The British Royal Family

WHERE DO THEY BELONG?

Activity 1

Study the Royal Family poster and complete the royal titles with the names
of places:

Prince Philip, Duke of .............................................................................

Prince Charles, Prince of .....................................................................

Prince William, Duke of .........................................................................

Prince Harry, Duke of .............................................................................

Princess Diana, Princess of ...............................................................

Catherine, Duchess of ............................................................................

Camilla, Duchess of ..................................................................................

Meghan, Duchess of ................................................................................

Prince Andrew, Duke of ........................................................................

Prince Edward, Earl of ............................................................................

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 The British Royal Family
WHERE DO THEY BELONG?

Activity 2

Imagine you are to travel across Britain and stop at all the geographical locations
mentioned in the royal titles (e.g. in Wales for the Prince of Wales). You set off from
Edinburg and travel south clockwise.

Find these places on the map and complete the list:

Edinburgh
a

Which of these places is the farthest from London?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Which is the closest?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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 The British Royal Family
IT’S A WIDE, WIDE WORLD

Activity 3

Read the following sentences and decide whether they are true (T) or false (F).

TRUE FALSE

The roots of the Commonwealth go back to the British

1. Empire when some countries were ruled directly
or indirectly by Britain.

Commonwealth countries span Africa, Asia, Europe,

2. the Americas, and the Pacific.

3. Commonwealth is 90 years old.

4. All Commonwealth countries have an equal say.

5. The Head of the Commonwealth is Prince Charles.

thecommonwealth.org

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 The British Royal Family
AT YOUR SERVICE

Activity 4

Go to The Royal Family Channel on You Tube and watch #MaundyMoney in 2019.
Then answer the following questions:

What did she do?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Who did she meet?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What is Maundy money?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Is there a similar tradition in your country?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

On a persona
l note…
• Have you eve
r donated to a
and why did yo charity? If so, w
u do it? hat was it
• Have you eve
r worked as a
organisation w volunteer? If so
as it? If not, wo , what
uld you ever co
nsider it?

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 The British Royal Family
TWO HATS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Activity 5

Royal Ascot is an annual high-society horse racing event which goes back
to the 18th century. From the very start it has been synonymous with high fashion
and hats have always been an important part of the dress code.

Search online for images of Ascot hats. You can try Royal Ascot: the perfect hat
or #Ascot#hats on You Tube. Choose some to share with other students and
arrange them in the following categories:

The funniest

The most extravagant

The most beautiful

The one you would definitely wear

The one you would never wear

What do we call someone who makes and sells women’s hats?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What is the name of a shop selling hats?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Have you ever worn a hat? If so, what was the occasion? How formal was it?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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 The British Royal Family
BIG OCCASION, SMALL TALK?

Activity 6

You need 3 words from the list below to complete the gaps.

Every summer, The Queen ………......…… three Garden Parties at Buckingham

Palace, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. They give the

Queen an opportunity to speak to people from all ……......…….. of life, who have

done something important and made a positive ……......……. in their community.

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 The British Royal Family
BIG OCCASION, SMALL TALK?

Activity 7

Which of the following do you think you can do when greeting

and addressing the Queen?

ask questions

do a neck bow

shake hands

offer a hot drink

do a small curtsy

Check online if you are right.

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 The British Royal Family
LEST WE FORGET…

Activity 8

Go online and find the answers to the questions below.

Why is number 11 so important on Remembrance Day?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What does the red poppy symbolise?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The picture below shows how Remembrance Day was celebrated in the Tower of
London in 2014. Find out more about this artistic installation and write a short note
about it.

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 The British Royal Family
THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Activity 9

The state opening of Parliament is accompanied by a series of events, many

of them quite unusual. After the Queen arrives at the Palace of Westminster,

she puts on long Robe of State and goes to the House of Lords. Then, the

representative of the House of Lords asks the Commons to come and listen
to the Queen’s speech, but the door to the Commons is ….slammed in his

face. Find out why at www.royal.uk.

