Q: Tom - Ruislip
I know that Prince Charles is next in line to the throne but I don't understand whether he is heir apparent or heir presumptive.  Can you tell me which is correct and what is the difference between the two?

The heir apparent is the next in line to the throne whose right to succeed cannot be defeated by the birth of someone with a superior right to succeed.  The eldest son of the Sovereign is always the heir apparent and were he to die, his eldest son would become heir apparent.  Thus, Prince Charles is heir apparent to The Queen and were he to predecease Her Majesty, Prince William of Wales would become heir apparent. 

The heir presumptive is the next in line to the throne whose right to succeed could be defeated by the birth of someone with a superior right.  Thus, The Queen, when she was Princess Elizabeth, was heir presumptive from 1936 until 1952, since King George VI might have produced a son who would have been heir apparent.

Q: Stephen, Bristol
Could you please give me some information regarding the Great Seal of the Realm?

The Great Seal of the Realm is the chief seal of the Crown and is used to authenticate important State documents.  The seal originated in the reign of Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century and comprises a double-sided metal matrix depicting an image of the Sovereign.  A new metal matrix is cast at the beginning of each reign and supersedes the earlier Great Seal.  It is delivered by the Sovereign in person into the custody of the Lord Chancellor of the day and the former Great Seal is then defaced ('demasked') by means of a special hammer and presented to the Lord Chancellor as a personal gift of the monarch.  Normally only one Great Seal is created during a reign. 

The present Seal was designed by Gilbert Ledward, R.A. and engraved in silver at the Royal Mint.  The obverse shows a portrait of The Queen on horseback, wearing the uniform of Colonel-in-Chief, Grenadier Guards.  Below the horse is the Crowned Cypher.  The legend is the Latin form of the full Royal title: "Elizabeth II by the grace of God of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".

The reverse shows Her Majesty throned and robed, holding the sceptre in her right hand the sceptre and the orb in her left, her feet resting on a footstool.  On either side of the throne are shields of the Royal Arms.  Below the footstool is the legend "Dieu et mon droit" and part of the motto "Honi soit qui may y pense" appears on the chair behind The Queen's shoulders.

Q: Adrian - Harrogate
At state banquets do the footmen still wear the silk breeches and velvet cutaways in scarlet and gold and in black and gold ?  I have noticed in the background of recent state banquets photographs, as of the American and French and Russian and Chinese Presidents, only footmen in tails and white tie.

Footmen have three separate uniforms.  Their normal day dress comprises a black tail coat and trousers, soft white shirt with turn-down collar, black tie (not bow) and scarlet waistcoat trimmed with very narrow gold braid.

On semi-State occasions such as Ascot Week, important dinner parties and carriage duties, footmen wear a scarlet tail coat, white stiff shirt and bow tie and black trousers.

On special occasions, for example at Evening Receptions for the Diplomatic Corps, the uniform consists of scarlet livery decorated with gold braid, scarlet plush knee breeches, pink stockings and black buckle shoes. 

Q: David - Plymouth
I read recently that The Queen's Private Secretary is going to retire in September 2007.  Please can you tell me more about this role?

The Private Secretary has three main responsibilities to The Queen:

1. Acting as the channel of communication between Her Majesty and the government, not only in the United Kingdom but also in the seventeen Commonwealth countries of which The Queen is Sovereign.

2. Organising Her Majesty's official programme at home and overseas and drafting speeches for The Queen.

3. Dealing with Her Majesty's official correspondence and correspondence from the public.

The Private Secretary is assisted by two colleagues: the Deputy Private Secretary and the Assistant Private Secretary. 

The Queen is accompanied by one of the Private Secretaries on engagements and overseas and has regular contact with them at daily morning meetings.  There is always at least one Private Secretary on duty wherever The Queen is in residence. 

The Queen's weekly audiences with the Prime Minister are mirrored by similar meetings between their respective Private Secretaries.  As a Privy Councillor, the Private Secretary is able to discuss all political matters in confidence with the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers and senior politicians.

The Private Secretary is also the Keeper of the Royal Archives and passes requests for access, changes of policy and recommendations on all archival matters to The Queen.

Q: Susan - Illinois, United States of America
Can you tell me whether the Royal Pavilion in Brighton is still a royal residence?

The Royal Pavilion was built for the Prince Regent (later King George IV) and lived in by him, and then by his brother King William IV until his death in 1837.

Queen Victoria did not like being there, as Brighton had become so fashionable and popular that she had no privacy, so in 1845 the Pavilion was closed and all its contents removed to Buckingham Palace.

In 1849 the town of Brighton bought the Pavilion from the Crown for £50,000 and since then many of its original furnishings and contents have been either given back or sent on indefinite loan, by The Queen in the 1950s, and before that by Queen Mary. 

Today the Royal Pavilion is maintained by Brighton and Hove City Council.