Royal Hobbies Answers

As the summer roars in, it seems appropriate to think about the royals in a more relaxed, off-duty mode. For this quiz, our experts were asked to identify the royal associated the following hobbies.

1. This royal declared he was no damn alien, but he was a recognized philatelist.

King George V was an avid stamp collector. He amassed a collection that is probably one of the most valuable in the world. It is now owned by his granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II. As for the alien statement, during World War I, when the royal family came under criticism for its German origins, he was accused of having "an alien and uninspiring court," to which he responded testily, "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm an alien."

2. Having earned the nickname "Farmer George" for his agrarian interests, this royal required his children maintain their own individual vegetable gardens.
King George III may be best remembered today for his illness and/or for 'losing' the American colonies, but one of the idiosyncracies that his contemporaries ridiculed was an interest in farming and farmers. Wherever he was, he would often walk about asking questions of rural people. He longed to pass this interest along to his 15 children and required each of them to cultivate their own fields. However, his kids were much more interested in having a rollicking good time.

3. This royal lady was not only a prolific letter writer, she also was a talented artist who created many sketches and paintings of her husband and nine children.

Queen Victoria, who wrote thousands upon thousands of letters and journals in her life, also was a talented artist. The people, animals and scenery around her were usually the subject of her drawings and paintings. She seems to have passed this talent to her descendants. For example, her great-great-great grandchildren Charles Prince of Wales and Lady Sarah Chatto have both exhibited their own artwork.

4. These royal sisters spent part of World War II creating musical theatre productions to entertain their parents.
While many English children were sent far, far away from the urban centers during the war, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were only sent as far as Windsor Castle. They really grew up there, taking their lessons and helping tend victory gardens (King George III would have been proud). Although their parents spent a lot of time in London, they were frequently at Windsor with their daughters. Each Christmas, the princesses--joined by royal relatives and staff members--would stage a pantomime to entertain their parents, estate personnel and guests. Distant cousin Prince Philip of Greece even attended the performance of "Old Mother Riding Boots" in 1944. Three years later, he married the show's co-star, the future Queen Elizabeth II. Here's a news article about the recently rediscovered program from that pantomime: http://bit.ly/ktEmyj

5. This staunchly dignified royal lady had one very naughty hobby of collecting; that is, collecting other people's stuff. Because of her notorious habit of acquiring things from other people's houses, this lady's mother-in-law sometimes hid her personal treasures during visits from her.
While it might not be quite appropriate to call Queen Mary a cleptomaniac, she developed a habit of admiring things in such a way that her host or hostess would feel compelled to make a gift of it to her. The only person in the realm who could avoid her acquiring ways was her mother-in-law Queen Alexandra. Of course, Mary's skills as a collector--she often actually purchased things too!--helped expand the royal art collection and contributed greatly to the royal jewel collection.

And, for those of you who could use an extra point to level up (or to guard against imperfect quiz answers in the future!), here is an incredibly easy bonus question.

BONUS: Known for his self-deprecating wit, this royal gent poked fun at much lampooned personal interests on his 40th birthday. "Only the other day, I was inquiring of an entire bed of old-fashioned roses, who were forced to listen to my demented ramblings on the meaning of the universe as I sat cross-legged in the lotus position on the gravel path in front of them. I was inquiring of them what they thought would happen on my birthday in a Birmingham tram shed. At this point, a row of prized Welsh leeks (cocky little things) who were lurking in a nearby vegetable patch chipped in to say that they expected the shed to be filled with groups of semi-naked Kalahari bushmen gyrating wildly;in the reenactment of primeval fertility dance and also a troupe or two of Tibetan Buddhist monks who had proceeded to the shed by levitational means."

Perhaps Charles Prince of Wales was a man before his time. He was outspoken on environmentalism, urban renewal, mysticism and organic farming long before these things became more popular.

Royal Wedding Gowns Answers

In this fashionable quiz, our experts could earn half a point each for correctly naming the designer(s) of the wedding gowns for the following royal brides. Here are the answers.

1. Lady Diana Spencer
The then-little-known-and-now-divorced couple David and Elizabeth Emanuel were shocked to receive a phone call from the newly engaged Diana. It has recently been revealed that they designed two gowns, in case one was discovered by the media. Diana's gown now tours regularly as part of the Diana: A Celebration exhibition. See the dress.

