h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Queen Elizabeth II - A5110958
Author: Annie - What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - U128652

Resubmission with complete update:

Previous PR thread here:
F2389806?thread=1442436

Thank you

Nice to see this back again.

Just one question - has the Queen given up foreign travel *completely*, or has she simply wound back the amount of travel she does?

Ivan.

Thanks
I thought about writing about her current activities, but it's going to be outdated very soon.
I can change it to "cut back" and "delegates" though

'Delegates' is one of my favourite words; it's most useful for us bureaucrats.

Yes, it fits quite nicely doesn't it? Is the amendment alright?

I'd go for 'is delegated' rather than 'are delegated', but I'd be hard-pressed to explain why. (I was never taught grammar; I'm just going on what sounds right.) But that's just me being picky.

done

Happy birthday by the way

I'm adding some quotes, and a bit about her Grandad being the first to give a Christmas message to the Commonwealth.

Pretty seasonal

I like the quotations - a nice addition.
Just one point, though - I think you need to add a note to the quotation from Mrs Thatcher, making it clear what she's talking about when she says 'they' (i.e. the weekly interview the PM has with the Queen).

You do realise you'll have to stop adding things at some point, don't you??

Awww...

I'll do that for you now

I think the section currently titled 'Queen Elizabeth II' could do with being retitled, y'know. If you change it to 'The Queen's Coronation' it will explain more what that section is actually about. Then, after the second reminiscence from Violet, pop another header / subheader in called something like 'Duties and Responsibilities', or something that is a bit specific to the content of that section.

Might also be worth explaining one fascinating fact about the recording of the coronation. Thanks to the BBC recording their broadcast, they were able to prepare film canisters and fly them out to Canada and other parts of the commonwealth so that the Canadians could view the coronation at the same time 'their time' as we saw it our time.

The broadcast was a major moment in TV history because it was the first time TV audiences had achieved ratings higher than radio - over 2.5 million homes tuned in. Once the coronation had taken place, QEII's procession snaked around central London from Westminster Abbey up to Hyde Park and then back to Buck Pal. While the Queen herself was the star of the parade, the crowds were a little disheartened by the rain, but their spirits were lifted by the joyous sight of the (frankly enormous) Queen Salote of Tonga, who made the decision not to have her carriage covered, so she could wave to all the people.


Queen Salote became a beloved figrue for the British people, although her size did inspire a few jokes. It's said that when she was seen at a function, one man asked another who the small man by her side was: 'Her lunch', came the reply

Thanks Jimster, done and changed and added.

Just added a section on the Crown Jewels, wrote it yesterday but couldn't update

It's there now

'befel' >> 'befell'.
'controvercial' >> 'controversial'.

That's the nit-picks out of the way.

Is it worth mentioning that most of the current Crown Jewels were made from scratch for Charles II's coronation in 1661?

What happened to Colonel Blood? Would that make a nice (or gruesome, most likely) footnote, or is this in danger of becoming a stand-alone entry on the Jewels?

Hi again,

I think you need to point out that the Crown Jewels in the Tower are only the English Crown Jewels. The Honours of Scotland (the official name of the Scottish Crown Jewels), which are older than the English ones, are kept in Edinburgh Castle.

You can get some more information at:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page451.asp
or
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Scotland-History/ScottishCrownJewels.htm

I wouldn't suggest putting in much more than a short note, though, as this isn't an entry on the Crown Jewels.


While I was looking at the first link above, I had a look at
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page454.asp
I think HM is the first monarch to adopt a personal flag (distinct from the Royal Standards), though this page doesn't say that, so I'm not 100% sure.

C.

<>
Mentioned

<>
Told his story (briefly) and provided a link to the whole story.

<>
Pointed out

<>
She does and I've now mentioned it

This entry's shaping up really well.

Just another thought: is it worth mentioning some of the changes around the royal status during her reign? For example, until fairly recently the royal family did not have to pay many (any?) taxes, they now do. There have also been large cuts in the monies they recieve from the state and they're becoming more 'enterprising', e.g. merchandise, tourism of Buck Palace, etc.

Worth mentioning all (well, OK perhaps a few) of the other properties, lands and assets she 'owns'?

Thanks

OK I'll look into this tomorrow

My favourite QE2 newspaper headline:-
(from this time 2 years ago in the Kronen Zeitung - an Austrian Boulevardblatt. Austrian's follow Buck House goings-on with fanatical interest).
"Camilla and Florence not to be invited for Christmas".

Camilla is Camilla and Florence is Anne's killer dog. I don't know the name of the deceased corgi - but it was reported to be "the Queen's favourite".

Today's papers carry pictures of QE2 smiling in a green suit allegedly painted by Rolf Harris; presumably the same Rolf Harris of "tie me kangaroo down" fame. She appears to be in rude health, God bless her!

lucky!

No allegedly about it - it's definately him

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4541388.stm

Thanks for the comments, I'll try to remember Anne's killer dog when I write her entry