Queen Elizabeth II 
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is the constitutional monarch of 16 out of the 54 sovereign states within the Commonwealth of Nations, and Head of the Commonwealth. In order of foundation, the 16 independent Commonwealth realms are the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. As the British monarch, she is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Elizabeth was born in London, and educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne as George VI in 1936 on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, in which she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. When her father died in 1952, she became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Her coronation service in 1953 was the first to be televised. Between 1956 and 1992, the number of her realms varied as territories gained independence and realms, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka), became republics. In 1947, she married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she has four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. In 1992, which Elizabeth termed her annus horribilis ("horrible year"), Charles and Andrew separated from their wives, Anne divorced, and a severe fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. Revelations continued on the state of Charles's marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, and they divorced in 1996. The following year, Diana died in a Paris car crash, and the media criticised the royal family for remaining in seclusion in the days before her funeral. Elizabeth's personal popularity rebounded after she appeared in public and has subsequently remained high. The Queen is Head of State in the United Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, Her Majesty does not 'rule' the country, but fulfils important ceremonial and formal roles with respect to Government. She is also Fount of Justice, Head of the Armed Forces and has important relationships with the established Churches of England and Scotland.
Read more about The Queen's State roles in the UK and Crown dependencies in this section. As Head of State The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters, unable to vote or stand for election.
But The Queen does have important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the Government of the UK.
The formal phrase 'Queen in Parliament' is used to describe the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Queen's duties include opening each new session of Parliament, dissolving Parliament before a general election, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.
The Queen also has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, retaining the right to appoint and also meeting with him or her on a regular basis.
In addition to playing a specific role in the UK Parliament based in London, The Queen has formal roles with relation to the devolved assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, the senior political figure in the British Government, regardless of their political party. Although she is a constitutional monarch who remains politically neutral, The Queen retains the ability to give a regular audience to a Prime Minister during his or her term of office, and plays a role in the mechanics of calling a general election. The Queen gives a weekly audience to the Prime Minister at which she has a right and a duty to express her views on Government matters. If either The Queen or the Prime Minister are not available to meet, then they will speak by telephone. These meetings, as with all communications between The Queen and her Government, remain strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, The Queen abides by the advice of her ministers. The Queen also plays a part in the calling of a general election. The Prime Minister of the day may request the Sovereign to grant a dissolution of Parliament at any time.
In normal circumstances, when a single-party government enjoys a majority in the House of Commons, the Sovereign would not refuse, for the government would then resign and the Sovereign would be unable to find an alternative government capable of commanding the confidence of the Commons. After a general election, the appointment of a Prime Minister is also the prerogative of the Sovereign. In appointing a Prime Minister, the Sovereign is guided by constitutional conventions. The main requirement is to find someone who can command the confidence of the House of Commons. This is normally secured by appointing the leader of the party with an overall majority of seats in the Commons, but there could still be exceptional circumstances when The Queen might need to exercise discretion to ensure that her Government is carried on.
When a potential Prime Minister is called to Buckingham Palace, The Queen will ask him or her whether he or she will form a government.
To this question, two responses are realistically possible. The most usual is acceptance. If the situation is uncertain, as it was with Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1963, a potential Prime Minister can accept an exploratory commission, returning later to report either failure or, as occurred in 1963, success. After a new Prime Minister has been appointed, the Court Circular will record that "the Prime Minister Kissed Hands on Appointment". This is not literally the case. In fact, the actual kissing of hands will take place later, in Council. There have been twelve British Prime Ministers during The Queen's reign:
They are:
Winston Churchill 1951-55
Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57
Harold Macmillan 1957-63
Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64
Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76
Edward Heath 1970-74
James Callaghan 1976-79
Margaret Thatcher 1979-90
John Major 1990-97
Tony Blair 1997-2007
Gordon Brown 2007-2010
David Cameron from 2010
The Queen and her family never vote or stand for election to any position, political or otherwise. This is because The Queen's role is to provide continuity and the focus for national unity, and the Royal Family's public role is based on identifying with every section of society, including minorities and special interest groups. Although the law relating to elections does not specifically prohibit the Sovereign from voting in a general election or local election, it is considered unconstitutional for the Sovereign and his or her heir to do so. As Head of State, The Queen must remain politically neutral, since her Government will be formed from whichever party can command a majority in the House of Commons. The Queen herself is part of the legislature and technically she cannot therefore vote for members of another part of the legislature. With the removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords in 1999, the Royal Dukes (The Dukes of Edinburgh, York, Gloucester and Kent) ceased to be members of the House of Lords and therefore became eligible to vote in elections, and to stand for election. But members of the Royal Family do not exercise these rights. To vote or hold elected positions would not be in accordance with the need for neutrality. Under the Maastricht Treaty, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family would be entitled to vote for the European Parliament, or to stand for election to that Parliament. However, The Queen would only exercise these rights on the advice of her Ministers. Their advice would invariably be that she should neither vote nor stand for an elected position so as not to compromise her neutrality. Other members of the Royal Family do not act on ministerial advice, but they also are required to preserve their political neutrality so as not to embarrass The Queen. Therefore, they too would not vote nor stand for election for the European Parliament. In the earliest times the Sovereign was a key figure in the enforcement of law and the establishment of legal systems in different areas of the UK. As such the Sovereign became known as the 'Fount of Justice'. While no longer administering justice in a practical way, the Sovereign today still retains an important symbolic role as the figure in whose name justice is carried out, and law and order is maintained. 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. The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, was born Prince of Greece and Denmark in Corfu on 10 June 1921. He was born the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece. His paternal family is of Danish descent - Prince Andrew was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. His mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg, the eldest child of Prince Louis of Battenberg and sister of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Prince Louis became a naturalised British subject in 1868, joined the Royal Navy and rose to become an Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord in 1914. During the First World War Prince Louis changed the family name to Mountbatten and was created Marquess of Milford Haven. Prince Philip adopted the family name of Mountbatten when he became a naturalised British subject and renounced his Royal title in 1947. Prince Louis married one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters. Thus, The Queen and Prince Philip both have Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother. They are also related through his father's side. His paternal grandfather, King George I of Greece, was Queen Alexandra's brother. The engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced in July 1947 and the marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on 20 November. Shortly before the wedding, the bridegroom was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich with the style of His Royal Highness and appointed a Knight of the Garter by the King. The Queen and Prince Philip had two children before (Prince Charles and Princess Anne) and two after (Prince Andrew and Prince Edward) The Queen succeeded to the throne.
Fact File 1. A descendant of Queen Victoria – The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen are both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. 2. Naval service - After leaving Gordonstoun in 1939, Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy, graduating on 31st December, 1939 from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as the best cadet on his course. He was Mentioned in Despatches whilst in charge of a searchlight whilst aboard HMS Valiant during night-action off Cape Matapan in the Second World War. Shortly afterwards he was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour. He had risen to the rank of Lieutenant by the time of his engagement to Princess Elizabeth, and to the rank of Commander on The Queen’s accession to the throne. 3. Patronages - The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron of over 800 organisations in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. His first patronages date back to the late 1940s soon after his marriage to The Queen. They include the National Playing Fields Association, Federation of London Youth Clubs and The National Maritime Museum. Other, more unusual sounding patronages include the Grand Order of Water Rats, the Guinea Pig Club and the Hastings Winkle Club. 4. Environment – Prince Philip has a keen interest in the state of the natural environment. He has put this into practice by using alternative energy sources for his official car. In the 1980s he used two electric Bedford vans to travel around London. Currently he uses a Metrocab powered by Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). 5. Artist – The Duke has had a longstanding interest in art, both as an artist and collector. He invited the artist Edward Seago to accompany him in HMY Britannia for the Antarctic and later stages of his 1956/57 World Tour. A selection of The Duke’s oils have been displayed next to The Prince of Wales’ watercolours at Sandringham House. 6. Science and technology - Prince Philip has been Patron of the Industrial Society, now the Work Foundation, since 1952, and has visited research stations, laboratories and every kind of workplace in the UK, to see the practical effects of scientific research in society and to learn about industry. He is keen to promote the development of such professions in a constructive way. In 1976, for example, as President of the Council of Engineering Institutions, he initiated the Fellowship of Engineering, now the Royal Academy of Engineering, which promotes engineering excellence and education. 7. Sport – Since learning to ride in the late 1920s The Duke has always had an interest in horses. As President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1964 to 1986 Prince Philip was involved in defining the rules and regulations for several equestrian sports. Under the guidance of the Duke, International Rules were created for Carriage Driving, Long Distance Riding and Vaulting, and Veterinary Committee and Veterinary Regulations were introduced. For 30 years he competed in carriage-driving events after giving up polo in 1971. He has also been a keen sailor and cricketer. 8. Travel - Since 1952, The Duke has made over 620 solo visits to 143 countries. Prince Philip has also accompanied The Queen on all her Commonwealth tours and State visits, as well as on public engagements in all parts of the UK. The first of these was the Coronation Tour of the Commonwealth from November 1953 to May 1954, when the couple visited countries in North America, the Caribbean, Australasia, Ceylon and Africa, travelling a distance of 43,618 miles. 9. Balmoral & Sandringham Estates – After The Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952, Prince Philip was asked by Her Majesty to oversee the running of the two private Royal estates at Balmoral and Sandringham. The Duke is also Ranger of Windsor Great Park and oversaw the restoration of parts of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992. 10. The Duke of Edinburgh was the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television. The interview took place in May 1961 when Prince Philip was interviewed by Richard Dimbleby, probably on a subject related to the City & Guilds of London, of which His Royal Highness has been President since 1951. The Prince of Wales
The Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is Heir Apparent to the throne. The Prince was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, and was christened Charles Philip Arthur George. When, on the accession of Queen Elizabeth in 1952, he became heir apparent, Prince Charles automatically became Duke of Cornwall under a charter of King Edward III dating back to 1337, which gave that title to the Sovereign's eldest son. He also became in the Scottish Peerage, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.
