Windsor is NOT the royal family’s real name.
Sep 06
While on the subject of George of Cambridge from the House of Windsor, Windsor is NOT the royal family’s real name. This royal household all descends from Queen Victoria and her husband, the Prince Consort, Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. So that is the family’s real name, Saxe-Coburg Gotha. Somehow, in 1917, while the British Empire was engaged in mortal combat with the Hun of Germany,...
Welcome George!
Aug 06
Welcome George, son of William and Katherine, Grandson of Charles (more or less with Camilla) and Princess Diana, Great grandson of Queen Elizabeth and the Prince Consort, Philip, the newest member of the House of Windsor. George will almost certainly one day be king of England, or more officially, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King,...
What does it mean to say “The Real McCoy”?
May 09Obviously this is an expression that means the real thing, not a substitute. But why does one call the real thing “The Real McCoy” There is not a clear single source for this expression. While there are examples that date back to the early and mid 19th Century, I believe that its use in modern vernacular really doesn’t date back that far. The expression, “The real MacKay”, is a...
Was George Washington Tall?
Mar 19
In an earlier posting, I explained that at approximately 5 foot 4 inches tall, Napoleon was not short. Now let’s go in the other direction. At approximately 6 foot 3 inches tall, George Washington (1732 – 1799) was not tall. Well, not that tall. I stand 5 foot 10 and a half inches, so 6 foot three sure sounds tall to me. Considering that Washington and Napoleon were more or less...
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Quick, name an Irish food favorite…
Mar 17
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Quick, name an Irish food favorite… You said Corned Beef and Cabbage, didn’t you? Corned Beef and Cabbage is considered the quintessential Irish food. But it isn’t exactly Irish in origin. When the Irish emigrated to the United States, like every other ethnic group to make that journey, they brought their favorite foods with them. But what they brought...