The Toilet Duty Dukes and Duchesses of England

Those precious moments of alone time in the bathroom are priceless to many of us, and yet strangely enough, it was one of the few luxuries the King and Queen of England could not afford. Until as recently as the 20th century, the British monarchy appointed what was known as the “Groom of the Stool”, a courtier responsible for…

New York’s Forgotten Outpost of European Aristocracy

The far end of New York’s Long Island is a place filled with secrets. Set against a beautiful backdrop of rocky Atlantic coastline, charming fishing towns, lighthouses and exclusive boatclubs, are hidden places where you’re not allowed to go. There’s the decommissioned Camp Hero in Montauk, an old coastal defence station disguised as a fishing…

A Pit-Stop in Japan’s Time Capsule Post Towns

We’ve got an achilles heel for places stuck in the past, and today on our armchair adventures, we’re stopping off in the sleepy streets of Japan’s cinematic post towns, known locally as Shukuba (宿場). What is a post town, you ask? Essentially it’s a pit-stop, albeit a very charming one lost in time, which popped…

Napoleon’s Heirs Include a Wall Street Banker, the Founder of the FBI and a Star Trek Actor

So I started my day off by learning that Napoleon Bonaparte, a man who conquered virtually the whole of what is modern continental Europe, has a 32 year-old living heir who works as an investment banker, went to Harvard Business School and is generally giving us major Patrick Bateman vibes. At the same time, I…

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The Ruins of King Zog’s New York Mansion

Long Island, New York is home to a legion of stately mansions that in the early 20th century, would provide the inspiration and backdrop for The Great Gatsby. The so-called ‘Gold Coast’ became the playground for Manhattan’s wealthy elite, who built themselves English-styled grand houses, with plush, landscaped gardens, and the most luxurious interiors money…

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Why China Keeps Its Pyramids a Secret

It’s 1945, and US Airforce pilot James Gaussman is just trying to focus. He’s flying a leg of his journey between India and China, when suddenly, a glimmer catches his eye. Emerging from the plains of China’s heartland, he spots it: a tremendous pyramid that would put Giza’s to shame. “It was pure white on…

The Queen Who Worked at Macy’s

Most princess stories involve finding Prince Charming and living happily ever after as king and queen of the castle. They don’t typically include a part about the princess working at Macy’s department store, but that’s what makes this princess story so great… Anne Antoinette Françoise Charlotte was born in Paris in 1923, the only daughter of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma and Princess…

Meet the Would-be King of France (He’s Kind of a Babe)

It’s not fair that the English get to have all the fun with their monarchy. France has better palaces and all these monuments and frankly, we need more parades in Paris. Enter Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou, the rightful pretender to the French throne. In other words, if the French throne were restored, this guy would become King…

The Queen: Doing April Showers Like a Boss

Does anyone else constantly forget to bring an umbrella with them during April when you’re very damn-well aware that there’s a 99.9% chance it’s going to rain? The Queen however, never forgets. This could also be due to her 500 hundred or so staff that attend to her every need, but that doesn’t account for…