The British Royal Family: Everything you need to know

Interested in the UK and the British Royal Family? Don't know who all these dukes and duchesses are? In this lesson, I'll explain how the British monarchy works. You'll learn about the members and titles of the royal family, the history of monarchy in the UK, and how our constitutional monarchy works. I'll answer questions like: What is the queen's job? Why is there no king right now, even though Queen Elizabeth II has a husband? Who will inherit the throne?... and more. Watch this lesson to understand the royal family and the culture of monarchy in the UK.
UPDATE: This video was published in October 2017. As time goes by, changes happen, and that's true with any family, including the British Royal Family. The biggest change took place on 8 September 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away, at the age of 96, after a long 70-year reign. She has been succeeded by her son, who will be known as King Charles III. Here is a recent link which I hope is helpful: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23272491
I've made a video sharing my thoughts and memories of Queen Elizabeth II: • Queen Elizabeth II - M...
TAKE THIS QUIZ TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: www.engvid.com/british-royal-...
TRANSCRIPT
Hello. I'm Gill at engVid, and today's lesson is all about the British Royal Family. Okay, so if you probably see items in the news about our royal family, you'll have seen the queen, Queen Elizabeth; maybe her husband, Prince Philip; but they're a big family, and also not all countries have a royal family so I've just put this lesson together with a bit of information to tell you a little bit more about them. Okay, right, so the British Royal Family are also known as the House of Windsor, because Windsor is their name, which comes from Windsor. This place here, Windsor Castle is one of their homes. So years ago they decided to use the name Windsor.
So, some people like the royal family, admire them. They think of them as kind of celebrities, just like film stars, and sports celebrities. They're reported in the newspapers in a similar way. You get gossip about them. In some newspapers who like to write a lot of gossip, if they've heard something, it may not be accurate, but they've heard a story about some member of the royal family, and they print the story. They might have a photograph to go with it. So they're always in the news, the royal family, for one reason or another, either a good reason or a bad reason. Pretty much every day you can hear something about the royal family or read something in the newspaper. So, some people do like them, and even, you know, think of them as celebrities, and maybe give too much time and thought to them.
But then at the other extreme, some people dislike them because they're thinking of the fact that they spend a lot of money, they have all these buildings which are expensive to look after, people say: "What work do they do?" They don't seem to do any work, so why should they live such rich lives if they don't do anything? But, of course, a lot of the royal family do things all the time. They're not working for money always, sometimes they do that as well, they have jobs some of them with a salary, but some of them, they may not be working and being paid for it, but they're doing kind of diplomatic work, they're meeting visitors from other countries, they're being kind of ambassadors, that sort of thing. So they keep busy, and they're patrons of charities and they go to events, and they give their support to things and so on. So, a lot of the royal family do keep quite busy trying to live useful lives, and so I think if they didn't do that there would be a lot more sort of criticism of them. But because you can't see that they're doing things, working hard, that stops a lot of people from criticizing and saying we shouldn't have a royal family. Some people are called Republicans, and they say we should have a president instead of a queen or a king. We should have a president and a prime minister instead of a queen and a prime minister. So there are Republicans around and have been for more than a hundred years, people who wanted to get rid of the royal family, but it hasn't happened yet.
Okay, so the kind of system we have in the UK, it's called a constitutional monarchy. The "monarchy" part is to do with the royal family, with the queen. The monarch, so the word "monarch" means king or queen. The "constitutional" part is to do with politics, and the government, and parliament. So what happens, really, is the government, the MPs, the ministers in parliament, they make the decisions. The government makes the decisions. And if they have a new piece of, an act of parliament, a new law, for example, the queen just has to sign it. If it's been democratically decided already by the politicians that this will become law, the queen can't just say: "No, I don't like that. I'm not going to sign it."

[@PerryLMarrs]

Among other virtues, I must say that Gill is extraordinarily tactful!

[@sumanarathne8816]

Yes that's right

[@engvidGill]

UPDATE: This video was published in October 2017. As time goes by, changes happen, and that's true with any family, including the British Royal Family. The biggest change took place on 8 September 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away, at the age of 96, after a long 70-year reign. She has been succeeded by her son, who will be known as King Charles III. Here is a recent link which I hope is helpful: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23272491 I share my thoughts and memories in this new video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4mvaJWYrcehfZI

[@canaljoselandio]

Usted es la verdadera reina de Inglaterra, I love your videos😃

[@sofiaoltremare6232]

You're incomparable, Dear Lady Prof. Gill!!! ❤

[@PepitoGrilloCanarias]

Dear Gill, you are simply amazing. I'm learning English and since I found out your youtube channel, I've improved a lot. My English knowledge is getting better and better. Thanks for your hard work.