The Prince was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 26 July 1958, becoming the first Prince of Wales since 1936. Although investitures of Princes of Wales were traditionally held in front of Parliament, and not all Princes of Wales have been invested, the investiture of the present Prince of Wales (like that of his predecessor Prince Edward, later Edward VIII, in 1911) was a State occasion. It took place in a Welsh setting before the Welsh people, at Caernarfon Castle on 1 July 1969. The Welsh regalia (Crown Jewels associated with the Princes of Wales) used at the investitures in 1911 and 1969 are on loan to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. On 29 July 1981, The Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in St Paul's Cathedral who became HRH The Princess of Wales.
The Princess was born on 1 July 1961, at Park House on The Queen's estate at Sandringham, Norfolk. She lived there until the death in 1975 of her grandfather, the 7th Earl, when the family moved to the Spencer family seat at Althorp House in Northamptonshire. Lady Diana's father, then Viscount Althorp and later the eighth Earl Spencer, had been an equerry to both George VI and The Queen. Her maternal grandmother, Ruth, Lady Fermoy, was a close friend and lady in waiting to The Queen Mother. The Prince and Princess of Wales had two sons: Prince William, born on 21 June 1982; and Prince Harry, born on 15 September 1984. From the time of their marriage, The Prince and Princess of Wales went on overseas tours and carried out many engagements together in the UK. On 9 December 1992, the Prime Minister, John Major, announced to the House of Commons that The Prince and Princess of Wales had agreed to separate. The marriage was dissolved on 28 August, 1996. The Princess was still regarded as a member of the Royal Family. She continued to live at Kensington Palace and to carry out her public work for a number of charities. When The Princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997, The Prince of Wales flew to Paris with her two sisters to bring her body back to London. The Princess lay in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace until the night before the funeral.
On the day of the funeral, The Prince of Wales accompanied his two sons, aged 15 and 12 at the time, as they walked behind the coffin from The Mall to Westminster Abbey. With them were The Duke of Edinburgh and The Princess's brother, Earl Spencer. Click here to find out more about the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales asked the media to respect his sons' privacy, to allow them to lead a normal school life. In the following years, Princes William and Harry, who are second and third in line to the throne, accompanied their father on a limited number of official engagements in the UK and abroad. The Prince of Wales married Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles on 9 April 2005 at a civil ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor, followed by a service of prayer and dedication in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. After the wedding, Mrs Parker Bowles became known as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. When The Prince of Wales accedes to the throne, she will be known as HRH The Princess Consort.
The official website of The Prince of Wales - www.princeofwales.gov.uk The Duchess of Cornwall
The Duchess of Cornwall was born Camilla Rosemary Shand on 17 July 1947 at King's College Hospital, London. She is the eldest of three siblings: she has a sister, Annabel Elliot (nee Shand), and a brother, Mark Shand. As a member of the Royal Family, The Duchess of Cornwall supports her husband, The Prince of Wales, in carrying out his work and duties as Heir to The Throne. She also undertakes public engagements on behalf of her own charities. The Duchess is Patron or President of a number of charities and attends events to support them. She also supports the work of the British Armed Services both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Royal Highness has her own military appointments and accompanies The Prince on the majority of his visits to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Duchess of Cornwall also visits other countries on overseas tours with The Prince of Wales as part of Their Royal Highnesses’s role in supporting Her Majesty The Queen and together, Their Royal Highnesses are among the United Kingdom's most important ambassadors. The Duchess of Cornwall supports her husband The Prince of Wales in his work and role as Heir to the Throne, and also supports a number of her own charities and organisations in the role of President or Patron. Since becoming The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Royal Highness has travelled across the country with The Prince and on solo engagements, meeting people from all walks of life. Armed Services
The Duchess supports the work of the British Armed Services both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Royal Highness has her own military appointments and accompanies The Prince on the majority of his visits to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Her Royal Highness is Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy, Sponsor of HMS Astute and Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton. In 2006 The Duchess of Cornwall became Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the regiments. The Battalion was previously named the 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets with The Queen as Colonel-in-Chief. The Duchess said she was “delighted and deeply honoured” to receive the appointment. Since her appointment Her Royal Highness has taken a very close interest in the battalion, which has suffered heavy losses during its tour in Afghanistan. The Duchess visits the regiment regularly at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. She meets servicemen and women and their families, presents service medals wherever possible, receives regular briefings from the Commanding Officer and writes letters to bereaved families and injured servicemen, often sending a gift to help speed their recovery. In 2006 The Queen appointed The Duchess of Cornwall to the position of Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy. In June 2007 The Duchess of Cornwall, as Sponsor of the vessel, launched the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful submarine, HMS Astute, to the cheers of 10,000 people in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. In 2008 The Queen approved new Royal Air Force honorary appointments in recognition of the strong links between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Family. The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton. In addition to these official military appointments, The Duchess of Cornwall has met a wide variety of current and former military personnel in the UK and overseas. Her Royal Highness also attends ceremonial military occasions including the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and more regular occasions such as the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph each year in November. In 2010 Their Royal Highness visited Fromelles to pay tribute to the last of the 250 First World War soldiers recovered from communal graves in France. Her Royal Highness also has personal connections to organisations related to the military through her father Major Bruce Shand, who was awarded two military crosses. For example, The Duchess is Patron and an Honorary Member of the Desert Rats Association. Major Bruce Shand, fought with the Desert Rats in the Second World War before he was captured during the Battle of El Alamein. The Duchess has also invited veterans, serving soldiers and officers of the 9th/12th Lancers to Clarence House for reception, with whom her father also served.
The Duchess is also Patron of Sea Cadet Unit TS Astute which is related to her role as Sponsor of HMS Astute and Her Royal Highness is a Life Member of the Royal British Legion Women's Section, of which The Princess Royal is President. In 2007 - 2008, The Duchess of Cornwall undertook 50 overseas engagements during tours of Uganda, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, Montserrat and Jamaica. The overseas visits are undertaken at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to further British diplomatic interests, raise the UK’s profile in the country visited and highlight British excellence. The Duke of Cambridge
Prince William is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. On 29 April 2011, following his marriage to Catherine Middleton, the title The Duke of Cambridge was conferred on him by The Queen. On 3 December 2012, it was announced by St James' Palace that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant and expecting the couple's first child. On 31 December 2012, the Queen declared that the Duke's children would be princes and princesses with the style Royal Highness. On 14 January, St James' Palace announced that the baby is due to be born in July 2013.
Prince William was born at 9.03pm on 21 June 1982, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London. A bulletin announced that the Royal baby weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz. On 4 August 1982, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. After attending Mrs Mynors School, The Duke became a pupil at Wetherby School in London, from 15 January 1987 until 5 July 1990. From September 1990, The Duke attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire, for five years until 5 July 1995. He then attended Eton College from July 1995 and studied Geography, Biology and History of Art at A Level. The Duke was 15-years-old when Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry walked behind their mother’s cortege at her funeral which was held at Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. After a gap year in which he visited Chile, Belize, worked on British dairy farms and visited countries in Africa, The Duke chose to study at St Andrews University in Fife, Scotland. He graduated with a 2:1 in Geography in 2005.
After a period of work experience, The Duke of Cambridge joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet. He was commissioned as an army officer in front of Her Majesty The Queen at Sandhurst in December 2006 and joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as a Second Lieutenant. He went on to train as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot with the RAF, graduating as a fully operational pilot in September 2010. The Prince will now carry out his operational service as Co-Pilot of a Sea King Mk3 helicopter. He will be part of a four-person crew.
At the same time, The Duke of Cambridge is President or Patron to a number of charities and organisations whose work he wishes to support.
On St George's Day (23 April 2008) The Queen appointed The Duke of Cambridge to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. He was installed at The Annual Garter ceremony held at Windsor Castle.
Visit the website: www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org The Duchess of Cambridge
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, now known as The Duchess of Cambridge, was born to Michael and Carole Middleton at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, on 9th January 1982. The Duchess is the eldest of three children. Her Royal Highness was christened at the parish church of St. Andrew’s Bradfield in Berkshire on 20th June 1982. In May 1984, at the age of two, The Duchess moved with her family to Amman in Jordan, where her father worked for two and a half years. Her Royal Highness attended a nursery school in Amman from the age of three. In September 1986, the Middletons returned to their home in West Berkshire, and The Duchess started at St. Andrew’s School in Pangbourne, where she remained until July 1995. Her Royal Highness went on to Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she studied Chemistry, Biology and Art at A-level. The Duchess also took part in sport on behalf of the school, playing tennis, hockey and netball and participating in athletics, particularly high jump. Her Royal Highness completed her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award at Marlborough. Leaving Marlborough College in July 2000, The Duchess undertook a gap year in which she studied at the British Institute in Florence, undertook a Raleigh International programme in Chile, and crewed on Round the World Challenge boats in the Solent. In 2001, Her Royal Highness enrolled at the University of St Andrews, Fife, from where she graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in History of Art. The Duchess continued with her interest in sport at University, playing hockey for the University team. Her Royal Highness first met Prince William when studying at the University. Since completing her degree, The Duchess has worked for Party Pieces, a company owned and run by her parents. Alongside her work for the family business, Her Royal Highness worked in London as a part-time buyer for the clothing company Jigsaw Junior. In 2008, The Duchess launched First Birthdays, a junior brand to Party Pieces. Her role within the family business included catalogue design and production, marketing and photography. The Duchess's work within the Royal Family initially will be to support her husband with his long-standing Patronages and other official duties, and, like any member of the Royal Family, to support The Queen at home and abroad. Already The Duchess has undertaken a number of engagements with her husband, and the couple visited Canada on behalf of The Queen in July. On 22 July 2013, The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to the couple's first child, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, at St Mary's Hospital in
Paddington.
