As
one of the most famous royal families in the world, the British monarchy has a long and fascinating history filled with interesting tidbits and lesser-known facts. Here are some of the most intriguing pieces of trivia about the British royal family:
1. The Queen has a secret signal to end conversations When the Queen of England is ready to end a conversation, she has a discreet way of alerting her staff. According to former butler Paul Burrell, the queen will shift her handbag from one arm to the other, indicating that she's ready to move on.
2. The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis The Queen's love of corgis is widely known, but many people don't realize just how many of these pups she's owned over the years. In total, Her Majesty has had more than 30 corgis, many of which were descended from her first one, Susan.
3. Royal babies are born in a special hospital room When a member of the royal family gives birth, they do so in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. This special hospital room has played host to several royal births, including those of Prince William and Prince Harry.
4. The Queen has a secret escape tunnel Beneath Buckingham Palace, there is a secret tunnel that the Queen can use in case of emergency. The tunnel, which dates back to World War II, runs from the palace to a nearby Tube station and would allow the Queen to escape unnoticed if needed.
5. The royal family has a travel secret When members of the royal family travel abroad, they always pack an all-black outfit with them. This is in case of a sudden tragedy or national mourning, as royals are expected to dress in mourning black in such situations.
6. Prince Philip had multiple royal titles While Prince Philip was most commonly known as the Duke of Edinburgh, he actually had several other royal titles as well. At the time of his death, he was also the Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, among others.
7. The Queen's coronation dress was made from Winston Churchill's curtains When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, she wore a stunning gown that was made from fabric taken from curtains that once belonged to Winston Churchill. The curtains were given to the designer, Norman Hartnell, as a gift.
8. Prince Charles is a published author In addition to his many philanthropic and royal duties, Prince Charles is also a respected author. His book, "Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World," explores environmental issues and ways to achieve sustainability.
9. The Queen has a Guinness World Record In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II was awarded a Guinness World Record for the Longest Reigning Living Monarch. At that time, she had been on the throne for 63 years and 7 months.
10 The royal family is technically German While the British royal family is often seen as the quintessential English dynastic line, it's worth noting that they are actually of German descent. The family's original name was Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and it was only changed to Windsor during World War I to seem more British. These are just a few of the many fascinating and surprising facts about the British royal family. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about this iconic family, there's always something new to discover.