Q: Allison Mulvaney - Finchley
My daughter is doing a project on St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Can you give me some general details about its architecture and who is buried there?
The architecture of St. George's Chapel - begun by Edward IV in 1475 - represents one of the finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic (late medieval English) style in the country. The construction of the Chapel was begun in 1475 by Edward IV and finished by Henry VIII in 1528.
Unlike most other great churches, St Georges has its principal or show front on the south, facing the visitor entering Windsor Castle by the main King Henry VIII Gate. The outside of the building is compact and nearly symmetrical, with octagonal chapels protruding from three of its four corners. The roof, with its seventy-six Windsor Beasts, is supported externally by flying buttresses.
The magnificent, lofty nave is surmounted with superb stone vaulting bearing carved bosses, which include the arms of Henry VII, the cross of St George and emblems of Reginald Bray, a friend of Henry VII and benefactor of the chapel.
The eastern end of the nave is spanned by a coade stone screen dividing the choir from the nave. Though Gothic in style, the screen was designed in the late eighteenth century.
On each side of the choir are the beautifully carved stalls of the Knights of the Garter, constructed between 1478 and 1495. Above the stalls are the helmets, crests and banners of the present Knights.
The eastern wall of the Chapel is its oldest part and once formed the west front of the earlier chapel of Henry III, built in 1240-8. The doorway bears fine 13th-century ironwork, including the name of the smith who made it, Gilebertus.
Ten former Sovereigns are buried in St George's Chapel. Five are in two burial vaults beneath the choir; the other five are in tombs in the Chapel. There are tombs for Edward IV; Edward VII and Queen Alexandra; Henry VI (his tomb used to be the focus of pilgrimages, with miracles ascribed to it); George V and Queen Mary; and George VI in the King George VI Memorial Chapel adjoining the north choir aisle. One vault contains George III and members of his family, including George IV and William IV; the other vault contains the bodies of Henry VIII with Jane Seymour, and Charles I.
For more information, visit the web site of St. George's Chapel.
Q: M. Toner - Lincolnshire
Why are the public engagements carried out by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent not listed in the Court Circular? Princess Michael was listed in last week's Court Circular when she attended the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey, but never appears when she is carrying out her own engagements. The Prince and Princess are members of the Royal Family and it would raise the profile of the charities and organisations that they are involved in if they were listed in the Court Circular.
The Court Circular records the official engagements carried out by The Queen and Members of the Royal family. Engagements undertaken by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are not included in the Court Circular because they do not carry out official duties on behalf of The Queen. Princess Michael was listed in the Court Circular as attending the Coronation anniversary service on 2nd June because, like other members of the Royal Family, she was attending in her own right.
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's commitments, including their visits and their work for charitable organisations, are listed on the web site of Prince Michael of Kent.
Q: John Barlow - Scotland
Could you settle a bet? My friend says there are no Royal Mail boxes in Scotland with Elizabeth II on them, I cannot find one as they are all of the former king. They have them in England but not Scotland, why is this?
Scottish post boxes produced since 1953 display the Scottish crown rather than the EIIR cypher which appears on postboxes elsewhere in Britain. This was decided at the time in consultation with the Royal Household and the relevant Scottish authorities.
As you know, The Queen's namesake Elizabeth I reigned in England before the Union of the Crowns. In Scotland, therefore, The Queen is not known as Elizabeth II as there was no Queen Elizabeth I in Scotland before the English and Scottish crowns came together under James I of England and VI of Scotland in 1603.
Q: Paul G. Kay - Panama
During the Royal Tour which commenced in November 1953, I believe The Queen travelled onboard the ship GOTHIC as HMY BRITANNIA had not yet been commissioned. The voyage of the GOTHIC included a southbound transit of the Panama Canal and Her Majesty landed to visit some areas of Panama. Do you have any information on the locations visited by The Queen whilst ashore in Panama?
The Queen and Prince Philip spent one full day in Panama, arriving in Cristobal on Sunday, 29 November 1953 from Kingston, Jamaica. On landing, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were received by the Governor of the United States Zone, J. S. Seybold, and Commander-in-Chief Lt-General H. L. McBride. They inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the United States Army and the President of Panama presented the Cabinet.
The Royal party then drove in cars through Colon, where The Queen was presented with a key at the city boundary. They then drove across the isthmus to Miraflores Locks and had luncheon at the US Governor's house. They re-embarked on SS Gothic at Pedro Miguel Lock, where the Bishop of the Missionary District of the Panama Canal Zone conducted a service on board.
They went on to Balboa, where The Queen and Prince Philip attended a reception of the British Colony at the British Legation, followed by a banquet and reception at the Presidential Palace. The next day they set sail for Suva, Fiji.
Q: Arthur Jacobs - Farmingdale, NY, USA
American television is reporting that players will no longer be required to bow or curtsey to the Royal box at Wimbledon. Obviously, The Queen herself must have consented to this change. Why? Was there pressure to do so? Isn't this one more affront to the dignity of the monarch's person and to that of her family?
Over the years it has been traditional for players to bow or curtsy to members of the Royal Family sitting in the Royal box when walking onto or leaving Centre Court. From now on they will have to do so only if The Queen or The Prince of Wales are present.
The decision was made by the Wimbledon authorities in consultation with The Duke of Kent, who has been the All England Club's president since 1969. He and The Duchess of Kent attend frequently each year and present the winners' trophies.
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