Her Royal Highness hobbies include recreational sports such as hill walking, tennis, swimming, sailing, and the arts such as photography and painting.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry is the younger son of The Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Prince Henry Charles Albert David (always known as Prince Harry) was born on 15 September 1984 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in December 1984 in St George's Chapel, Windsor. Prince Harry attended the same schools as his brother, Prince William. He started at Mrs Jane Mynors' nursery school in London from September 1987, when he was three. In 1989 Prince Harry joined Prince William at Wetherby School, moving to Ludgrove School in Berkshire in September 1992. Like Prince William, Prince Harry attended the VE and VJ commemorations in London in 1995. In November 1997 he accompanied The Prince of Wales to South Africa, where he was able to go on safari before joining his father at a concert featuring the Spice Girls and meeting President Nelson Mandela. Prince Harry walked behind the cortege of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997, accompanied by his brother, father, grandfather and uncle. In 1998 both young Princes were with The Prince of Wales in Canada, for brief public appearances and a skiing holiday in Whistler, British Columbia. Like his brother, Prince Harry is a keen skier. In September 1998 Prince Harry started at Eton College, Windsor. On 2 January 2000, Prince William and Prince Harry accompanied The Prince of Wales on a visit to Cardiff. They heard rap music and dance as well as hymns and readings in Welsh and English at the Tabernacl and joined 60,000 people for a special edition of the BBC's Songs of Praise at the Millennium Stadium. Prince Harry celebrated his 18th birthday on 15 September 2002. To mark the occasion, Her Majesty the Queen gave the Prince his own unique Coat of Arms. In 2003 Prince Harry left school at Eton College with A Levels in Art and Geography. Prince Harry then left Britain to spend the first part of his gap year in Australia, followed by a stay in Africa, where he worked in an orphanage in Lesotho. Upon his return from Africa in July 2004, Prince Harry began preparing for the Regular Commissions Board (RCB) exams, which he passed in September 2004. On 6 July 2004 Prince Harry, Prince William and their father, The Prince of Wales, accompanied The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to the opening of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London. In May 2005 Prince Harry entered Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to begin his training as an officer in the Army. On 12 April 2006 Prince Harry was commissioned as an army officer. His grandmother, The Queen, was the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade at Sandhurst. Prince Harry joined the Household Cavalry, and served in Afghanistan for more than two months from the end of 2007 to early 2008. He is now training to be a helicopter pilot with the Army Air Corps.
Although he is focusing on his military career, Prince Harry is Patron to a number of charities whose work he wants to support and Joint Founder and Patron of Sentebale, which helps children orphaned by AIDS in the poverty-stricken Lesotho in Southern Africa. Visit the website: www.princewilliamandprinceharry.org The Duke of York
The Duke of York was born on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace, the second son and the third child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. He was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. Named Andrew Albert Christian Edward, he was known as Prince Andrew until his marriage, when he was created The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. After serving for 22 years in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot, The Duke of York became the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. The Duke of York carries out a wide range of public duties in the UK and overseas. In 2008 His Royal Highness undertook almost 600 engagements, the majority of which were in his capacity as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Some of his engagements are carried out in support of The Queen, representing the UK at official ceremonies and overseas. Others are connected to organisations with which The Duke of York is associated. He has links to more than 100 different organisations. Many are connected to his profession as a pilot and career in the Royal Navy. These include his appointments as the Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (1986), President of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain (1982), Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (1995), and Patron of the Tall Ships Youth Trust (2005). His professional concern for his senses has led to him taking on the patronage of the Fight For Sight (1989), Defeating Deafness (1986), the British Deaf Association (1997) and the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf (1997), as well as the Jubilee Sailing Trust (1984). In recent years the Duke has widened his range of interests, reflecting his concern for young people and for the promotion of the United Kingdom. The Duke has strong personal interest in the arts. In 2001 he was invited to take on the patronage of the English National Ballet, whose previous patron was The Princess of Wales. He has also been Patron of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra since 2003. As well as these patronages, the Duke has roles in education. He is the Visitor at Royal Hospital School Holbrook (1992), the school that used to be housed in what is now the National Maritime Museum and Patron of the Academy being set up by Wellington College at Luggershall. He is the Patron of the Greenwich Hospital (1994), which owns the whole of the Greenwich buildings that were the Royal Naval College, The Dreadnought Hospital and the National Maritime Museum. The Duke also maintains very close links with his own educational establishments as Patron of Round Square (1990) and Trustee of Lakefield College School (1978). The Duke of York is passionate about enabling youth to fulfil their potential. He devotes considerable time to The Outward Bound Trust (1998) as the Executive Chairman of the Trustees. He succeeded The Duke of Edinburgh in this role in 1999. Outward Bound aims to inspire young people to fulfil their potential through challenging outdoor activities, and to instil qualities of leadership in young people. In the same vein, His Royal Highness is also Patron of the British Schools Exploring Society and the Sea Cadets. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were engaged on 19 March 1986. Sarah Ferguson, born on 15 October 1959, is the second daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson and Susan, the late Mrs Hector Barrantes. They were married in Westminster Abbey on 23 July 1986. At the time of their marriage Prince Andrew was created The Duke of York and Sarah became The Duchess of York. The Duke and Duchess's first child was born on 8 August 1988 at the Portland Hospital in London and was named Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York. Their second child was also born at the Portland Hospital on 23 March 1990 and named Eugenie Victoria Helena. They are fifth and sixth in line of succession to the throne. In March 1992 it was announced that The Duke and Duchess were to separate; they were divorced in May 1996. The Duke and Duchess have continued to have joint custody of their children. The Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, , beamed with pride after their child, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, 4 months, was baptized on Sunday, April 20th. 2008.
Born in 1964, Prince Edward was created The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on his marriage in 1999. At the same time it was announced that His Royal Highness will be given the title Duke of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown. The Earl of Wessex has a busy programme. As well as duties in support of The Queen, the Earl plays an active role in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the programme for young people set up by his father in the 1950s. He also works on behalf of a number of charities and organisations, particularly those connected with the arts, sport and young people. Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones announced their engagement on 6 January 1999 and were married at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on 19 June 1999. Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones is the only daughter of Mr Christopher Rhys-Jones and the late Mrs Rhys-Jones. Born in Oxford on 20 January 1965, she was educated at Dulwich College Preparatory School and Kent College School for Girls before embarking on a career in public relations. Upon marriage Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones became known as HRH The Countess of Wessex. Their Royal Highnesses have a young daughter, Louise, who was born on 8 November 2003 and a baby son, Viscount Severn, who was born on 17 December 2007. Fact file 1. The Earl of Wessex’s initials spell out 'EARL' – Edward Antony Richard Louis. 2. HRH wrote and narrated two films about The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award shown on BBC television in April 1987, and was involved in an earlier series made by TV-am. 3. The Countess has five military appointments: Royal Colonel of the 5th Battalion of The Rifles (UK); Sponsor of HMS Daring (UK); Colonel in Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (UK); Colonel in Chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment (Canada); and Colonel in Chief of the South Alberta Light Horse Regiment (Canada). 4. The last person known as 'Earl of Wessex' was Harold Godwinson, prior to his accession to the English throne as King Harold II in 1066. 5. The Earl has two honorary degrees from Canadian universities: from the University of Victoria, awarded in August 1994, and from the University of Prince Edward Island, awarded in October 2007. 6. The Countess is patron of Girlguiding UK, the UK's largest all-female organisation. 7. While at university The Earl learnt to play Real Tennis, and continues to play today. He is Patron of the International Real Tennis Professionals Association and Patron of the Tennis and Rackets Association. 8. The Countess became the first Patron of ChildLine on 20 April 2005. 9. In keeping with the tradition of using Welsh gold for Royal wedding rings, the gold for the wedding rings of The Earl and Countess came from The Prince Edward mine in Trawnsfynydd, Gwynedd, North Wales. Previous Royal wedding rings were made of gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in Bontddu, North Wales. 10. The Earl of Wessex's first public appearance was after the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 1964 when The Queen, carrying him in her arms, stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and showed her youngest son to the huge crowd outside. The Countess of Wessex Her Royal Highness was born Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1965 in Oxford. After working in public relations for over a decade, in 1999 Miss Rhys-Jones married The Earl of Wessex in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Miss Rhys-Jones met Prince Edward at a real tennis event in the summer of 1993. The couple announced their engagement in January 1999, and the wedding ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday, 19 June 1999. On the day of the wedding, it was announced that The Queen had conferred the titles of The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn upon Prince Edward. Upon her marriage, therefore, Miss Rhys-Jones became Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex. It was also announced that any children the couple might have would not use the title HRH, but instead would carry a courtesy title as the sons or daughters of an Earl. Their Royal Highnesses have a young daughter, Lady Louise, who was born on 8 November 2003 and a baby son, Viscount Severn, who was born on 17 December 2007. As The Countess of Wessex, she acts in support of her husband in his roles, and undertakes public duties for a large number of her own charities. She is particularly involved with charities relating to children, disabilities and communication problems. The Princess Royal
The Princess Royal, the second child and only daughter of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Clarence House, London, on 15 August 1950, when her mother was Princess Elizabeth, heir presumptive to the throne. She was baptised Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Buckingham Palace on 21 October 1950.
