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The Queen’s working day

The Queen visits a London borough

The Queen meets pupils wearing Sri Lankan dress at a school near the site of the 2012 London Olympics
© Press Association

AFTERNOON

In the afternoons, The Queen often goes out on public engagements.

Such visits require meticulous planning beforehand to meet the hosts’ requirements.

And The Queen prepares for each visit by briefing herself on whom she will be meeting and what she will be seeing and doing.

Royal engagements are carefully selected by The Queen from a large number of invitations sent to her each year, often by the Lord-Lieutenants (The Queen’s representatives in counties throughout the United Kingdom).

This helps to ensure the widest possible spread and to make effective use of The Queen’s time.

If the engagement is outside London, her journeys are often by air using a helicopter or an RAF aircraft.

The Queen carries out around 430 engagements (including audiences) a year, to meet people, open events and buildings, unveil plaques and make speeches.

How the Monarchy Works
	The Queen’s working day The Queen visits a London borough The Queen meets pupils wearing Sri Lankan dress at a school near the site of the 2012 London Olympics © Press Association AFTERNOON In the afternoons, The Queen often goes out on public engagements. Such visits require meticulous planning beforehand to meet the hosts’ requirements. And The Queen prepares for each visit by briefing herself on whom she will be meeting and what she will be seeing and doing. Royal engagements are carefully selected by The Queen from a large number of invitations sent to her each year, often by the Lord-Lieutenants (The Queen’s representatives in counties throughout the United Kingdom). This helps to ensure the widest possible spread and to make effective use of The Queen’s time. If the engagement is outside London, her journeys are often by air using a helicopter or an RAF aircraft. The Queen carries out around 430 engagements (including audiences) a year, to meet people, open events and buildings, unveil plaques and make speeches.
Queen and State Queen and public Queen and Commonwealth Ceremony and symbol Royal finances The Royal Household	Such engagements can include visits to schools, hospitals, factories, military units, art galleries, sheltered accommodation for elderly people, hostels for the homeless, local community schemes in inner city areas, and other organisations. The Queen regularly goes out for the whole day to a particular region or city. If the visit is a busy one, or if it lasts more than a day, then The Queen will travel overnight on the Royal Train. The Duke of Edinburgh will often accompany The Queen on such visits; when this happens, they will carry out some engagements jointly and others separately to ensure that the maximum number of people and organisations can be visited. The Queen may end the afternoon seeing a number of Government ministers in a meeting of the Privy Council. Next section Have you seen… The Queen A biography of the Head of State Royal visits Out and about around the UK SUGGESTED LINKS Parliament