Quiz of the Day
British Royals
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Queen Elizabeth II centenary commemoration — royal trivia, Commonwealth facts
1. How long did Queen Elizabeth II reign?
- 63 years
- 75 years
- 72 years
- 70 years
Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years and 214 days (1952–2022), making her the longest-reigning British monarch. She served through 15 Prime Ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.
2. What is the official London residence of the British monarch?
- Buckingham Palace
- Kensington Palace
- Windsor Castle
- Hampton Court Palace
Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 78 bathrooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, and 188 staff bedrooms. It also has its own post office, cinema, swimming pool, and doctor's surgery.
3. Which king was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215?
- Edward I
- Henry VIII
- King John
- Richard I
The Magna Carta ('Great Charter') limited the king's power and established that no one — not even the monarch — was above the law. It influenced the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
4. How many countries are in the Commonwealth of Nations?
- 66
- 46
- 56
- 36
The Commonwealth spans 56 nations across every continent, with a combined population of 2.5 billion people. Not all members were former British colonies — Mozambique and Rwanda joined voluntarily.
5. Which king had six wives?
- Henry VII
- Charles I
- George III
- Henry VIII
The mnemonic for the fates of Henry VIII's wives is: 'Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.' His desire for a male heir led him to break with the Catholic Church and form the Church of England.
6. What is the name of the Crown Jewels' most famous diamond?
- The Star of Africa
- The Cullinan
- The Koh-i-Noor
- The Hope Diamond
The Cullinan diamond, found in South Africa in 1905, weighed 3,106 carats uncut — the largest gem-quality diamond ever found. It was cut into nine major stones, two of which are in the Crown Jewels.
7. Who was the shortest-reigning British monarch?
- Lady Jane Grey
- Richard III
- Edward VIII
- Edward V
Lady Jane Grey reigned for just 9 days in July 1553 before being deposed by Mary I. She was executed at the Tower of London at age 16 and is sometimes called 'the Nine Days' Queen'.
8. What ceremony takes place at the Tower of London every night at exactly 9:53 PM?
- The Lighting of the Torches
- The Royal Salute
- The Ceremony of the Keys
- The Changing of the Guard
The Ceremony of the Keys has been performed every single night for over 700 years without interruption — including during both World Wars. It involves the ceremonial locking of the Tower gates.
9. Which queen gave her name to an era famous for strict morality and industrial progress?
- Queen Mary
- Queen Elizabeth I
- Queen Victoria
- Queen Anne
Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years (1837–1901) and was Empress of India. She popularised the white wedding dress, the Christmas tree tradition in Britain, and was a carrier of haemophilia that spread through European royal families.
10. What colour does the monarch traditionally avoid wearing to Parliament?
- Blue
- Red
- Green
- Black
Black is associated with mourning in royal protocol. The monarch also avoids wearing the same colour as the speaker's chair (green in the Commons) to maintain visual distinction.
11. King Charles III's coronation in 2023 was the first coronation in how many years?
- 60 years
- 80 years
- 70 years
- 50 years
The last coronation was Elizabeth II's in 1953, which was the first to be televised — drawing an estimated 27 million TV viewers in the UK alone. Charles's was livestreamed globally.
12. What unusual item does the monarch hold in their right hand during the coronation?
- A golden key
- A sceptre with a cross
- A sword
- An orb
The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross contains the 530-carat Great Star of Africa diamond (Cullinan I), the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. The orb is held in the left hand.
13. Which royal castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world?
- Balmoral Castle
- Tower of London
- Windsor Castle
- Edinburgh Castle
Windsor Castle covers about 13 acres and has been a royal residence for over 900 years. In 1992, a devastating fire destroyed 115 rooms — restoration took 5 years and cost £36.5 million.
14. The monarch's birthday is celebrated publicly on a Saturday in June. What is this called?
- The Queen's Parade
- The Royal Gala
- Trooping the Colour
- The Birthday Honours
Trooping the Colour has marked the sovereign's official birthday since 1748. It's held in June regardless of the monarch's actual birthday to take advantage of better weather.
15. Which royal family member was known as 'the people's princess'?
- Diana, Princess of Wales
- Princess Margaret
- Princess Anne
- Catherine, Princess of Wales
Tony Blair coined the phrase after Diana's death in 1997. Her funeral was watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide — one of the most-watched events in television history.