10 Things you might not know about the British Royal Family

So much is talked about members of the British Royal Family that we may feel we know everything about them, even though we are always eager to learn more. However, there are quite a few facts we may have easily forgotten – or never known – about even the most prominent members of the British Royal Family.

So for your delectation and rumination please see our fabulously indulgent “Top Ten” lesser known facts about the British Royal Family. As always, we’d love to hear back from you in the comments.

10 Things you might not know about the British Royal Family

1. More people from Germany than any other country are booking their travel arrangements to England for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The British Royal Family is in fact a branch of the German dynasty of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha which may have something to do with it. However, the tourists are largely thought to be young women who want to see their teenage crush, Prince William, marry.
2. Prince Harry’s correct name is Henry Charles Albert David. He is always known and referred to as Harry.
3. The title of the Earl of Wessex was recreated especially for Prince Edward upon his marriage. The monarch’s younger sons would usually be given a more senior honour of a dukedom when they marry; however, the British Royal Family was keen to slim down its ranks for the modern era so Edward was given the Earldom of Wessex. Wessex, derived from the term “West Saxons”, is one of the seven main kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons, covering south and south-west England.
4. The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, have a great, great grandmother in common: Queen Victoria.
5. Queen Elizabeth II has a total of nine thrones: one is at the House of Lords, two are in Westminster Abbey and there are six in Buckingham Palace’s Throne Room.
6. Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch ever to educate her children in boarding schools as opposed to them having Royal governesses and private tutors throughout their education.
7. The Queen sends couples a Royal telegram on their Diamond Wedding anniversary. This is a lesser known custom than that of the monarch sending telegrams out to subjects on their 100th birthday.
8. The Queen also introduced a new dog breed, the “dorgi” when one of her corgis was mated with one of Prince Margaret’s dachshunds.
9. Technically The Queen still owns all the whales, dolphins and sturgeons for three miles off the coast of the UK. This has been the case since the statute of 1324, in King Edward II’s reign. When any of these “fishes royal” are washed up, either dead or alive, they can be claimed for the Crown. Usually when caught, sturgeon is sold as normal, with the buyer, to demonstrate their loyalty to the Crown, requesting the honour of its acceptance by The Queen.
10. In a major break with Royal tradition, Prince William and Kate do not intend to have any servants as they take up married life in Wales, where the Prince is stationed for the next few years.

So, there you have just a few lesser known facts about the British Royal Family. We began an ended with the hope for the Royals’ future: the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and hopefully took you on some interesting detours along the way.

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