Q: David Murphy - Kentucky, USA
Does Her Majesty The Queen have any Duke titles? If so, when does she use them?
The Queen is Duke of Lancaster and Duke of Normandy. The first Duke of Lancaster was John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III (reigned 1327 - 1377) who passed a law that the title should be held by him and his family separately from the Crown. The title is mainly used by way of a loyal toast, which takes the form, 'The Queen - Duke of Lancaster'.
The Queen also has the title Duke of Normandy by virtue of her position with regards to the Channel Islands, which are the last remaining lands of the ancient Duchy of Normandy. The islands are responsible to The Queen in Council (advised by the Home Secretary) and not to Parliament.
Q: J. Keenan - Perth, Australia
The title of 'Princess Royal' is given to the eldest daughter of a monarch at that monarch's discretion. Could The Queen, when she was Princess Elizabeth, have not been given the title, even though she was heir to the throne? If so, why didn't George VI, the Queen's father, bestow it upon her? Was there any particular reason?
The first Princess Royal was Princess Mary, eldest daughter of King Charles I. Since then the style has come to be known as something which the Sovereign could bestow if he or she wished on his or her eldest daughter. Therefore as Sovereign, King George VI could have bestowed it on his eldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth.
The reason it was not conferred on the young Princess was that there already was a Princess Royal at that time. Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V, had been given the title in 1932, four years before the accession of King George VI. Princess Mary did not die until 1965, by which time, of course, Princess Elizabeth had been Queen for thirteen years. The style lay unused between 1965 and 1987, when it was given to The Queen's eldest daughter, Princess Anne. To this point in history, there has been no Princess Royal who has become Queen.
Q: Peter Featherstone - West Midlands, UK
The driver of Princess Diana's hearse received the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver. Can you give us information on the history of this medal? Does the recipient get initials after his name? Is there a medal in gold too?
The Royal Victorian Order was initiated by Queen Victoria in 1896 as a reward for personal service to the Sovereign. It is therefore highly valued as it is not awarded on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, but by the personal recommendation of the Sovereign. The Order consists of the Sovereign, a Grand Master and five classes, Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight or Dame Commander (KCVO, DCVO) Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO) and Member (MVO). Recipients are entitled to use the relevant initials after their name.
The Royal Victorian Medal is associated with the Order and has three grades: gold, silver and bronze. Anyone who receives the Royal Victorian Medal is entitled to use the post-nominal 'RVM' after their name. The obverse of the medal bears the effigy of the Sovereign who has awarded the medal, while the reverse bears the royal cipher and the words 'Royal Victorian Medal'.
Q: Mary - Goose Creek, SC
Prince Charles was baptised Charles Philip Arthur George. What are Prince Philip's baptismal names?
He was baptised simply as Prince Philip of Greece.
Q: Katie Owen - Reading, UK
If the Queen is the head of the Church of England, how come a lot of Royal religious ceremonies take place at Westminster Abbey, a Catholic cathedral?
Westminster Abbey is not a Roman Catholic cathedral. The Roman Catholic cathedral in Westminster is known as Westminster Cathedral.
Westminster Abbey is actually a Royal Peculiar and has been so since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This makes Westminster Abbey an independent body within the Church of England, owing allegiance to no diocese, bishop or archbishop, but responsible to the authority of the Sovereign as visitor.
The Queen's correct title is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a description that dates from the time of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 -1603).
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