Monday, March 27, 2006

Here's More Royal Trivia!

Did you know....


  • King Edward VIII, as Prince of Wales, was the first member of the royal family to fly. He learned in France during the first World War and later went on to become a skilful pilot. He also founded the King's Flight in 1936 to provide royal air transportation for official duties.

  • King George VI, as Prince Albert was the first monarch to be a qualified pilot. He gained his pilot's licence in 1919.

  • In 1911, King George V, accompanied by Queen Mary, was the only King-Emperor to visit India and be installed as Emperor at a Delhi-Durbar.

  • King George VI was the first British monarch to visit the United States and Canada

  • Prince Albert Edward (the future King Edward VII) was heir apparent to the throne longer than anyone else in British history. The son of Queen Victoria, he inherited the throne at the age of 59.

  • Queen Elizabeth II has visited countries which no other British monarch has ever visited. She was the first reigning monarch to make State visits to Russia in October 1994, Korea in 1999 and to Brunei and Malaysia in 1998.

  • The Queen does not have or need a passport.

© Marilyn Braun 2006

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think i read it somewhere that the first qualified royal pilot is King george VI.When he was still prince Albert in 1919,he had obtained pilot lisence.

Marilyn Braun said...

You are correct! Yes, he was the first member of the royal family to gain his pilot's licence.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page2612.asp

King Edward VIII, as Prince of Wales was the first to fly, learning in France during the first World War.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page5025.asp

I will change this post accordingly. Thanks!