicking, cafes, and a mini zoo. At the bottom of the park lie the Vorobyovskaya and Andreevskaya Embankments, with promenades along the Moskva River, a beach, and piers offering boat trips. As with Gorky Park, Sparrow Hills is hugely popular for sports and outdoor activities in all seasons. A new winter sports complex with snowboarding, ice skating, and ski tracks and jumps is currently under construction. When the weather is pleasant, you can rent a bicycle to ride the 8 kilometres along the river from Muzeon to Sparrow Hills.

Essential information for visitors Address and contact details Gorky Park, Krymsky Val, 9, Moscow, 119049 Website:  https://park-gorkogo.com/ Email:  [email protected] Telephone: +7 (495) 995-00-20 Nearest metro: Oktyabrskaya (570m), Park Kultury (860m) Opening hours and tickets

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Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

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Top 7 Russian Palaces

You are here.

There’s no need to mention, that Russia has a rich history and poses enormous treasures which makes discovering the country quite an enthralling process.

But if you want to immerse into the epoch of pompous court receptions and to witness the grandeur of Imperial Russia during your tour to Russia , here’s a list of the Top 7 Palaces that Russia is fiercely proud of.

Winter Palace

Undoubtedly, the Winter Palace is a famous attraction of Saint Petersburg and a must-stop on your visit to Russia .

Being one of the greatest royal residences of the world, today this outstanding palace is one of the 6 buildings housing the Hermitage Museum.

The site incorporates the largest collection of paintings in the world. There are over 3 million works of art and world culture artifacts, and if you only stop by each object for a minute or so, it would still take you several days to get through the main hall! It is not easy to comprehend, you have to see it for yourself!

It is claimed, that the color of the Palace has been changing throughout its history, from warm yellow to a more dense one and even was repainted in red brick color during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II.

Today the facades of the Palace are painted in an emerald-blue, white, and gold colors - nothing but a true treasure on the banks of Neva River, reflecting the majesty of the Russian Empire.

Did You Know? In the times of her rule, Catherine the Great was in need of her own hideaway to rest from public pressure. So she ordered the construction of a new wing of the palace, which she suitably named “the Hermitage.”

Saint Michael's Castle

The unusual architectural phenomenon, the Saint Michael's Castle, is located in the very heart of Saint Petersburg .

This place is claimed to be one of the oddest highlights of the city because of the legends and mysteries associated with it. It’s believed that the spirit of the emperor Paul I is still roaming around the castle's walls.

All the facades of the Mikhailovsky Castle are different. The contemporaries called the interiors of the Palace a miracle of luxury and taste.

Designed by the outstanding architects and sculptors of that time, the ceremonial residence of the emperor also served as a museum of ancient, European, and Russian art. Later, it was transformed into the Army Engineers School and renamed to the Engineer's Castle.

Nowadays, the Mikhailovsky Palace hosts a branch of the Russian Museum. There is a permanent exhibition of the art gallery and the exposition dedicated to the history of the Castle.

Unusual Wall Hue As one of the castle's legends says, the walls got an unusual crimson color after Anna Lopukhina, Paul I's favourite, dropped a glove at a ball. The Emperor liked the color, which meant that the court began to give it preference. Later, Paul sent the glove to the architect as a sample and now we can the result of such life happenings.

Grand Kremlin Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace , who haven’t heard of it? When on a tour to Moscow , don’t miss a chance to visit its territory and museums. It once served as the residence for Moscow's tsars, today this brilliant complex of rooms and palaces is open for tourists.

Visiting the Palace can be compared with travel back in time as it conserves the spirit of different epochs of Russian history.

Initially, the Palace served as the Moscow residence of Russian emperors and their families. At the present time, the President's inauguration, state ceremonies and hospitable receptions of foreign leaders take place in the lavishly decorated halls.

The composition of the Grand Kremlin Palace is quite peculiar. The territory includes the earlier Terem Palace, nine churches and over 700 rooms.

The luxurious interiors of the halls represent the blend of old Russian, Eastern and Italian architecture so the visit to this gorgeous palace will be a memory of a lifetime.

