Q: Chris - Croydon, UK
Who designed The Queen's wedding dress?

The Queen's wedding dress was designed and made by British designer Norman Hartnell. It was made of ivory silk and embroidered with 10,000 American seed pearls. There was a full Court train, which was 15 feet long, attached to the shoulders.

The dress currently forms part of an exhibition of Royal wedding dresses from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, being held at Kensington Palace until April 2003. For more information visit the web site of Historic Royal Palaces.

Q: Penny Edwardson - London
What is the Cap of Maintenance?

One of the insignia of royalty, the cap is made of crimson velvet turned up with ermine. It is carried on a white wand before the Sovereign at the Coronation and on ceremonial occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament.  The name is derived from 'main a tenant' meaning 'held in hand'. 

Historically a cap was an emblem of high rank and honour, given by the Pope in medieval times to European sovereigns (the last English sovereign recipient was Henry VIII) - hence its association with the monarchy.

Q: Stuart Grey - Northumberland, UK
I recently saw that the Queen attended the James Bond premiere 'Die Another Day' for the Royal Film Performance. Is this the first time that a Bond film has been the subject, and how often are such performances done? Do you have any information about previous films?

This was the first time that a James Bond film has been the subject of a Royal Film Performance; the films are chosen by a film charity, rather than by The Queen.

The Royal Film Performance is an annual event. It is usually attended by either The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh or The Prince of Wales.

The Queen's first Royal Film Performance was in 1946, when, with Princess Margaret, her mother and father, she saw A Matter of Life and Death, starring David Niven and Marius Goring. The very first Royal Film Performance was held in 1896, before the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII).

Q: Elisa Rosi - Parma, Italy
I know The Queen didn't open Parliament in 1959 and 1963. Who did it on behalf of Her Majesty?

Parliament was not opened in these years due to the fact that The Queen was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.

Parliament was opened by Commission, which means that the Lord Chancellor, leader of the House of Lords, read the speech which The Queen would have given.

Q: James Taylor and Andrew Latham - Balloch, Scotland
Are the Queen's staff paid for by the Crown Estate? We think that they are, but a friend of ours insists that The Queen has no power over the Crown Estate.

Since the accession to the throne of King George III in 1760, the monarch has agreed to hand over the revenues from the Crown Estate in return for an annual payment granted by Parliament - the Civil List.

According to the Crown Estate Act of 1961, the Crown Estate is administered by a Board of Commissioners whose duty it is to maintain and enhance the value of the estate. So all practical power rests with this board and ultimately with Parliament.

However, the Crown Estate remains the property of the Sovereign in right of the Crown (that is to say, it is not the monarch's private property).

Your friend is right in relation to payment of staff. The Queen's staff are paid from the Civil List and not the Crown Estate. The Civil List is paid annually from Parliament in exchange for the revenues of the latter.

The Civil List accounts are published annually by Buckingham Palace, so that the figures can clearly be seen by all. Last year Head of State Expenditure was £35.3 million for the year ending March 31 2002. Profits of £163.3 million were announced by the Crown Estate for the same period.

Q: Jacqueline McKay - Mount Florida, Glasgow
I recently saw The Queen with Prince Philip opening Parliament. Can you tell me in which carriage they rode? Why did The Queen not use the Gold State Coach as she did for the Jubilee this year?

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh rode last month to the Houses of Parliament in the Australian State Coach, a gift from the people of Australia in 1988.

However, The Queen normally uses the Irish State Coach to travel to Parliament. It is so called as it was built in 1851 by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, who was also a coachbuilder.

The Gold State Coach is rarely used by The Queen. It was used for the Coronation, for the Silver Jubilee, and for this year's Golden Jubilee procession to St. Paul's Cathedral.

All the State coaches are on display in the Royal Mews, which will reopen to the public on 1 March 2003.