Happy St George's Day

Today, 23 April, is England's national day. It is an ordinary day - no day off, no firework celebrations etc. However, some people will wear a red rose, the national flower of England.

Google celebrated St George's Day with a combined Shakespeare/St George graphic on the UK search engine page.

How are you celebrating St George's Day?

Facts and information about St George's Day with photos
The Legend of St. George and the Dragon with photos
The Real St George
What is England Famous for?
Symbols of England

Queen celebrates 83rd birthday

Today is Queen Elizabeth II's (or I if you are in Scoltand) 83rd birthday. She will celebrate it with her family at Windsor Castle.

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2.40am on April 21 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, the Mayfair home of her mother's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.

It is traditional for soldiers to fire cannons to celebrate royal birthdays. King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will provide a 41-Gun Salute in central London using six 13 pounder First World War guns drawn by Irish draught horses.

The queen's birthday is celebrated twice a year — privately on her actual birthday and publicly with an official national celebration in June, known as the Trooping the Colour.
Why does the Queen have two birthdays?

Facts about the Queen

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Have you heard the cuckoo?

The cuckoo, a dove-sized bird, arrives in Britain about mid April. To many people the sound of the cuckoo marks the arrival of Spring. The cuckoo sings from St. Tiburtius' Day (14th April) to St John's Day (24th June).

Various dates in April ae known as Cuckoo Day and some places in Britain still hold Cuckoo Fairs.
Follow ths link to find out more

British Monarchy a waste of time?

The following question was sent via email. It is a question for debate rather than one with a straight answer. There are people in Britian who are pro the British Monarchy and there are people who are against them. The feeling is much the same in any country, whether a rebublic or monarchy. Often the majority of votes in a country goes along with the type of head of state.

I do not understand the British Monarchy. Is it not a waste of
time?
Regards
John, Canada

Further information about the Monarchy
Britain is not the only European country to have retained its monarchy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Norway and Spain still have theirs.
Her Majesty is also Queen of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Barbados, Papua-New Guinea - all in all 16 countries.

Popular questions asked about the Royal family
The Queen
Why does the Queen have two birthdays? Birthdays
Who are the members of the Royal Family? Members
Where can I find information about the guards outside Buckingham Palace?
What are the roles and duties of the Queen and members of the Royal Family? Roles and Duties
Who will be the next King or Queen?
What famous Kings and Queen have ruled Britain? Timeline

Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

This coming weekend, starting tomorrow 10th April, is known in the UK as the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. It is so called because it starts with a bank holiday on Good Friday and ends with a Bank Holiday on Easter Monday. The two Bank Holidays (public holidays) mean that many families will spend a long weekend away on holiday or visiting relatives.

Easter weekend is a favourite time for children in Britain, like in many countries around the world, as Sunday, Easter Day, will be the day when they will receive many chocolate eggs to eat.

Easter is the oldest and the most important Christian Festival, the celebration of the death and coming to life again of Jesus Christ. For Christians, the dawn of Easter Sunday with its message of new life is the high point of the Christian year.

Further Reading
What are bank holidays?
History of Bank Holidays
What is Good Friday?
Why the name 'Good Friday'?
Easter Sunday / Easter
Easter Monday

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Easter Holidays have begun

British school children have started their two week Easter holiday. Although traditionally and still an important Christian festival, Easter today, for many people living in Britain, is a time for families, chocolate and going on holiday. There are two national holidays at Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday) which make Easter weekend a popular time for going away.

Throughout the next two weeks children will be taking part in Easter Eggs hunts at many stately homes and musuems all over Britain, including in London.

Easter - A Christian Celebration
Holy Week is the week before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus' life on Earth. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Monday.

Palm Sunday 5th April 2009
The Sunday before Easter Sunday is known as Palm Sunday. It celebrates Jesus' triumphal arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover.
How do you celebrate Palm Sunday in your country?
Follow this link to tell us how you celebrate Palm Sunday

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Thursday 9 the April 2009
The Last Supper and the betrayal by Judas. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples. The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal - the meal which Jewish people share together to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt.

Maundy Money Ceremony
In Britain today, the Queen follows a very traditional role of giving Maundy Money to a group of pensioners on Maundy Thursday. This year the Queen will attend St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury and will present Maundy purses to 166 Suffolk pensioners.

This year, each recipient will be given two purses - a red purse containing a £5 coin celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII and a 50p coin to mark the founding of Kew Gardens, and a white purse containing 83p in Maundy coins.

