An interesting note in the London Evening Post for 1-3 April 1740: the death of Mr Earnest, a Page of the Back Stairs to the Prince of Wales whose likeness was taken for the figure of Merlin that featured in Merlin's Cave, built in 1735 for Queen Caroline of Ansbach in the gardens of Richmond Lodge.

What a team, what a tournament! Never give up, never say die! Heroes one and all! #Lionesses 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The latest Royal Studies Podcast episode is out! Join @amyjanieh.bsky.social for her conversation with @nemgarrett.bsky.social, @wromantichistry.bsky.social and @rosalindfreeborn.bsky.social about (fictional) representations of regency royalty.

Waiting outside the library Eager for the doors to open Because we got here early A bag of stories to be returned Others yet undiscovered Waiting for us on the shelves.

Really do think Government should intervene to legislate on this as soon as possible, before we end up in a situation like the US where these things are everywhere and people refuse to give them up because they think their personal liberty to drive a tank outweighs the safety of everyone else.

Reginald Joseph Mitchell led the team that designed the Spitfire at Supermarine in Woolston, Southampton. The prototype first flew in 1936. Sadly, he would not live to see his iconic aircraft’s finest hour during the Second World War. R. J. Mitchell died at home in Southampton on this day in 1937.

Died #OTD 1727, George I. The first monarch of the Hanoverian dynasty, a much-debated question has survived since his reign. Could he speak English? historyofparliament.com/2019/06/06/c...

The Madleen is sailing towards Gaza, unarmed, with humanitarian aid & operating in full accordance with international, humanitarian & human rights laws. They do this to break the illegal seige. Keep all eyes on deck & all eyes on Palestine ❤️🇵🇸🍉 #alleyesondeck #freedomflotilla #illustration

On this day in 1944: D-Day. Southampton played a monumental role in the build-up, execution, and aftermath of the largest seaborne assault in history. These photos show countless landing craft at the Western Docks. 1/4

Back with the newspapers today, looking at mentions of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1738. Of course, there's more there than just Frederick and Augusta. The papers yield unexpected gems like this one, from 29 September. A reminder that humans have always, always been messy and ridiculous:

Celebrities being declared dead by the media is not a new thing! Check out this newspaper snippet from the London Daily Post and General Advertiser from 14 October 1738. The poor Earl of Darnley, despite being killed off by the papers, has turned up fit and healthy at Prince Frederick's court! 😂

I never, ever want to hear again that women are too emotional to be leaders.

This whole panel was absolutely cracking and I loved it! 😍

#OnThisDay in 1738, John Perceval, 1st Earl of Egmont noted in his diary that 'The Princess of Wales was brought to bed of a boy, which the same night received private baptism, there being doubt if he would live'. This baby was the future George III, one of Britain's longest reigning monarchs.

This panel was absolutely fantastic. Really thoroughly enjoyed it! 🤩 #KQ14

This was a wonderful panel to be part of and it was really fun to get to talk about Hanoverian family mayhem! It’s been an absolutely fantastic conference so far and can’t wait to hear more amazing papers! 😍 #KQ14

#KQ14 #conference #RoyalStudies #registration #royal #diplomacy #queenship #kingship #family #network

IMPORTANT #BSECS2026 NEWS! Registration for #BSECS2026 opens on Sunday 1 June! Submit your CFP on the theme of 'Big & Small' and join us for our 55th annual conference 7-9 Jan 2026 @pembrokeoxford.bsky.social #18thC #skystorians 🗃️ Click on the link for the full CFP www.bsecs.org.uk/conferences/...

In 1601, complaints were made about the number of alehouse keepers in Southampton. Apparently their houses were ‘receptackles of all lewd persons’ and full of ‘vices and wickednes’. Peter Hendricke’s alehouse near the West Quay in particular was said to be a ‘verie unfitt place’.

I love wagtails. They’re such lovely birds. 🥰

Okay, this is my newest very very favorite meme.