2. Sarah Ferguson
When she married Prince Andrew in 1986, Sarah also chose a little-known designer Lindka Cierach to make her dress, which incorporated bows galore and embroidery and beading that included the couple's initials, their crests, their careers and their love--which took a detour to the divorce courts six years later. They reportedly remain great friends. As for Cierach, recent headlines alleged that Catherine Middleton's mother hired her and then fired her for her own mother-of-the-bride look. See the dress.

3. Letizia Ortiz
News reporter and anchor Letizia Ortiz selected Spanish designer Manuel Pertegaz to create her gown when she married the future King of Spain. Her skirt, train, sleeves and collar of her gown were encrusted with symbols of Spanish heraldry and history. See the dress.

4. Crown Princess Victoria
When she wed in the summer of 2010, Crown Princess Victoria wore an elegantly tailored gown by Swedish designer Par Engsheden. Instead of V-neck front like Letizia, Victoria wore a deep v back. Although her sleek dress was very modern she paid tribute to the past by wearing her mother's wedding veil and the 19th-century cameo tiara that has worn by generations of Swedish royal ladies. See the dress.

5. Charlene Wittstock
Although Charlene has not yet married her prince--the wedding is in July 2011--it has been announced that her designer is Giorgio Armani. As the future princess of a principality nestled between France and Italy, she has made an excellent choice with such an iconic fashion house. In fact, she often wears Armani, however, this particular dress itself has yet to be revealed. (Update: Armani designed Charlene's gown for the religious ceremony; Chanel for the civil ceremony.)

6. Grace Kelly
Who else would an Oscar-winning screen actress turn to when she needs the most important ensemble of her career? A Hollywood wardrobe designer, of course. Grace selected Helen Rose of MGM Studios. The ideal dress of the 1950s, it included a full silk taffeta skirt with a button-up antique Valenciennes lace bodice and a wide sash at the waste. See the dress.

7. Queen Elizabeth II
In post-war Britain, the economy was very tough so women sent their clothing ration coupons to their future queen so that she could have a gown suitable for a princess. Created by a favorite royal designer, Sir Norman Hartnell, who drew inspiration from Botticelli for his petite but shapely client. He brought the seed pearls for the dress through customs from the U.S. but controversy later arose when reports circulated that the silk was produced by enemy silkworms. (Actually, it came from friendly Chinese worms.) Hartnell also created her coronation gown six years later. See the dress.

8. Mary Donaldson
To marry the Danish heir, Australian-born Mary selected Danish designer Uffe Frank. See the gown. The skirt of the gown included long panels that were pinned back to reveal 100-year-old Irish lace. The dress also included Chantilly lace from France and her ensemble included a fan that belonged to the groom's Swedish grandmother and a veil that had been worn when British Princess Margaret of Connaught married the Crown Prince of Sweden in 1905, when Danish Princess Anne-Marie married the King of Greece in 1964, when Greek Princess Alexia married her Spanish husband in 1999 and when several other princesses married. It was truly an international affair. See the dress.

9. Princess Margaret
The gorgeous Princess Margaret used the same designer as her sister: Sir Norman Hartnell, but with their varied personalities and more than 12 years between their weddings, their dresses were in no way similar. Where Elizabeth was ethereal and dripping in embellishment, Margaret was clean lines and stylish simplicity, not a single stitch of embroidery from the high v-neck to the wide skirt and short train. The classic look inspired her daughter-in-law's dress three decades later. See Margaret's dress. See Serena Linley's dress.

10. Maxima Zorreguieta
When Argentinian Maxima married the Dutch heir, she opted not to use a designer from either country, choosing instead to use legendary Italian designer Valentino. Highlights of the gown included a high cowl neck, three-quarter sleeves and lace details down the side of the flared skirt matched by lace along the edge of the train. Maxima must have loved the dress because she continues to wear Valentino quite frequently.See the dress.

BONUS: Catherine Middleton

Quiz takers were asked to hazard a guess as to the identity of this top-secret designer. Our responders decided to be more cautious than the media but they mostly agreed that it would likely be "sleek and modern."

Of course we now know that Catherine's dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I would certainly classify it as a "sleek and modern" re-imagining of the classic princess gowns of Princess Grace and Princess Margaret. Its sweetheart neckline covered in lace with long lace sleeves may inspire bridal fashions to turn away from the current strapless trends.

Photo by Hugh Burnand. From The British Monarchy on Flickr.