Q: Jonathon - South Glamorgan
I understand from your Ceremonial Calendar that Commonwealth Day will take place on 14 March this year. What does this day involve and why is it always celebrated on the second Monday in March?
In London, a multi-faith Observance for Commonwealth Day is held in Westminster Abbey, followed by a large reception given by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, normally at Marlborough House. Most years, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attend.
The present arrangements for Commonwealth Day grew out of the Empire Day movement at the end of the nineteenth century which proposed to celebrate the Empire on 24 May, Queen Victoria's birthday. In 1916, Empire Day was officially recognised and thereafter flags were flown from government buildings on that day.
In 1958, the name was changed to Commonwealth Day. The date remained 24 May until 1966, when Commonwealth Day became linked to The Queen's official birthday in June. From 1977 the day has been celebrated in March. This was approved by heads of government as a day when children throughout the Commonwealth, for whom the day is particularly intended, would be at school.
The Queen, when she came to the throne, continued her father's custom of sending a special message to the youth of the Empire; since 1965 The Queen's message has been delivered on Commonwealth Day, and is broadcast on the BBC World Service.
Q: Dominic Holden - Maidenhead
I am doing a school project on WW2 and would like to know what happened to the members of the Royal family during that time.
The Royal Family were commended throughout the war for the support and encouragement which they gave to their people during such a difficult time, and for the extent to which they shared in the country's hardships.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth travelled around the country, usually by armoured car or train, visiting factories, military units, hospitals, kitchens and even farms - they paid particular attention to bombed cities as soon as possible, to meet emergency workers and the local people who had suffered from the damage.
In 1940, a lone German bomber flew up the Mall and dropped six bombs on Buckingham Palace. Two bombs that fell in the quadrangle exploded just 72 metres from where the King and Queen were sitting, destroying the Royal Chapel and killing a policeman.
The Royal couple later toured the blitzed areas of London after the Palace had been hit and the Queen (the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) famously said:
"I am glad we have been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the east end in the face."
From early 1941 at the age of 15, the then Princess Elizabeth (now our current Queen) began to accompany the King and Queen on their tours of the country, and her first solo engagement was a visit to the Grenadier Guards in 1942.
She acted as Counsellor of State in 1944, when the King was visiting the Italian battlefields. At 18, Princess Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service and qualified as a driver in April 1945.
As was standard for families throughout Britain, economy drives were brought in at Buckingham Palace, food was rationed and central heating turned off.
The Duke of Edinburgh was already in the Royal Navy when war broke out. He served throughout the war onboard a series of ships: starting in January 1940, with escort duties for the Allied Expeditionary Force moving from Australia to Egypt, Prince Philip served in the East Indies, the Mediterranean, the Rosyth Escort Force and the Pacific.
In October 1942, Prince Philip became First Lieutenant and second in command of a destroyer - he was one of youngest officers in the Royal Navy to be given such an appointment.
During his service, Prince Philip was involved in several actions including the battle of Crete, the battle of Matapan (where he was mentioned in despatches), covering the Canadian beachhead of the Allied landings in Sicily; he was present in Tokyo Bay for the final Japanese surrender. When in uniform, The Duke of Edinburgh wears the campaign medals earned during his wartime service in the Royal Navy.
When the war eventually ended, the Royal Family led victory celebrations, appearing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at one point slipped from the Palace, escorted by officers, to mingle unnoticed in the celebrating crowds.
Q: Jennifer - Manchester
Do members of the Royal Family have to hold valid driving licences?
The Queen learned to drive at the age of nineteen at a training centre near Aldershot while she was serving as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
The Queen alone is exempt from the Road Traffic Act or Motor Vehicle Driving Licence Regulations, and therefore does not require a driving licence; other members of the Royal Family are obliged to pass the test and hold valid licences.
The Prince of Wales and Princess Anne learned to drive on the family's private estates, accompanied by The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and chauffeurs from the Royal Mews.
They also took extra lessons at the Metropolitan Police Motor Driving School before sitting their tests.
The Prince of Wales passed his test on 11 April 1967, Princess Anne a year later; both passed in a Rover 2000. In 1974 the Princess also passed the heavy goods vehicles test so that she could drive her horse boxes. Prince Andrew passed his test on 21 December 1977 at Isleworth and Prince Edward on 27 July 1981 at Wanstead.
Q: Tom - Sydney
What is a Royal Proclamation? Are these made any more?
A Royal Proclamation is a formal notice issued to the people by the Sovereign.
The importance of proclamations has diminished, partly as a result of the changing role of the Sovereign in the constitution, partly as a result of the universal spread of the media, particularly broadcasting.
Formerly proclamations were much used by the Sovereign to declare public days of thanksgiving or mourning, and the ceremonies to be observed. Such proclamations were sometimes confined to one region or city. Nowadays, the most important proclamations are those which announce the accession of a new Sovereign.
Royal proclamations were once used to declare the outbreak of hostilities. On 1st September 1939 a declaration of a state of emergency made by the King in Council was followed by a number of proclamations, made in accordance with various statutory powers, mobilising the reserves.
Since then, no proclamation has been needed for any hostilities in which the country has been engaged, as other powers have proved adequate.
Proclamations are most frequently issued nowadays, under statutory powers, to withdraw coins and to give currency to new ones; to specify their design and dimensions; and to fix and vary the dates of certain bank holidays to allow for the occurrence of weekends.
Q: Nadine - Montreal
I know that gun salutes are fired on Accession Day, but are there any other times when they are fired?
Gun salutes are customarily fired, both ashore and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome. Just as a salute with the open hand was used to show that no weapon was concealed in the palm, so the firing of cannon as a salute indicated the friendly intent of an empty chamber.
In Britain, Royal salutes are fired on specified days every year to celebrate certain royal anniversaries. These are:
Accession Day (6th February)
The Queens birthday (21st April)
Coronation Day (2nd June)
The Queens official birthday (June)
The birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh (10th June)
Salutes are also fired for the State Opening of Parliament, coinciding with the Sovereigns arrival at the House of Lords, when Parliament is prorogued by the Sovereign and, generally, for Royal births. In addition, there are salutes for State visits to London, Windsor or Edinburgh, timed for when the visiting Head of State first meets the Sovereign.
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