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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| UK Royal Family: Who is in it and how does it work? | UK Royal Family: Who is in it and how does it work? |
| (5 months later) | |
| Celebrations are being planned to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, including a four-day Bank Holiday weekend in June. | |
| In February, the Queen became the longest-serving British monarch, and the first to reach 70 years on the throne. | |
| Who is in the Royal Family? | Who is in the Royal Family? |
| Queen Elizabeth II has been the UK's head of state since 1952 when her father King George VI died. She is also the head of state for 15 other Commonwealth countries. | Queen Elizabeth II has been the UK's head of state since 1952 when her father King George VI died. She is also the head of state for 15 other Commonwealth countries. |
| The 96-year-old monarch has four children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. | |
| She was married to her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, for more than 73 years. | |
| Platinum Jubilee: Queen's life in pictures | |
| 'A great sense of humour': But what makes the Queen laugh? | |
| Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947 | Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947 |
| Other members of the Royal Family include: | Other members of the Royal Family include: |
| The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), who is married to the Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) - he is the Queen's eldest child and will become king when she dies | The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), who is married to the Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) - he is the Queen's eldest child and will become king when she dies |
| The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) who is married to the Duchess of Cambridge (Catherine) - William is the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales | The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) who is married to the Duchess of Cambridge (Catherine) - William is the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales |
| The Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry) is William's brother - he is married to the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan); in 2020, they announced they were stepping back as senior royals | |
| What is a monarchy and how does succession work? | What is a monarchy and how does succession work? |
| In a monarchy, a king or queen (the monarch) is the head of state. In the UK, we have something called a constitutional monarchy - the Queen is head of state, but does not get involved in politics, and laws are made by the Houses of Parliament. | In a monarchy, a king or queen (the monarch) is the head of state. In the UK, we have something called a constitutional monarchy - the Queen is head of state, but does not get involved in politics, and laws are made by the Houses of Parliament. |
| The order of succession is the line in which members of the Royal Family stand to take over as the monarch when the existing one dies or abdicates (steps down from the throne). | The order of succession is the line in which members of the Royal Family stand to take over as the monarch when the existing one dies or abdicates (steps down from the throne). |
| Members of the Royal Family celebrated the Queen's official birthday at Buckingham Palace in 2019. | Members of the Royal Family celebrated the Queen's official birthday at Buckingham Palace in 2019. |
| First in the line - the heir to the throne - is the monarch's first-born child. | First in the line - the heir to the throne - is the monarch's first-born child. |
| Royal succession is governed by rules dating back hundreds of years. These were amended in 2013 so that royal sons no longer take precedence over their older sisters in the order. | Royal succession is governed by rules dating back hundreds of years. These were amended in 2013 so that royal sons no longer take precedence over their older sisters in the order. |
| Prince Charles is first in line to the throne. His eldest son, Prince William, is second in line, and William's eldest child, Prince George, is third. | Prince Charles is first in line to the throne. His eldest son, Prince William, is second in line, and William's eldest child, Prince George, is third. |
| Royal Family tree and line of succession | Royal Family tree and line of succession |
| Why is Meghan and Harry's son Archie not a prince? | |
| What happens at a coronation? | What happens at a coronation? |
| If a monarch dies, the heir to the throne becomes king or queen immediately. | If a monarch dies, the heir to the throne becomes king or queen immediately. |
| The coronation, a glittering ceremony at which the monarch is formally crowned, takes place later, following careful planning and after a period of mourning for the previous king or queen. | The coronation, a glittering ceremony at which the monarch is formally crowned, takes place later, following careful planning and after a period of mourning for the previous king or queen. |
| The main elements of the occasion have remained largely unchanged for a millennium. | The main elements of the occasion have remained largely unchanged for a millennium. |
| More than 20 million people watched the Queen's coronation on television on 2 June 1953. | More than 20 million people watched the Queen's coronation on television on 2 June 1953. |
| The coronation is performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The monarch is anointed with holy oil, receives the orb and sceptre - which are symbols of royalty - and is crowned with the St Edward's Crown, the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels. | The coronation is performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The monarch is anointed with holy oil, receives the orb and sceptre - which are symbols of royalty - and is crowned with the St Edward's Crown, the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels. |
| What powers does the Queen have? | What powers does the Queen have? |
