HM Queen Elizabeth II (When writing written correspondence to Her...) #british When writing written correspondence to Her Majesty, Her Majesty receives many pieces of post from people all over the world that discuss varying issues. The Queen takes great solace in hearing from her people, whether she rules over them or not. Now what ever the subject of your correspondence, be sure to include personal information about yourself; Her Majesty loves to hear about the person writing the letter. Be kind, courteous, and lovely and you will receive post back from either Her Majesty (unlikely due to her rigid schedule of royal duties) or her ladies-in-waiting, the official secretaries of HM. Tips: Be sure to use pen, and with that, your best penmanship. Be sure to use high quality parchment. Be sure to use your best vocabulary and grammar. When starting the letter, instead of saying ‘Dear’ you must use the palace preferred “May it pleasure Your Majesty,” You never use the words ‘you, you’re, and your’ when referring to Her Majesty. You need to use Your Majesty, Her Majesty, and Your Majesty’s. You only need to use the official title once, thereafter ma’am is accepted.

When ending your letter, do not use ‘Sincerely’ but use the palace preferred “I have the honor to be, Madam, Your Majesty’s most humble and obedient subject.” Only use the term subject if you are a subject of the crown, if you are not use the term servant. If all goes well, you should hear from the palace within a month! Have fun! British Royal FAQs | Unofficial Royalty British Royal FAQs How is Queen Elizabeth related to other European monarchs? Q: I want to write to a member of the royal family. What is their address? A: See below for the main addresses, but bear in mind that they will rarely write you back personally. Usually letters to the royal family are opened and answered by their staff! According to etiquette the letters should be addressed to the Private Secretary of the member of the royal family you wish to write.

Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Buckingham Palace TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Clarence House TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge HRH Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales Kensington Palace HRH The Duke of York HRH Princess Beatrice of York HRH Princess Eugenie of York Buckingham Palace TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex Bagshot Park HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence Buckingham Palace HRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester Kensington Palace HRH The Duke of Kent St. James’s Palace HRH The Duchess of Kent Wren House HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1AA United Kingdom Q: I want to ask the Queen to send a telegram to somebody I know who is celebrating their birthday/ wedding anniversary. What should I do? A: The Queen sends a congratulatory message to British Nationals, or people from a Commonwealth realm, who are celebrating their 100th and 105th birthday, and each year after that.

Congratulatory messages are also sent to couples celebrating their 60th, 65th & 70th wedding anniversary and every year after the 70th wedding anniversary. You may request an application form by writing to: Anniversaries Office, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom. Q: What does ‘Annus Horribilis’ refer to? A: Queen Elizabeth II used this term, latin for ‘horrible year’, in a speech in November 1992. She was referring to all the horrible things that had happened to the royal family that year, like Princess Anne’s divorce, the separation of Andrew & Sarah, the fire at Windsor Castle, the Andrew Morton book about Diana etc. Q: Why does the Queen have two birthdays? A: The Queen was actually born on 21 April 1926, but it has long been customary to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday on a day during the summer. Since 1805, the Sovereign’s ‘official’ birthday has been marked by the ‘Trooping the Colour’ ceremony, normally held on the second Saturday in June.

This is a ceremony which originated when it was essential for soldiers to recognize the flag or ‘Colour’ of their regiment so that they could follow it into battle. Each year one of the five regiments of the foot guards (Grenadiers, Coldstream Guards, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards) take turns to display their colour in the ceremony. The ceremony begins with the Queen leaving Buckingham Palace escorted by the Household Cavalry. She rides down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and inspects 500 guardsmen. The Colour is trooped by being carried along the ranks of guardsmen, and the Colour party then leads the guards on a march past The Queen, accompanied by the massed bands of the foot guards. No particular ceremony is held on The Queen’s true birthday, although the Union Flag is flown on public buildings and the national anthem is sung. Q: What is the last name of the royal family? A: The British royal family changed their last name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917. The reason? World War One broke out in 1914 and anti-German sentiment was its height in 1917.

In protest, King George V renounced all the German titles belonging to him and his family and adopted the name of his castle, Windsor. The royal family name of Windsor was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth II after her accession in 1952 as follows: “The Queen today declared in Council her will and pleasure that she and her children shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that her descendants, other than female descendants who marry and their descendants, shall bear the name of Windsor.” In 1960 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh decided they wanted their direct descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the royal family (without changing the name of the royal house) as Windsor is the surname used by all the male and unmarried female descendants of King George V. They officially stated on 8 February 1960 that all The Queen’s descendants who did not bear the “style, title or attribute of HRH, and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess” shall bear the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. Q: When was the first Christmas Speech held?

A: The Christmas broadcast dates back to 1932, when King George V spoke on the ‘wireless’ to the Empire from a small office at Sandringham. The time chosen was 3pm – the best time for reaching most of the countries in the Empire. The first broadcast lasted 2.5 minutes and included the King’s reflections on the closer relationships made possible by such wondrous technology: “To men and women so cut off by the snows, the deserts, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them: to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness, or infirmity; and to those who are celebrating this day with their children and grandchildren. To all – to each – I wish a Happy Christmas. God bless you.” The broadcast made a huge impact on its audience of 20 million, and the tradition has continued almost without interruption ever since. Queen Elizabeth II made her first Christmas speech on live radio in 1952. The first televised message, in 1957, was also live. From 1960 however, the messages were pre-recorded so that the tapes could be sent across the Commonwealth for transmission at convenient times.