[@maylinleedsmayi]

I love your lessons. Your way of speaking is so elegant! I much prefer a real teacher with depth than computer special effects really.

[@user-im8lp3sv3q]

The best video l love you Gill.

[@irynanavizovska9930]

I totally agree :) love this lessons too

[@claudioalberti6460]

Maurizio battista

[@lilianamarquez8755]

You are great Gill. I love your classes!!

[@mdrumisardar3664]

Not than after the verb prefer, it is ' to'

[@julianabalduinodacosta5530]

You are a brilliant professor! I really admire you. Thank you dear Gill.

[@funnybiscuit7688]

Sweetest teacher I've ever had! your lessons have helped me a lot and now I'm able to communicate more fluently with my english family and thanks to videos like this, I don't run out of topics in a normal chat!

[@hwoilingtan7172]

i am a chinese teacher but i like english very much,listen to your english is enjoyable.

[@scarlettstarlet1892]

Uwww I love it so much! I like all British culture and this granny is such a British. God bless you, England! (from Russia)❤️

[@sitareburcak6511]

Stunning teacher 😊 learning English from this teacher so satisfying

[@ralph4720]

God bless the Queen and her Royal Family 👸 👑 🤴 👑

[@ralph4720]

❤️ 💙 💜 were never gonna see anything like this again queen 👸

[@attiliocevidalli7081]

Gill, I believe that the UK is a great Country as there are people like you, with your kindness and slightly humor

[@AnjaliVerma-wg3hg]

Hello Gill ma'am . I have watched this video of yours for the first time..It's informative..Thankyou ma'am. Love from India and from an Indian..

[@ileniasanzo2194]

Thank you Gill for sharing such interesting insides of your ''Royal Family'' Country/Commonwhealth/Culture! I found it really interesting! As a ESL learner, I definetly enjoyed it Great Gill!

[@StayPolishThinkEnglish]

I just adore those historical events of the past displayed by you! It's just absolutely wonderful. Thank you for sharing!

[@arielbarra]

Lovely accent!! :D I really enjoy listening to your classes... when you started to talk about the coronation ceremony I realized of the use of these two terms... "Crown" and "coronation"... In Spanish, "crown" translates as "corona", and the act to put a crown in someone else's head is called "Coronación" which translates to English as "Coronation", very similar words in Spanish, way different words in English. (Latin roots are funny, hahaha... The challenge of learning!). Cheers!

[@anonymousperson748]

Someone once said that English was 70% Latin.

[@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643]

@@anonymousperson748. Totally wrong. 40% is made of french vocabulary, 50% germanic, and the rest latin, greek…

[@beatastrzalkowska3444]

@@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643But German vocabulary and French have also plenty connections with Latin language so quite possible that English having French and German connections automatically is enriched with Latin vocabulary.

[@mukashakanyirakanyana1211]

Hy@@beatastrzalkowska3444

[@yetespanol3714]

I love watching you Gil..My English knowledge is literally improving just by watching you everyday.. I admire you so much..you are amazing teacher!! Two thumbs up for you :)

[@Ishimura306]

Gill, I speak English as a mother tongue but I have to say your videos are the best. I've been watching through them non-stop since youtube chucked one at me the other day and you're such a lovely woman. So refined, patient and lady-like in delivery. And it's so wonderful to think that you're taking time out of your day just to put these up for people wanting to learn about English and the English way of life.

[@bobjolly7795]

I wish I would have stumbled upon this video before..... I'm from the US and I was interested in the monarchy and had really no idea..... it took a lot of searching for me to glean the information you so conveniently have here....! Love your videos

[@paideia]

Hi Gill. I look to your videos from time to time and I think I never thanked you for refreshing my English, that I learned at the secondary school in Buenos Aires many years ago (we had 12 hours a week of English classes). Nowadays my spoken language has became not so fluent, but as I remember most of the grammar your videos are a good push to get back some fluency. Thank you again. (PS: You look very good with your new haircut!).

