Q: Donald - Manchester
Could you tell me more about the Scottish State Coach. Is it only used in Scotland?
On display in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, the Scottish State Coach was built in 1830 as a glass town (i.e. enclosed) coach, for the Duke of Cambridge, brother of William IV and grandfather of the future Queen Mary. The Cambridge family used it for many years. Subsequently, the coach was sold to the Earl of Albemarle, who converted it into a semi- State landau. In 1920, a century after its construction, the coach was presented to Queen Mary.
In 1968-9 the coach was extensively remodelled and restored to its original enclosed state, and was used for the first time by The Queen on the occasion of the opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh on 20th May 1969. Large glass windows and, uniquely, transparent panels in the roof, were features of the new top made specially for the coach, providing a rare view for onlookers as well as extra light for the occupants. The coach was emblazoned with the royal arms for Scotland and the insignia of the Order of the Thistle, thus contrasting with the other carriages which bear the royal arms for England and the Order of the Garters insignia. On the coach's roof is a model of the crown of Scotland.
The Queen uses this elegant coach, which is normally drawn by four horses, for occasions in Scotland, although it is also used for processions in England. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother travelled in it for the Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving celebration in 1977 and when she was installed as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in Dover in 1979. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh used it at Windsor on the occasion of Her Majesty's sixtieth birthday in 1986. The carriage was last used for the Order of the Thistle service on 4th July 1994, and was a reserve carriage for the State Visit of the King and Queen of Norway to the Palace of Holyroodhouse the following day.
Q: Jeremy - Manchester
I know it's still a year away, but are there any events planned to marked the Queen's 80th birthday in 2006?
Various events are being planned to mark The Queen's 80th birthday. Details of these events will be released once they are confirmed.
Q: Thomas - Cirencester
I am a big fan of the former Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman. I seem to remember that he wrote a lovely poem to commemorate The Queen Mother's 80th birthday in 1980, but I can't find it in any of his anthologies. Can you help?
The poem which you refer to, entitled 'For the Queen Mother' is as follows:
We are your people;
Millions of us greet you
On this your birthday
Mother of our Queen.
Waves of goodwill go
Racing out to meet you,
You who in peace and war
Our faithful friend have been.
You who have known the sadness of bereavement,
The joyfulness of family jokes
And times when trust is tried.
Great was the day for our United Kingdoms
And God Bless the Duke of York
Who chose you as his bride.
Q: Jenny - London
I know that Princess Anne is a very good rider and once competed in the Olympic games, could you tell me more about the horses she rode?
Princess Anne's best-known and favourite horse was Doublet, a chestnut gelding. Bred by The Queen with polo in mind, at 16.2 hands he proved too big and was given to Princess Anne at Christmas 1970. On her first attempt, in 1971, at the major three-day event at Badminton, she finished fifth with Doublet, and in September that year they won the European Championship at Burghley. Two years later Doublet broke a leg while exercising in Windsor Great Park and had to be put down.
Another well-known horse was Goodwill, a brown gelding ridden by Princess Anne in the 1976 Olympic Games and in many other international events, including the 1973 European Championships at Kiev in defence of her 1971 title, and in the 1975 European Championship at which the Princess took the silver medal.
Q: Helene - Paris
What are the duties of The Surveyor of The Queen's pictures? Is this an honorary or a working title?
The Surveyor of Pictures is very much a working role. As such he or she is responsible for the display of The Queen's Pictures in the occupied and unoccupied palaces, and in The Queen's Galleries at Buckingham Palace and Holyroodhouse, for encouraging research into the history of the Royal Collection, for authorising and organising loans, for answering enquiries from the public and for controlling the reproduction of the pictures. The Surveyor also travels overseas to give lectures, often linked to the travelling exhibitions of Royal pictures and significant loans to art museums around the world.
The postholder is also responsible for tendering advice to The Queen on the pictures, and he or she also has to be on hand to help his/her colleagues in the Household on a variety of artistic matters and to co-operate closely with the Master of the Household's staff when works are undertaken in the palaces.
Her Majesty The Queen has appointed Mr Desmond Shawe-Taylor to the position of Surveyor of The Queen's Pictures. Mr Shawe-Taylor, who is currently Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery, will join the Royal Collection as Surveyor Designate in April 2005 and will succeed Christopher Lloyd on Mr Lloyd's retirement in July.
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