Q: Mark Heeley - Crawley, West Sussex
My parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November. Is it possible for Her Majesty to send them a telegram? My father is an ex Coldstream Guardsman.

Unfortunately, anniversary messages are only sent out to those couples celebrating their sixtieth, sixty-fifth and seventieth wedding anniversaries.

In addition, telegrams are sent out to people celebrating their hundredth and hundred and fifth birthdays, so long as the anniversaries office at Buckingham Palace is informed prior to the event. View information about how to apply.

In the meantime, many congratulations to your parents for November.

Q: Jan Raeimon D. Nato
I sang for The Queen as part of the Jubilee celebrations in Winnipeg, and ever since, I have been intrigued by all the pomp and pageantry associated with the monarchy. Since then I have been known as the resident royal observer. But I was wondering one thing, why is it that the wife of an heir apparent can hold the title of Queen Consort upon her husband's accession, but the husband of an heir presumptive upon his wife's succession cannot have the title of King Consort in lieu of Prince Consort?

In terms of precedence, a king is higher than a queen which means that in every case where there is a king and a queen, the king would outrank the queen.

When it is a queen who holds the throne in her own right (a Queen Regnant), her consort has been referred to as a Prince to make the point that it is she that takes precedence.

Therefore, The Queen Mother, was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (Queen to King George VI), but Queen Victoria's husband was Prince Albert.

The only example where both a king and queen have held the throne is with William and Mary at the end of the seventeenth century. This was because they held the throne jointly.

Q: Zachary Harken-Marks - Vancouver, Canada
What is Commonwealth Day? How and where is it celebrated?

Commonwealth Day celebrates the Commonwealth. Originally Empire Day, the name was changed in 1958 and in modern times has usually fallen on the second Monday in March, which this year meant 10 March.

It is marked around the Commonwealth in various ways, but the day is particularly intended for children. 

The Queen sends a special message delivered on Commonwealth Day. In the United Kingdom, an 'Observance for Commonwealth Day' is held in Westminster Abbey, which is usually attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, who were joined this year by The Prince of Wales.

This is followed by a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary General at Marlborough House, the London headquarters of the Commonwealth.

Q: Will Coombe - Sydney, Australia
I was interested to read that in 1837 at the death of His Late Majesty King William IV, the new Sovereign was proclaimed as Her Majesty Queen Alexandrina Victoria, but at her coronation, was crowned as Victoria only. Was there a reason for this?

Queen Victoria was actually baptised as Princess Alexandrina Victoria. There was some confusion as to which names the young Princess would be christened with as they were subject to the approval of the Prince Regent (later King George IV), who only announced his choice as the baby lay in the arms of the then Archbishop of Canterbury.

Victoria's mother and father had actually suggested a different form of names - Georgina Charlotte Augusta Alexandrina Victoria - but the Prince Regent settled on only the last two.

Although the Princess was proclaimed as queen with the names Alexandrina and Victoria, it was to be the last time that Alexandrina would ever be used. It was the queen herself who issued an express command that her first name be removed from all official papers and never used again.

Q: Hilary Castro - California
I recently read that The Countess of Wessex has received new patronages.  I would like to know more about these organizations.

The Countess of Wessex has indeed taken on several patronages. These were announced by Buckingham Palace in February. View the full list.

Q: Darlene Heath, Toronto, Canada
Is it possible to view the archived Royal Insight magazine on line from 1999? If yes, where would I find it?

Unfortunately, the Royal Insight Archive from 1999 is no longer available to view online. The current version of Royal Insight is available in archive form from November 2002.