So you think you know the life and times of Her Majesty?
Use the power-point and texts posted below, the reader ‘the Modern Elizabethans’, and your own general knowledge, to answer the sixty questions which follow, one for every year of the Queen‘s reign.
Power Point Presentation (click here): The Life and Times of Her Majesty
The Diamond Jubilee Quiz: Sixty Questions
1. Match the following patron saints to their correct countries:
Scotland St George
Wales St Patrick
Ireland St Andrew
England St David
Scotland – St Andrew, Wales – St David, Ireland – St Patrick, England – St George.
2. What is the current (present) title of the British National Anthem?
‘God Save the Queen‘
3. Which of these cities is not a capital city?
a) London
b) Cardiff
c) Manchester
d) Edinburgh
Manchester (unless you support one of their football teams!)
4. What is the capital city of Northern Ireland?
Belfast
5. Which of the following is not a Royal Residence?
a) Buckingham Palace
d) Windsor Castle
b) (It is the ancestral home and birthplace of Winston Churchill)
6. What is the population of ‘Greater’ London?
7 – 10 million, depending on how many ‘boroughs’ you include. As a local government area (Greater London Authority), nearer 7.
7. Which of these is not a British city?
a) Dublin
b) Newcastle
c) Glasgow
d) Birmingham
a) Dublin – capital of the Irish Free State/ Republic of Ireland (Eire) since 1922.
8. Which monument is in Trafalgar Square in London?
a) The ‘Great Fire’ Monument
b) Nelson’s Column
d) The Cenotaph
b) Nelson’s Column
9. Which of the following is not a British River?
a) The Mersey
b) The Tyne
c) The Severn
d) The Shannon
10. Complete the following paragraph:
Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The sovereign (King or Queen) is head of state, but not head of the government.
The sovereign appoints her prime minister on the advice of the leader of the political party that wins the biggest
number of seats in Parliament in a general election.
11. When was Elizabeth II born (year and month)?
April 21st, 1926 (see power-point/ text)
12. Who was then the heir to the throne?
Edward , Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII)
13. What colour were her eyes?
Blue
14. Who did she take after in appearance?
Her father, George, Duke of York
15. What was her sister’s full name?
Margaret Rose
16. How many subjects did King George V have in the British Empire (approx)?
Nearly 500 million (compared with 50 million in the UK)
17. Why did King Edward VIII give up the throne?
Because his ‘proposed’ wife could not become Queen to him as ‘Governer’ of the Church of England, and he would not ‘give her up’.
18. What word do we use for this?
Abdication
19. What happened for the first time after the coronation in May 1937?
The newly-crowned king spoke to his peoples throughout the Empire on the radio that same night.
20. Who did the Duke of Windsor meet after his marriage?
Adolf Hitler, at his mountain villa in Berchtesgarden.
21. After Dunkerque, what did Churchill say would never happen?
The British would ‘never surrender’ (give in)
22. Where did the Battle of Britain take place?
In the skies over the (English) Channel and the south coast of England
23. How long did it last?
Three months
24. What were the night-time raids on London and other cities called?
The Blitz
25. What new word described the raid of 14th/15th November, 1940?
26. Which factory was the most damaged by the bombs?
the Daimler
27. Which services were badly disrupted after the raid?
electricity, gas, telephone, water
28. What code-name did the Luftwaffe give to the operation?
‘Moonlight Sonata’
29. What were the shelters in people’s gardens called?
Anderson shelters
30. What was formed by the former countries of the British Empire after the War?
The (British) Commonwealth (of Nations)
31. Where was Elizabeth when she heard of her father’s death?
(Up a fig tree!) in Kenya
32. When and where was she crowned Queen (year)?
Westminster Abbey, London, 1953
33. When is her ’official birthday’ (month)?
June
34. Which famous event happens on that day?
The Trooping of the Colour
35. As ’sovereign’, where does the Queen’s income come from?
A grant from Parliament: ‘The Civil List’
36. What is Prince Philip’s title?
Duke of Edinburgh (he’s also ‘Prince Consort’)
37. What did he found in 1956 to reward young people?
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
38. When was Elizabeth’s ’heir-apparent’ born?
1948
39. What title was he given?
The Prince of Wales
40. Which University College did he attend in the 1970s?
Aberystwyth, Wales
41. What did he establish in 1976?
The Prince’s Trust
42. Whom did he marry in 1981?
Lady Diana Spencer
43. What are the names of their two children?
Prince William and Prince Henry (‘Harry’) (of Wales, both)
44. Which Scottish castle is the Royal Family’s Summer ’retreat’?
Balmoral (Castle)
45. When, where and how did Princess Diana die in 1997?
In the late summer (August), in Paris, in a car accident.
