Privy Council:
The Queen presides over meetings of the Privy Council. At these, among other things, Orders in Council made under the Royal Prerogative or under statute are approved. The Royal Prerogative mainly comprises executive government - powers controlled by constitutional conventions (rules which are not part of the law, but which are regarded as indispensable to the machinery of government).
In nearly all cases acts involving the Royal Prerogative are performed by Ministers who are responsible to Parliament and can be questioned about policies. Parliament has the power to abolish or restrict a prerogative right. In addition to being informed and consulted about all aspects of national life, the Queen is free to put forward her own views, in private, for the consideration of her Ministers.

76 Why does the Queen have two birthdays?

The Queen was actually born on 21 April, but it has long been customary to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday on a day during the summer. Since 1805 the Sovereign’s ‘official’ birthday has been marked by the Trooping the Colour ceremony, normally held on the second Saturday in June.
This is a ceremony which originated when it was essential for soldiers to recognise the flag or ‘Colour’ of their regiment so that they could follow it into battle. Each year one of the five regiments of the foot guards (Grenadiers, Coldstream Guards, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards) take turns to display their Colour in the ceremony.
The ceremony begins with the Queen leaving Buckingham Palace escorted by the Household Cavalry. She rides down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and inspects the 500 guardsmen.
The Colour is trooped by being carried along the ranks of guardsmen, and the Colour party then leads the guards on a march past the Queen, accompanied by the massed bands of the foot guards.
No particular annual ceremony is held on the Queen’s true birthday, although the Union Flag is flown on public buildings and the national anthem is sung.

77 Who is next in line to the throne after Prince Charles?

Line of Succession
1. The Prince of Wales (b. 1948)
2. Prince William of Wales (b. 1982)
3. Prince Henry of Wales (b. 1984)
4. The Duke of York (b. 1960)
5. Princess Beatrice of York (b. 1988)
6. Princess Eugenie of York (b. 1990)
7. Prince Edward (b. 1964)
8. The Princess Royal (b. 1950)
9. Peter Phillips, son of the Princess Royal (b. 1977)
10. Zara Phillips, daughter of the Princess Royal (b. 1981)

78 Why is the heir to the throne called the Prince of Wales?

The Heir Apparent has, since the institution of the title by King Edward I in 1301, usually been ‘created’ Prince of Wales. Edward I led the conquest of independent Wales between 1277 and 1283. He subsequently proclaimed his son, Edward, born at Caernarfon in Wales in 1284, the Prince of Wales. There is no succession to the title, which is only renewed at the Sovereign’s pleasure. The present Prince of Wales is the 21st in line - counting several who were never formally invested! Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle on July 1st 1969.

79 What does ‘Royal’ mean in the context of Royal Borough of... Royal Society of...?

The use of the word ‘Royal’ in connection with a society, borough or organisation indicates that they were founded or established by, or are under the patronage of, a Sovereign or royal person.
There are three English boroughs that have the title ‘Royal’: Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames and Windsor and Maidenhead, indicating that historically a Sovereign has conferred that title upon them.
There are many other ‘Royal’ societies or organisations that have received Royal patronage, among them the Royal Automobile Club, granted the patronage of Edward VII in 1907, and the Royal Society - a society incorporated by Charles II in 1662 for the pursuit and advancement of the physical sciences.

80 What are Royal Warrants?

Since the Middle Ages, tradespeople who have acted as suppliers of goods and services to the Sovereign have received the honour of formal recognition. In the beginning this patronage took the form of royal charters given collectively to various trade guilds; later the relationship between the Crown and individual tradespeople was formalised by the issue of royal warrants.
To become eligible for the status of royal tradesperson, the head of a company must be able to show that they have supplied a substantial amount of goods and services to the Royal Household for a period of not less than three consecutive years. Application is then made to the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, which supervises the granting of warrants.
Once granted, the warrant, which is governed by strict regulations, allows the grantee or their company to use the legend ‘By Appointment’ and to display the Royal Arms on their products, such as stationery, advertisements and on their premises. Royal warrants of appointment are granted only by the Queen,
the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales.

81 What are the words of the National Anthem?

The British national anthem originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745. There is no authorised version - the words used are a matter of tradition. On official occasions it is usual to sing the first verse only, the words of which are as follows:

“ God save our gracious Queen! Long live our noble Queen! God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen! ”

82 What is the origin of the mottoes ‘Dieu et mon droit’ and ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’?

‘Dieu et mon droit’ (French for ‘God and my right’) is the motto of the Sovereign. The words were the countersign (military password) chosen by King Richard I before the battle of Gisors in 1198, meaning that he was no vassal of France, but owed his royalty to God alone. The French were defeated in battle, but the password was not adopted as the royal motto of England until the time of Henry VI and has since been retained by his successors. The motto appears below the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms.
‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ (French for ‘Evil be to him who evil thinks’) appears on a garter which surrounds the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms. This garter symbolises the Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is Sovereign. The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348 during the Hundred Years War with France.
The motto may well have been directed at critics of the King’s claims to the French throne; however, according to a tradition first recorded by Tudor chroniclers, the motto originated at a feast celebrating the capture of Calais in 1347. The King’s mistress, the Countess of Salisbury, was mocked by courtiers for losing her garter during a dance, but Edward at once stepped forward and tied the blue ribbon around his own knee, uttering the motto as a rebuke and declaring that the Garter would soon be held in the highest esteem!

83 What does the Royal Crest represent?

The Royal crest - a lion bearing the Royal crown - is used as a device to denote articles of personal property belonging to the Queen, or to denote goods bearing the Royal Warrant. The crest is taken from the Royal Coat of Arms, where it is placed above the shield and helmet.