Q: Philip - Belgrade, Yugoslavia
On the 2nd June 2003, it will be 50 years since The Queen's Coronation. Will there be some special ceremony on that day?
No announcements have been made regarding how The Queen and Royal family will mark the 50th anniversary of the coronation.
The Queen's programme is normally released five to six months in advance. Early in 2003 there should be an announcement as to how the event will be marked.
There will be a special exhibition during the Summer Opening of the State Rooms, Buckingham Palace entitled Ceremony and Celebration: Coronation Day 1953.
It will include The Queen's magnificent Coronation Dress, by Norman Hartnell, her purple Robe of State, and the first public showing of the 30-metre Coronation frieze by Feliks Topolski.
The frieze was commissioned by The Duke of Edinburgh in 1960 from Topolski, who witnessed the Coronation as an official artist.
Another exhibition in the Drawings Gallery, Windsor Castle, will explore the ancient ceremony of Coronation through drawings, prints, photographs and historic material from the Royal Library and Archives at Windsor.
Monarchs' personal records of their own coronations include Queen Victoria's sketchbook filled with her drawings of the day's events, the Coronation Bible upon which George III took his oath, and the order of service used by Her Majesty The Queen at her own coronation in 1953.
Q: Hans Paas - Newport
John Brookes' biography of King George III (for which the foreword was written by the Prince of Wales) gives the death of George II as 25th October 1760 and the death of George III as 29th January 1810. If this is correct surely only Queen Victoria reigned for more than 60 years and not also George III as given in an answer in December's Mailbox. Is there an account of the way he celebrated his Golden Jubilee?
King George III did not die in 1810. He in fact lived another ten years, although for his last nine many of his powers were exercised in the person of his son, George, Prince Regent.
King George III actually died on 29 January, 1820. He is Britain's longest reigning king. As such, you are correct in pointing out that he did not reign for 60 years. He reigned for 59 years and 3 months, but he was nevertheless in his 60th year on the throne when he died at Windsor Castle at the age of 81.
Thus Queen Victoria would have surpassed her grandfather's reign of 59 years and 3 months some time towards the end of September 1896. Queen Victoria went on to reign for 63 years and 6 months.
There are some records to indicate how King George III celebrated his Golden Jubilee. The beginning of the fiftieth year of his reign, 25th October, 1809, was marked throughout Britain and the colonies.
The king, along with other members of the Royal Family, attended a private service in Windsor and a grand fete and firework display at Frogmore. In London, the Lord Mayor and Corporation processed to St. Paul's Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving before holding a dinner at the Mansion House.
Q: Kerry Walker - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
What does the 'ER' stand for in the coat of arms or shields? I have heard it stands for Elizabeth Reins, or Elizabeth Regina.. if so what does Regina mean?
E.II.R stands for Elizabeth II Regina. Regina is Latin for Queen. The Latin for King is Rex. Thus the cypher of King William IV was W.IV.R, which means William IV Rex.
Q: Jay Peters - Canada
Where did King George V and King George the VI get their education?
King George V and King George VI were both second sons, and neither seemed destined for the throne. As younger brothers, they were never specifically educated to take over the throne. Both men were educated privately.
King George V was educated by the Reverend John Neale Dalton. He also had drawing and language teachers. He then entered the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, before studying at the Royal Naval College at Greenwich.
His naval career ended with the death of his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor. From that point, he was in the direct line of succession after his father, King Edward VII.
After marrying Princess Mary of Teck, Prince George was educated as to the responsibilities of his role. A tutor, Mr Tanner of St. John's College, Cambridge, taught him government and law.
King George VI was educated with his elder brother, King Edward VIII, at Sandringham by their tutor Henry Hansell. In 1909, he entered the Royal Naval College at Osborne, before joining, as his father had before him, the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth.
Unlike his father though, King George VI had little time to prepare for the burdens of being king. King Edward VIII only held the throne for 11 months, and the Abdication Crisis of 1936 brought George VI to the throne with little warning.
Edward had enjoyed the benefits of being prepared for the role. In 1912, he had gone to study constitutional law, history, French and German at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was tutored there by Sir William Anson, a leading expert on the subject of the constitution and its laws.
Q: Maureen Dunn-Click - Boston, MA, USA
I was hoping that you could provide an update on what has happened to the late Queen Mother's corgis, and if you would also tell us how many corgis and other dogs Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has at the moment?
Since the sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, all her dogs have been taken on by The Queen and Her Majesty now looks after them as well as her own corgis and dorgis.
The Queen Mother had three corgis: Rush, Minnie and Monty. These have been added to The Queen's four corgis: Pharos, Swift, Emma and Linnet.
In addition, The Queen has three 'dorgis'. These are a cross between a corgi and a dachshund. Her Majesty's three dorgis are named Brandy, Cider and Berry.
In all, therefore, The Queen now has seven corgis and three dorgis.
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