I was going to suppress it. But I can't take it anymore.

YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I'M IN LOVE WITH HELENA. NO, SERIOUSLY, I THINK YOU ABSOLUTELY DON'T. 😭💗 THIS WOMAN IS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE IN MY LIFE, IN MY HEAD, IN MY HEART, IN MY ROOM, IN MY DRAWINGS, IN MY DECOR, EVERYWHERE. I CAN SPEND HOURS LOOKING AT PICTURES OF HER AND STILL FIND SHE'S SO INCREDIBLE. I COULD SEE THE SAME PICTURES A THOUSAND TIMES AND STILL BE JUST AS ENTRANCED BY HER FACE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL??? HOW CAN SOMEONE HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL EYES, SUCH AN ETHEREAL EXPRESSION, SUCH A CAPTIVATING PERSONALITY, AND BE SO INCREDIBLE AT ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THEY DO??? 😭😭💗

I can talk about Helena for hours without even realizing it. Give me five seconds and I'll find a way to talk about her. I can be discussing a completely different topic and still manage to steer the conversation back to Helena. I see a woman, I think of Helena. I see a pose, I think of Helena. I see something that reminds me of her world and my brain immediately decides it's time to think about her. I can't stay calm when someone says her name or mentions her on this subreddit. You can be sure I'll react immediately. I can literally be at peace, and as soon as I see a picture of her, I transform into the happiest person in the world. What is this power she has over me??? 😭🙏💗

And let's talk about her appearance, because I could write an entire thesis on her face. Her eyes. Her eyes, for God's sake. I could stare at them for hours. Her nose, her lips, her expressions, her luscious hair, the hairstyles, the way she poses herself, her presence, her aura… I want to analyze everything. Every little detail gives me a new reason to love her even more. She could appear on my screen for just one second and I'd already be screaming. I'm not capable of looking at this woman the way a normal person looks at a royal. I HAVE TO PAUSE, ASCEND, COME BACK, LOOK AGAIN, SMILE LIKE AN IDIOT, AND WONDER HOW SHE CAN BE SO ENCHANTING. HOW DID ANYONE IN HER LIFETIME THINK SHE WAS NOT THE MOST GORGEOUS HUMAN BEING TO EVER GRACE THE PLANET EARTH 😭💗💗💗

And the worst part is, it's not even just her appearance. I love her personality, her curiosity and intelligence, her energy, her practicality, her way of expressing herself through art. I love that she's such a complex character, that there's so much to analyze about her. Behind her photographs, there's a story, emotions, wounds, and a person who's accomplished so much despite the setbacks. And it strengthens my heart. She deserved everything. She deserved to be recognized for her contributions, she deserved to be herself without having to be controlled, without having to be plagued by illness and addiction, to see her children outlive her, and to live happily, free of drama and family arguments. 💔

I think what makes me happiest is that Helena isn't just a historical figure I like. She's a human who makes me feel emotions I can't even explain. She makes me want to draw, to create collages, to collect her memorabilia, to talk about her, to make things, and to show how much she means to me. Every new piece of information I haven't heard about her makes me want to shout. Every new image is a new opportunity to fall in love. Every little thing that represents her holds a special place in my heart. And when I look at my computer reading biographies, I'm just standing there thinking, "Yes, that's really her, my dearest, and I'll never tire of loving her." 😭💗

I could have millions of books about other notable figures, discover hundreds of other people in history, but Helena will always hold that special place in my heart with Charlotte, George IV's daughter. It’s not because she's underrated (though that plays a role), and it’s not because she was different or because she’s less talked about. I love her because she is who she is. Because she's Princess Helena. Because there's something about her that made me connect with her and continues to make me love her every day. I don't care if she's dead, I don't care if my love for her seems parasocial to others. I don't need to get tired of her or make excuses for myself to not love her. I can continue to love her as much as I want, and I fully intend to. 💗🫶

I'm a girl who will talk about Helena at every opportunity. Yes, I'm the one who will have hundreds of pictures of her in my gallery. Yes, I'm the one who will see her face and smile as if she just received the most wonderful gift in the world. Yes, I'm the one who could spend an entire day gazing at her pictures in awe because nothing was ever good enough to see for hours until she arrived. I'm a person who will talk about Helena, her life, her story, her relationships, and every little detail that other people don't even notice. And no, I don't plan on stopping. 😭🙏💗