46. How is she best-remembered?
For her work with AIDS victims and campaigning for the banning of land-mines (as well as as William and Harry’s mum!)
47. Where did she come in a TV poll for ’the Greatest Briton’?
Third (behind Winston Churchill and I K Brunel)
48. Who came together to raise money for Ethiopia in 1984?
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
49. What was the 1985 concert they organised called?
Live Aid
50. What award did the Queen give Bob Geldof, as an Irish citizen?
An ‘honorary’ knighthood
ROYAL FAMILY PROFILES: WHO AM I?
51. I was educated at Gordonstoun School (Scotland), Lakefield College (Canada) the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth (England). I became an officer in the Royal Marines, qualifying as a helicopter pilot, and saw active service in 1982. I was given my title after my marriage in 1986. I am now divorced, and have two grown-up daughters.
Prince Andrew
52. I married the Duke of York, second son of George V, in 1923, and we had two daughters together. I became Queen in December 1936 after the abdication of my brother-in-law. Following the death of my husband, in 1952, I continued to undertake many public duties until well into my nineties.
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon>Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (after 1952)
53. I am eighth in line to the throne, although the second eldest in my family. My mother gave me my title in 1987. I won the European Horse-Riding Championships in 1971 and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year by millions of viewers. I also represented Britain int he 1986 Olympics in Montreal. Since 1970 I have been President of Save the Children Fund.
Princess Anne, the Princeess Royal
54. Who is second in line to the throne?
Prince William of Wales
55. What duty does she perform when she has to give a speech written for her by the government?
56. What is the name, title and age of her youngest son?
57. What is the name, title and age of her youngest grandchild?
(I’ll be posting the answers later, if you need them!)
58 – 60: See below.
Other activities to go with the Power-point Presentation:
2012 Magazine Articles: Questions, Activities and Talking Points:
1. Round Britain Tour:
Using the mini-maps of the UK, mark the places referred to int he article on the outline map provided, and then draw lines linking them together to show ’the Royal Progress’ of HM Queen Elizabeth II during her Jubilee Celebrations. Put a tick by the places she has already visited.
2. The Crown Jewels:
Translate the following words and phrases into your own language, after finding them in the article:
steeped in history –
spectacular display –
to highlight the significance of sthng –
regalia –
featuring –
stunning –
backdrop –
heritage –
generations –
legendary –
to anoint –
Questions/ Talking Points:
58. What are the three most important symbols of Royal Power, or ’Prerogative’ in the Coronation ceremony?
The Orb, the Sceptre and the Crown
59. What is the oldest item in the collection? How old is it?
The Coronation Spoon, used to ‘anoint’ the monarch since the 12th Century, so c 750-800 years.
60. According to the keepers of the jewels, what three messages does the new display try to give to the visiting public?
- the importance of the collection for British heritage;
- the fact that the jewels are ‘the real thing’;
- they are ‘working treasures’.
3. ’Tender Tribute’:
Find the following words and phrases in the article and, using the context, give an accurate translation of their meaning into your language:
tender –
precedent –
to decline compliments –
to reinforce the sentiments –
to fulfil a uniquely demanding role –
nearest and dearest –
support beyond measure –
pleasurable duty –
stained-glass –
to rededicate –
Questions/ Talking Points:
How many Prime Ministers has the Queen met with during her time as ’sovereign’?
Twelve
What did the Lords and Commons do to commemorate the Queen’s sixty year reign?
The MPs and peers have paid for a new stained-glass window feturing HM’s coat of arms to be installed in Westminster Hall.
From the details given in this article, and your own knowledge, how do you think Prince Philip has developed the role of ’Royal Consort’ during the Queen’s reign?
He’s concentrated on his role as Head of the Family, and has supported his wife privately and in public, accompanying her on many tours of duty at home and overseas.
Related articles
- The Modern Elizabethans: The Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-1997 (chandlerozconsultants.wordpress.com)
Andrew James 
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