[@onejulieatthetime8666]

Its so interesting to watch. Thank you))

[@anabelasilva2936]

I love your lessons too! You are the best teacher I found in the Internet.Thank you!

[@sallymohamedghanem4906]

Hi Gill, I really like your way, you are now a part of my daily routine and I would appreciate if you prepare videos for idioms.

[@nadezhdab._alisasurname8732]

Thank you, Gill, for such a compehensive explanation! It's a pleasure to be taught by you!))

[@ernestoamador170]

Your lessons go beyond our expectations Gill! With all my respect, you are a great and admirable old-fashioned professor 👍

[@pavelk7085]

Love Gill and your language. Cheers from Russia.

[@unvarsoviano]

Gill, You are Queen of pleasure English lessons! Thank You, from Poland!

[@afsanaabedinkhan7732]

Thank you . I love your all lessons . You explain very smoothly . Love you.

[@franzfla52]

Thanks dear Gill for the great lesson, very nice as always...see you next lesson bye bye

[@juditdias7641]

I had to stop in the middle of the video to write this : I love you Gill. You're incredibly clear and adorable. Don't stop making videos! Greetings from Argentina.

[@tanjawinter6492]

Another lovely video from Gill! You're a great teacher, Gill, I love your pronunciation and how you explain things. I discovered you just today. I'm from Germany and I have already learnt about the accents with your video. You're a sweet lady, thanks for making all those great videos!

[@user-cm8he7mw9m]

Gill, thank you very much for the interesting lesson. It was very informative and helpful.

[@szabados1980]

Very comprehensive lesson on the Royal Family. However, please note that Prince Philip did not become a prince when he married the then Princess Elizabeth. He was born in the royal family of Greece so he had been a prince ever since birth. Also, Princess Charlotte is not effected by the new law (absolute primogeniture) yet. She would have become the next in line after Prince George under the old law (male primogeniture) as well. The new law comes into the picture if Prince William's third child is a boy. He would overtake Princess Charlotte under the old system but not under the new. It has not been made public if this child is expected to be a son or a daughter so we are still to find out. But a big THANK YOU, GILL for these lessons. If only I had had access to such entertaining and easy-to-understand videos when I was learning English and Spanish... twenty years ago!

[@JJLIU-st1mk]

We love your lessons ! We have learnt a lot.

[@bellaziferiel6659]

Hi Gill! I would like to thank you for sharing with us these precious information . I'm following you from Algeria .

[@tsukiyonoomi]

Gorgeous lady. Your lessons helps me very much. P.s: and what a lovely sweater!

[@user-xd1qc2oc2n]

Спасибо большое! Было интересно!! Люблю историю.❤️🌹

[@Onlymarycasa]

You are awesome, thanks for sharing this great lesson with us! I love the royal family!

[@MsIdzia]

You are THE BEST!! LOVE YOUR LESSONS!

[@inglesconpeter]

Hello ladie, I love your way of speaking. I'm an English teacher in Majorca and although I do a good job I don't think it's being rewarded.

[@muhasebeci2550]

Dear Ms. Gill, I clearly like your teaching. You are the best teacher for me. I thank you. I have been watching you since July 2020.

[@mehdibaudry5321]

Thnx a lot for sharing these informations and contributing to developing our knowledge, it was a real pleasure for me to watch your video , may god bless ya and make your path more successful

[@samuelcarmo4830]

Thank you Gill for this English class! It´s an interesting subject matter.

[@eileenxie5152]

It was very interesting topic about history of the U.K. Also nice way to learn some new words throughout the story . Thank you Gill

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Greetings from California. I was raised to respect the Royal Family. When I married, it was to a British girl. It was always a pleasure to discuss royal things with my inlaws and their extended family. I even watched the handover of Hong Kong (where I had been several times), with my wife's aunt. One thing I did not quite absorb from the family was the detail that you put in the two charts you wrote out. That was most helpful! And I thank you. Will there be an update, as I understand Prince Charles to be quite out of the loop for succession, now. This was a recent decision of the Queen, was it not? Or have I misunderstood?

[@RB-747]

Michael, I couldn't help noticing your comment and was just wondering where you got the impression that Charles was out of the succession? The Queen has been giving more roles to the Prince of Wales and newer members as of late, not to mention she can't legally write him out of the succession. I hope that answers your question.