She received the title Princess Royal from The Queen in June 1987; she was previously known as Princess Anne. Her Royal Highness is the seventh holder of the title. The engagement of The Princess Royal to Lieutenant (later Captain) Mark Phillips of The Queen's Dragoon Guards was announced on 29 May 1973, and they were married in Westminster Abbey on 14 November 1973. Four months after their marriage, an unsuccessful attempt was made to abduct The Princess, as she and Captain Phillips were being driven along the Mall on their way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity film show. The Princess was unhurt, but her personal protection officer was shot and wounded during the incident and he was awarded the George Cross for his bravery. The marriage was dissolved in April 1992 and on 12 December the same year The Princess Royal married Commander Timothy Laurence, Royal Navy (now Vice Admiral Laurence), at a private ceremony at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Princess Royal has two children: Peter Phillips, who married Miss Autumn Kelly in 2008, and Miss Zara Phillips MBE, who has followed her mother in a highly successful riding career. Zara was the Three-Day Event European Champion in 2005 and won the World Championships in 2006. Her Royal Highness's first child was born on 15 November 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was christened Peter Mark Andrew at a service conducted in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 22 December 1977. The Princess's second child was born on 15 May 1981, also at St Mary's Hospital. She was christened Zara Anne Elizabeth at a service conducted in the Chapel at Windsor Castle by the Dean of Windsor on 27 July 1981. The Princess Royal is President or Patron of some 320 organisations. She is also Commandant-in-Chief of the St John Ambulance (Youth), Colonel-in-Chief of The King's Royal Hussars, The Royal Corps of Signals, The Royal Logistic Corps and The Royal Army Veterinary Corps. She is also Colonel of The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) and Royal Colonel, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and Royal Colonel, 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (TA), Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy, Commandant-in-Chief of The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (The Princess Royal's Volunteers Corps), Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Lyneham and Colonel in Chief of a number of Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Regiments. She was elected as Chancellor of the University of London in 1981 in succession to her grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and is a past Master of a number of City Livery Companies. The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Gloucester is the second son of the late Duke of Gloucester and the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch). His Royal Highness is a grandson of George V and a first cousin to The Queen. He became heir to his father's titles following the death of his elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, in a flying accident on 28 August 1972. He succeeded his father in June 1974. Born Prince Richard of Gloucester on 26 August 1944 at Northampton, he was christened Richard Alexander Walter George. When he was four months old he was taken by his parents to Australia, where for two years (1945-47) his father was Governor-General. The Duke of Gloucester carries out a significant number of public duties. In 2008 His Royal Highness undertook over 300 official engagements in the UK and overseas. The Duke is associated with over 150 charities and organisations. His patronages reflect his professional and personal interests and can be grouped under the following themes: 1. International humanitarian issues; these can be sub-divided into (a) international development and (b) disaster prevention and relief
2. Health issues
3. Social welfare, community and youth development
4. Environmental issues and climate change
5. Social sciences and technology
6. Culture and the arts
7. Heritage and the built environment
8. Military veterans and the disabled community
9. Armed forces The Duchess of Gloucester
The Duchess of Gloucester, formerly Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, was born on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark. In February 1972 the engagement was announced between Prince Richard of Gloucester and Birgitte van Deurs. The marriage took place on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew’s Church, Barnwell in Northamptonshire, and thereafter they were known as Prince and Princess Richard of Gloucester. Prince Richard is the second son of The Late Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Henry and Princess Alice) and is a first cousin of The Queen. Following the tragic death of his older brother, Prince William, in a flying accident on 28 August 1972, and the death of his father in 1974, Prince Richard succeeded to his father’s title, The Duke of Gloucester, and his wife became The Duchess of Gloucester. Her Royal Highness carries out many public engagements on behalf of her patronages and organisations and in support of The Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have three children, Earl of Ulster,born in 1974, The Lady Davina Lewis, born in 1977 and The Lady Rose Gilman, born in 1980, all of whom are now married. Earl and Countess of Ulster have one son, Xan, who is known by the courtesy title of Lord Culloden. The Duke of Kent
Born in 1935, The Duke of Kent is the son of the late Prince George, fourth son of King George V, and the late Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. He is cousin to both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. The present Duke of Kent inherited his title following the early death of his father in 1942. In 1961 The Duke of Kent became engaged to Miss Katharine Worsley and they married in York Minster. The couple have three children: George, Earl of St Andrews, born in June 1962; Lady Helen Taylor, born in April 1964 and Lord Nicholas Windsor, born on 25 July 1970. The Duke and The Duchess of Kent undertake a large number of official Royal engagements. Each has close associations with many charities, professional bodies and other organisations. The Duke retains close links to the Army. He holds a number of senior appointments, and visits his regiments on a regular basis, including travelling to Iraq in 2006 to meet members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and in 2008 to Afghanistan and Iraq to meet members of the Scots Guards. The Duke is a Personal Aide-de-Camp to The Queen, Colonel of the Scots Guards, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Royal Colonel of 1st Battalion The Rifles, and Colonel-in-Chief of the Lorne Scots Regiment (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) - in Canada. He is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, in which he served in his youth. In the Royal Air Force he is an Honorary Air Chief Marshal, and Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Station Leuchars in Fife, Scotland. The Duchess of Kent 
Katharine, Duchess of Kent was born on 22 February 1933, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Sir William Worsley. Her father, the fourth Baronet, captained the Yorkshire Cricket Club Team, was President of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and was for 14 years Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire. She grew up at the family home, Hovingham Hall near York, where the Worsleys have lived since the early eighteenth century. Her mother, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner - the founder of Brunner Mond, which was to become ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). Her uncle married the grand-daughter of the famous 18th century actor, Sir Henry Irving. The Duchess of Kent leads an active public life as a practising musician focusing on helping young musicians. Through teaching in primary schools, she has experienced first-hand the lack of opportunities for the musically talented child. In 2004 she founded a charity, Future Talent, which aims to give every child an equal opportunity to excel in music. Future Talent seeks to do for musically talented children what teaching care and motivation did for Billy Elliot in dance. Through tailor-made partnerships with primary schools, Future Talent is bringing music into the lives of all children, spotting talent, equipping talented children with instruments and tuition and, in exceptional cases, providing master tuition to enable them to make music their future. Whether children want to sing, play the violin or the electric guitar, Future Talent is giving them the chance to fulfil their potential through developing their musical talent. The Duchess of Kent is also a Trustee of the National Foundation for Youth Music (London), President and Board Member of the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), and an ambassador for Aldeburgh Productions in Suffolk. She has travelled the world for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Fund) and VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), highlighting specific areas of deprivation. In 1999 she visited Cambodia, Macedonia and Nepal. She retains her links with Yorkshire as Colonel-in-Chief of The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, and Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps, The Royal Logistics Corps and The Royal Dragoon Guards.
She has been President of NCH Action For Children and President and Board Member of Macmillan Cancer Relief. She chaired the London Committee of the Manchester Christie (Cancer) Hospital Appeal for £25m.
The Duchess is Patron of the RUC Benevolvent Fund in Northern Ireland. She has been Visitor to the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Patron of Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane, Australia, the Yehudi Menuin School (UK), the Ulster Conservatoire of Music and the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. The Duchess of Kent holds the Honorary Freedom of four of the ancient City companies: the Worshipful Companies of Clothworkers, Dyers, Glaziers, and the Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers. The Duchess was created a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1977. She was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of York in 1989. In 1994 the Duchess was received into the Roman Catholic church. She has been a volunteer for the Passage Night Shelter for the homeless, which was founded by Cardinal Basil Hume. Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day 1936 at 3, Belgrave Square, her family's London home. She is the second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent (her brothers are the present Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent). Much of Her Royal Highness's childhood was spent at the Duke and Duchess of Kent's country home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. Her father was killed in a wartime flying accident in 1942 when she was just five years old. The engagement of Princess Alexandra to Angus Ogilvy, second son of the Earl of Airlie, was announced on 19 November 1962 and they were married on 24 April 1963 in Westminster Abbey. Their two children are James, born in 1964, and Marina, born in 1966. Their children carry out no official Royal duties. Sir Angus Ogilvy (who was knighted in 1989) was born on 14 September 1928. After leaving Eton he was commissioned into the Scots Guards and subsequently went to Oxford. Later he pursued a varied and successful career in the City of London, and he became chairman and/or director of a number of public companies. His main commitments in later life were in the charitable field. He was Chairman of the Advisory Council of The Prince's Trust. He was a Trustee of King George's Jubilee Trust, The Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust and Leeds Castle. He was President of the Carr-Gomm Society and The Friends of UK Youth. He was Patron of Arthritis Care, and Vice-Patron of The Friends of The Elderly, Gentle Folks Help and NCH Action for Children. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers, which is The Queen's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland. His interests included architecture, reading and music. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1997. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
Prince Michael was born on 4 July 1942 at the family home in Iver, Buckinghamshire. He was christened Michael George Charles Franklin and one of his godfathers was President Roosevelt of the USA. Prince Michael's father, Prince George, was the fourth son of George V and his mother, Princess Marina, was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. He is a cousin to both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and his older brother and sister are The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Prince Michael is not in the line of succession to the throne (see Marriage and family), and receives no public money. He therefore runs his own private consulting business, which helps Prince and Princess Michael to fund and carry out charitable and public duties. In 1978, Prince Michael married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, daughter of Baron von Reibnitz and the former Countess Marianne Szapary, in Vienna. The Princess has written a number of historical books and now lectures internationally at universities, museums and organisations such as Sotheby's. Prior to her marriage, Princess Michael formed her own successful interior design company, Szapar Designs. The Prince and Princess have two children. Frederick was born in 1979. He attended Sunningdale School and then won a scholarship to Eton. He read classics at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, and is now a Private Banker with JP Morgan. His sister Gabriella, born in 1981, was educated at Godstowe and Downe House, followed by a degree in Comparative literature at Brown University, Rhode Island, USA. She is now a journalist.