Kremlin Facts

• All the Kremlin towers have their own names, except for two. These two towers are called the first nameless and the second nameless.
• The Moscow Kremlin is the largest medieval fortress in the world, with an area of more than 27 hectares.
• During the great Patriotic war, only 15 bombs fell on the territory of the Kremlin.

The Nikolaevsky Palace

Located not far away from St. Isaac's Cathedral , the Nikolaevskiy Palace in St. Petersburg it represents a huge neoclassical edifice, built for the Imperial family. The Palace was constructed for the third son of Nicholas I. In 1894 the building was transformed into the Xenia Institute for Noble Young Ladies.

The Nikolaevsky Palace is an architectural ensemble consisting of several buildings and each of them has its own decorative appearance. The simultaneous use of several styles, such as classicism, Italian renaissance, and baroque, adds some special charm. The building is beautifully decorated with sculptural ornaments, columns and pilasters of Ionic and Corinthian orders.

Today the Nikolaevsky Palace bears the name of the Palace of Labour (Dvorets truda) and a large part of the building is rented to commercial enterprises.

The Catherine Palace

A real gem of architecture, the Catherine Palace , is a place that is impossible to cross out your travel list and is a must-visit during St. Petersburg tours . A pompous baroque Palace has a more than 300-year history.

Located 25 km south of St. Petersburg in the town of Pushkin (former Tsarskoye Selo), the Imperial residence was admired by Empress Catherine and played the role of the main center of court life. The Palace oversaw the fanciest balls and masquerades in the country.

The Palace oversaw the fanciest balls and masquerades in the country.

The Grand Palace is the compositional center of the Tsarskoye Selo Park. Blue-and-white facades are richly decorated with golden moldings and figures of atlantes, caryatids, and lion masks. The interior halls are no less splendid. Probably, the most famous room is the Amber Cabinet, decorated in amber panels with golden leaves and mirrors. All in all, this architectural masterpiece will immerse you in the times of Imperial Russia and is definitely worth your attention.

Places to Visit in the Catherine Palace:

• The Amber Cabinet
• The Great Hall
• The Throne Hall
• The Portrait Hall
• Arabesque Hall
• The White Formal Dining Room

The Yusupov Palace

Set on the Mioka River, The Yusupov Palace is one of the few surviving residences of wealthy families. This location is most famous for one dramatic episode in the history of Russia - the assassination of Grigory Rasputin, who had a lot of influence over the last monarch family of Russia.

The Palace is often called the encyclopedia of St. Petersburg's aristocratic interior. This mansion preserves the front apartments, art gallery, home theater and luxurious residential quarters of the Yusupov family. It's no wonder that it was widely known throughout the nobility of St. Petersburg as balls and receptions, which amazed everyone with luxury and wealth, were constantly held there.

The Peterhof Grand Palace

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Russian and European geniuses of architecture worked hard on building the majestic Peterhof Grand Palace , laid out on the order of Peter the Great. Often called the "Russian Versailles”, the exquisite palace-ensemble is a part of UNESCO World Heritage.

Decoration of the facades of the building, painted in bright yellow, is marked by restraint as there is nothing superfluous in it. The interior of the palace poses a myriad of halls such as the Blue Reception Room, the Dance Hall, the White Dining Room and so on.

Now, the Grand Palace is a unique historical and art museum with the collection of about three and a half thousand items, including paintings, fabrics, furniture as well as personal belongings of the former owners of the Palace.

The Peterhof Fountains: In total, there are 176 fountains in Peterhof. And about 40 kilometers of canals are laid to serve them. 18 ponds-reservoirs that supply water for the entire network of fountains cover an area of about 100 hectares with a volume of more than 1 million 300 thousand cubic meters..

Of course, following the footsteps of the greatest emperors and soaking up the noble atmosphere of the most beautiful Russian palaces is an unforgettable experience. That’s why it’s a must to set aside some time during your trip to Russia to admire this breathtaking sites of the country’s cultural heritage.

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Mar 11, 2022 | Featured News , General News , Royal Visits

Recent Posts

• King’s Award for Voluntary Service Presentations
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• Holi Celebrations in Maidstone

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