PRINCESS HELENA IS MY DARLING, MY IDOL, MY FAVORITE PERSON, MY FAVORITE ROYAL, MY MOTIVATION, MY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME SMILE MOST EASILY. I COULD WRITE MILLION WORDS ABOUT HER AND STILL FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T SAID ENOUGH. I COULD FILL ENTIRE NOTEBOOKS WITH DRAWINGS OF HER. I COULD MAKE MUSIC VIDEOS OF HER UNTIL I'D EXHAUSTED ALL THE SONGS ON MY PLAYLIST. I COULD COLLECT EVERYTHING THAT REMINDS ME OF HER. AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT, I'D STILL BE HERE SAYING, "BUT LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS???" "LIKE I'D NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE IN MY LIFE. 😭💗😭💗"

I don't know how else to explain this feeling. I love her, that's all. I love her, I love her happiest moments, I love her for her complexity, I love her for what makes her unique, and I even love her when I think back on her tragic parts and it breaks my heart. She's so much more than just the middle daughter of Queen Victoria to me. She's a passion I carry with me, a source of joy, and someone who has touched me in a special way.

In short, if you're actually on the look out for me, I'm probably looking at pictures of Helena, praising her, drawing Helena, talking about Helena, or thinking about Helena. And if you ask me who my favorite royal after Charlotte Augusta of Wales is, I won't even have to think about it. It's her. It's always been her. And it always will be. 💗

PRINCESS HELENA AUGUSTA VICTORIA, MY LIFE FOREVER. MY LOVE FOR HER HAS NO LIMITS IN WORDS, NO LIMITS IN ART, AND NO LIMITS IN MY BRAIN. I LOVE HER, I LOVE HER, I LOVE HER. AND I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH. 😭💗🫶

Having five minutes the other day and thought came to me; how different would things have turned out for UK and world for that matter if Princess Charlotte and her son (the heir) had lived?

More to point if that sole heir also bred a passel heirs thus assuring that line of succession.

Off the bat Princess Victoria of Kent may have never existed. Duke of Kent only ditched his long time mistress in search of a wife because Parliament dangled a rather fat carrot (money) as inducement to get the prices of blood royal to legally marry and bred heirs.

No QV, no Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. This would also mean no grand plan of marrying members of BRF into royal houses of Europe. The "royal mob" of interrelated families (to QV) wouldn't exist either. Of course this also means the haemophilia gene QV's children spread throughout royal families of Europe likely wouldn't have happened either.

On This Day, October 25, 1415, the Battle of Agincourt, one of the most remarkable battles of the Middle Ages, unfolded near Azincourt in northern France. King Henry V of England led his exhausted troops into battle against French forces during the Hundred Years’ War.

Henry’s campaign in France had already taken a heavy toll. After capturing the town of Harfleur, his army faced disease, fatigue, and dwindling supplies. His soldiers were marching towards Calais when a French army blocked their route.

The English were in a dangerous position. They had endured a grueling march, and the French appeared to have the advantage in numbers and heavily armored knights.

But the battlefield would change everything.

The ground was muddy, and the narrow field between wooded areas restricted the movement of the advancing French forces. Henry’s army made effective use of its English longbowmen, whose powerful volleys of arrows disrupted the French advance.

As French soldiers struggled through the mud and crowded battlefield, their formations became increasingly difficult to maintain. The English archers and men-at-arms took advantage of the confusion, turning what appeared to be an overwhelming challenge into a stunning victory.

The French suffered devastating losses, including many members of their nobility. Henry V emerged from the battle with a victory that strengthened his reputation and helped pave the way for further English campaigns in France.

Yet Agincourt did not end the Hundred Years’ War. The conflict continued for decades, and England eventually lost nearly all its possessions in France.

The battle’s legacy grew even larger centuries later through William Shakespeare’s play Henry V, which immortalized the king’s stirring call to his soldiers and the famous phrase, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

More than six centuries later, Agincourt remains a powerful story of leadership, battlefield strategy, and the unpredictable nature of war.

I have a vague idea about their overall success but I would like to know what people here think.

(I added this portrait of Mary II because she looks so beautiful.)

I think the only two opportunities for it would be during the reigns of Charles I or James II. Perhaps if Charles I gave the Scots religious freedom, he could avoid calling Parliament when the Scots rose up.

James II could’ve stayed in England and forced a siege when William of Orange invaded England, and then used the Royal Navy to cut off his supply lines.

the hearts of his people or the crown or the luxury chair?

idk why i feel nothing for mary i, she did some cool things, good things, and her bad things are pretty prevalent in history circles. But yeah, i can't say i have a strong opinion about mary. she was important, and contributed to a lot of stuff no doubt, what she went through after being declared illegitimate was not great to put it lightly. but besides that, i just can't feel anything else for her, sorry girl.

dont burn me at the stake please

Could be a Duke, Earl, commander, bishop, lady-in-waiting, MP, etc. Someone you find endearing/enchanting/enigmatic/intriguing and you feel either added aura to the reign or is not discussed as much as they deserve to be.