The family lives at Kensington Palace. Eighth in line to the throne at the time of his birth, the Prince lost his right of succession following his marriage, under the 1701 Act of Settlement, because the Princess is a Roman Catholic. His children, however, still have a claim to the throne. More information on Prince Michael can be found on www.princemichael.org.uk
http://www.royal.gov.uk/Home.aspx – the Official website of British Monarchy
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is the constitutional monarch of 16 out of the 54 sovereign states within the Commonwealth of Nations, and Head of the Commonwealth. In order of foundation, the 16 independent Commonwealth realms are the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. As the British monarch, she is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.Elizabeth was born in London, and educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne as George VI in 1936 on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, in which she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. When her father died in 1952, she became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Her coronation service in 1953 was the first to be televised. Between 1956 and 1992, the number of her realms varied as territories gained independence and realms, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka), became republics. In 1947, she married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she has four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. In 1992, which Elizabeth termed her annus horribilis ("horrible year"), Charles and Andrew separated from their wives, Anne divorced, and a severe fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. Revelations continued on the state of Charles's marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, and they divorced in 1996. The following year, Diana died in a Paris car crash, and the media criticised the royal family for remaining in seclusion in the days before her funeral. Elizabeth's personal popularity rebounded after she appeared in public and has subsequently remained high. The Queen is Head of State in the United Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, Her Majesty does not 'rule' the country, but fulfils important ceremonial and formal roles with respect to Government. She is also Fount of Justice, Head of the Armed Forces and has important relationships with the established Churches of England and Scotland.
Read more about The Queen's State roles in the UK and Crown dependencies in this section. As Head of State The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters, unable to vote or stand for election.
But The Queen does have important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the Government of the UK.
The formal phrase 'Queen in Parliament' is used to describe the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Queen's duties include opening each new session of Parliament, dissolving Parliament before a general election, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.
The Queen also has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, retaining the right to appoint and also meeting with him or her on a regular basis.
In addition to playing a specific role in the UK Parliament based in London, The Queen has formal roles with relation to the devolved assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, the senior political figure in the British Government, regardless of their political party. Although she is a constitutional monarch who remains politically neutral, The Queen retains the ability to give a regular audience to a Prime Minister during his or her term of office, and plays a role in the mechanics of calling a general election. The Queen gives a weekly audience to the Prime Minister at which she has a right and a duty to express her views on Government matters. If either The Queen or the Prime Minister are not available to meet, then they will speak by telephone. These meetings, as with all communications between The Queen and her Government, remain strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, The Queen abides by the advice of her ministers. The Queen also plays a part in the calling of a general election. The Prime Minister of the day may request the Sovereign to grant a dissolution of Parliament at any time.
In normal circumstances, when a single-party government enjoys a majority in the House of Commons, the Sovereign would not refuse, for the government would then resign and the Sovereign would be unable to find an alternative government capable of commanding the confidence of the Commons. After a general election, the appointment of a Prime Minister is also the prerogative of the Sovereign. In appointing a Prime Minister, the Sovereign is guided by constitutional conventions. The main requirement is to find someone who can command the confidence of the House of Commons. This is normally secured by appointing the leader of the party with an overall majority of seats in the Commons, but there could still be exceptional circumstances when The Queen might need to exercise discretion to ensure that her Government is carried on.
When a potential Prime Minister is called to Buckingham Palace, The Queen will ask him or her whether he or she will form a government.
To this question, two responses are realistically possible. The most usual is acceptance. If the situation is uncertain, as it was with Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1963, a potential Prime Minister can accept an exploratory commission, returning later to report either failure or, as occurred in 1963, success. After a new Prime Minister has been appointed, the Court Circular will record that "the Prime Minister Kissed Hands on Appointment". This is not literally the case. In fact, the actual kissing of hands will take place later, in Council. There have been twelve British Prime Ministers during The Queen's reign:
They are:
Winston Churchill 1951-55
Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57
Harold Macmillan 1957-63
Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64
Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76
Edward Heath 1970-74
James Callaghan 1976-79
Margaret Thatcher 1979-90
John Major 1990-97
Tony Blair 1997-2007
Gordon Brown 2007-2010
David Cameron from 2010
The Queen and her family never vote or stand for election to any position, political or otherwise. This is because The Queen's role is to provide continuity and the focus for national unity, and the Royal Family's public role is based on identifying with every section of society, including minorities and special interest groups. Although the law relating to elections does not specifically prohibit the Sovereign from voting in a general election or local election, it is considered unconstitutional for the Sovereign and his or her heir to do so. As Head of State, The Queen must remain politically neutral, since her Government will be formed from whichever party can command a majority in the House of Commons. The Queen herself is part of the legislature and technically she cannot therefore vote for members of another part of the legislature. With the removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords in 1999, the Royal Dukes (The Dukes of Edinburgh, York, Gloucester and Kent) ceased to be members of the House of Lords and therefore became eligible to vote in elections, and to stand for election. But members of the Royal Family do not exercise these rights. To vote or hold elected positions would not be in accordance with the need for neutrality. Under the Maastricht Treaty, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family would be entitled to vote for the European Parliament, or to stand for election to that Parliament. However, The Queen would only exercise these rights on the advice of her Ministers. Their advice would invariably be that she should neither vote nor stand for an elected position so as not to compromise her neutrality. Other members of the Royal Family do not act on ministerial advice, but they also are required to preserve their political neutrality so as not to embarrass The Queen. Therefore, they too would not vote nor stand for election for the European Parliament. In the earliest times the Sovereign was a key figure in the enforcement of law and the establishment of legal systems in different areas of the UK. As such the Sovereign became known as the 'Fount of Justice'. While no longer administering justice in a practical way, the Sovereign today still retains an important symbolic role as the figure in whose name justice is carried out, and law and order is maintained. 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. The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, was born Prince of Greece and Denmark in Corfu on 10 June 1921. He was born the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece. His paternal family is of Danish descent - Prince Andrew was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. His mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg, the eldest child of Prince Louis of Battenberg and sister of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Prince Louis became a naturalised British subject in 1868, joined the Royal Navy and rose to become an Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord in 1914. During the First World War Prince Louis changed the family name to Mountbatten and was created Marquess of Milford Haven. Prince Philip adopted the family name of Mountbatten when he became a naturalised British subject and renounced his Royal title in 1947. Prince Louis married one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters. Thus, The Queen and Prince Philip both have Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother. They are also related through his father's side. His paternal grandfather, King George I of Greece, was Queen Alexandra's brother. The engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced in July 1947 and the marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on 20 November. Shortly before the wedding, the bridegroom was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich with the style of His Royal Highness and appointed a Knight of the Garter by the King. The Queen and Prince Philip had two children before (Prince Charles and Princess Anne) and two after (Prince Andrew and Prince Edward) The Queen succeeded to the throne.Fact File 1. A descendant of Queen Victoria – The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen are both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. 2. Naval service - After leaving Gordonstoun in 1939, Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy, graduating on 31st December, 1939 from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as the best cadet on his course. He was Mentioned in Despatches whilst in charge of a searchlight whilst aboard HMS Valiant during night-action off Cape Matapan in the Second World War. Shortly afterwards he was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour. He had risen to the rank of Lieutenant by the time of his engagement to Princess Elizabeth, and to the rank of Commander on The Queen’s accession to the throne. 3. Patronages - The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron of over 800 organisations in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. His first patronages date back to the late 1940s soon after his marriage to The Queen. They include the National Playing Fields Association, Federation of London Youth Clubs and The National Maritime Museum. Other, more unusual sounding patronages include the Grand Order of Water Rats, the Guinea Pig Club and the Hastings Winkle Club. 4. Environment – Prince Philip has a keen interest in the state of the natural environment. He has put this into practice by using alternative energy sources for his official car. In the 1980s he used two electric Bedford vans to travel around London. Currently he uses a Metrocab powered by Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). 5. Artist – The Duke has had a longstanding interest in art, both as an artist and collector. He invited the artist Edward Seago to accompany him in HMY Britannia for the Antarctic and later stages of his 1956/57 World Tour. A selection of The Duke’s oils have been displayed next to The Prince of Wales’ watercolours at Sandringham House. 6. Science and technology - Prince Philip has been Patron of the Industrial Society, now the Work Foundation, since 1952, and has visited research stations, laboratories and every kind of workplace in the UK, to see the practical effects of scientific research in society and to learn about industry. He is keen to promote the development of such professions in a constructive way. In 1976, for example, as President of the Council of Engineering Institutions, he initiated the Fellowship of Engineering, now the Royal Academy of Engineering, which promotes engineering excellence and education. 7. Sport – Since learning to ride in the late 1920s The Duke has always had an interest in horses. As President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1964 to 1986 Prince Philip was involved in defining the rules and regulations for several equestrian sports. Under the guidance of the Duke, International Rules were created for Carriage Driving, Long Distance Riding and Vaulting, and Veterinary Committee and Veterinary Regulations were introduced. For 30 years he competed in carriage-driving events after giving up polo in 1971. He has also been a keen sailor and cricketer. 8. Travel - Since 1952, The Duke has made over 620 solo visits to 143 countries. Prince Philip has also accompanied The Queen on all her Commonwealth tours and State visits, as well as on public engagements in all parts of the UK. The first of these was the Coronation Tour of the Commonwealth from November 1953 to May 1954, when the couple visited countries in North America, the Caribbean, Australasia, Ceylon and Africa, travelling a distance of 43,618 miles. 9. Balmoral & Sandringham Estates – After The Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952, Prince Philip was asked by Her Majesty to oversee the running of the two private Royal estates at Balmoral and Sandringham. The Duke is also Ranger of Windsor Great Park and oversaw the restoration of parts of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992. 10. The Duke of Edinburgh was the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television. The interview took place in May 1961 when Prince Philip was interviewed by Richard Dimbleby, probably on a subject related to the City & Guilds of London, of which His Royal Highness has been President since 1951. The Prince of Wales
The Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is Heir Apparent to the throne. The Prince was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, and was christened Charles Philip Arthur George. When, on the accession of Queen Elizabeth in 1952, he became heir apparent, Prince Charles automatically became Duke of Cornwall under a charter of King Edward III dating back to 1337, which gave that title to the Sovereign's eldest son. He also became in the Scottish Peerage, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. The Prince was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 26 July 1958, becoming the first Prince of Wales since 1936. Although investitures of Princes of Wales were traditionally held in front of Parliament, and not all Princes of Wales have been invested, the investiture of the present Prince of Wales (like that of his predecessor Prince Edward, later Edward VIII, in 1911) was a State occasion. It took place in a Welsh setting before the Welsh people, at Caernarfon Castle on 1 July 1969. The Welsh regalia (Crown Jewels associated with the Princes of Wales) used at the investitures in 1911 and 1969 are on loan to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. On 29 July 1981, The Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in St Paul's Cathedral who became HRH The Princess of Wales.
