Some interesting facts about the English royal family, the Windsors.
The name change: A long time ago, the family didn’t have the name “Windsor.” During World War I, because of anti-German feelings, they changed their name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor.
The Queen’s many pets: Queen Elizabeth II, who was queen for over 70 years, loved animals. She had many dogs called Corgis. These small, fluffy dogs were her favorites, and she had more than 30 during her lifetime!
A special kind of postage stamp: King George V, Elizabeth II’s grandfather, started the Royal Philatelic Collection, which is a huge collection of stamps. It is one of the most important collections in the world and includes very rare stamps.
The royal swans: The royal family has a special job called the “Swan Upping.” It’s when people count and check the health of all the swans on certain rivers. This tradition shows that the queen owns all the swans in the country, a rule that dates back hundreds of years.
A very big birthday party: Queen Elizabeth II had two birthdays every year! Her real birthday was on April 21, but she also had an “official” birthday on a Saturday in June. This tradition was started to make sure the weather is nice for the birthday parade, known as the Trooping the Colour.
A royal broadcast: Every Christmas, the queen gave a speech on TV and radio to share her thoughts and wishes with the people. This tradition started with Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, and has continued ever since.
The Crown Jewels: The Crown Jewels are very special and valuable items that belong to the royal family. They are kept in the Tower of London and include crowns, scepters, and the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond. These jewels are used during the coronation of a new king or queen.
A home with many rooms: Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the royal family in London. It has 775 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms!
These facts give you a glimpse into the unique traditions, responsibilities, and interests of the English royal family, the Windsors.
“Trooping the Colour” is a special ceremony held in London to celebrate the official birthday of the British monarch. Although the queen or king might have a real birthday on a different date, the official birthday is celebrated in June when the weather is usually nicer in the UK.
The name “Trooping the Colour” comes from an old military tradition. In this tradition, soldiers would march (or “troop”) in front of their troops with their regiment’s flag (or “colour”) so that everyone could see it. This was important because, during battle, soldiers needed to recognize their flag to know where their unit was and to not get lost.
During the Trooping the Colour ceremony, over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians come together to create a grand parade. They march from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade, near Whitehall, and back again. The queen or king watches the parade and takes a salute from the soldiers. It’s a colorful event with lots of music, horse-riding displays, and precise marching.
This tradition has been going on since the 18th century and is a big attraction for tourists and a way for the British people to celebrate their monarchy. It’s also broadcasted on television, so people from all over the world can watch.