Royal Stuart Society facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | RSS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1926 |
| Type | Monarchist, Traditionalist |
| Headquarters | Walsingham, Norfolk, England |
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Governor-General
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Murray Beauclerk, 14th Duke of St. Albans |
| Website | royalstuartsociety.com |
The Royal Stuart Society is the biggest group in the United Kingdom that supports the Jacobite cause. It was started in 1926. Its full name is The Royal Stuart Society and Royalist League, but most people just call it the "Royal Stuart Society."
The society believes that Francis, Duke of Bavaria, is the current head of the House of Stuart. However, they only support claims he makes himself. The society holds yearly events to remember important dates for Jacobites and other royalist groups.
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History of the Royal Stuart Society
After World War I, the Jacobite movement was not very organized. The Royal Stuart Society was created to bring supporters back together. Captain Henry Stuart Wheatly-Crowe helped start it and became its first leader.
The society sees itself as a continuation of older groups that supported the Jacobite claim to the British throne. These older groups included the Legitimist Jacobite League and the Order of the White Rose. Some other important founders were Lionel Erskine-Young, 29th Earl of Mar and Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay.
What the Royal Stuart Society Does
The Royal Stuart Society has a few main goals:
- To welcome anyone interested in the Royal House of Stuart, their family, and their supporters.
- To help people learn more about Stuart history and support research.
- To support monarchy (having a king or queen) and be against republicanism (having a president instead of a monarch).
- To organize events, talks, and other activities that help achieve these goals.
The society describes itself as "monarchist and traditionalist" on its website. This means they believe in having a monarch and value old traditions.
Leaders of the Royal Stuart Society
As of 2023, the main leader, called the Governor-General, is Murray Beauclerk, 14th Duke of St. Albans. He is a descendant of the Stuart king King Charles II and his partner, Nell Gwyn. Their son, Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans, was Murray Beauclerk's ancestor.
Murray Beauclerk's son, Charles Beauclerk, Earl of Burford, is also a Vice-President of the society.
Other important Vice-Presidents include:
- Princess Lew Sapieha, a noble from Poland and Lithuania.
- Prince Filippo Rospigliosi, 12th Earl of Newburgh, a Scottish noble.
- Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack, a British politician and historian.
- Count Nikolai Tolstoy, a British historian and monarchist.
- Ian Maitland, 18th Earl of Lauderdale, a Scottish noble.
- Peter de Vere Beauclerk-Dewar, who wrote a book about the Beauclerk family.
- Lucius Cary, 15th Viscount Falkland, a British noble and politician.
- Edward Corp, a former history professor in France.
- Lady Antonia Fraser, a British author known for history books and biographies.
Activities and Events
The Royal Stuart Society holds many events throughout the year. Some important events are special ceremonies in Whitehall, Windsor, and Westminster Abbey. Many of these events are open to the public, and everyone is welcome. Details are shared on the society's website.
On January 30 each year, a service is held for King Charles I at his statue in Trafalgar Square. He was executed on this date. Later, a wreath is placed on his tomb at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
The society also remembers the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots with a service at her tomb in Westminster Abbey on February 8. On October 14, they mark the birthday of King James VII and II with prayers and flowers at his statue outside the National Gallery.
The society also has an annual dinner. This dinner celebrates Restoration Day and White Rose Day. The white rose is a special symbol for Jacobites. Members also have an informal party in November. The society's talks are held at the Jesuit church at Farm Street in London.
The society sends out newsletters to members with news and event details. They also publish a yearly magazine called the Royal Stuart Journal. This journal can be bought by non-members through their website. Before the Journal, they published Royal Stuart Papers, which included writings by famous historians.