The Princess was born on 1 July 1961, at Park House on The Queen's estate at Sandringham, Norfolk. She lived there until the death in 1975 of her grandfather, the 7th Earl, when the family moved to the Spencer family seat at Althorp House in Northamptonshire. Lady Diana's father, then Viscount Althorp and later the eighth Earl Spencer, had been an equerry to both George VI and The Queen. Her maternal grandmother, Ruth, Lady Fermoy, was a close friend and lady in waiting to The Queen Mother. The Prince and Princess of Wales had two sons: Prince William, born on 21 June 1982; and Prince Harry, born on 15 September 1984. From the time of their marriage, The Prince and Princess of Wales went on overseas tours and carried out many engagements together in the UK. On 9 December 1992, the Prime Minister, John Major, announced to the House of Commons that The Prince and Princess of Wales had agreed to separate. The marriage was dissolved on 28 August, 1996. The Princess was still regarded as a member of the Royal Family. She continued to live at Kensington Palace and to carry out her public work for a number of charities. When The Princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997, The Prince of Wales flew to Paris with her two sisters to bring her body back to London. The Princess lay in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace until the night before the funeral.
On the day of the funeral, The Prince of Wales accompanied his two sons, aged 15 and 12 at the time, as they walked behind the coffin from The Mall to Westminster Abbey. With them were The Duke of Edinburgh and The Princess's brother, Earl Spencer. Click here to find out more about the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales asked the media to respect his sons' privacy, to allow them to lead a normal school life. In the following years, Princes William and Harry, who are second and third in line to the throne, accompanied their father on a limited number of official engagements in the UK and abroad. The Prince of Wales married Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles on 9 April 2005 at a civil ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor, followed by a service of prayer and dedication in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. After the wedding, Mrs Parker Bowles became known as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. When The Prince of Wales accedes to the throne, she will be known as HRH The Princess Consort.
The official website of The Prince of Wales - www.princeofwales.gov.uk The Duchess of Cornwall
The Duchess of Cornwall was born Camilla Rosemary Shand on 17 July 1947 at King's College Hospital, London. She is the eldest of three siblings: she has a sister, Annabel Elliot (nee Shand), and a brother, Mark Shand. As a member of the Royal Family, The Duchess of Cornwall supports her husband, The Prince of Wales, in carrying out his work and duties as Heir to The Throne. She also undertakes public engagements on behalf of her own charities. The Duchess is Patron or President of a number of charities and attends events to support them. She also supports the work of the British Armed Services both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Royal Highness has her own military appointments and accompanies The Prince on the majority of his visits to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Duchess of Cornwall also visits other countries on overseas tours with The Prince of Wales as part of Their Royal Highnesses’s role in supporting Her Majesty The Queen and together, Their Royal Highnesses are among the United Kingdom's most important ambassadors. The Duchess of Cornwall supports her husband The Prince of Wales in his work and role as Heir to the Throne, and also supports a number of her own charities and organisations in the role of President or Patron. Since becoming The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Royal Highness has travelled across the country with The Prince and on solo engagements, meeting people from all walks of life. Armed ServicesThe Duchess supports the work of the British Armed Services both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Royal Highness has her own military appointments and accompanies The Prince on the majority of his visits to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Her Royal Highness is Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy, Sponsor of HMS Astute and Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton. In 2006 The Duchess of Cornwall became Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the regiments. The Battalion was previously named the 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets with The Queen as Colonel-in-Chief. The Duchess said she was “delighted and deeply honoured” to receive the appointment. Since her appointment Her Royal Highness has taken a very close interest in the battalion, which has suffered heavy losses during its tour in Afghanistan. The Duchess visits the regiment regularly at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. She meets servicemen and women and their families, presents service medals wherever possible, receives regular briefings from the Commanding Officer and writes letters to bereaved families and injured servicemen, often sending a gift to help speed their recovery. In 2006 The Queen appointed The Duchess of Cornwall to the position of Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy. In June 2007 The Duchess of Cornwall, as Sponsor of the vessel, launched the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful submarine, HMS Astute, to the cheers of 10,000 people in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. In 2008 The Queen approved new Royal Air Force honorary appointments in recognition of the strong links between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Family. The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton. In addition to these official military appointments, The Duchess of Cornwall has met a wide variety of current and former military personnel in the UK and overseas. Her Royal Highness also attends ceremonial military occasions including the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and more regular occasions such as the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph each year in November. In 2010 Their Royal Highness visited Fromelles to pay tribute to the last of the 250 First World War soldiers recovered from communal graves in France. Her Royal Highness also has personal connections to organisations related to the military through her father Major Bruce Shand, who was awarded two military crosses. For example, The Duchess is Patron and an Honorary Member of the Desert Rats Association. Major Bruce Shand, fought with the Desert Rats in the Second World War before he was captured during the Battle of El Alamein. The Duchess has also invited veterans, serving soldiers and officers of the 9th/12th Lancers to Clarence House for reception, with whom her father also served.
The Duchess is also Patron of Sea Cadet Unit TS Astute which is related to her role as Sponsor of HMS Astute and Her Royal Highness is a Life Member of the Royal British Legion Women's Section, of which The Princess Royal is President. In 2007 - 2008, The Duchess of Cornwall undertook 50 overseas engagements during tours of Uganda, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, Montserrat and Jamaica. The overseas visits are undertaken at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to further British diplomatic interests, raise the UK’s profile in the country visited and highlight British excellence. The Duke of Cambridge
Prince William is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. On 29 April 2011, following his marriage to Catherine Middleton, the title The Duke of Cambridge was conferred on him by The Queen. On 3 December 2012, it was announced by St James' Palace that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant and expecting the couple's first child. On 31 December 2012, the Queen declared that the Duke's children would be princes and princesses with the style Royal Highness. On 14 January, St James' Palace announced that the baby is due to be born in July 2013.Prince William was born at 9.03pm on 21 June 1982, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London. A bulletin announced that the Royal baby weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz. On 4 August 1982, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. After attending Mrs Mynors School, The Duke became a pupil at Wetherby School in London, from 15 January 1987 until 5 July 1990. From September 1990, The Duke attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire, for five years until 5 July 1995. He then attended Eton College from July 1995 and studied Geography, Biology and History of Art at A Level. The Duke was 15-years-old when Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry walked behind their mother’s cortege at her funeral which was held at Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. After a gap year in which he visited Chile, Belize, worked on British dairy farms and visited countries in Africa, The Duke chose to study at St Andrews University in Fife, Scotland. He graduated with a 2:1 in Geography in 2005.
After a period of work experience, The Duke of Cambridge joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet. He was commissioned as an army officer in front of Her Majesty The Queen at Sandhurst in December 2006 and joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as a Second Lieutenant. He went on to train as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot with the RAF, graduating as a fully operational pilot in September 2010. The Prince will now carry out his operational service as Co-Pilot of a Sea King Mk3 helicopter. He will be part of a four-person crew.
At the same time, The Duke of Cambridge is President or Patron to a number of charities and organisations whose work he wishes to support.
On St George's Day (23 April 2008) The Queen appointed The Duke of Cambridge to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. He was installed at The Annual Garter ceremony held at Windsor Castle.
Visit the website: www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org The Duchess of Cambridge
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, now known as The Duchess of Cambridge, was born to Michael and Carole Middleton at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, on 9th January 1982. The Duchess is the eldest of three children. Her Royal Highness was christened at the parish church of St. Andrew’s Bradfield in Berkshire on 20th June 1982. In May 1984, at the age of two, The Duchess moved with her family to Amman in Jordan, where her father worked for two and a half years. Her Royal Highness attended a nursery school in Amman from the age of three. In September 1986, the Middletons returned to their home in West Berkshire, and The Duchess started at St. Andrew’s School in Pangbourne, where she remained until July 1995. Her Royal Highness went on to Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she studied Chemistry, Biology and Art at A-level. The Duchess also took part in sport on behalf of the school, playing tennis, hockey and netball and participating in athletics, particularly high jump. Her Royal Highness completed her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award at Marlborough. Leaving Marlborough College in July 2000, The Duchess undertook a gap year in which she studied at the British Institute in Florence, undertook a Raleigh International programme in Chile, and crewed on Round the World Challenge boats in the Solent. In 2001, Her Royal Highness enrolled at the University of St Andrews, Fife, from where she graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in History of Art. The Duchess continued with her interest in sport at University, playing hockey for the University team. Her Royal Highness first met Prince William when studying at the University. Since completing her degree, The Duchess has worked for Party Pieces, a company owned and run by her parents. Alongside her work for the family business, Her Royal Highness worked in London as a part-time buyer for the clothing company Jigsaw Junior. In 2008, The Duchess launched First Birthdays, a junior brand to Party Pieces. Her role within the family business included catalogue design and production, marketing and photography. The Duchess's work within the Royal Family initially will be to support her husband with his long-standing Patronages and other official duties, and, like any member of the Royal Family, to support The Queen at home and abroad. Already The Duchess has undertaken a number of engagements with her husband, and the couple visited Canada on behalf of The Queen in July. On 22 July 2013, The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to the couple's first child, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, at St Mary's Hospital in
Paddington.
