Q: Claudius - Chicago,USA
Her Majesty usually wears an ermine cape when she opens Parliament. I'm currently doing a project on Her Majesty. Can you tell me who makes her capes?
This cape is known as the Parliamentary Robe, or the Robe of State. As well as being worn annually at the State Opening of Parliament, it is also worn by the Sovereign on the progress from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation and during the first part of the ceremony. The Robe of State used by The Queen was newly made for her coronation in 1953 and is now worn at State Openings of Parliament.
The robe consists of an ermine cape, decorated all over with small black ermine tails, and a long crimson velvet train. From the shoulder to the tip of the train the robe measures 18 feet 4.5 inches, and at the foot the train is just under 4 feet wide. The train is fully lined with ermine and trimmed with ermine to a depth of several inches. It is decorated with two rows of gold lace with filigree gold work between and is bordered with ermine tails.
The robe is kept at Buckingham Palace, and is looked after by Ede and Ravenscroft Ltd, robemakers to The Queen.
Q: Dr. Leo Foster - London
Now that Freedom of Information legislation is coming into force in January, is it possible to have access to letters written by The Queen? I am especially interested in her correspondence with prime ministers with regard to Europe.
It is a fundamental constitutional principle that communications between The Queen and her Ministers and other public bodies should remain confidential, and that the political neutrality of The Queen and the Royal Family, and the Royal Household acting on their behalf, should be maintained. The Royal Household is not a public authority within the meaning of the FOI Acts, and is therefore exempt from their provisions.
Although the Royal Household is exempt, other public bodies will hold information relating to members of the Royal Family's or Royal Household's activities and functions. The specific Royal Household exemption is not concerned with all information relating to The Queen, other members of the Royal Family, or the Royal Household; it is concerned more narrowly with information relating to communications with The Queen, other members of the Royal Family or the Royal Household. FOI-related applications should be made direct to the public body holding the information concerned.
For more details of the status of the Royal Household and Royal Archives with regard to Freedom of Information, see the Freedom of Information section of this web site.
Q: Irene - London
Why is Prince Charles known as the Prince of Wales?
The Prince of Wales is a title traditionally taken on by the eldest son of the Sovereign. The current Prince of Wales has various other titles, including Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.
There is no automatic accession to the title The Prince of Wales, which at every vacancy becomes merged in the Crown and is renewed only at the Sovereign's discretion. The present Prince of Wales is 21st in the line, counting several who were never formally invested. He can trace his descent back through the Tudors to the original warlike Prince of Wales of whom the last native Prince of Wales was Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (1246 - 82). Edward II was the first Prince of Wales in the present line. He was born in 1284 and was formally created Prince of Wales by his father Edward I in 1301.
Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales on 26 July 1958. This was announced at the closing ceremony of the Empire Games at Cardiff, in a message recorded by The Queen (who was ill, and unable to announce it in person): 'I intend to create my son, Charles, Prince of Wales today. When he is grown up I will present him to you at Caernarfon.' Prince Charles thus became the first Prince of Wales since 1936 (the longest gap was 100 years from the accession of Henry VIII).
Q: James - St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Why did The Queen's speech at the State Opening of Parliament contain the phrase "my government" so frequently?
The Queen is a constitutional monarch, which means that she is bound by rules and conventions and remains politically impartial. On almost all matters she acts on the advice of ministers. The speech which Her Majesty makes on this official occasion is not written by The Queen, but by the Government, and does not reflect her own personally held opinions.
The reference to the phrase 'my government' in State Opening speeches reflects the evolution of constitutional monarchy, from a time when the monarch was responsible for the government of the country to today, when this task is carried out by a democratically elected party governing in the monarch's name.
The speech sets out the Government's programme for the parliamentary session, the laws it would like to pass, and the changes that it plans to make. The final words of the speech - "Other measures will be laid before you" - give the Government flexibility to introduce other legislation as necessary.
Q: Sharon - Singapore
Has any member of the Royal Family visited Singapore before?
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited President Wee Kim Wee in Singapore 9-11 October 1989.
The most recent visit by a member of the Royal Family was The Duke of York 25 - 27 November 2004 in his role as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Whilst in Singapore, The Duke met key members and guests of the British Chamber of Commerce, launched the 'UK-Singapore: Partners in Science' Year and attended the launch of BBC Prime TV in South East Asia at The Arts House.
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