The Royal Week – Part 1

O casamento real do século acontece na próxima sexta-feira e aparentemente o assunto quente da semana é a família real. Documentários sobre os casamentos falidos, os escândalos, os erros e s acertos da monarquia britânica estão por toda parte.

E é claro que nós não poderíamos ficar de fora dessa onda, não é mesmo?

Então, vamos lá! O que você sabe sobre a família real? Você conhece todos eles? O que eles fazem? Os britânicos gostam deles?

Complete o texto abaixo com uma versão da palavra entre parênteses e veja quão por dentro você está dos assuntos reais.

The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United __________(KING). The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at __________(VARY) with official national terms for the family. Members of the royal family belong to, either by birth or marriage, the House of Windsor, since 1917, when George V changed the name of the royal house from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. This decision was __________(PRIME) taken because Britain and her Empire were at war with Germany and given the British Royal Family’s strong German ancestry, it was felt that its public image could be improved by choosing a more British house name. It is __________(INTEREST) to note that the name of the aircraft which bombed London and south-east England at this time were Gotha bombers. The new name chosen, Windsor, had absolutely no __________(CONNECT) other than as the name ofthe castle which was and continues to be a royal __________(RESIDE).

Although in the United __________(KING) there is no strict legal or formal __________(DEFINE) of who is or is not a member of the Royal Family,and different lists will include different people, those carrying the style Her or His Majesty (HM), or Her or His Royal Highness (HRH) are always considered members, which usually results in the __________(APPLY) of the term to the monarch, the consort of the monarch, the widowed consorts of previous monarchs, the children of the monarch and previous monarchs, the male-line grandchildren of the monarch and previous monarchs, and the spouses and the widows of a monarch’s and previous monarch’s sons and male-line grandsons.

Members and relatives of the British Royal Family __________(HISTORY) represented the monarch in various places throughout the British Empire, sometimes for extended periods as viceroys, or for specific ceremonies or events. Today, they often perform ceremonial and social duties throughout the United __________(KING) and abroad on behalf of the UK, but, aside from the monarch, have no __________(CONSTITUTE) role in the affairs of government. This is the same for the other realms of the Commonwealth though the family there acts on behalf of, is funded by, and represents the sovereign of that particular state, and not the United __________(KING).

Public role and image

Members of the Royal Family participate in hundreds of public __________(ENGAGE) yearly throughout the whole of the entire United __________(KING), as formally recorded in the Court Circular, to honour, encourage and learn about the __________(ACHIEVE) or endeavours of individuals, __________(INSTITUTE) and enterprises in a variety of areas of life. As __________(REPRESENT) of the Queen, they often also join the nation in commemorating historical events, holidays, celebratory and tragic __________(OCCUR), and may also sponsor or participate in numerous __________(CHARITY), cultural and social activities. Their travels abroad on behalf of the UK (called State Visits when the sovereign __________(OFFICE) meets with other heads of state) draw public attention to amicable relations within and between the Commonwealth and other nations, to British goods and trade, and to Britain as a historical, vacation, and tourist __________(DESTINY). Their presence, activities and traditional roles constitute the apex of a modern “royal court,” and provide a distinctly British and historical __________(PAGEANT) to ceremonies (e.g. Trooping the Colour) and flavour to public events (e.g. Garden Parties, Ascot). Throughout their lives they draw enormous media __________(COVER) in the form of photographic, written and televised __________(COMMENT) on their activities, family relationships, rites of passage, personalities, attire, behaviour, and public roles. Senior members of the royal family often drive themselves instead of having a driver.

Funding

Members of the Royal Family carry out public duties; these individuals receive an annual payment known as a Parliamentary Annuity, the funds being supplied to cover office costs.

These amounts are repaid by The Queen from her private funds.

Though always voluntarily subject to the Value Added Tax and other indirect taxes, the Queen agreed to pay taxes on income and capital gains from 1992, although the details of this arrangement are both voluntary and secret. At the same time it was announced that only the Queen and Prince Philip would receive civil list payments. Since 1993 the Queen’s personal estate (e.g. shareholdings, personal jewellery, Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle) will be subject to Inheritance Tax, though bequests from Sovereign to Sovereign are exempt.

Para conferir suas respostas, clique aqui.

Quer saber mais sobre o que a realeza faz de verdade, sobre suas obrigações diárias? Assista ao vídeo abaixo!

Ah, e não deixe de ver o vídeo sobre as curiosidades que cercam essa família tão famosa.