Her Royal Highness hobbies include recreational sports such as hill walking, tennis, swimming, sailing, and the arts such as photography and painting.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry is the younger son of The Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Prince Henry Charles Albert David (always known as Prince Harry) was born on 15 September 1984 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in December 1984 in St George's Chapel, Windsor. Prince Harry attended the same schools as his brother, Prince William. He started at Mrs Jane Mynors' nursery school in London from September 1987, when he was three. In 1989 Prince Harry joined Prince William at Wetherby School, moving to Ludgrove School in Berkshire in September 1992. Like Prince William, Prince Harry attended the VE and VJ commemorations in London in 1995. In November 1997 he accompanied The Prince of Wales to South Africa, where he was able to go on safari before joining his father at a concert featuring the Spice Girls and meeting President Nelson Mandela. Prince Harry walked behind the cortege of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997, accompanied by his brother, father, grandfather and uncle. In 1998 both young Princes were with The Prince of Wales in Canada, for brief public appearances and a skiing holiday in Whistler, British Columbia. Like his brother, Prince Harry is a keen skier. In September 1998 Prince Harry started at Eton College, Windsor. On 2 January 2000, Prince William and Prince Harry accompanied The Prince of Wales on a visit to Cardiff. They heard rap music and dance as well as hymns and readings in Welsh and English at the Tabernacl and joined 60,000 people for a special edition of the BBC's Songs of Praise at the Millennium Stadium. Prince Harry celebrated his 18th birthday on 15 September 2002. To mark the occasion, Her Majesty the Queen gave the Prince his own unique Coat of Arms. In 2003 Prince Harry left school at Eton College with A Levels in Art and Geography. Prince Harry then left Britain to spend the first part of his gap year in Australia, followed by a stay in Africa, where he worked in an orphanage in Lesotho. Upon his return from Africa in July 2004, Prince Harry began preparing for the Regular Commissions Board (RCB) exams, which he passed in September 2004. On 6 July 2004 Prince Harry, Prince William and their father, The Prince of Wales, accompanied The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to the opening of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London. In May 2005 Prince Harry entered Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to begin his training as an officer in the Army. On 12 April 2006 Prince Harry was commissioned as an army officer. His grandmother, The Queen, was the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade at Sandhurst. Prince Harry joined the Household Cavalry, and served in Afghanistan for more than two months from the end of 2007 to early 2008. He is now training to be a helicopter pilot with the Army Air Corps.
Although he is focusing on his military career, Prince Harry is Patron to a number of charities whose work he wants to support and Joint Founder and Patron of Sentebale, which helps children orphaned by AIDS in the poverty-stricken Lesotho in Southern Africa. Visit the website: www.princewilliamandprinceharry.org The Duke of York
The Duke of York was born on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace, the second son and the third child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. He was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. Named Andrew Albert Christian Edward, he was known as Prince Andrew until his marriage, when he was created The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. After serving for 22 years in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot, The Duke of York became the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. The Duke of York carries out a wide range of public duties in the UK and overseas. In 2008 His Royal Highness undertook almost 600 engagements, the majority of which were in his capacity as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Some of his engagements are carried out in support of The Queen, representing the UK at official ceremonies and overseas. Others are connected to organisations with which The Duke of York is associated. He has links to more than 100 different organisations. Many are connected to his profession as a pilot and career in the Royal Navy. These include his appointments as the Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (1986), President of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain (1982), Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (1995), and Patron of the Tall Ships Youth Trust (2005). His professional concern for his senses has led to him taking on the patronage of the Fight For Sight (1989), Defeating Deafness (1986), the British Deaf Association (1997) and the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf (1997), as well as the Jubilee Sailing Trust (1984). In recent years the Duke has widened his range of interests, reflecting his concern for young people and for the promotion of the United Kingdom. The Duke has strong personal interest in the arts. In 2001 he was invited to take on the patronage of the English National Ballet, whose previous patron was The Princess of Wales. He has also been Patron of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra since 2003. As well as these patronages, the Duke has roles in education. He is the Visitor at Royal Hospital School Holbrook (1992), the school that used to be housed in what is now the National Maritime Museum and Patron of the Academy being set up by Wellington College at Luggershall. He is the Patron of the Greenwich Hospital (1994), which owns the whole of the Greenwich buildings that were the Royal Naval College, The Dreadnought Hospital and the National Maritime Museum. The Duke also maintains very close links with his own educational establishments as Patron of Round Square (1990) and Trustee of Lakefield College School (1978). The Duke of York is passionate about enabling youth to fulfil their potential. He devotes considerable time to The Outward Bound Trust (1998) as the Executive Chairman of the Trustees. He succeeded The Duke of Edinburgh in this role in 1999. Outward Bound aims to inspire young people to fulfil their potential through challenging outdoor activities, and to instil qualities of leadership in young people. In the same vein, His Royal Highness is also Patron of the British Schools Exploring Society and the Sea Cadets. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were engaged on 19 March 1986. Sarah Ferguson, born on 15 October 1959, is the second daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson and Susan, the late Mrs Hector Barrantes. They were married in Westminster Abbey on 23 July 1986. At the time of their marriage Prince Andrew was created The Duke of York and Sarah became The Duchess of York. The Duke and Duchess's first child was born on 8 August 1988 at the Portland Hospital in London and was named Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York. Their second child was also born at the Portland Hospital on 23 March 1990 and named Eugenie Victoria Helena. They are fifth and sixth in line of succession to the throne. In March 1992 it was announced that The Duke and Duchess were to separate; they were divorced in May 1996. The Duke and Duchess have continued to have joint custody of their children. The Earl of Wessex Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, , beamed with pride after their child, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, 4 months, was baptized on Sunday, April 20th. 2008. Born in 1964, Prince Edward was created The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on his marriage in 1999. At the same time it was announced that His Royal Highness will be given the title Duke of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown. The Earl of Wessex has a busy programme. As well as duties in support of The Queen, the Earl plays an active role in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the programme for young people set up by his father in the 1950s. He also works on behalf of a number of charities and organisations, particularly those connected with the arts, sport and young people. Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones announced their engagement on 6 January 1999 and were married at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on 19 June 1999. Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones is the only daughter of Mr Christopher Rhys-Jones and the late Mrs Rhys-Jones. Born in Oxford on 20 January 1965, she was educated at Dulwich College Preparatory School and Kent College School for Girls before embarking on a career in public relations. Upon marriage Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones became known as HRH The Countess of Wessex. Their Royal Highnesses have a young daughter, Louise, who was born on 8 November 2003 and a baby son, Viscount Severn, who was born on 17 December 2007. Fact file 1. The Earl of Wessex’s initials spell out 'EARL' – Edward Antony Richard Louis. 2. HRH wrote and narrated two films about The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award shown on BBC television in April 1987, and was involved in an earlier series made by TV-am. 3. The Countess has five military appointments: Royal Colonel of the 5th Battalion of The Rifles (UK); Sponsor of HMS Daring (UK); Colonel in Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (UK); Colonel in Chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment (Canada); and Colonel in Chief of the South Alberta Light Horse Regiment (Canada). 4. The last person known as 'Earl of Wessex' was Harold Godwinson, prior to his accession to the English throne as King Harold II in 1066. 5. The Earl has two honorary degrees from Canadian universities: from the University of Victoria, awarded in August 1994, and from the University of Prince Edward Island, awarded in October 2007. 6. The Countess is patron of Girlguiding UK, the UK's largest all-female organisation. 7. While at university The Earl learnt to play Real Tennis, and continues to play today. He is Patron of the International Real Tennis Professionals Association and Patron of the Tennis and Rackets Association. 8. The Countess became the first Patron of ChildLine on 20 April 2005. 9. In keeping with the tradition of using Welsh gold for Royal wedding rings, the gold for the wedding rings of The Earl and Countess came from The Prince Edward mine in Trawnsfynydd, Gwynedd, North Wales. Previous Royal wedding rings were made of gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in Bontddu, North Wales. 10. The Earl of Wessex's first public appearance was after the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 1964 when The Queen, carrying him in her arms, stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and showed her youngest son to the huge crowd outside. The Countess of Wessex Her Royal Highness was born Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1965 in Oxford. After working in public relations for over a decade, in 1999 Miss Rhys-Jones married The Earl of Wessex in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Miss Rhys-Jones met Prince Edward at a real tennis event in the summer of 1993. The couple announced their engagement in January 1999, and the wedding ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday, 19 June 1999. On the day of the wedding, it was announced that The Queen had conferred the titles of The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn upon Prince Edward. Upon her marriage, therefore, Miss Rhys-Jones became Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex. It was also announced that any children the couple might have would not use the title HRH, but instead would carry a courtesy title as the sons or daughters of an Earl. Their Royal Highnesses have a young daughter, Lady Louise, who was born on 8 November 2003 and a baby son, Viscount Severn, who was born on 17 December 2007. As The Countess of Wessex, she acts in support of her husband in his roles, and undertakes public duties for a large number of her own charities. She is particularly involved with charities relating to children, disabilities and communication problems. The Princess Royal