Another blue sky day with sunshine. ☀️ Washing is out on the line and the birds are singing. Happy Sunday! 🥰

I have been absolutely charmed by the ladybird (or bug!) crostini. 🐞 I am only on episode two but gentle television in fraught times cannot ever be a bad thing. #WithLoveMeghan

The first genuinely spring-like Sunday of the year, sunny but still a nip in the air. Pottering about in the garden sorting out the hanging baskets. What comes wafting across the fence? The smell of a barbecue. Ah, Britain. You are brilliant. 😂

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On 24 June 2023 Prigozhin was 200km from Moscow. Now Putin’s in the Oval. Russian history has always been wild.

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

Wednesday whimsy: Did you know that #QueenCharlotte owned several kangaroos? The first was brought from Botany Bay by Sir Joseph Banks and given to her in 1771. In 1805, Charlotte's daughter, Sophia, wrote of her boredom at a ball, noting: 'I wished myself a kangaroo.' 🦘 #historysky #18thcentury

The South Western Hotel in its heyday.

This by Michael Rosen is terrifying and apt for the times we live in now.

William Shakespeare once fell off a pony and dislocated his elbow in Southampton. True story. It happened in Swaythling in August 1920.

Stumbled upon this Victorian-era gem from circa 1850—a glimpse into life on the Royal Mile. Horse carts, elegant dresses, and a whole different Edinburgh. Author is unknown #Edinburgh #History #VictorianEra #Photography #RoyalMile #Scotland #Vintage #oldedinburgh

This is wonderful and has given me a good chuckle this morning so had to share. George I in full regalia looking quite bird-like with some wonderful shoes and a rather serious frown. >:( #EighteenthCentury #Hanoverians #Georgians

Henry VIII at the bottom? Good! George I and George II are in positive figures, at least! 🥳

For anyone interested in #c18th political or electoral history & for students researching EPQs, special subjects &/or final year dissertations, do check out the wealth of data & information available on our Political Participation & Electoral Culture (ECPPEC) website #skystorians 🗃️ecppec.ncl.ac.uk

We have won a game!!! 😂❤️🤍 #SaintsFC

King George III died on this day in 1820. This statue of George (dressed as a Roman emperor) was given to the town by the Marquess of Lansdowne in 1809. It has stood above the Bargate’s main archway ever since.

American Dress. English silk. Dress, c.1735, restyled 1763 . Spitalfields (London) silk brocade with polychrome design. Mid-18th c.bobbin lace. Worn by Mary Waters of Salem at her marriage to Anthony Sigourney of Boston, 1740. © collection Museum of fine arts, Boston #FashionHistory

This is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Let us never be gaslit into thinking a Nazi salute means nothing.

Starting the weekend right (and indulgently) with a cuppa and a cinnamon bun. 😋

My Duolingo streak is now so long that the Wars of the Roses have started! ⚔️

The whole point of studying the 1930s is to foster hyper-awareness. We should be nervous, pessimistic, jumpy. We should call out the first rumblings, the accidental tells, the faintest glimmers. Because it was so monstrous that even the whiff of it is existential

January may be a long, grey month but the 2025 edition has served up some particularly beautiful sunrises and sunsets. A promise of sunnier days ahead, hopefully! 🤞🏻 🌅

Good grief - a win! I could get used to that! 🥴 #SaintsFC #FACup

My great-grandfather, William Henry Masters. Born in Southampton in 1907.

Final verdict: it was brilliant and it’s absolutely criminal that it hasn’t been renewed. #StarWars #TheAcolyte

Started the first Saturday of the New Year right and picked up some books at the library this morning. 📚 Looking forward to getting stuck into these after I’ve finished Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy! 🕵🏻‍♀️ What’s on your reading list this year? 📖 #libraries #reading #books

Looking north up Southampton High Street in the nineteenth century.

this is my 2025 mantra. #Traitors #TheTraitors

Four episodes in and we are LOVING this series. #StarWars #TheAcolyte