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 The British Royal Family
THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Activity 10

Now that you have learnt a little bit about these important royal events,
match the words from the list below with the names of the events and
complete the table:

red tunics 1949 dress code bearskin hats 53 member countries

11 November the British Empire the Queen’s speech about 27 000 cups of tea
a two-minute silence small silver coins Scotland slamming the door
Poppy Day Palace of Holyroodhouse Buckingham Palace hats
horse racing 11.00 a.m. it lasts 45 minutes First World War

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Commonwealth Day

Royal Maundy Service

Royal Ascot

Garden parties

Remembrance Day

The State opening of Parliament

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 The British Royal Family
EXTRA IDEAS

1
Write 5-10 sentences about the event from the list
above you would most like to take part in and justify
your choice.

2
Imagine that a member of the royal family is coming
to your school/town. Write a speech welcoming him/her.

3
Imagine that you have a unique opportunity to ask
the Queen 5 questions. What would they be?

4
You have been invited to a royal garden party. Find
out how to make small talk and write a short dialogue
between:
• You and a member of the royal family
• You and one of the other guests

5
Describe briefly a celebration / tradition which is unique
to your country.

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 The British Royal Family
ANSWER KEY
Activity 1 Activity 6
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Every summer, The Queen hosts three Garden Parties at
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales Buckingham Palace, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Scotland. They give the Queen an opportunity to speak to people
Prince Henry, Duke of Sussex from all walks of life, who have done something important and
Princess Diana, Princess of Wales made a positive impact in their community.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Activity 7
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
• shake hands - NO
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
• ask questions - NO
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
• do a small curtsy - YES
Activity 2 • do a neck bow - YES
a) Edinburgh • offer a hot drink – NO
b) York You can check at meeting_and_greeting_the_royals
c) Cambridge
Activity 8
d) Sussex
e) Wessex Go online and find the answers to the questions below.
f) Cornwall
• Why is number 11 so important on Remembrance Day?
g) Wales
Remembrance Day marks the day World War One ended,
Which of these places is the farthest from London? Edinburgh at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, back in 1918.
Which is the closest? Sussex Nowadays, people remember those who were lost in the war by
holding a two-minute silence and by wearing a red poppy.
Activity 3
• What does the red poppy symbolise? The red poppy is a symbol
1. The roots of the Commonwealth go back to the British Empire of Remembrance and hope, including hope for a positive future
when some countries were ruled directly or indirectly by Britain. and a peaceful world. Poppies are worn as a show of support for
True the Armed Forces community, those currently serving, veterans
2. Commonwealth countries span Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and their families.
and the Pacific. True • The picture below shows how Remembrance Day was celebrated
3. Commonwealth is 90 years old. False in the Tower of London in 2014. Find out more about this artistic
4. All Commonwealth countries have an equal say. True installation and write a short note about it. – open task
5. The Head of the Commonwealth is Prince Charles. False Activity 9
Activity 4 At the State Opening The House of Lords official known as ‘Black
• What did she do? – The Queen distributed special Maundy Rod’ is sent to summon the House of Commons to meet the
money to a group of people from all across the UK - nominated Queen. The door to the Commons is first symbolically slammed in
for their work in the community. his face, which symbolises the Commons’ independence from the
monarchy. Black Rod then strikes the door loudly three times with
• Who did she meet? People nominated for their work in the
his ebony staff, or rod, before it is opened, and the 250 Members
community all across the UK. E.g. John Cooper aged 91 who used
of the House of Commons follow him back to the Lords Chamber,
to be an aeronautical design engineer.
to stand at the opposite end to the Queen’s Throne.
• What is Maundy money? The symbolic money distributed in
white purse by the Queen. The Maundy coins usually equal in Activity 10
pence the age of the Monarch, so in 2019 it was 93 pence. The
red purse contains money for clothing and provisions. In 2019 it Changing
the Guard
was a 5 pound coin commemorating 200th anniversary of Queen at Buckingham
11.00 it lasts 45 minutes red tunics bearskin hats
Victoria’s birth and 50 pence coin portraying Sherock Holmes. Palace
• Is there a similar tradition in your country? Open question Commonwealth
53 member countries the British Empire 1949
– the answers depend on the group Day

Royal Maundy
Activity 5 Service
small silver coins

What do we call someone who makes and sells women’s hats? A Royal Ascot hats horse racing dress code
hatter/a milliner but currently a hat designer seems to be more Palace of Holyroodhouse Scotland Buckingham Palace
Garden parties
popular name for the job. about 27 000 cups of tea

What is the name of a shop selling hats? A millinery Remembrance

11 November a two-minute silence Poppy Day First World War
Day
Have you ever worn a hat? If so, what was the occasion? How
The State opening
formal was it? – open questions of Parliament
slamming the door The Queen’s speech

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