Tales of Business As Usual Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scan the British newspapers

The Queen began her workday at her desk. After scanning daily British newspapers, she began working on her correspondence.

It has been said that Queen Elizabeth's reluctance to celebrate her anniversary as the longest-reigning monarch of England was the fact that, in a sense, it would be celebrating the death of Queen Victoria. In fact, Queen Victoria felt much the same way when the length of her reign surpassed the reign of George III, her grandfather. The Queen believed the day should be "a quiet day". Reports said she was in Scotland, enjoying her annual visit at Balmoral with members of her family.

Answer: 200-300

According to the "The Official Website of the British Monarchy", there were days when the Queen received even more than 300 pieces of mail. Typically, every piece of mail was answered.

Incidentally if you are interested in learning more about the Royal Family, you may like to check out "The Official Website of the British Monarchy". It covers many topics relating to both the history of the monarchy and the current Royal Family.

Answer: False

Of course, it would be impossible for the Queen to have read every piece of public mail she received! She chose some letters to read herself, so that she could get an understanding of the general tone and content of her daily mail. Then she told her staff how she would like the letters to be answered.

Answer: Her private secretaries

The Queen met separately with two private secretaries to go through the official correspondence and documents. Her private secretaries also sent papers that needed to be read, approved, and signed. These papers arrived in red boxes, similar to brief cases, that have changed little in appearance since the 1860s; they are still lined with lead to make the box sink if thrown overboard, and they are also said to be bomb proof.

Answer: True

One source mentioned that the Queen did not receive the famous red boxes on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday. However, "The Official Website of the British Monarchy" stated that she received the boxes every day of the year. Engraved with the monarch's Royal Cypher, the boxes contained papers from her ministers throughout the Commonwealth. One can only imagine the amount of official correspondence - telegrams, letters, Cabinet documents that the Queen must have read.

Answer: Audiences

Monarchs have been holding audiences with their subjects for centuries. The purpose? It gives people an opportunity to have their views heard, consult with the monarch, or have a dispute solved. The Queen had audiences with important people, such as ambassadors, senior members of the armed forces, judges, and bishops. Audiences with Her Majesty were usually private and lasted ten to twenty minutes.

In the pictures is the Audience Room at Windsor Castle.

Answer: Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Although the Queen usually ate privately at lunchtime, she and the Duke of Edinburgh occasionally invited guests to an informal lunch. On a day when the Queen was working away from her desk, she would visit three locations, either alone or jointly. Often times the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would visit different locations in the same area separately in order to meet as many people as possible.

When they were making a regional visit, usually they would lunch with a variety of local people.

Answer: Privy Council

With a name meaning "private" or "secret", the Privy Council was originally a committee of the monarch's most trusted advisers. Dating back to Norman times in England, the Privy Council has existed in several forms. After attending a public engagement, the Queen might meet with her Privy Council, which has a number of standing committees.

It is involved in a variety of activities, such as: the affairs of Chartered Bodies, regulations regarding certain professions, appointment of certain officials, like the High Sheriffs of England and Wales, and serving as the court of final appeal for UK overseas dependencies and territories.

The Privy Council meets on the average of once a month, and has about 400 members, however, most meetings are very small, consisting of a group of 5-15 members.

In addition, today the meetings are not secret!

Answer: Wednesday

The weekly meeting with the prime minister was usually held on Wednesday at 6:30. A written record of items discussed was not kept, and the topics of conversation were always confidential. If both individuals were not in London, they might talk by the telephone.

Although she was expected to be politically neutral, the Queen did have the right to give her opinions to the prime minister.

Answer: At her desk, finishing her work

Although the life led by the Queen might seem glamorous to some, one cannot help but admire how hard she worked each and every day! It is said that her light was one of the last to be turned off every night at the palace; about 7:30 each evening she received a report of the day's parliamentary proceedings, which she read the same evening.

In addition, the Queen did have some private interests. However, one must wonder when she had time to pursue them! She enjoyed breeding and racing horses, and was involved in the running of her private estates at Balmoral and Sandringham.