From 1999 it has been possible to watch and listen to the broadcast on the internet. Q: Why is Prince Philip not King Philip? A: 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, like the present Queen Elizabeth II), her consort has been referred to as a Price 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 and Queen Elizabeth II’s husband is Prince Philip. The only example where both a King and a Queen have held the throne is with King William and Queen Mary at the end of the 17th century. This was because they held the throne jointly. Q: What does Knight of the Garter, CVO, CGB, MVO, CBE etc. mean? A: There are orders of chivalry, which are awarded by the Monarch on the advice of the prime minister.

In order of importance (highest first), they are: The Most Noble Order of the Garter: Knight of the Garter (KG), Lady of the Garter (LG) The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle: Knight of the Thistle (KT) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath: Knight or Dame Grand Cross (CGB), Knight Commander (KCB), Dame Commander (DCB), Companion (CB) The Order of Merit (OM) The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George: Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG), Knight Commander (KCMG), Dame Commander (DCMG), Companion (CMG) The Royal Victorian Order: Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight Commander (KCVO), Dame Commander (DCVO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO), Member (MVO) The Royal Victorian Chain The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight Commander (KBE), Dame Commander (DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), Member (MBE) The Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) The Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem Q.

How should I address The Queen, Prince Charles, etc? Who Q. How tall is HM Queen Elizabeth II? A. HM Queen Elizabeth II is 5’4″ (160cm) tall Q. What does the Queen keep in her handbag? A. The Queen carries a comb, a handkerchief, a small gold compact, and a tube of lipstick on her handbag. Most people think that the Queen never carries money. This is not true… The Queen does carry money on Sunday’s – a folded note of unknown denomination, which she discretely places in the collection plate when she goes to church. Q. What do the two bags the Queen hands out at Maundy Thursday contain? A. The red purse contains – in ordinary coinage – money in lieu of food and clothing; the other, a white purse, contains silver Maundy coins consisting of the same number of pence as the years of the sovereign’s age. This answer is a part quote taken from a page The British Royal Mint explaining all about Maundy Money. Click on the link to go to that page. Q. How is Queen Elizabeth related to other European monarchs? A: Belgium: Queen Elizabeth II and King Philippe are third cousins once removed.

They are descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark. Denmark: Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Margrethe II are third cousins, through both King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Greece: Queen Elizabeth II and King Constantine II are third cousins, through their descent from King Christian IX of Denmark. Liechtenstein: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Hans Adam II are seventh cousins, once removed. They are descendants of John William Friso, Prince of Orange. Luxembourg: Queen Elizabeth II and Grand Duke Henri are third cousins, once removed. They are descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark. Monaco: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Albert II are 7th cousins, twice removed. They are descendants of John William Friso, Prince of Orange. The Netherlands: Queen Elizabeth II and King Willem-Alexander are 5th cousins once removed. They are descendants of Friedrich II of Württemberg. Norway: Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald V are second cousins. They are descendants of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and King Christian IX of Denmark. Spain: Queen Elizabeth II and King Felipe VI are third cousins, once removed. They are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Sweden: Queen Elizabeth II and King Carl XVI Gustaf are third cousins. They are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The British Queen The British Queen Queen since 6 February 1952 HM Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012 Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) was born on 21 April, 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, London. Her birthday is officially celebrated in Britain on the second Saturday of June each year. The day is referred to as “ the Trooping of the Colour ”, the official name is “the Queen’s Birthday Parade”. Queen Elizabeth II is a 'constitutional monarch'*. This means that although she is officially the head of the state, the country is actually run by the government, led by the Prime Minister. *The English Bill of Rights Act of 1689 curtailed the power of the sovereign and confirmed Parliaments place at the heart of the English constitution. From this date English Monarchs (now British Monarchs) would rule in partnership with Parliament. Where does the Queen live? The Queen lives at Buckingham Palace in London. Interesting Fact: There has not been a Queen of England since 1707.

Queen Ann was the last ever King or Queen of England. From 1707, the monarch, although living in England, has been known as either the Monarch of the Kingdom of Great Britain (as Queen Anne was) or of the United Kingdom (as Queen Victoria was). The Official Title of the Queen Her Majesty The Queen's title in the United Kingdom is: 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. When did Queen Elizabeth come to the throne? Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI . Her Coronation, at Westminster Abbey, followed on June 2, 1953. (A new king or Queen begins to rule as soon as their succession to the throne has been announced. But the coronation - when the crown is placed on the monarch's head - may not happen until months later.) The queen celebrated her Golden jubilee (50 years since her accession) in 2002. Head of State Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom's Head of State.

She is queen of 16 former British colonies, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and head of the Commonwealth, a multinational body created after the dissolution of the British empire. Follow this link to find out what jobs the Queen does Who is the Queen married to? The Queen as married to the HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the son of Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark. They married on 20 November 1947. The Duke is Queen Elizabeth's third cousin; they share Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother. Why is Queen Elizabeth II's husband a prince rather than a king? In the British monarchy, the husband of a female monarch does not have any recognized special status, rank, or privileges. Prince Philip was a prince from birth. He is the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and was born Prince of Greece and Denmark. Upon his marriage to then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, Philip was given the title "Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merion, and Baron Greenwich," and was made a Knight of the Garter. (He became a British citizen around this time and renounced his Greek and Danish titles).

Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953, and in 1957, she granted Philip the title "Prince of the United Kingdom." Interesting Fact: The wife of a male monarch (e.g. the Queen Mother was the wife of King George VI) takes on her husband's rank and style upon marrying, becoming Queen. She is known as the Queen consort ( wife and consort of a reigning king) ( A consort is a spouse , usually of royalty.) What is Queen Elizabeth's surname? The Queen does not normally use a surname (she doesn't need a passport or a driving licence for example), but on the few occasions where it has been necessary, i.e. when serving with the ATS during World War II, she has used the surname 'Windsor'. (source: The British royal family changed their last name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917. Why? World War One broke out in 1914 and anti-German sentiment was its height in 1917. In protest, King George V renounced all the German titles belonging to him and his family and adopted the name of his castle, Windsor.

From 8 February 1960, all The Queen's descendants who do not bear the "style, title or attribute of HRH, and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess" have the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. (Mountbatten as Prince Philip's surname). Royal Homes Among the official royal residences are Buckingham Palace , Windsor Castle , St. James Palace , Balmoral Castle , Frogmore House, The Palace of Holyroodhouse , Sandringham House and Kensington Palace. Interesting Fact: The only time when there was no King or Queen in England was when the country was a republic between 1649 and 1660. ( In 1649 King Charles I was executed and England became a Republic for eleven years. The monarchy was restored in 1660.) The weirdest powers of Queen Elizabeth II - Business Insider Jeremy Banford/Flickr/Danny E. Martindale/Getty Images/BI Queen Elizabeth II is not like you and me. Did you know she is immune from prosecution? That she has her own personal poet, paid in Sherry wine? Or that she holds dominion over British swans and can fire the entire Australian government?

It's true that her role as the British head of state is largely ceremonial, and the Monarch no longer holds any serious power from day to day. The historic "prerogative powers" of the Sovereign have been devolved largely to government ministers. But this still means that when the British government declares war, or regulates the civil service, or signs a treaty, it is doing so only on her authority. And she still wields some of these prerogative powers herself — as well as numerous other unique powers, ranging from the surprising to the utterly bizarre. Most famously, she owns all swans in the River Thames. The Queen is presented with a cygnet during a Swan Upping. WPA Pool/Getty Images Technically, all unmarked swans in open water belong to the Queen, though the Crown "exercises her ownership" only "on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries," according to the official website of the Royal Family . Today this tradition is observed during the annual "Swan Upping," in which swans in the River Thames are caught, ringed, and set free again as part of census of the swan population. It's a highly ceremonial affair, taking place over five days.

"Swan uppers" wear traditional uniforms and row upriver in six skiffs accompanied by the Queen's Swan Marker. "The swans are also given a health check and ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen's Swan Warden, a Professor of Ornithology at the University of Oxford's Department of Zoology," according to the Royal Family website. The Sovereign also has dominion over all dolphins in British waters. "Rule, Britannia, Britannia rules the waves," goes a classic British song — and this rule extends beneath the waves, too. The sovereign has dominion over a variety of aquatic animals in British waters. The Queen still technically owns all the sturgeons, whales, and dolphins in the waters around the UK, in a rule that dates back to a statute from 1324, during the reign of King Edward II, according to Time . According to the article: "This statute is still valid today, and sturgeons, porpoises, whales, and dolphins are recognised as 'fishes royal': when they are captured within 3 miles (about 5 km) of UK shores or wash ashore, they may be claimed on behalf of the Crown.

Generally, when brought into port, a sturgeon is sold in the usual way, and the purchaser, as a gesture of loyalty, requests the honour of its being accepted by Elizabeth." The law is still observed: In 2004, a Welsh fisherman was investigated by the police after catching a 10-foot sturgeon, the BBC reported at the time . The Scottish government also issued guidance on the law in 2007 , writing that "the right to claim Royal Fish in Scotland allows the Scottish Government (on behalf of the Crown) to claim stranded whales which are too large to be drawn to land by a 'wain pulled by six oxen.'" "They see me rollin' ..." Chris Jackson/Getty Images The Queen can drive without a licence. Driving licenses are issued in the Queen's name, yet she is the only person in the United Kingdom who doesn't legally need a license to drive or a number plate on her cars , according to Time. Despite not being required to have a license, the Queen is comfortable behind the wheel, having learned to drive during World War II when she operated a first-aid truck for the Women's Auxillary Territorial Service.

(As a result of the Queen's training, she can also change a spark plug, Time notes). Queen Elizabeth II isn't afraid to show off her driving skills, either. In 1998, she surprised King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (then still a prince) by driving him around in her country seat of Balmoral. Former British Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles recounted the meeting in the Sunday Times: "As instructed, the crown prince climbed into the front seat of the front Land Rover, with his interpreter in the seat behind. To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off. Women are not — yet — allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen." Cowper-Coles continued: "His nervousness only increased as the Queen, an army driver in wartime, accelerated the Land Rover along the narrow Scottish estate roads, talking all the time. Through his interpreter, the crown prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead." The Queen doesn't need a passport, either. Unlike other members of the Royal family, the Queen does not require a passport, as they are issued in her name.