[@michaeldougfir9807]

@@Abblegabble1 Greetings Anita! Thank you for your input. And someone else wrote in to side with you. So be it. I am 70 and have been wrong before -- more than a few times, even. Scripture indicates that your most precious posession is your reutation. And there are ideas in said Scripture that apreciate your writing in with a "good reort." That is considered valuable. Of course I have never met the Prince. All I have had to go on is previous reutation in Western USA. Additionaly, it is none of my business, truth be told. So, my thanks to you and another for your input.

[@elizabeth.kolozsi]

It’s 01:05 here, and I was waiting for a new video. Thanks a lot, Gill. Best regards from Mexico! 🇲🇽

[@millieelledge2196]

Kattie Andrad

[@simonsimon2888]

You looked very much like my English teacher in 1955. We called her "Miss Goldilock" of her silky golden hairs. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN found in every class-room. You're skilful in teaching simple easily comprehensible English language. Keep up! your good works...Land of Hope and Glory.

[@silviasobrino1330]

Again and again I choose you! The best teacher!! Your delightful classes to teach listening your pronunciation on a calm way and also being so interesting your topic about Royal Family!...Really enjoyable!! Be well! ...

[@AngelicaGonzalez-sq9eb]

I discovered you today and I’m learning a lot about history with you. My English vocabulary will become more elegant with your lessons, than you! 🥰

[@sampaudel]

So wonderful and interesting information! Thank You Very Much, indeed!

[@fritzifrey2908]

Again, like your lesson! By the way, your pullover is absolutely gorgeous! I'm a knitter and I am able to see how much work it needs to knit this you very much fitting sweater!

[@merce321]

This is brilliant. Wait a minute; I'll prepare a cup of tea and come back

[@skif072]

thanks a lots, teacher. your lessons always nice to hear. You are so tactful and elegant..

[@SkeWTF]

Hi Gill! I am so passionate about the British Royal Family, I just bought a book about the history of monarchy in the UK, since year 1000... Very interesting video :)

[@rondoflicflac]

Can you tell me the title of that book? I would like to read it because I'm also interested in the British monarchy. Thanks!

[@SkeWTF]

It's Kings and Queens by Richard Cavendish :)

[@rondoflicflac]

Marta Sattin Thank youuu 💕

[@Ang_Li]

My dream is to know U.K. and have a personal lesson whit Mrs Gill. She is the best!

[@John-kk3fb]

Hello Gill! I like your videos so much! You like to do historical lesson could you make a video about Beatles ? Have a great evening !

[@lucasjordaosilva106]

Thanks for this excellent class!

[@leonardod.carrijo4462]

Mrs. Jill your classes are quite interesting, and I learn not only the language but culture as well. Thank you very much!!

[@reconnect3342]

Thanks Gill for this lesson, it was a fascinating one!

[@parighorbani2861]

Dear Gill You don't know how much I love you what a lovely and fascinated you are. Looking forward to watch all of your video. Just I have problem with my accent which when I talk English I express fluently but I without any accent, can you give me some advice to improve that😘😘

[@karan8362]

This lady is just perfect teacher and explainer. Love everything she teach about.

[@bwtravelgo]

u r one of the best English teacher in the world! I love ur lesson n the way u present the stories. ✪ω✪

[@adrianbullsharkman995]

Have a nice night. Miss Gill, the best teacher. Thanks to you

[@duns37]

I like your lessons very much. Thanks a lot and best wishes for you!

[@cos5806]

Such a great lesson ! Thank you Gill 😄

[@Degjoy]

I absolutely love your pullover and the matching under-shirt. You look beautiful!

[@mariarita171]

Thank you teacher, very interesting video.Keep up the good work!Thank you, from Spain

[@heleninas-wildlife]

amazing lesson!! thank you very much! Take care Helen

[@thereffler]

Your lessons are amazing, im a not native English speaker but I´m improving my English skills very quickly, because of your lessons.Thank you very much

[@igormuzychenko8522]

THANKS A LOT, THE LANGUAGE SO CLEAR AND PERFECT FOR UNDERSTANDING, BEST REGARDS FROM S.PETRSBURG OF RU.

[@diahvivre6500]

Superb explanation! Thanks a lot, Professor Gil !

[@Pontie66]

Thanks for sharing this amazing history of British Royal Family with no doubt it's the most influential European Royal family.

