Q: Donna - U.S.A.
On October 15 this year The Queen visited a Sikh temple. It was surprising to see her not wearing a hat at a public occasion. I know she doesn't usually wear a hat at the Chelsea Flower Show. Could you explain why no hat on these two outings?
When visiting a Sikh temple in Hounslow recently, The Queen wore a headscarf which she felt was in keeping with, and respectful of, the traditions of the Sikh community. The headscarf was from her own private wardrobe.
Though The Queen attends the Chelsea Flower show as an official engagement, she regards it as a more informal occasion and chooses not to wear a hat.
Also, The Queen generally visits the Chelsea Flower Show in the early evening, and hats are not generally worn for evening engagements unless they involve church services.
Q: Ian - North West
I am a florist and I was wondering who does the flowers for the Royal weddings and do you have any further details on them?
Traditionally, flowers have been provided for Royal wedding bouquets by The Worshipful Company of Gardeners. Longman's Florists, based in Fenchurch Street, London, were then appointed to design and prepare the bouquet. This company were used for the weddings of The Queen Mother, The Queen and Princess Margaret.
However, in more recent times, the bride and groom have chosen their own florists to make up the arrangements. Jane Packer Flowers Ltd. provided the flowers for The Duke and Duchess of York's wedding, whilst The Earl and Countess of Wessex chose a local Windsor firm, Lavender Green, for theirs.
Q: Chedva - Corona, CA, USA
Will you please tell me who designs The Queen's dresses and hats? Does she ever use American or lesser known designers for her wardrobe?
The Queen always wears clothes by British designers. She is currently wearing clothes by Stewart Parvin, Peter Erione and Karl Ludwig Rehse, who are all based in London. Her hats are designed by Philip Somerville and Marie O'Regan. She also wears outfits designed by her in-house team. The Queen talks her ideas through with her Personal Assistant, Miss Angela Kelly, then sketches of the designs are produced which are shown to Her Majesty along with samples of material for her to choose from. Clothes are then made up by The Queen's Dressmakers.
Q: Sven - Berlin, Germany
May I ask if the members of the Royal Household, equerries and ladies-in-waiting, live in Buckingham Palace as well? And how many people of the Household travel with The Queen to her various residences throughout the year and the weekends to Windsor? Is there always a doctor in attendance? And a Private Secretary?
Members of the Household such as The Queen's equerry and her ladies-in-waiting do not live in Buckingham Palace. The number of people who travel with The Queen when she goes to other Royal residences depends on the length of her stay in a particular place, and whether she is carrying out official duties whilst she is there. For example, if The Queen goes to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh for a week of engagements (including an Investiture and a Garden Party), then up to forty people will be there for some parts of that week, depending on their duties. If The Queen is staying privately at Windsor Castle for the weekend, then about eight people will travel with her as part of their work. These figures do not include security personnel, who are not employees of the Royal Household.
Q: Michael Long - Tennessee, USA
I know that when in Australia, The Queen has a different personal standard. Is there also another personal standard for use in Canada which would be used in the upcoming State Visit?
The Queen has a personal standard for use in Canada. The standard consists of three lions, representing England, the "Rampant Lion" flag of Scotland, a gold harp, representing Ireland, fleurs-de-lis representing France, then, at the bottom, three maple leaves, representing Canada. These all sit around the central 'E' for 'Elizabeth. The upper two-thirds of the flag are identical to the Standard of England, except that three fleurs de lis of France occur in the fourth quadrant.
Whenever The Queen is in Canada the standard will fly on all occasions when Her Majesty is present in person, and on others where she is in residence, as well as on ships in which she is embarked.
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