Despite this lack of travel documents, she has been abroad many times. She has two birthdays. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip travel by carriage during her birthday parade. Chris Jackson/Getty Images When you're the British head of state, one birthday just isn't enough. The Queen's official birthday is celebrated on a Saturday in June, though her actual birthday is on April 21. "Official celebrations to mark a sovereign's birthday have often been held on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer," according to the Royal Mint . Both birthdays are celebrated in suitable style, too. Her actual birthday "is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday," according to the official website of the British Monarchy . This includes "a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park, and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

In 2006, Her Majesty celebrated her 80th Birthday in 2006 with a walkabout in the streets outside of Windsor Castle to meet well-wishers." For her "official" birthday celebrations, meanwhile, she "is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour parade, which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall, and Horseguards' Parade." She has her own private cash machine. Less a "power" and more a perk of the job, a private cash machine for use by the royal family is installed in the basement of Buckingham Palace. It's provided by Coutts, one of Britain's most prestigious — and exclusive — banks. The Queen has her own personal poet. The poet laureate is an honorary position in British society appointed by the Monarch to a poet " whose work is of national significance , " according to the official website of the British Monarchy. When first the role was introduced, the appointee was paid £200 per year plus a butt of canary wine. Today the poet laureate is given a barrel of Sherry. Carol Ann Duffy will hold the position until 2019. She has to sign laws.

The Queen's consent is necessary to turn any bill into an actual law. Once a proposed law has passed both houses of Parliament, it makes its way to the Palace for approval, which is called "Royal Assent." The most recent British Monarch to refuse to provide Royal Assent was Queen Anne, back in 1708. The Queen gives the annual "Queen's Speech" in the House of Lords. WPA Pool/Getty Images Royal Assent is different than "Queen's consent," in which the Queen must consent to any law being debated in Parliament that affects the Monarchy's interests (such as reforming the prerogative or tax laws that might affect the Duchy of Cornwall, for example). Without consent, the bill cannot be debated in Parliament. Queen's consent is exercised only on the advice of ministers, but its existence provides the government with a tool for blocking debate on certain subjects if bills are tabled by backbench rebels or the opposition.

It has been exercised at least 39 times, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information act, including "one instance [in which] the Queen completely vetoed the Military Actions Against Iraq Bill in 1999, a private member's bill that sought to transfer the power to authorise military strikes against Iraq from the monarch to parliament," The Guardian reported in 2013 . She can create Lords. The Queen has the power to appoint Lords, who can then sit in Parliament, the upper house in Britain's legislative system. Like many other powers, this is exercised only "on the advice of" elected government ministers. She doesn't have to pay tax (but she does anyway). The Queen has the power to form governments. Unlike the Queen, Prime Minister David Cameron doesn't literally sit on a throne. Rob Stothard/Getty Images/HBO/BI The Queen previously wielded the power to dissolve Parliament and call a general election , but the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act put an end to that in 2011. Now a two-thirds vote in the commons is required to dissolve Parliament before a five-year fixed-term is up.

She does still play a part after an election, however, when she calls on the MP most able to form a government to do so. This caused some worry ahead of this year's General Election. It once looked as if the Conservatives might not have a majority (but would be the largest party) and would try to form a government. Meanwhile, it was feasible that Labour could form a majority, despite having fewer seats, by entering into a coalition with multiple other parties. In this situation, the Queen would have been stuck between a rock and a hard place. Every year, she opens Parliament with the Queen's speech, which lays out the government's plans. But to give David Cameron's speech would arguably be to tacitly endorse his government — while staying away would send the opposite message. At one point, The Times was told by sources that she planned to "stay away" if Cameron failed to secure enough MPs, but the Palace later had an about-face. "Royal sources confirmed she would lead proceedings, even if there was a risk the speech would be overthrown the following week because the Tories had failed to muster enough backing from smaller parties," The Times subsequently reported . She has knights. The Queen's knights: not nearly this cool.

Jeff Kubina/Flickr (CC) Sure, they no longer ride around on horseback wooing maidens with their tales of valour, but Britain still retains knights. Like Lords, they are appointed by the Queen — and she knights them personally. Knighthoods are typically given to figures who have made a particular contribution to British society — whether in business, the arts, the military, or elsewhere. After Terry Pratchett was knighted, the legendary fantasy author forged himself a special sword using pieces of a meteorite . The individuals knighted are decided by ministers, the BBC reports , "who present her with a list of nominees each year for her approval." She is exempt from Freedom Of Information requests. All information about the royal family is exempt from Freedom of Information requests. The exemption was made after a legal battle between The Guardian and the government to have letters from Prince Charles sent to Whitehall ministers made public. The so-called black spider memos were recently released , but the change means the same can't happen in the future. She can ignore or overrule ministerial advice in "grave constitutional crisis." While the overwhelming majority of the Queen's prerogative powers are devolved to her ministers, there is one exception that allows her to wield power herself.