| Although the United Kingdom is a monarchy, the Queen's power is strictly symbolic and ceremonial, and she is expected to remain politically neutral. | Although the United Kingdom is a monarchy, the Queen's power is strictly symbolic and ceremonial, and she is expected to remain politically neutral. |
| Among the powers she has are: | Among the powers she has are: |
| Appointing a government - the leader of the winning party in a general election is invited to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen formally invites him or her to form a new government (she will also formally dissolve a government before a general election) | Appointing a government - the leader of the winning party in a general election is invited to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen formally invites him or her to form a new government (she will also formally dissolve a government before a general election) |
| State opening and the Queen's Speech - the Queen starts the Parliamentary year with the State Opening Ceremony (scheduled for 10 May this year), during which she will read out the government's policy ideas and plans, in a speech delivered from the throne in the House of Lords | |
| Royal Assent - when a piece of legislation is passed through Parliament, it must be formally agreed to by the Queen in order to become law (the last time Royal Assent was refused was in 1708) | Royal Assent - when a piece of legislation is passed through Parliament, it must be formally agreed to by the Queen in order to become law (the last time Royal Assent was refused was in 1708) |
| What else does the royal family do? | What else does the royal family do? |
| The Queen and other senior royals carry out official engagements. | The Queen and other senior royals carry out official engagements. |
| Family members also represent her in visits to other countries. | Family members also represent her in visits to other countries. |
| Many are patrons for charities, and some have established their own - such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme for young people, founded by Prince Philip. | Many are patrons for charities, and some have established their own - such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme for young people, founded by Prince Philip. |
| They have close ties to the armed forces. Prince William served in the Royal Air Force and Prince Harry served in the Army. | They have close ties to the armed forces. Prince William served in the Royal Air Force and Prince Harry served in the Army. |
| Prince Harry served in Afghanistan | Prince Harry served in Afghanistan |
| Where does the Royal Family get its money? | Where does the Royal Family get its money? |
| Every year, the UK government gives the Queen a single payment called the Sovereign Grant, which supports official royal duties and maintains occupied royal palaces. | |
| The grant is based on 25% of the Crown Estate's revenue from two years previously. | |
| The Crown Estate is an independent commercial property business. It includes the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park and the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire as well as residential and commercial property. | |
| The grant is worth £86.3m for 2021-22. | |
| The Queen also receives an income from the Duchy of Lancaster, which includes a large collection of private land and properties in England and Wales, as well as some financial investments. In the year ending March 2021, the Duchy of Lancaster made a profit of just over £22m. | |
| Prince Charles receives an income from the Duchy of Cornwall, a separate portfolio of property and investments, which brought in £20.4m in the most recent year for which accounts are available. | |
| His younger brother Prince Andrew stepped down as a "working Royal" in 2019 after a controversial Newsnight interview about allegations that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre. | |
| This means he is no longer paid for carrying out official Royal duties. He receives a Royal Navy pension and a stipend from the Queen's Duchy of Lancaster income. | |
| In February he paid an undisclosed sum to settle the civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Ms Giuffre. | |
| Prince Harry is also no longer paid as a working Royal, having stepped back from official duties in 2020, although he did initially receive some money from his father, Prince Charles. | |
| Where does the Queen get her money? | |
| Where does Prince Andrew get his money? | |
| Where do Harry and Meghan get their money? | |
| How do you become a royal? | How do you become a royal? |
| Someone who marries a royal becomes a member of the Royal Family, and they are given a title when they marry. | Someone who marries a royal becomes a member of the Royal Family, and they are given a title when they marry. |
| For example, Lady Diana Spencer became Princess of Wales when she married Prince Charles in 1981. | For example, Lady Diana Spencer became Princess of Wales when she married Prince Charles in 1981. |
| However, to become the monarch, you must have been born into the Royal Family. | However, to become the monarch, you must have been born into the Royal Family. |
| Where do members of the Royal Family live? | Where do members of the Royal Family live? |
| Members of the Royal Family celebrated the Queen's official birthday at Buckingham Palace in 2019. | Members of the Royal Family celebrated the Queen's official birthday at Buckingham Palace in 2019. |
| The Queen's official London home is Buckingham Palace. | The Queen's official London home is Buckingham Palace. |
| However, in March this year, it was reported that she was now making Windsor Castle in Berkshire her permanent residence. She lived there throughout the pandemic. | |
| Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall live in Clarence House - less than half a mile from Buckingham Palace - when they are in London. | Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall live in Clarence House - less than half a mile from Buckingham Palace - when they are in London. |
| Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, also live nearby - in Kensington Palace. Prince Harry and Meghan live in California. | Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, also live nearby - in Kensington Palace. Prince Harry and Meghan live in California. |