Royal Residence Trivia

Did you know.....

One of the Queen's favorite homes is Windsor Castle - which is the largest occupied castle in the world.

The Queen does not own Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.

Balmoral Castle and the Sandringham Estate are the personal property of The Queen.

In 1848, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the lease on the property that Balmoral Castle stands on, without ever having seen the property. They eventually purchased the land in 1852.

The original castle on the land was inadequate for their needs, so Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their growing brood, had another castle built (Balmoral Castle as it is today), while they resided in the old residence.

The foundation stone for Balmoral Castle was laid by Queen Victoria on 28th September 1853. Before the foundation stone was placed in position Queen Victoria signed a parchment recording the date. This parchment, together with an example of each of the current coins of the realm, were placed in a bottle, which was inserted into a cavity below the site prepared for the stone.

Balmoral Castle was completed in 1856 and the old building was then demolished. This building is commemorated by a stone which marks the position of the front door of the demolished castle. about 100 yards from the path. is located on the front lawn at a point opposite the tower and about 100 yards from the path.

Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of British Sovereigns since 1837.

Sandringham was the site of the first Royal Christmas broadcast to the Empire in 1932.

Both King George V and King George VI loved Sandringham. They died there in 1936 and 1952 respectively.

When King George V was Prince of Wales, he devised ST - Sandringham time. He had a passion for shooting and to make the most of winter daylight hours clocks all over the estate were advanced by half an hour. It was later abolished by King Edward VIII in 1936.

With the exception of King Edward VIII, all of King George V's children were born at York Cottage on the Sandringham estate

Diana, Princess of Wales was born at Park House on the Sandringham estate

King Olav of Norway was born at Sandringham


© Marilyn Braun 2009

The Royal Report for Sunday June 7, 2009 - Can Prince William and Prince Harry carry on their mother's work?

Since their mother, Princess Diana died, both of her sons have vowed to continue her work. Can they live up to her legacy?

You can listen to the episode here

Note: The Royal Report is now available on iTunes!

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada No 131 8 June 2009

The Serpent and the Moon by Princess Michael of Kent

Websites mentioned

World of Royalty

Princess Michael of Kent

Prince of Wales

Causes mentioned

Centrepoint

Sentebale

Royal Marsden Hospital

The Diana Memorial Fund

Tune in LIVE via webcam to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday June 14th, 2009 9:00PM EST.

The topic will be: The Royal Romance Report - June edition

© Marilyn Braun 2009

Survivor Balmoral - Day 35

Trapped in their home for 39 days with no servants to wait on them, no private secretaries as go between, the royals must communicate directly with each other and make their own beds. Through a series of challenges, each contestant will prove that they are the real Royal Survivor.

On the last episode of Survivor Balmoral, Paul Burrell, the only one who knew how to cook and entertain royally, unexpectedly left the tribe. Chaos ensued as the tribe members, hungrily eyed each other. On this episode the remaining members of tribe Saxe Coburg Gotha sit satiated around the campfire. The Queen approaches the group and they all stand up.

The Queen: Have you seen the corgi's?

The other tribe members look around innocently. Edward stops knawing on a bone. Charles dabs his mouth with a napkin.

Edward: Mummy, would you like a rib?

The Queen: Where's Andrew and Anne?

Charles: I guess they just couldn't handle it. Survival of the fittest Mummy.

Anne enters carrying some more firewood

Anne: Must I do all of the work around here?

The Queen: Well, if you see Andrew please let him know that I was looking for him. I need some help with my Wii.

Meanwhile, during the dessert making challenge, Prince William is trying to plan a small birthday party for his grandfather, Prince Philip who will be 88 soon. He is currently in the carpenters shed and looks for some supplies to make a birthday cake. He finds some sawdust and what appears to be a stale bag of marshmallows and fashions a crude mound. Proud of himself he heads towards the door, which he has cleverly wedged open with an open crate containing a box of cake mix, a carton of eggs, bottled water and two cake pans. Prince Philip and the Queen wait to taste-test. William puts the cake down infront of them. The Queen looks at it warily.

Prince William (Proudly): I made it myself!

Prince Philip: It's...very interesting...what does it have in it?

Prince William: Marshmallows!

The Queen (whispering to Philip): We don't have any marshmallows.

In another part of the castle Prince Charles and Princess Anne are busy with the IKEA challenge. They must put together a rectangular plastic coffee table with 4 screw-in legs. Charles reads the instructions.

Charles: (Amazed) It says you don't need any tools for this.

Anne: That sounds too easy. Why would they give us something that easy? Are they trying to trick us?

Both look apprehensively at the 5 pieces.

Charles (looks around desperately) Help!!

Later on, at tribal council, the Queen gathers the remaining members of the tribe. She looks around and mentally does a headcount.

The Queen: Has anyone seen Andrew?

Charles and Edward look nervously at each other. Just then, the missing corgi appears.

The Queen (delighted): Oh there's my lost corgi!

On the next episode of Survivor Balmoral, the Queen searches for Prince Andrew while the remaining tribe members help put the coffee table together.

© Marilyn Braun 2009