The Royal Family

Vocabulary

1. Look at the photo of Elizabeth II. Describe her appearance. What would you say about Queen’s character by her appearance?

2. What facts about the Queen and the Royal Family do you know? Who these people are:Prince Charles; Princess Diana;Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince William; Prince Henry; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince George of Cambridge (George Alexander Louis).

3. Read and translate the text:

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states, known as the Commonwealth realms, and their territories and dependencies, and head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations. She is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and, in some of her realms, carries the additional title of Defender of the Faith.

Upon her accession on 6 February 1952, Elizabeth became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon. From 1956 to 1992, the number of her realms varied as territories gained independence and some realms became republics.

The Queen is the Official Head of State, for many people, a symbol of the unity of the nation. The Queen has a central role in state affairs, not only through her ceremonial functions, such as opening Parliament. She also meets the Prime Minister every week and receives copies of all Cabinet papers. Any advice she may offer the Prime Minister is kept secret.

2. See the list of the Functions of the Sovereign and complete the phrases with the missing information. Use the words from the box:

a)opening and closing …;

b)approving the appointment of the …;

c)giving her…to Bills;

d)giving honours such as…, knighthoods and medals;

e)Head of the …;

f) …of the armed forces;

g)Head of the… .

1. Look through the text and give its summary (20 minutes).What information of the text caught your interest?

Windsor [wɪnzər] is the family name of the Royal Family. The press sometimes refers to its members as 'the Windsors'. Queen Elizabeth is only the fourth monarch with this name.

The Queen is Head of State of the UK and 15 other Commonwealth realms. The elder daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, she was born in 1926 and became Queen at the age of 25.

Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth on February 6, 1952. She was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.

As of today she has reigned for 61 years, 5 months and 16 days and she celebrated the Diamond (60th) Jubilee of her reign in 2012.

She is head of the British Royal Family. The Queen is married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and has 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchilden, and is 87 years, 3 months and 1 day old. On 20th November 2012 she celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary.

The Queen's husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is 92 years. He is the longest ever serving Royal Consort and oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch.

Prince Philip was born in 1926 and served in the Royal Navy. He takes a great deal of interest in industry, in the achievements of young people and in saving wild animals from extinction.

The Queen’s eldest son Prince Charles who was 64 years old on 14th November 2012 is currently the longest waiting and 2nd oldest ever heir to the throne, and would by that time be the oldest heir at 66 years old.

On 29th April 2011 the Queen's grandson Prince William, who is 2nd in line to the throne, married Catherine (Kate) Middleton in Westminster Abbey. They are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and in Scotland the Earl and Countess of Strathearn. Kate and William welcomed their newborn son into the world, and into the world's most famous family, on July 22, 2013. William and Kate's son will be third in line to the throne after his grandfather, Prince Charles, and his father, William.

The new little Prince of Cambridge will go by the names George Alexander Louis.

Prince William and Duchess Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on Wednesday announced the full name for their newborn, making him a future King George VII. Assuming his father and grandfather, Prince Charles, take their turns on the throne, he will someday become the 43rd English monarch.

2.What new facts about the Royal Family did you find out?

2.Fill in the quiz:

1.The surname of the British Queen is…

2.Elizabeth II is…years old.

3.Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of the UK at the age of…

4.In April 2014 Elizabeth II is going to be …years old.

5.The husband of the British Queen is Prince …

6.The Queen’s husband is …older than his wife.

7.The Queen has…children: …daughter and …sons

8.Prince Charles’ older son’s name is…

9.Prince William brother’s name is…

10.Prince Charles first wife’s name was…

11.The name of the Duchess of Cambridge is…

12. The new little Prince of Cambridge will go by the names…

13…. will someday become the 43rd English monarch.