The Princess Royal, the second child and only daughter of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Clarence House, London, on 15 August 1950, when her mother was Princess Elizabeth, heir presumptive to the throne. She was baptised Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Buckingham Palace on 21 October 1950. She received the title Princess Royal from The Queen in June 1987; she was previously known as Princess Anne. Her Royal Highness is the seventh holder of the title. The engagement of The Princess Royal to Lieutenant (later Captain) Mark Phillips of The Queen's Dragoon Guards was announced on 29 May 1973, and they were married in Westminster Abbey on 14 November 1973. Four months after their marriage, an unsuccessful attempt was made to abduct The Princess, as she and Captain Phillips were being driven along the Mall on their way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity film show. The Princess was unhurt, but her personal protection officer was shot and wounded during the incident and he was awarded the George Cross for his bravery. The marriage was dissolved in April 1992 and on 12 December the same year The Princess Royal married Commander Timothy Laurence, Royal Navy (now Vice Admiral Laurence), at a private ceremony at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Princess Royal has two children: Peter Phillips, who married Miss Autumn Kelly in 2008, and Miss Zara Phillips MBE, who has followed her mother in a highly successful riding career. Zara was the Three-Day Event European Champion in 2005 and won the World Championships in 2006. Her Royal Highness's first child was born on 15 November 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was christened Peter Mark Andrew at a service conducted in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 22 December 1977. The Princess's second child was born on 15 May 1981, also at St Mary's Hospital. She was christened Zara Anne Elizabeth at a service conducted in the Chapel at Windsor Castle by the Dean of Windsor on 27 July 1981. The Princess Royal is President or Patron of some 320 organisations. She is also Commandant-in-Chief of the St John Ambulance (Youth), Colonel-in-Chief of The King's Royal Hussars, The Royal Corps of Signals, The Royal Logistic Corps and The Royal Army Veterinary Corps. She is also Colonel of The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) and Royal Colonel, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and Royal Colonel, 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (TA), Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy, Commandant-in-Chief of The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (The Princess Royal's Volunteers Corps), Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Lyneham and Colonel in Chief of a number of Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Regiments. She was elected as Chancellor of the University of London in 1981 in succession to her grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and is a past Master of a number of City Livery Companies. The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Gloucester is the second son of the late Duke of Gloucester and the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch). His Royal Highness is a grandson of George V and a first cousin to The Queen. He became heir to his father's titles following the death of his elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, in a flying accident on 28 August 1972. He succeeded his father in June 1974. Born Prince Richard of Gloucester on 26 August 1944 at Northampton, he was christened Richard Alexander Walter George. When he was four months old he was taken by his parents to Australia, where for two years (1945-47) his father was Governor-General. The Duke of Gloucester carries out a significant number of public duties. In 2008 His Royal Highness undertook over 300 official engagements in the UK and overseas. The Duke is associated with over 150 charities and organisations. His patronages reflect his professional and personal interests and can be grouped under the following themes: 1. International humanitarian issues; these can be sub-divided into (a) international development and (b) disaster prevention and relief2. Health issues
3. Social welfare, community and youth development
4. Environmental issues and climate change
5. Social sciences and technology
6. Culture and the arts
7. Heritage and the built environment
8. Military veterans and the disabled community
9. Armed forces The Duchess of Gloucester
The Duchess of Gloucester, formerly Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, was born on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark. In February 1972 the engagement was announced between Prince Richard of Gloucester and Birgitte van Deurs. The marriage took place on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew’s Church, Barnwell in Northamptonshire, and thereafter they were known as Prince and Princess Richard of Gloucester. Prince Richard is the second son of The Late Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Henry and Princess Alice) and is a first cousin of The Queen. Following the tragic death of his older brother, Prince William, in a flying accident on 28 August 1972, and the death of his father in 1974, Prince Richard succeeded to his father’s title, The Duke of Gloucester, and his wife became The Duchess of Gloucester. Her Royal Highness carries out many public engagements on behalf of her patronages and organisations and in support of The Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have three children, Earl of Ulster,born in 1974, The Lady Davina Lewis, born in 1977 and The Lady Rose Gilman, born in 1980, all of whom are now married. Earl and Countess of Ulster have one son, Xan, who is known by the courtesy title of Lord Culloden. The Duke of Kent Born in 1935, The Duke of Kent is the son of the late Prince George, fourth son of King George V, and the late Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. He is cousin to both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. The present Duke of Kent inherited his title following the early death of his father in 1942. In 1961 The Duke of Kent became engaged to Miss Katharine Worsley and they married in York Minster. The couple have three children: George, Earl of St Andrews, born in June 1962; Lady Helen Taylor, born in April 1964 and Lord Nicholas Windsor, born on 25 July 1970. The Duke and The Duchess of Kent undertake a large number of official Royal engagements. Each has close associations with many charities, professional bodies and other organisations. The Duke retains close links to the Army. He holds a number of senior appointments, and visits his regiments on a regular basis, including travelling to Iraq in 2006 to meet members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and in 2008 to Afghanistan and Iraq to meet members of the Scots Guards. The Duke is a Personal Aide-de-Camp to The Queen, Colonel of the Scots Guards, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Royal Colonel of 1st Battalion The Rifles, and Colonel-in-Chief of the Lorne Scots Regiment (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) - in Canada. He is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, in which he served in his youth. In the Royal Air Force he is an Honorary Air Chief Marshal, and Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Station Leuchars in Fife, Scotland. The Duchess of Kent Katharine, Duchess of Kent was born on 22 February 1933, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Sir William Worsley. Her father, the fourth Baronet, captained the Yorkshire Cricket Club Team, was President of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and was for 14 years Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire. She grew up at the family home, Hovingham Hall near York, where the Worsleys have lived since the early eighteenth century. Her mother, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner - the founder of Brunner Mond, which was to become ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). Her uncle married the grand-daughter of the famous 18th century actor, Sir Henry Irving. The Duchess of Kent leads an active public life as a practising musician focusing on helping young musicians. Through teaching in primary schools, she has experienced first-hand the lack of opportunities for the musically talented child. In 2004 she founded a charity, Future Talent, which aims to give every child an equal opportunity to excel in music. Future Talent seeks to do for musically talented children what teaching care and motivation did for Billy Elliot in dance. Through tailor-made partnerships with primary schools, Future Talent is bringing music into the lives of all children, spotting talent, equipping talented children with instruments and tuition and, in exceptional cases, providing master tuition to enable them to make music their future. Whether children want to sing, play the violin or the electric guitar, Future Talent is giving them the chance to fulfil their potential through developing their musical talent. The Duchess of Kent is also a Trustee of the National Foundation for Youth Music (London), President and Board Member of the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), and an ambassador for Aldeburgh Productions in Suffolk. She has travelled the world for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Fund) and VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), highlighting specific areas of deprivation. In 1999 she visited Cambodia, Macedonia and Nepal. She retains her links with Yorkshire as Colonel-in-Chief of The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, and Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps, The Royal Logistics Corps and The Royal Dragoon Guards. She has been President of NCH Action For Children and President and Board Member of Macmillan Cancer Relief. She chaired the London Committee of the Manchester Christie (Cancer) Hospital Appeal for £25m.
The Duchess is Patron of the RUC Benevolvent Fund in Northern Ireland. She has been Visitor to the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Patron of Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane, Australia, the Yehudi Menuin School (UK), the Ulster Conservatoire of Music and the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. The Duchess of Kent holds the Honorary Freedom of four of the ancient City companies: the Worshipful Companies of Clothworkers, Dyers, Glaziers, and the Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers. The Duchess was created a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1977. She was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of York in 1989. In 1994 the Duchess was received into the Roman Catholic church. She has been a volunteer for the Passage Night Shelter for the homeless, which was founded by Cardinal Basil Hume. Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day 1936 at 3, Belgrave Square, her family's London home. She is the second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent (her brothers are the present Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent). Much of Her Royal Highness's childhood was spent at the Duke and Duchess of Kent's country home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. Her father was killed in a wartime flying accident in 1942 when she was just five years old. The engagement of Princess Alexandra to Angus Ogilvy, second son of the Earl of Airlie, was announced on 19 November 1962 and they were married on 24 April 1963 in Westminster Abbey. Their two children are James, born in 1964, and Marina, born in 1966. Their children carry out no official Royal duties. Sir Angus Ogilvy (who was knighted in 1989) was born on 14 September 1928. After leaving Eton he was commissioned into the Scots Guards and subsequently went to Oxford. Later he pursued a varied and successful career in the City of London, and he became chairman and/or director of a number of public companies. His main commitments in later life were in the charitable field. He was Chairman of the Advisory Council of The Prince's Trust. He was a Trustee of King George's Jubilee Trust, The Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust and Leeds Castle. He was President of the Carr-Gomm Society and The Friends of UK Youth. He was Patron of Arthritis Care, and Vice-Patron of The Friends of The Elderly, Gentle Folks Help and NCH Action for Children. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers, which is The Queen's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland. His interests included architecture, reading and music. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1997. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent Prince Michael was born on 4 July 1942 at the family home in Iver, Buckinghamshire. He was christened Michael George Charles Franklin and one of his godfathers was President Roosevelt of the USA. Prince Michael's father, Prince George, was the fourth son of George V and his mother, Princess Marina, was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. He is a cousin to both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and his older brother and sister are The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Prince Michael is not in the line of succession to the throne (see Marriage and family), and receives no public money. He therefore runs his own private consulting business, which helps Prince and Princess Michael to fund and carry out charitable and public duties. In 1978, Prince Michael married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, daughter of Baron von Reibnitz and the former Countess Marianne Szapary, in Vienna. The Princess has written a number of historical books and now lectures internationally at universities, museums and organisations such as Sotheby's. Prior to her marriage, Princess Michael formed her own successful interior design company, Szapar Designs. The Prince and Princess have two children. Frederick was born in 1979. He attended Sunningdale School and then won a scholarship to Eton. He read classics at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, and is now a Private Banker with JP Morgan. His sister Gabriella, born in 1981, was educated at Godstowe and Downe House, followed by a degree in Comparative literature at Brown University, Rhode Island, USA. She is now a journalist. The family lives at Kensington Palace. Eighth in line to the throne at the time of his birth, the Prince lost his right of succession following his marriage, under the 1701 Act of Settlement, because the Princess is a Roman Catholic. His children, however, still have a claim to the throne. More information on Prince Michael can be found on www.princemichael.org.uk
http://www.royal.gov.uk/Home.aspx – the Official website of British Monarchy
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