This was a hot ticket question back when Kate Middleton and Prince William were to be married in 2011. William was born a prince, so when he married Kate, she automatically became a princess. Technically speaking, however, she’s not “Princess Kate”. Kate is actually Princess William, but since the Queen granted William the dukedom of Cambridge, Kate goes by The Duchess… Read More
Why do some princes and princesses have “the” in their title?
Though we don’t often see it written out, Prince Charles is technically “The Prince Charles”. His siblings are also “The Prince/Princess” because they are children of the sovereign. When the Queen was born, she was known as Princess Elizabeth of York. Upon the abdication of King Edward VIII, Elizabeth’s father became the new king. Elizabeth was then styled as “The Princess… Read More
Why is Prince Philip not King Philip?
The title of king outranks the title of queen. Therefore it would be incorrect for Philip to have the title of king. He cannot outrank his wife, Queen Elizabeth II. She was born a princess and became a direct heir to the throne after her father. If a woman marries a king, she takes the title of Queen Consort. This is… Read More
Why does the Queen sign an “R” with her name?
The “R” after the Elizabeth’s signature stands for Regina (Reh-JINE-ah), the Latin word for queen. India became a part of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria. As the Empress of India, Queen Victoria signed her name Victoria R-I, or Victoria Regina-Imperiatrix. Her predecessors, all kings, signed their names with a male version: Rex-Imperator.
The Queen’s cars
What kind of car does the Queen drive? Her Majesty usually rides in a specialized chauffeured Bentley for public occasions. On her own time, the Queen drives a Land Rover. It rides well in the rougher terrain of Balmoral in Scotland. Land Rover is the only car company to hold three Royal Warrants: one from the Queen, one from HRH The Duke of… Read More
Trooping the Colour
When does the Trooping the Colour parade take place? The Trooping the Colour ceremony marks the official birthday of the monarch. The first or second Saturday in June is chosen for the mild weather. Her Majesty the Queen takes the salute from hundreds of officers and bands as they march along The Mall to Whitehall. The pageantry is spectacular and… Read More
Royal family orders
What are the small jeweled portraits pinned to Her Majesty’s sash? These are royal family orders. Female members of the family receive them from the monarch. The Queen wears the orders of her father and grandfather, while the rest of the royal family wears her order. The Queen’s order is her likeness, surrounded by diamonds and nestled on a yellow… Read More