[@rozembergbarbosa8661]

I adore to know about royal family, Thank You so much I loved the lesson 😘

[@neyroche]

I'm totally addicted to your wonderful lessons! Thanks so much!

[@amahlsaddam]

jesteś cudowna, słodki głos, i takie wiadomości, jakie trzeba , aaa, i bardzo wyraźnie mówisz. jesteś cudowna Pani Profesor

[@user-ds4gm1cc9p]

I've heard a lot of English teachers , but I think you are the best one. in all. THANK YOU VERY MUCH .

[@zuzannaemilia2872]

Very interesting lesson! Thank you for it

[@mariajogonzalez4612]

I enjoy your lessons very much. Your way you explain everything is fantastic.

[@mamzokingofstar6803]

Thank you so much Your lesson helped me too much I love your lesson I wish you long life

[@rachelcharles53]

Haha Ms Gill I love ur sense of humour ! They dint have things like the Internet nd Engvid those days ur smirk said it all......so he cudntve learnt English 🤣🤣 nd u cald him ‘this guy’ .........ultimate!!! God bless u Ms Gill! Take care!

[@aidadaniyar2374]

Thank you for every lesson. You are great person and professor .I really like your lesson . You are the most amazing teacher I have ever seen.God Bless you 🙏

[@alessandrodicrescenzo668]

Dear Gill, I love your lessons. You are the best teacher.

[@int_videos]

Thank You, Gill!

[@marianosales26]

I'm waiting the day you tell about the most important rock band music in the world Queen. I love Queen and Freddie Mercury music. But the Royal family video was great to. Thanks.

[@reginageorgekissandcleanje1288]

Paulo Mariano Yas! Queen rules 🖤

[@pagani29]

I hope she speaks about punk rock and the Sex Pistols: "God save the queen/Her fascist regime/It made you a moron/A potential H bomb". Sorry, I'm joking!

[@anonymousperson748]

Except Johnny Rotten (Lyden) said "Mo-ron" or some kind of weird pronunciation. He's everywhere these days. He was even commenting on a BBC documentary about the Bee Gees. He described Barry as being the handsome one with the great teeth while Robin has the "horse gnashers." Gave me a laugh.

[@omeribrahim7743]

It is very interesting to know that. It had been difficult for me to understand how the system of Monarchy works. But now I have a clear idea of it. Thanks really beneficial.

[@koampheakdey2318]

Hi Gill! Can we have a lesson which talks specifically about Brexit? I eagerly want it.

[@Jm..28.198]

Brexit is a collaboration of two words... As British and Exit = Brexit... British exited from European Union due economic factor and more.

[@sunacaglayan5628]

I just came across with your lessons . You are awesome teacher. Greetings from Turkey. With my best wishes.

[@ljiljanastajcic4294]

Thank You dear Gill, GOD Bless!

[@ImperaBrothers]

I like to hear her lessons because her voice is really clear and relaxing hahaha. Sometimes i like to hear some lessons before go to sleep 😂

[@liubagryshyna769]

It's so interesting all what you are telling, dear teacher ! Thank you very mach for your classes .

[@martakudyba2898]

Thank you for the lessons. ❤

[@celyaraujo5690]

Thanks so much for the brilliant lesson .

[@kulturfreund6631]

My father (RIP) was born just like the queen and Marylin Monroe in 1926, and he never became tired of mentioning it. - Father, pleeease give us a break.

[@cisselassya5531]

Thank you Gill very good explanation.

[@tamarabernardy839]

You and your lessons are just amazing! Thank you so much!!

[@Qprovessional]

This's a very interesting lesson. I've known a lot of the British Royal Family.

[@rasmussimpson5753]

Dear Gill, thank you for teaching me a lot! I found that your lessons are very clear and easy to understand. Especially for the accent, I really like your gorgerous accent and I am trying to learn RP accent but it's difficult to pronunce since I got strong influence from American accent. But I think I am doing much more better when I try to speak in the pace as you. Thank you for your efforts and god bless you x.

[@adelaj1347]

In this quarantine you was my lovely professor. Thank you so much 😊

[@ducinha1000]

I love your lessons , you have helped me a lot thank you 🙏🏻.

[@MRaedAlLulu]

Your videos are very interesting, Gill.

[@98jm]

Your teaching is lovely, I also like your accent, ur way of teaching, and even your swetter