Do you have a Maundy Thursday custom in your country?
Please follow this link to tell us about it

Good Friday (Holy Friday) 10th April 2009
The arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ. On Good Friday, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross.
Follow this link for Good Friday Superstitions

Holy Saturday, the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave.
Holy Saturday is also known as Easter Even and the Great Sabbath.

Easter Sunday / Easter Day Sunday 12 April 2009
The day Jesus rose from the grave.

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

A familiar sight at Buckingham Palace is the Changing the Guard ceremony that takes place in the forecourt each morning. The monarch and the royal palaces have been guarded by the Household Troops since 1660.

The men you see in front of Buckingham Palace (and other locations in London as well as Windsor) are the Queen's Guard. As well as upholding the traditions of the past through their ceremonial duties, the Foot Guards also carry out operational duties in the UK and throughout the world as professional soldiers.

Below is a video about the purpose, history and significance of Changing the Guard (also known as Guard Mounting) at Buckingham Palace.

You can see the guards dressed in the bright red uniforms and bearskin hats of picture postcard London and experience the music, marching and shouting that characterises the whole ceremony on the following days:

During the month of April 2009, the Changing the Guard will take place at Buckingham Palace on even dates, i.e. 2, 4, 6, and daily at Windsor Castle.

From May to July 2009 inclusive, Changing the Guard will take place daily at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Further information
Royal Guards of London

Why is Queen Elizabeth II's husband a prince rather than a king?

Question from a visitor

Why isn't the Queen of England's husband referred to as the King of England? Isn't he king by marriage?

In the British monarchy, the husband of a female monarch does not have any recognized special status, rank, or privileges.

Prince Philip was a prince from birth. He is the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and was born Prince of Greece and Denmark. Upon his marriage to then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, Philip was given the title "Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merion, and Baron Greenwich," and was made a Knight of the Garter. (He became a British citizen around this time and renounced his Greek and Danish titles). Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953, and in 1957, she granted Philip the title "Prince of the United Kingdom."

Interesting Fact:
The wife of a male monarch (e.g. the Queen Mother was the wife of King George VI) takes on her husband's rank and style upon marrying, becoming Queen. She is known as the Queen consort ( wife and consort of a reigning king)
( A consort is a spouse , usually of royalty.)

Popular questions asked about the Royal family
The Queen
Where does the Queen live?
Why does the Queen have two birthdays? Birthdays
Who are the members of the Royal Family? Members
Where can I find information about the guards outside Buckingham Palace?
What are the roles and duties of the Queen and members of the Royal Family? Roles and Duties
Who will be the next King or Queen?
Where can I find interesting facts about the Queen? Facts
What famous Kings and Queen have ruled Britain? Timeline
Which Kings and Queens of England have reigned the longest?
What are the palaces and homes of the Royal family? Palaces and Castles
What is the Royal motto of the UK and England?
What does the British Royal Coat of Arms look like?
Where can I find out about Royal Ceremonies in London?

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TV licence fee increase

We pay to watch the telly (television) in the UK, no matter how much or how little we watch TV. The licence fee has been increased today to £142.50 for colour and £48.00 for black and white. The licence fee will increase every year until it reaches a maximum £151.50 in 2012.

A valid TV Licence is required by law in the UK, if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use - whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set - you still need a licence.

You do not need a TV Licence to view video clips on the internet, as long as what you are viewing is not being shown on TV at the same time as you are viewing it.

Why do we pay a TV Licence?
There are no advertisements during BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) programmes. The TV licence pays for BBC's programmes and services.

Not every one pays the full amount for a tv licence
People over the age of 75 are entitled to a free TV Licence. (People over the age of 74 can apply for a short term TV Licence, which will cover them until the month they turn 75.)

People who are blind or severely sight impaired, can apply for a 50% concession on the cost of the TV Licence.

People living in residential care, may qualify for a TV Licence at the cost of just £7.50 per year.

Does any other country other than Britain pay for a TV licence?
Please leave a comment below

Vocabulary

Licence or license
In British English the noun is spelt licence e.g. TV licence and the verb is spelt license e.g. licensing your TV
In American English, however, the noun is spelled license.
(note difference for spelt and spelled too)

Programme or program
British English uses programme unless referring to computers
American English always uses program
Australian English recommends program for official usage, but programme is still in common use.

Further reading
UK Media
TV Licensing website


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