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We’re all familiar with Kate Middleton and Prince William’s love story – but how much do you know about Kate’s background? Although she doesn’t have royal blood, her family has some surprising connections to the British aristocracy.Explore even more of our royal history discoveries via the History Hub. From King Charles II’s family tree to the Royals in the 1921 Census, there is so much fascinating history to explore. Kate Middleton before she was the Princess of Wales: Catherine Elizabeth Middleton…

Although Camilla has occupied a spot in the limelight for over three decades, big changes within the British monarchy have once again brought her centre-stage. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, her son Prince Charles acceded to the throne. The former Prince of Wales became King Charles III of the United Kingdom. This makes Camilla Queen Consort- a symbolic role designated to the wife of a reigning king. Findmypast’s team of experts has conducted research into Queen…

The census is an incredible resource. It not only gives us those biographical details that help us trace our ancestors every ten years, but it gives a snapshot of the entire country. As any keen genealogist knows, it is like peeking into the windows – and the portholes – of every home and ship in the country. Back in 2018, Findmypast began the landmark project to digitise the 1921 Census of England and Wales in partnership with the National Archives. This began my keen

A breakthrough event in more ways than one, the Queen's coronation on 2 June 1953 was watched live by an estimated 18 million people across the country. She was on the throne for 70 years, becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history, before her passing in 2022.We've taken a deep dive into our historical newspapers to see how the 1953 coronation date was reported on across the United Kingdom. Anticipation of the coronation date: Queen Elizabeth II was appointed in February of 1952, after the sudden

Between coronations, weddings, royal babies and Jubilees, there's been no shortage of royal occasions. The late Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June of 2022, just three months before her passing on 8 September.Take a look at some of the ways our community celebrated the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Commemorating the coronation: Bob Avery, in Chepstow, sent in this lovely photo taken on 2 June 1953 - the coronation date for Queen Elizabeth II.Bob's uncle took this photo just a

The 1921 Census of England & Wales is incredibly significant material for historians, family historians and genealogists. However, it's even more than that. The 1921 Census offers researchers around the world an opportunity to explore the movement, activities and occupations of English-speaking communities worldwide.One of the best ways to use the 1921 Census to make new discoveries is by comparing it to existing materials that have been accessible for years, such as the US 1920 Census and the 1921 and 1931 Censuses of Canada. Thanks to…

The 1921 Census of England & Wales is a detailed snapshot of 38 million lives that reveals where your relatives were, what they were doing and who they were with on one summer night in 1921.We want to help you make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to explore your past. So we've created an interactive checklist to help make sure you're geared up to get the best from it. Covering everything from where to start to how to dig deeper, this is…

Sometimes shocking but always fascinating, finding a felon in your family history is one of the richest discoveries you can make. Which shady piece of your past will you unlock with this week's new records? England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935: Discover your criminal ancestors’ mugshots, prison registers, visitors’ details and more in the latest additions to this fascinating collection.Spanning from 1784-1939, the records and prisons featured in these latest additions are:Prison registers and minute books from Pentonville PrisonVisitor's…

Princess Diana’s family tree boasts many illustrious branches, and the Spencer family of Althorp is just one of them. Back in 1765, Diana’s ancestor John Spencer was made the first Earl Spencer. But the history of Althorp House dates back even further when an earlier John Spencer bought the estate during the reign of Henry VII.  This Tudor-era John Spencer was also an ancestor of Robert Catesby, leader of the Gunpowder Plot. This means Princess Diana shares ancestry with actor Kit…

Census records are the perfect way to tell the story of what your family looked like in times gone by. They reveal what your ancestors were doing and give us clues to where they may be found in other family records. Findmypast has a huge collection of these kinds of documents, and as any good genealogist will tell you, getting to grips with them can unlock a whole new world of family history discovery. Here are a few top tips…