Only "in grave constitutional crisis," the Sovereign can "act contrary to or without Ministerial advice." With no precedent in modern times, it's not clear what would actually constitute this, but the possibility remains. The Queen holds the ability to fire the entire Australian government. As the head of state in Australia, the Queen has certain powers over the government. In 1975, for example, the Queen's representative in the country at the time, Gov. Gen. Sir John Kerr, fired the prime minister in response to a government shutdown. "[Kerr] appointed a replacement, who immediately passed the spending bill to fund the government, Max Fisher wrote in The Washington Post . "Three hours later, Kerr dismissed the rest of Parliament. Then Australia held elections to restart from scratch. And they haven't had another shutdown since." In addition to the UK and Australia, the Queen is also the head of state in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. All the above are Commonwealth Realms, or former British colonies.

The British sovereign retains the position she holds in the United Kingdom, that of head of state. As in Britain, this is largely a ceremonial role from day to day. She's the head of a religion. The Queen visits Canterbury Cathedral in Kent. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Church of England, Britain's state religion first established after King Henry VIII split away from the Catholic Church in Rome in the 16th century. Her formal title is defender of the faith and supreme governor of the Church of England , and she also has the power to appoint Bishops and Archbishops. As with many of her other powers, however, this is exercised only on the advice of the prime minister, who himself takes advice from a Church Commission. An interesting side effect of this is that the Sovereign must be a confirmed member of Church of England. Catholics and those of other religions may not ascend to the British throne. If Prince Charles converted to Islam, for example, he would be unable to become king after Queen Elizabeth II dies. She gets to give away special money to the elderly. Maundy money is a special kind of silver coin the Queen gives away to pensioners every year at a UK cathedral every Easter in a special ceremony.

The number of recipients corresponds with the Sovereign's age. This year, for example, she will be 89 when Easter rolls around, so she will give maundy money away to 89 pensioners. The coins are technically legal tender, despite coming in unconventional 3-pence and 4-pence denominations. But given the coins' rare status, they tend not to enter general circulation. She's also immune from prosecution. All prosecutions are carried out in the name of the Sovereign, and she is both immune from prosecution and cannot be compelled to give evidence in court. In theory, the Sovereign "is incapable of thinking or doing wrong," legal scholar John Kirkhope told Business Insider. However, barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy QC told the BBC in 2002 that "nowadays, that immunity is questionable." "Although civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Sovereign as a person under UK law, the Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law," according to official site of the Monarchy . If the monarch did commit a grievance offence, he or she would almost certainly be forced to abdicate.

There is at least one precedent of the Courts' prosecuting the Sovereign. In the 17th Century, King Charles I was tried for treason following the English Civil War. He said "no earthly power can justly call me (who am your King) in question as a delinquent." The Court disagreed and had him executed. The Queen has the right to be consulted, to encourage, and to warn her ministers. Assuming no "grave constitutional crisis," the Queen's input into the legislative process is supposed to be limited in real terms to the right "to be consulted, to encourage, and to warn" her ministers — advice delivered via meetings with the prime minister. Bow down. WPA Pool/Getty Images The Queen also has certain historic rights and privileges. John Kirkhope, a lawyer who successfully campaigned to have details of "Queen's consent" made public , provided Business Insider with a list of some of the stranger rights the Queen still holds. Hungerford has to present a red rose to the Sovereign in exchange for its fishing and grazing rights. The Duke of Atholl must pay by way of a rose whenever the Sovereign calls.

This most recently happened during the reign of Queen Victoria, so it's unclear whether the rose has to be any particular colour. If the Sovereign passes near Kidwelly Castle in Wales, the tenant has to provide a bodyguard in full armour. This is complicated slightly by the fact the castle is a ruin. The Marquis of Ailesbury owns Savernake Forest and is required to produce a blast on a hunting horn should the Sovereign pass through the Forest. This last happened in 1943. Similarly, the owner of Dunlambert Castle in Northern Ireland has to produce a blast on an ancient bugle. The size of the snowball isn't specified. Kamyar Adl/Flickr (CC) And lastly, many landowners must also pay a "quit-rent" — a kind of tax on their property paid to the Monarch. Some are pretty unusual. The owner of Sauchlemuir Castle must set out three glasses of port on New Year's Eve for the grandmother of James IV of Scotland. (For reference, James IV served from 1474 to 1513.) The owner of Fowlis must deliver — when required — a snowball in mid-summer.

The City of Gloucester pays for its holdings of Crown Lands by providing an enormous eel pie. Great Yarmouth must provide a hundred herrings baked in 24 pasties to the Sheriff, who then sends them to the Lord of the Manor — who then sends them to the Sovereign. The Duke of Marlborough has to present a small satin flag with a Fleur de Lys on August 13, the anniversary of the Battle of Blenheim. The Duke of Wellington has to present a French Tricolour flag before noon on June 19 — the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Dreaming of the Queen Dreaming of the Queen Subsequent albums - Concrete Other releases - (none) Inspired in part by Brian Masters' 1972 book Dreams About HM the Queen and other Members of the Royal Family, this song has been described by Neil as his variation on what is apparently a fairly common English anxiety dream: meeting the Queen under less than ideal circumstances, such as wearing nothing but your underwear. In this case, he's naked. But there's much more to "Dreaming of the Queen" than an unpleasant if mildly comic dream.

