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Overview
Guide to the monarchy
Charles and Camilla
select this link for our guide to the UK monarchy
Camilla Parker-Bowles has married Prince Charles and taken the title Duchess of Cornwall.
When Charles becomes King she will be the Princess Consort. The marriage required permission from The Queen.
Learn about the rules of succession and form the Royal Family tree.
Learning aims
Read the news story:
Royal wedding pics are released: select this link
Quiz: The Queen
What do you know about the monarch?
Enter
In line to the throne
Ask students if they know who would take over if the Queen died? If Prince Charles died?
How far down the list can they go?
(Year of birth in brackets)
Line of succession
Explain that this is called the line of succession to the throne. It has four points that may need explaining to students.
It is best to form a physical queue of students to help demonstrate point [2]
[1] The eldest son inherits
The eldest son gets the throne, and passes it to his eldest son.
[2] It is not in order of how old you are
Prince William is younger than many people behind him in the line to the throne. He is ahead of them because his dad, Prince Charles, was ahead of them.
OR
Imagine the line as a queue. If someone in the queue has a child the child is not sent to the back of the line. Instead they stand directly behind their dad or older brothers.
[3] Gender is important
The role of monarch is passed to sons. You only pass it to your daughter if you don't have a son. Princess Anne is the Queen's second oldest child but she is only number eight in line to the throne.
[4] Religion is important
There are three people who would have been in the top 30 who are excluded. They have either become a Roman Catholic or married Roman Catholics. The monarch is head of the Church of England and so must be a member of that church (see background).
Main activity
How are the top Royals related.
The abstract concept of a family tree is best explained by physically representing it. Use students as the Royals.
This will mean moving desks aside, or going into the hall. You will need a ball of string or sticky tape/toilet roll.
What is a family tree?
Demonstrate the concept by drawing your own family tree on a board. Start with your grandmother at the top and work down the board. Add fictitious and amusing characters to produce a memorable
tree.
Assign the Royal identities
Break the class into groups of 15 and print out the list:
Cut the list into strips and give out one identity to each student.
Form a Royal Family tree
Can they stand in the correct places to form a family tree? Start with the Queen Mother. Use string to form the branches. Give as much support as is necessary.
Extension activity
The groups make a poster of the tree by sticking their labels to a large piece of paper.
Plenary
Return to the concept of succession. Would students like to see any changes to the way it works?
How do students imagine the rules of succession came to be the way they are?
Teachers' Background
Charles and Camilla
Your thoughts
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