Q: Stanley, Broadstairs
I have never seen her Majesty in the tiara she was wearing at the State Banquet in Slovenia. What is its provenance? 

The tiara worn by The Queen at the State Banquet in Slovenia comprises diamonds and rubies.  It was made by Garrard.

Q: David, Mousehole
Please can you tell me about the role of Lord High Commissioner.

The Lord High Commissioner is The Queen's representative at the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

After the formation of the Scottish Presbyterian Church in 1560, Assemblies took place from time to time, usually in the presence of the Sovereign.

In 1603, when James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne as James I, he appointed a Lord High Commissioner to represent him at the Assembly.

In 1834, William IV permitted the Lord High Commissioner to take up residence in the palace during the annual meeting of the General Assembly. 

Today the Commissioner still carries out these duties on behalf of The Queen, occupying the Palace of Holyroodhouse for one week in May.

They attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on behalf of Her Majesty  and make the opening and closing addresses to the Assembly,

The Rt. Hon. George Reid MSP is the current Lord High Commissioner.

Q: Ruth, Glasgow
I understand that Clarence House was built for the Duke of Clarence in the 1820s.  What is the history of the dukedom of Clarence?

The name is derived from the honour of Clare in Suffolk (an honour is the estate of a tenant-in-chief of the Crown).

The title was first conferred on Lionel of Antwerp, third son of Edward III, in 1362.

It was subsequently held from 1412 by Thomas, second son of Henry IV, and from 1461 by George, brother of Edward IV, who was murdered at the Tower of London in 1478, supposedly by drowning in a butt of Malmsey wine.

Prince William Henry, later William IV, held the title between 1789 and his accession in 1830.

The most recent holder was Prince Albert Victor, grandson of Queen Victoria, who was created Duke of Clarence and Avondale in 1890, two years prior to his death.

Q: Frank, Littlehampton
Is it true that the musket ball that killed Nelson is part of the Royal Collection?

Yes, it does.  Admiral Lord Nelson was struck in the left shoulder while on the deck of HMS VICTORY during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. 

Shortly after Nelson's death, the ball was removed by the ship's surgeon and made into a pendant locket which was later presented to Queen Victoria.

The locket is today on display in the Grand Vestibule at Windsor Castle.

Q: Nicolas, Lille, France
An answer to a question in a recent Royal Insight Quiz said that Queen Victoria visited the Braemar Gathering for the first time in 1848.  When did she first visit Scotland?

Queen Victoria paid her first visit to Scotland in 1842.  Like her uncle George IV, she stayed at Dalkeith Palace.  She was prevented from visiting Holyroodhouse by an outbreak of scarlet fever at the palace.

 As well as Edinburgh, Her Majesty travelled to Perth and Stirling.  This visit engendered a deep love of the country and let to the purchase of Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire as her highland holiday retreat. 

The Queen described Scotland as 'this most beautiful country which I am proud to call my own, where there was such devoted loyalty to the family of my ancestors'.