Rather, it's an extremely dense, haunting track overshadowed by AIDS, filled with images of illness, lost love, and death. The dream has four main characters: the narrator, his lover (who is now dead), Princess Diana (who was very much alive at the time this song was recorded, but whose marital problems were all too well known), and the Queen herself. When Di (her nickname perhaps serving as a pun on the word "die") sadly states from personal experience, "There are no more lovers left alive," it sends the narrator into his own reverie in which he notes how true this is since "it's happened to me and you" (his lover). When the narrator finally wakes up from this disturbing dream "in a sweat" (an image that parallels the night sweats that are a common symptom of AIDS) and "desolate," he reiterates the fact that "there are no more lovers left alive"despite the dream having come to an end. It seems clear that the narrator has already lost his lover, probably because of AIDS, and that he himself is now personally coping with the disease.

(As a perhaps significant sidenote, Neil has pointed out that the only time he actually met Diana was at a London AIDS hospice.) Regular site visitor and frequent contributor Jeffrey Durst has observed that this songand particularly the famous line from the chorus "There are no more lovers left alive"may have been influenced by the 1964 novel Only Lovers Left Alive by Dave Wallis, or perhaps even more likely by the Wanderers' 1981 post-punk cult-classic album of the same name. After all, 1981 was the year in which Charles and Diana were married, not to mention when Neil and Chris met and when the first cases of AIDS were reported by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (although the term "AIDS" itself wasn't coined until the following year, and retrospective research indicates that there were some pre-1981 cases). Both the novel and the album have been described as "foreboding," bearing strong overtones of death, which makes one or both of them distinctly possible if not likely influences. Incidentally, Chris wrote the music for this song, which Neil has said is his favorite from Very.

Annotations As already noted, the chorus ("There are no more lovers left alive") was very likely inspired by the title of the 1964 novel Only Lovers Left Alive by British author Dave Wallis and/or by an 1981 album of the same name by the Wanderers. This song of course references two real-life figures: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her one-time daughter-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales, who was popularly known as "Lady Di." It was of course recorded and released several years before the latter's untimely accidental death—an event that has since lent the song even greater poignancy. It's worth noting in the context of the song that Diana was known for her support for AIDS-related charities; she was, in fact, one of the first high-profile U.K. public figures outside the entertainment industry to be actively involved in the fight against AIDS.

"The Queen said: 'I'm aghast / Love never seems to last / However hard you try'" – As musicologist Fred Everett Maus has very astutely observed (in his chapter "Sexuality, Trauma, and Dissociated Expression" in The Oxford Handbook of Music and Disability Studies, 2015), this song follows closely in the wake of the Queen's self-described annus horribilis, her "horrible year" of 1992, during which (among other less "familial" setbacks) two of her children, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, either separated or divorced from their spouses and the news of the pending collapse of the marriage of another child, Prince Charles, with Princess Diana herself became common knowledge, not to mention tabloid fodder. So it's small wonder that Neil would posit the words "Love never seems to last" as coming from her lips in the narrative of this song.

"For I was in the nude / The old Queen disapproved" – It has been suggested by more than one writer (among them the aforementioned Fred Everett Maus) that the second part of this statement, "The old Queen disapproved," may be a punning double-entendre, referring not only to Her Majesty but also to homosexuals of an older generation (older, that is, than Neil and/or his narrative persona in the song) who would have frowned upon the openness of more "modern" gay men. I personally don't buy into that dual interpretation of the "Queen" reference, but I feel it's worth mentioning here nonetheless. Mixes Mixer: Stephen Hague and Mike "Spike" Drake Very album version (4:19) Mixer: [unknown at this time] "Only Lovers" demo (4:13) 3 Ways to Write to HM Queen Elizabeth II - wikiHow Reaching Her Majesty and Writing a Salutation 1 Outline your ideas. Make an outline of exactly what topics you'd like to say in your letter to better organize. Include an order of what you'd like to accomplish, so you are focused in your approach. For each bullet item, make sub-bullets to further clarify each point.

[2] Be sure to divide your thoughts with different forms of bullets, including Roman numerals, lowercase letters, and numbers 2 Address The Queen properly. Your Majesty or May it please Your Majesty are the preferred terms. While it may be more appropriate to address Her Majesty’s Private Secretary or Lady-in-Waiting, you can nonetheless direct the correspondence to The Queen. The Royal family also accepts the less formal Madam substitution. [3] If your correspondence is with an aide, abide by the following rules: The first reference should be Her Majesty The Queen All other instances should be The Queen Third person pronouns should be replaced with Her Majesty [4] 3 Contact The Queen online. While Her Majesty does have an email address, it's not exactly public. [5] There would no doubt be a flood of emails if it were. If you'd like to shoot a quick message, however, the official Twitter account for the Royal family is (@RoyalFamily). It appears Her Majesty uses it instead of her now defunct individual account. [6] 4 Manage expectations. The Queen receives a large amount of mail, and it’s courteous to consider the volume of mail Her Majesty receives.

[7] It would not be inappropriate to ask for an answer or a reply, even if one is not likely. [8] Do not expect a reply from Her Majesty. If you are lucky enough to receive a reply, it will be signed by the Lady-in-Waiting or The Queen's official writers. Method Writing the Letter Body 1 Draft the body of your letter. In a polite, formal tone, state your purpose concisely. It is courteous to briefly inform the reader of the general purpose of your letter, follow with a detailed explanation, then finish with a summary or final plea. [9] Be wary of what you write, however. The Queen is a constitutional monarch, so letters to her asking for personal or political support of any kind are ill-advised. [10] A proper tone: "I wish to inform you of an important occurrence I believe deserves your attention." An improper tone: "I demand that my local football association get recognition!" 2 Write a practice letter. You may want to write your entire letter and really review how it's structured, analyze its flow, and determine if it conveys the true intention.

