Q: Ho Man Chau - Hong Kong
How big is the Ballroom in Buckingham Palace?
The Ballroom is 122 feet or 36.6 metres long, 60 feet or 18 metres wide and 45 feet or 13.5 metres high, making it the biggest multi-purpose room in Buckingham Palace. At the time of its construction in 1853-55 it was the biggest room in London. It was opened in 1856 with a ball to celebrate the end of the Crimean War.
Q: Matt - United Kingdom
What is the Privy Council? Is The Queen Head of the Council? How many members of the Royal Family are part of the Council?
The Privy Council is the oldest form of legislative assembly still functioning. Its origins date from the Norman kings' court, which met in private. Until the 17th century, the king and his Council were the Government, with Parliament's role limited to voting funds.
Today, the Privy Council has limited, formal executive functions which retain some significance. It is the part of Her Majesty's Government which advises on the exercise of prerogative powers and certain functions assigned to The Queen and the Council by Act of Parliament. On the advice of the Privy Council, The Queen formally approves a large number of Orders in Council.
These, by Acts of Parliament, enact subordinate legislation ranging from constitutions of dependent territories to international pollution. The Queen also approves Proclamations (formal notices which cover areas such as the dissolution of Parliament, coinage and dates of certain Bank Holidays).
The Privy Council also has certain judicial functions. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the court of final appeal for those Commonwealth countries which have retained the appeal to Her Majesty in Council or, in the case of Republics, to the Judicial Committee. It also has certain domestic jurisdiction within the United Kingdom, including the function of being the court of final appeal for determining "devolution issues" under the United Kingdom devolution statutes of 1998.
There are 400 Privy Councillors, consisting of all members of the Cabinet, a number of middle-ranking government ministers, leaders of the opposition parties in both Houses of Parliament, senior judges and some appointments from the Commonwealth. Appointment to the Privy Council is for life, but only Ministers of the democratically elected Government of the day participate in its policy work.
In The Queen's absence, two Counsellors of State (members of the Royal Family who act on The Queen's behalf, within certain defined functions) attend meetings of the Privy Council. The Counsellors of State are The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, Prince William (who automatically became a Counsellor of State at the age of 21), The Duke of York and The Earl of Wessex.
For more information, visit the web site of the Privy Council.
Q: Pierre De Bisschop - Belgium
I am going to visit Scotland during the month of September. I read in a guide that the Royal Yacht Britannia could be visited in Edinburgh but was going to move in 2001. Could you please give me more information about this?
Following the decommissioning of Britannia, the Government announced in April 1998 that Edinburgh had been successful in its bid to bring Britannia to the historic port of Leith. Britannia is now berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith. For more information, visit the web site of the Former Royal Yacht Britannia.
Q: Eve - Hawaii
How can I find out if someone was knighted in the 1750-1755 time period? I have been told by a source that an ancestor of mine was knighted but have never found an iota of evidence that proves or disproves it. The person I am interested in was James Fagan who was born Ireland, married around 1720, and knighted in 1755. Thank you.
To check this information, you should write to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St. James's Palace, London SW1A 1BH.
Q: Pete Overton - Bath
What naval rank is Prince Andrew?
The Duke of York was promoted to Commander in the Royal Navy in January 1999. His Royal Highness formally left the Royal Navy at the end of July 2001.
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