Q: Robert Hansen - Portland, Oregon, USA
How is The Duke of Edinburgh related to the late Duchess of Kent, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark?
Princess Marina, the late mother of TRH The Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra, was the youngest daughter of Prince and Princess Nicholas of Greece. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born the youngest child of Prince Andrew of Greece, the younger brother of Prince Nicholas of Greece. This made Princess Marina a first cousin of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Q: Susan Smith - USA
The Queen wears such beautiful clothes and hats. I was wondering what becomes of the clothing after she no longer wears it.
The Queen wears all her clothes on many different occasions. Subsequently they are carefully stored by her dresser, as they are sometimes requested for exhibitions. Some of her earlier formalwear is presently on display at Kensington Palace, where it forms part of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
Q: Maureen - Ontario, Canada
The Queen Mother loved her home, Glamis Castle in Scotland, and from what I've read over the years, took great interest in the gardens. Who is the owner of the castle now?
Glamis Castle was the family home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when she was Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. As she was the ninth of ten children, she did not inherit the castle as an adult. Today it is the home of the present Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
Glamis did inspire Queen Elizabeth with a love of gardens. As a child she played in the Italian garden, designed by her mother, a gifted gardener. Her Late Majesty went on to design the gardens at her home in Caithness, the Castle of Mey.
The Castle of Mey was bought by Queen Elizabeth in 1952 following a visit to the far north of Scotland. Over the years she painstakingly restored and renovated both the castle and gardens, which had been in poor order, and managed to spend time there every year until her death.
Q: Regina Gough
In your report of the Service of the Order of the Garter there was a picture of the Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra in the carriage procession. Could you please let me know if the Princess is also a member of the Order? If so, since when?
Princess Alexandra is indeed a member of the Order of the Garter. She was installed as a member during the annual Garter service held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in June 2003.
Q: Keith - USA
Would you be so kind as to advise me what are the duties of an equerry to members of the Royal Family?
Royal equerries assist members of the Royal Family in the fulfilment of their public duties and arrangement of their working diaries. The appointment of equerry is essentially a military one which is invariably filled by a serving or retired officer of the Armed Forces.
Equerries work closely with the various Offices in the Royal Households. The Queen has two equerries, of whom the senior, permanent one is designated Deputy Master of the Household and Equerry. The junior equerry, appointed from each of the three Services in turn, holds office for three years, acting in close attendance on Her Majesty at many of her public engagements. Equerries are also appointed, usually for tours of duty lasting two years, from the three Services to certain other members of the Royal Family.
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