Once complete, try reading any unclear portion of the practice letter out loud to see if it sounds correct to you. Try sharing your practice letter with a friend or family member. Another set of eyes may find a mistake or provide a better way of presenting your idea. A potential start: I wish to inform you of an important occurrence I believe deserves your attention. An amazing service to our nation has taken place recently, and I believe Your Majesty will bestow recognition upon the very deserving citizen. 3 Ensure the letter is readable. Legibility can go a long way towards recognizing the letters and words, which makes the sounds and meaning easier to comprehend. [11] Additionally, The Queen is more likely to want to read your letter if the penmanship is crisp. Really put an effort into your penmanship so it appears that you put care into the letter. Follow a few common practices below: Don't use an extravagant or difficult to read font. Avoid overly narrow fonts. Black or blue ink is preferable. Lighter colors may be difficult to read. Use standard punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Steer clear of practices specific to the web (e.g. All caps for yelling, internet acronyms like "LOL", and emoticons).

4 Proofread your letter. You need to be positive there are no typos, grammar mistakes, or stylistic issues. Be sure to take time after your initial writing to do the proofreading, because you may miss issues since the original content is fresh in your mind. Read a single line at a time. Try obscuring the following line so your eyes can really focus on potential errors. [12] You can check for errors by reading your letter from the end to the beginning, one word at a time. If typing rather than hand writing, use spell/grammar check. Method Closing and Sending Your Letter 1 Sign off properly. Quickly summarize your request (e.g. Thank you for considering the recognition request for such a deserving citizen.). Then, if you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, you should end the letter with "I have the honour to remain, Madam, Your Majesty's most humble and obedient servant." You could also replace the word servant with subject. If you are not a citizen of the U.K., choose a respectful closing such as one of the following: [13] Yours Truly works perfectly because it’s commonly used when sending a letter to someone of stature.

[14] Yours Sincerely is also an accepted closing line. [15] 2 Address the envelope. Write your name and address in the upper left corner. You may receive a reply letter directly from The Queen, or you may receive a letter from Her Majesty’s Lady-in-Waiting. The destination address should be as follows: [16] Her Majesty The Queen London SW1A 1AA 3 Mail the letter. Fold the letter into three equal sections. For such an important letter, it may even be worthwhile to measure out the folds before bending the paper. Use the envelope as a guide for the first third measurement. Once the paper is folded, place it in an envelope and send it to The Queen. [17] Acquire proper postage. Depending on your location, and the letter's weight, there may be a somewhat substantial cost to mail the letter to London. If you include something other than the letter, be careful to consider the list of various prohibitions on mail to Great Britain. [18] Community Q&A How do I send the letter to The Queen? wikiHow Contributor Mailing a letter to The Queen is just like mailing anyone else.

Send it to Her Majesty's official address at: Her Majesty The Queen, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA How can I have Her Majesty send my aged mother a birthday wish? wikiHow Contributor The best bet is to send a letter to Her Majesty with the special request. You'll likely receive something from Her Majesty’s Private Secretary or Lady-in-Waiting. What should I do if I'm writing in pen, and make a mistake? wikiHow Contributor Start again; don't cross anything out or use white out. The letter should not include any mistakes as this can be seen as sloppy and that you uninterested. Could I write a letter to receive a picture of Her Majesty? wikiHow Contributor Absolutely. Be courteous, direct, and succinct. It's possible you may get a photo from Her Majesty’s Private Secretary or Lady-in-Waiting. Is it possible to contact Queen Elizabeth II by email? wikiHow Contributor I would like to send a birthday card to HM Queen Elizabeth II. What should I write on the inside of the card? wikiHow Contributor Be respectful because Her Majesty is royalty. Do not be sarcastic or funny. Be graceful and sincere. I wish to write The Queen inviting her to an event I am hosting.

What should I write? wikiHow Contributor It's unlikely Her Majesty will attend, but the general tone of the letter should reflect the importance of the event. There should be a reason The Queen would like or want to attend. Can you write to The Queen about personal situations? wikiHow Contributor No. The Queen does not mingle in personal affairs. If you send such a letter, you'll likely get a stock answer stating as much. Are stamps required on the envelope? wikiHow Contributor Can I request a letter/birthday card for my husband's 50th birthday from the queen? wikiHow Contributor If you write to her majesty and request it politely, you may receive something from her private secretary or aide. Royal Warrant Holders Association About us The Royal Warrant Holders Association was formed in 1840. Its main objective is to ensure the continued existence of the Royal Warrant as a treasured and respected institution. It helps to administer applications for new Royal Warrants and changes to existing ones. The Association is not part of the Royal Household, but belongs to its members.