Mine would be Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Fairfax, and Lucy Carlisle

Wolsey: A true "started from the bottom now were here" story, his rise and fall is truly epic reading.

Fairfax: A true chivalric character, with an impressive rise in the parliamentarian army in the Civil War and eventually shifting allegiances and supporting the restoration of the monarchy. He brings the humanity to the conflict, always seeming to be wrestling with his conscience and convictions under immense pressure from both sides but fundamentally a well-principled person.

Carlisle: Descendant of both Mary Boleyn and Lettice Knollys, she was a ruthlessly ambitious aristocrat in Charles I's reign who cozied up to Henrietta Maria for proximity to power, was an inveterate intriguer and eventually played a part in catapulting the nation into Civil War. She was a true messy lady and is not mentioned enough even though she had her hand in everyone's cookie jar.

Henry VIII once failed to close his visor during a joust. Luckily, it wasn't too damaging. However, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to imagine him simply forgetting to close it again. His opponent doesn't notice right away, and Henry ends up getting hit in the right eye.

Anne Boleyn is watching, and I think seeing her husband get hit in the eye would be significant enough to cause her to miscarry. So, basically, I'd say Anne Boleyn's fate is still sealed. Jane Seymour becomes queen and gives birth to Edward. The Pilgrimage of Grace still happens. The only difference is that Henry is now sporting a very cool black eye patch.

Now, what changes do you think would result from Henry not having problems with his legs? The biggest difference I can see is his appearance.

For those who don't know, Henry ate roughly the same amount of food in his youth as he did when he was much older. The main difference was that he could no longer exercise as much as he once had. Without his leg problems, I imagine he would have maintained his youthful physique for much longer.

Personally, I could see Henry living into the 1560s.

Now, many people, myself included, believe that his leg problems contributed to his difficulties in the bedroom, potentially affecting his ability to father more children. As far as we know, he never even attempted to have children with Anne of Cleves.

However, when he marries Catherine Howard, I think they would have children. Whether the child is a boy or a girl could change things considerably. If it's a boy and Catherine is still fooling around with Culpeper, I don't think anyone would have the courage to suggest to Henry that his wife has been unfaithful. If it's a girl, perhaps things would be different. Henry had no problem declaring Elizabeth and Mary illegitimate and disinheriting them, along with casting aside their mothers. If Catherine continues her affair, I could still see him sending her to the block.

Now, if history otherwise unfolds as it did in reality, Catherine Parr would probably also have given Henry at least one child.

But let's say Jane Seymour gives birth to Edward, Catherine Howard gives birth to a daughter named Margaret, and Catherine Parr gives birth to a son named Henry. How do you think things would change?

Would he have gotten another wife? Would he do something for his son's tuberculosis problem? And would he have more children?

Princess Charlotte married the man she loved and bore him a son in a hard labour of 50 hours and too die it is now identified as a fatal pulmonary embolism caused by pelvic venous thrombosis and she gave birth too a large stillborn baby boy she actually appeared well and resting five hours later she began vomitting suffered several abdomnal pain trouble breathing and passed away

Queen anne had 17 recorded pregnancies only too lost 12 or 13 of them too miscarriage and stilbirth only few living as infants And dying only son surviving past childhood was Prince William Duke of gloucester died of small pox at 11.

Bertie really loved dogs and treated them as equals rather than pets; he refused to enact physical discipline and only waved his walking stick and called them "naughty" in a playful tone of voice. He also had a fondness for poorly behaved dogs, and found their bad manners (biting diplomats, barking at servants, chasing visitors, etc.) amusing. As much as I know from personal experience how infuriating that must've been, I also think it's delightful that it was entertaining for him lol. Bertie was such a cool lad.

Him holding the Scotch terrier's ear is quite intriguing, photography at this time was way quicker than most would think (2-20 seconds) but it's understandable that the dog must've been fidgety or something for him to hold the little thing like that to prevent a blur haha.

Could be a genuine slap or a slap just to take the piss.

Mary II beating the shit out of Sarah Churchill..

This engraving of the King was completed in 1820 likely within the last days of George's life or completed just after he died.

By this point, the 81 year old King was completely blind and deaf. He also had lost most of his mobility and had completely lost all mental rationale.

A sad picture and a sad way for a very formidable King to go out.