Queen Elizabeth attended a public church service yesterday at the West Newton parish church near Sandringham. The outing was her last in Norfolk before her return to London today. Following tradition, the Queen has been at her estate since just before Christmas. Though the past weeks have not been a purely work-free vacation, I’m sure she enjoyed her more relaxed schedule in the estate, having lots of time with her corgis, horses and the countryside.

At the church, the Queen and Prince Philip briefly met some of the residents who gathered outside the church to greet the royals. A couple of …read more

In December last year, Queen Elizabeth went to Oxford University to reopen the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology. The British Monarchy’s channel on Youtube released this video of the visit. It shows her arrival, and welcome by a crowd of flag-waving students. We also see a small part of the activities inside, including the unveiling of a flag to mark her visit.

The little girl who presented the Queen with a posy gave a wonderful little curtsey! Very cute!

Here are some photos of the British royal family as they went to church on Christmas morning. We’ve already seen some of them in the video. But that was such a short clip that I think you’ll also enjoy seeing them better here:

images via Zuma Press

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In keeping with tradition, Queen Elizabeth and the British royal family are spending the Christmas break in Sandringham estate. The royals attended Christmas services at the church of St Mary Magdalene yesterday. Below is a video of their arrival:

The Queen was accompanied in the car by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Before entering the church, Queen Elizabeth, in a red coat and hat, acknowledged the crowd that had gathered outside. Also seen in this video are Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Camilla, Peter and Autumn Phillips, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie. Bringing up the rear were Prince Harry, Prince William …read more

Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas message, which was recorded earlier in Buckingham Palace, was broadcast today. It is her 57th message, in what has become a popular part of public Christmas celebrations in the U.K. You can watch the broadcast in the video below, via The Royal Channel on YouTube.

Queen Elizabeth called 2009 “a difficult year for many”. She touched on the major themes of the war in Afghanistan, the global recession, and the unity and strength of the Commonwealth of nations.

Here are some important about the history of this Christmas tradition:
1932 – King George V issued the monarch’s annual Christmas message …read more

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip kept up with the latest in popular entertainment at last Tuesday’s Royal Variety Show. The annual show brings together performances from the film and music industry. This year, it was held in Blackpool, England, the first time in the town since 1955.

Among this year’s Royal Variety performers were Bette Midler, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Buble, Katherine Jenkins, Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga.

Queen Elizabeth was in Oxford, England yesterday, on behalf of two institutions at Oxford University. The monarch officially reopened the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, after its 61 million pound renovation. The museum’s new galleries have been open to the public since November 7. But it was the Queen’s presence that made yesterday’s event official and that much more special, of course.

In the afternoon, Queen Elizabeth continued to Brasenose College to celebrate its 500th anniversary. She met with the Principal, Professor Roger Cashmore, and with staff, students and alumni of the school, and attended a luncheon the college’s …read more

Queen Elizabeth has once again graced the opening of the British parliament, the event that is the most regal in her annual schedule.
Very little varies from year to year in the ceremony at the House of Lords in London’s Westminster Palace. Several parts of the ceremony, such as a search of the palace cellars and Buckingham Palace’s taking of a “hostage” from the House of Commons, are performed purely for the sake of tradition, which may go back as far as 1605 (in the case of the cellar search).
Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, arrives, wearing the King George …read more

On Sunday, the British Royal Family led their country in commemorating the end of the of World War I Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince William and Prince Harry joined British political leaders at the Cenotaph in London for Remembrance Sunday. As customary, the royals laid wreaths during the ceremony honoring those who died in battle.

Here are some photos of Queen Elizabeth to brighten your Saturday! The British monarch, in a vibrant red ensemble, visited the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, Suffolk, England on October 29, 2009.

As part of her visit, the Queen took a tour of the brand new visitor’s centre and was introduced to the work being done in the Cancer Centre. She also took up a spade to plant a tree on the grounds of the facility. The plaque marking the tree reads:
This Tree was Planted in memory of W.R. …read more