It advises members on everything to do with their Royal Warrants and assists with the correct interpretation and implementation of The Lord Chamberlain's Rules, which govern the Royal Warrant. The Association also helps its members to communicate and network with each other through a programme of social, business and networking events. To find out more about Royal Warrants, our local associations, our charities and the Plowden Medal, click on the boxes below. Clockwise from bottom left: Good causes to benefit from the Charity Fund include social enterprise Glencraft; St Jude's Laundry; Smarden Sports Association; Banchory & District Talking Newspapers and Norwich Lads Club How to apply Companies can apply for a Royal Warrant after they have supplied the Households of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales with goods or services for at least five years out of seven (to include during the 12 months before applying). Royal Warrants are not granted for professional services – e.g. bankers, brokers or agents, solicitors, employment agencies, training providers, veterinary services, government agencies – or to newspapers, magazines, journals, periodicals or similar publications.

Royal Warrants are granted for up to five years and only to companies that provide goods or services to the Royal Household. Goods purchased for re-sale by souvenir shops run by Royal Collection Enterprises and the Private Estates, and goods or services provided to the Crown Estate, Historic Royal Palaces, the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster and Royal Parks do not qualify. Applications open at the beginning of May and close at the end of June. Application forms and instructions are available from the Association upon request during this period only. Each application is scrutinised by the Royal Household Warrants Committee, which makes its recommendation to the Grantor. To find out more, read our Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Royal Warrant Holders Association on: 020 7828 2268 warrants@rwha.co.uk Search Royal Warrant Holders You can search the Royal Warrant Holders Association directory by company name or keyword, by Grantor, by trade category, or by region. Click on the link below to browse all Royal Warrant holders who are members of the Association, and to start your search.

Click here to download a list of all Royal Warrant holders History The history of the Royal Warrant can be traced back to medieval times, when competition for Royal favour was intense and the Monarch had the pick of the country's best tradespeople. By the 15th century, the Lord Chamberlain, as head of the Royal Household, formally appointed tradespeople with a Royal Warrant of Appointment – a practice that continues to this day. In the 18th century, Royal tradesmen began displaying the Royal Arms on their premises and stationery. In 1840, the Royal Warrant Holders Association was formed. Scroll through the timeline to discover highlights from the history of the Royal Warrant, stretching back from the present day to its early origins. 2016 HM The Queen becomes Patron of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). Portrait below by QEST Scholar, Alastair Barford (Commissioned by Illustrated London News for The Record Reign). 2015 The Association celebrates its 175th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). 2013 The Association hosts the Coronation Festival in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

Attended by 60,000 visitors over four days, it is the biggest event in the modern history of the Royal Warrant. © R. Nagy/Shutterstock 2007 The Association's Royal Charter is renewed, as well as its aims, governance and remit. Almost all Royal Warrant holders are members. © Fiona Hanson/PA Archive 1998 The Association and its charitable arm the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) establish offices at 1 Buckingham Place and the Association assists with more of the increasing administrative work connected with Royal Warrants. 1990 The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is established by the Association to mark its 150th anniversary and the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. © Daily Mail 1953 The Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II takes place. Many Royal Warrant holders are commissioned to assist, including couturier Sir Norman Hartnell, who created The Queen’s Coronation dress and robe.

© Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 1935 To mark the 25th anniversary of the accession of King George V, the Association builds The King’s House, showcasing the trades, products and skills of Warrant holders. The House is exhibited at the Ideal Home Exhibition before being rebuilt in Surrey and presented to Edward VIII. © Daily Mail 1920s Membership of the Association increases to include more than half of all Warrant holders, and cases of improper use of the Royal Arms are reduced. 1907 The Association's aims, governance and remit are established by Royal Charter of Incorporation and it is renamed the Royal Warrant Holders Association. 1870s & 1880s Rules governing the use of Royal Warrants are tightened so that bankrupts lose their Warrants; Warrants cannot be automatically transferred between companies upon merger or acquisition; and the false display of Royal Arms is outlawed by Parliament. The Association is incorporated to become the official body protecting the rights of Royal Warrant holders. 1840 The Royal Tradesmen's Association is formed, with 25 members, and begins to challenge the increasing cases of improper use of Royal Arms.

19th century In 1837 Queen Victoria ascends the throne. Over 1,000 Royal Warrants are granted during the reign of Queen Victoria and Royal tradespeople begin to gather socially to celebrate the birthday of the monarch. © Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 18th century Royal tradespeople begin to display the Royal Arms on their premises. 17th century The granting of Royal Warrants is re-established by Charles II, following its abolition under Oliver Cromwell. © Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 16th century In 1520 Royal tradespeople create the 'Field of the Cloth of Gold' for Henry VIII near Guînes, the magnificent site for his diplomatic meeting with Francois I of France. © Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 15th century Royal tradespeople are recognised with a Royal Warrant of Appointment. These include William Caxton, England's first printer, who is appointed as King's Printer in 1476. 14th century As different trades seek to organise themselves more effectively and maintain standards, trading associations known as livery companies develop.

These include the Drapers' Company, granted a Royal Charter by Edward III in 1364, and the Mercers' Company (headed by the famous Dick Whittington), granted a Royal Charter by Richard II in 1394. 13th century The department known as 'The Great Wardrobe' organises the Royal Household's accounts and administration. It holds the earliest records of transactions between Royal Households and the kind of craftspeople and traders who still form the bulk of Royal Warrant holders today. 12th century In 1155 Henry II grants the Weavers' Company a Royal Charter – the earliest known example of a formal document between Royalty and tradespeople. © Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 Prev

Question: What does "HM" mean, when referring to Queen Elizabeth II?
Answer: Her Majesty