Royal Stuart Society
Encyclopedia
The Royal Stuart Society, founded in 1926, is the senior monarchist organisation and the foremost Jacobite
and Legitimist body in the United Kingdom
. Its full name is "The Royal Stuart Society and Royalist League" although it is best known simply as the "Royal Stuart Society." It acknowledges Franz, Duke of Bavaria
, as head of the Royal House, while refraining from making any claim on his behalf that he does not make himself.
The society organises annual events to commemorate the major anniversaries of Jacobitism and other events of Stuart and royalist interest.
, and representatives of the Royalist Association and other defunct or moribund Jacobite bodies. It considers itself a successor to, and effectively the continuation of, such bodies as the Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland, the Order of the White Rose and the Thames Valley Legitimist Club. Among its other founders were Lionel Erskine-Young, 28th Earl of Mar
(1891–1965) and Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay
(1867–1939).
The current Governor-General is His Grace the Duke of St Albans
. The Chairman of the Council is Lord Aylmer and the Principal Secretary is Thomas FitzPatrick.
, Windsor
and Westminster Abbey
. Details of all these events, many of which are open to the public who are always made welcome, appear on the Society's website. A well-attended Service to commemorate the execution of King Charles I is held at his statue in Trafalgar Square on 30 January each year and a wreath is later laid on behalf of the Society on the King's tomb at St George's Chapel, Windsor at the beginning of Choral Evensong. The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, is remembered with a Service at her tomb in Westminster Abbey on 8 February. The nativity of King James VII and II is marked by prayers and the laying of flowers at his statue outside the National Gallery on 14 October. The Society also holds an annual dinner which commemorates Restoration Day and White Rose Day. An informal party for members is usually held in November. The Society's lectures take place at the parish hall of the Jesuit church at Farm Street in London’s Mayfair
. Newsletters with details of people, events and news of the Society are produced and edited by the Principal Secretary and sent to members during the year. The Society publishes the Royal Stuart Journal annually and this is available to non-members via the website. The Journal recently replaced a series of publications called Royal Stuart Papers (still available from the Society) which included papers by a number of well known historians such as Roy Porter
, Richard Sharp
, Murray Pittock, Eveline Cruickshanks, Lady Antonia Fraser
and Ronald Hutton
.
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
and Legitimist body in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its full name is "The Royal Stuart Society and Royalist League" although it is best known simply as the "Royal Stuart Society." It acknowledges Franz, Duke of Bavaria
Franz, Duke of Bavaria
Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern , styled as His Royal Highness The Duke of Bavaria, is head of the Wittelsbach family, the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Bavaria...
, as head of the Royal House, while refraining from making any claim on his behalf that he does not make himself.
The society organises annual events to commemorate the major anniversaries of Jacobitism and other events of Stuart and royalist interest.
History
After the First World War, the Jacobite movement was in disarray. The Royal Stuart Society was established by Captain Henry Stuart Wheatly-Crowe, who served as its first Governor-GeneralGovernor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
, and representatives of the Royalist Association and other defunct or moribund Jacobite bodies. It considers itself a successor to, and effectively the continuation of, such bodies as the Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland, the Order of the White Rose and the Thames Valley Legitimist Club. Among its other founders were Lionel Erskine-Young, 28th Earl of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
(1891–1965) and Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay
Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay
Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay JP DL was a Scottish nobleman.The eldest son of the 11th Earl of Lindsay and Emily Marian Crosse, he succeeded his father in 1917, and assumed the additional surname of Lindesay in 1919...
(1867–1939).
Objectives
The objectives of the Royal Stuart Society are as follows: (1) to be open to all who have an interest in the members of the Royal House of Stuart, their descendents and supporters; (2) to promote research in and further knowledge of Stuart history; (3) to uphold rightful Monarchy and oppose republicanism; and (4) to arrange such commemorations, lectures and other activities as shall advance these objects. It describes itself on its website as being “monarchist and traditionalist”.The current Governor-General is His Grace the Duke of St Albans
Murray Beauclerk, 14th Duke of St Albans
thumb|right|The 14th Duke of St Albans by [[Allan Warren]].Murray de Vere Beauclerk, 14th Duke of St Albans is a British peer and the son of Charles Beauclerk, 13th Duke of St Albans. He is a descendant of King Charles II of England through his illegitimate son the 1st Duke of St...
. The Chairman of the Council is Lord Aylmer and the Principal Secretary is Thomas FitzPatrick.
Activities
The Society organises a variety of events throughout the year. An important part of these events are the commemorations in WhitehallWhitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. Details of all these events, many of which are open to the public who are always made welcome, appear on the Society's website. A well-attended Service to commemorate the execution of King Charles I is held at his statue in Trafalgar Square on 30 January each year and a wreath is later laid on behalf of the Society on the King's tomb at St George's Chapel, Windsor at the beginning of Choral Evensong. The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, is remembered with a Service at her tomb in Westminster Abbey on 8 February. The nativity of King James VII and II is marked by prayers and the laying of flowers at his statue outside the National Gallery on 14 October. The Society also holds an annual dinner which commemorates Restoration Day and White Rose Day. An informal party for members is usually held in November. The Society's lectures take place at the parish hall of the Jesuit church at Farm Street in London’s Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
. Newsletters with details of people, events and news of the Society are produced and edited by the Principal Secretary and sent to members during the year. The Society publishes the Royal Stuart Journal annually and this is available to non-members via the website. The Journal recently replaced a series of publications called Royal Stuart Papers (still available from the Society) which included papers by a number of well known historians such as Roy Porter
Roy Porter
Roy Sydney Porter was a British historian noted for his prolific work on the history of medicine.-Life:...
, Richard Sharp
Richard Sharp
Richard Adrian William Sharp from Cornwall, was educated at Blundell's School and at Balliol College, University of Oxford. He was a former Cornish rugby player at Redruth R.F.C., Wasps FC, Bristol FC and England rugby union fly-half and captain. He played for England while at Oxford and led...
, Murray Pittock, Eveline Cruickshanks, Lady Antonia Fraser
Antonia Fraser
Lady Antonia Margaret Caroline Fraser, DBE , née Pakenham, is an Anglo-Irish author of history, novels, biographies and detective fiction, best known as Antonia Fraser...
and Ronald Hutton
Ronald Hutton
Ronald Hutton is an English historian who specializes in the study of Early Modern Britain, British folklore, pre-Christian religion and contemporary Paganism. A reader in the subject at the University of Bristol, Hutton has published fourteen books and has appeared on British television and radio...
.