The Royal Dispatch
Danish and Belgian royals on tour and Queen Camilla's egg
Hi Royal Clubbers, it’s Millie bringing you our latest edition of The Royal Dispatch.
It’s been quite the week with the Danish royals on tour in France, the Belgian royals on tour in Vietnam and lots of engagements for Queen Camilla.
Almost 80 per cent of you wanted more information on royal diamonds, so keep your eyes peeled for a special newsletter coming next.
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But before we get on to the best royal pictures of the week, time for some royal history.
On this day…
On 6 April 1453, the Siege of Constantinople began, under the command of Mehmed II, an Ottoman sultan who was just 21 years old, but determined to see through his father’s dream of capturing Constantinople.
There were 36 sieges of the city throughout its history, most of which were unsuccessful. Its geographical position as a transcontinental city with trading connections meant that it was highly prized by prospective invaders, and served as the capital of the Roman empire before becoming the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Successive attacks from the Latins, Serbs, Bulgarians and Ottoman Turks as well as mass fatalities from the Black Death weakened the Byzantine Empire, and the population within Constantinople itself had dropped from 400,000 in the 12th century to between 40,000 and 50,000 by the mid 13th century.
Contemporary reports suggest that Constantinople’s defensive force consisted of less than 8,000 trained men to cover 12 miles of the city walls and 30 to 35,000 armed civilians, compared to Ottoman forces, which numbered between 60,000 and 80,000 fighting men on land, and 31 large and midsize warships alongside nearly 100 smaller boats on sea.
Mehmed’s strategy was to blockade the city on all sides and break though Constantinople’s walls using cannons. On 6 April the Ottomans began firing on the city walls, which brought down a section. Their assault the following day was repelled, and the cannons started up again with a daily bombardment.
Access to Constantinople by sea was protected by a sea chain, which Mehmed was determined to destroy. He ordered an Ottoman commander Baltaoğlu to breach the chain, but the naval fleet was driven back twice, and four aid ships for Constantinople were able to reach the city without hindrance. Suffice to say, Baltaoğlu was stripped of his command.
Mehmed commanded the construction of an oiled wooden ramp which would allow smaller ships to bypass the chain, and by 22 April, the Ottomans had gained control of the sea around the city.
The artillery barrage continued until 29 May after 55 days of siege, with repair efforts to the wall taking place overnight so that the narrow gaps made were never breached. As dawn broke over the city on 29 May, Mehmed launched a co-ordinated attack on Constantinople, by sea, land and cannon.
Initial attempts to reach the city were repelled, but the Ottomans prevailed and the emperor Constantine XI was killed in the fighting. Mehmed rode through the city to the Hagia Sophia, the largest cathedral in the Christian world, and converted it into a mosque.
The city was looted and pillaged, and Mehmed relocated the capital of his empire from Edirne to Constantinople.
Best Royal Pictures of The Week
Danish royals
What a regal couple! King Frederick and Queen Mary of Denmark looked suitably glam ahead of a state dinner on Monday as part of their visit to France, the first state visit by a Danish sovereign since 1978.
King Willem-Alexander
King Willem-Alexander met with the state leader of Germany's social democratic party Anke Rehlinger at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague on Thursday, making for some rather grand surroundings.
Queen Camilla
Just in time for Easter, Queen Camilla appeared impressed on Tuesday as she took in the 'Green Man Humpty Dumpty Egg' which is installed outside The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The egg was commissioned by The King and Queen in their capacity as joint presidents of Elephant Family, a charity which aims to protect Asia’s wildlife.
Belgium royals
Cheers! King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium partook in local delicacies during a visit to the Hidden Gem Café, in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday as part of their official state visit to the country.
Queen Maxima
Before…
After! The Dutch Queen caused a bit of a splash on Wednesday at the naming for the new innovative sailing ship of the social enterprise Sea Ranger Service, an organisation that offers maritime training, employment and coaching opportunities to disadvantaged young people in coastal areas where youth unemployment is high.
King Charles
King Charles played a rather unusual instrument on Thursday as he joined the London Vegetable Orchestra during a reception to recognise those involved in community music across the UK, at Windsor Castle. I can’t help but wonder what sound a carrot recorder makes…
Royal Diary
It's a major week for the King and Queen as they kick off their state visit, which coincides with a milestone celebration.
Read on to find out more…