All through Elizabeth II’s long reign, the Queen’s Speech was shorthand for the UK’s State Opening of Parliament, which takes place annually at the beginning of each parliamentary session. The monarch reads out a speech to the assembled Houses of Lords and Commons detailing the government’s programme of legislation for the upcoming year. On 7 … Continue reading “What is the King’s Speech?”
This biography of King Charles III is meant for A2 students. The coronation ceremonies will take place on Saturday 6th of May 2023 and celebrations are expected all over the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries. The Royal Family is a fairly common topic at the moment, so your students are likely to know … Continue reading “A Royal Celebration”
Prince Charles became King Charles III as soon as his mother Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, but he will only crowned king at his coronation ceremony on 6 May, after a period of mourning. It is an event full of pageantry, with much of the ritual going back a thousand years. The … Continue reading “Britain Celebrates: The Coronation”
Our bioboxes are short “Who Am I?” quizzes to help introduce pupils to famous figures in the English-speaking world. This one is about Britain’s new King Charles III. You can download the MP4 file below to use in class.
The instant that the queen died, her eldest son and heir, Charles, became Britain’s new monarch. Charles had been first in line to the throne for 70 years since the accession of his mother and was the longest-serving Prince of Wales. Prince William now replaces Charles as heir to the throne, followed by his three … Continue reading “The Queen is Dead, Long Live the King!”
On 8 September, the British Royal Family announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. Britain’s longest reigning monarch had been on the throne for 70 years, which had been marked this summer by Platinum Jubilee celebrations. She was immediately succeeded by her son Charles, who will be known as King … Continue reading “The End of an Era”
We promised you a second part to our A1+ worksheet based on a comic-strip telling of Queen Elizabeth II’s life. The first worksheet ended with her meeting with Prince Philip in Dartmouth, in the south of England. In Part 2, we follow Elizabeth through the Second World War, marriage and up to her coronation. Your … Continue reading “Queen Elizabeth II Comic Strip Part 2”
The Platinum Jubilee Concert coverage on 4 June opened with a sketch that featured the Queen inviting Paddington Bear to tea. The short video is great. for class use, and would make a good complement to the “deep fake” Queen’s Christmas speech that is featured in Shine Bright 3e Snapfile 11 Twist and Tell. The … Continue reading “Marmalade Sandwich, Your Majesty?”
Why does the British monarch have two birthdays? Queen Elizabeth II’s real birthday is 21 April (she was 96 in 2022). But since 1748, the monarch’s official birthday is celebrated in June, because the weather is better. This year, it’s on 2 June. The official birthday is marked by the Trooping the Colour ceremony near … Continue reading “The Queen’s Birthdays”
Everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth II’s seventy years on the throne in the last of the British Council Paris’s “Talks in English” for this school year: 2 June at 7 p.m. Just in time to kick off the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend, Amy Brightling will discuss the Queen’s long and eventful … Continue reading “Talk in English: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee”