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The worst thing about 2016 — an otherwise bracing year of political upset and oligarchical tears — has been the mainstreaming of the insult ‘fascist’. Anyone who sticks it to the status quo, whether by rejecting the EU or plumbing for Trump over Clinton, risks being smeared with the...

Concerns have been raised about the Queen's health after she cancelled plans to travel to Sandringham at the last minute yesterday. Buckingham Palace said both she and the Duke of Edinburgh have "heavy colds" and decided it would be best to postpone their trip. Her Majesty, who is 90, had...

Prince Charles has spoken out about the danger of religious persecution, warning against a repeat of "the horrors of the past". Delivering BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, the Prince of Wales said the rise of populist groups "aggressive" to minority faiths had "deeply disturbing echoes...

‘We will do whatever is necessary. That means long-range weapons, short weapons, machine guns, even if this sounds martial.’ These were the words of German politician Klaus Bouillon, a member of Mrs Merkel's CDU party, in response to yet another slaughter of innocents, this time at a...

Prince George and Princess Charlotte were expected to be the centre of attention on Tuesday at the Royal family's annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. The event, hosted by the Queen, is the Royal family’s traditional start to Christmas before Her Majesty heads to Sandringham...

The Queen will step down as patron of 25 national organisations at the end of this year, says Buckingham Palace. The patronages, including the NSPCC, Save the Children, Barnardo's and Battersea Dogs' Home, will be passed on to other members of the Royal Family. Rugby Football Union, the Lawn...

It is today associated with merriment, gift giving and indulgence. But how was Christmas celebrated in the Middle Ages? Here, Dr Matthew Champion from St Catharine's College Cambridge shares his top tips for a medieval Christmas… Medieval Christmas: how was it celebrated...

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the lorry attack on a Christmas market in the German capital, which left 12 dead and dozens injured, was 'terrible news... but no surprise'. 'Events like these will be the Merkel legacy,' Mr Farage said today and even suggested the German...

Jediism, the worship of the mythology of Star Wars, is not a religion, the Charity Commission has ruled. The commission rejected an application to grant charitable status to The Temple of the Jedi Order. It said Jediism did not "promote moral or ethical improvement" for charity law purposes in...

Here are some of the world's greatest castles - and you can visit them.... Romantic Bavarian fortresses, Scottish ruins and fairy-tale French chateaux: Revealing the world’s most incredible castles... that you can visit Since 11th century, across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, fortified...

2016 has been a momentous year. The UK's vote to leave the European Union and the election of Donald Trump confounded expectations, while the wars in Syria and Yemen caused more bloodshed. BBC Radio 4's Today programme asked top historians which year in history 2016 most resembled...

The quest to find King Arthur's Camelot has puzzled and intrigued scholars and fans for over a thousand years. The mythical ruler's legendary court has been associated with locations throughout Wales, including Carmarthen, St David's, and Cardigan. Now a retired Bangor University professor...

Nazi commandos raided the Isle of Wight during the Second World War in a sabotage operation that has been hushed up for more than 70 years, according to a new book. The revelations throw into doubt the proud wartime boast that no German forces engaged in active military service ever encroached...

In the era of the great monarchies, the royal families of European nations were people of dignity and culture, above the low and filthy lifestyles of the poor. At least, that’s what they wanted people to believe. The reality, though, is a bit different. There was enough inbreeding...

Civil servants and other holders of public office should swear an oath to British values, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said. Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Javid said people could not play a "positive role" in public life unless they accepted basic values. These included...

He was one of the most famous kings of England, known for founding the Tudor dynasty. But until now, little has been known about the specific location of Henry VII's birth in 1457. Now, a new geophysical survey suggests that he may have been born in an outer ward in the late-medieval Pembroke...

If you thought 2016 was a weird year, you might think again after reading these bizarre historical facts... YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP King Tutankhamen’s parents were SIBLINGS, 7UP contained lithium… and 10 more bonkers historical facts that sound fake but are true...

A team of Chinese archaeologists have unearthed an ancient cooking vessel which contained a number of cow bones. This discovery was made on December 13 in Henan Province in central China where the Chinese civilisation is thought to have originated. A member of the archaeological team said...

A spider bearing an "uncanny" resemblance to the sorting hat in the Harry Potter series has been discovered by scientists in India. The Eriovixia gryffindori, measuring just 7mm in length, closely resembles the magical artefact in the series. The spider takes its name from Godric...

Derek Wilson presents the key moments and personalities of a royal dynasty that was crucial in developing England’s national identity... An A to Z of the Plantagenets...