The Queen and fashion

Norman Hartnell, who first worked for the then Princess Elizabeth in the 1940s, produced many of the finest evening dresses in Her Majesty’s wardrobe. His signature style of the 1940s and 1950s was full-skirted dresses in sumptuous silks and duchesse satins.

Hardy Amies began designing clothes for The Queen in the early 1950s and established his name with the deceptive simplicity of his accomplished tailoring. The portraits by Cecil Beaton released to mark Her Majesty’s birthday in 1969 the are amongst the most memorable designs by Hardy Amies.

In the 1970s The Queen awarded her patronage to Ian Thomas, who was an assistant designer to Norman Hartnell before setting up his own salon. Thomas’s flowing chiffon dresses from the 1970s reflect the relaxed style of the decade. Maureen Rose of the same house continued to design for Her Majesty after Ian’s death until the late 80’s.

Between 1988 and 1996, Her Majesty’s dresses were designed by John Anderson. His business partner Karl Ludwig Rehse took over the mantle after his death in 1988 and the Queen still wears his designs today.

Stewart Parvin, the youngest of Her Majesty’s designers, trained at Edinburgh College of Art. He began to design for The Queen in 2000 and continues to do so.

Angela Kelly is Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to The Queen. Her role includes designing for The Queen, which she has done since 2002. Angela and her team try and use both old and new fabrics when designing. Some of the material they incorporate has been given to Her Majesty many years ago, some dates from when she was Princess Elizabeth.

A day in the life of The Queen - In the Evening

The Queen's working day does not stop at the end of the afternoon.

Early evening may see a meeting with the Prime Minister. The Queen has a weekly meeting alone with the Prime Minister, when they are both in London (in addition to other meetings throughout the year).

This usually takes place on Wednesdays at 6.30 pm. No written record is made of such meetings; neither The Queen nor the Prime Minister talk about what is discussed between them, as communications between The Queen and the Prime Minister always remains confidential.

At about 7.30 pm a report of the day's parliamentary proceedings, written by one of the Government's Whips, arrives. The Queen always reads this the same evening.

On some evenings, The Queen may attend a film première, a variety of concert performances in aid of a charitable cause, or a reception linked to organisations of which she is Patron.

The Queen also regularly hosts official receptions at Buckingham Palace (usually with other members of the Royal Family), such as those for the Diplomatic Corps and The Queen's Award for Industry.

Her Majesty may also hold receptions ahead of overseas visits. In 2007, prior to attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh gave a reception at Buckingham Palace for Commonwealth Africans living and working in the United Kingdom.

Other receptions mark the work of particular groups in the community, such as those recently given for members of the British design and music worlds.

The Queen has numerous private interests, which can coincide with her public work, to complete her working day.

Her Majesty also attends the Derby and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, a Royal occasion. As a keen owner and breeder of racehorses, she often sees her horses run at other meetings.

As owner of private estates at Balmoral and Sandringham, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh oversee the management of the estates which are run on a commercial basis. She takes a close interest in all aspects of estate life, particularly in the tenant farmers and employees who live and work on the estates.

Through her public and private work, The Queen is well-briefed and well-known. She has met many more people from all walks of life both in this country and overseas than her predecessors.

This takes time and effort. Often, one of the last lights on in the Palace at night is The Queen finishing her 'red box' of official papers.

A day in the life of The Queen - In the afternoons

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.

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 British and Commonwealth 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.

A day in the life of The Queen in the Morning

The Queen's working day begins like many people's - at her desk.

After scanning the daily British newspapers, The Queen reviews her correspondence.

Every day, 200-300 (and sometimes many more) letters from the public arrive. The Queen chooses a selection to read herself and tells members of her staff how she would like them to be answered.

This enables Her Majesty personally to see a typical cross-section of her daily correspondence. Virtually every letter is answered by staff in her Private Secretary's office or by a lady-in-waiting.

The Queen will then see, separately, two of her Private Secretaries with the daily quota of official papers and documents. This process takes upwards of an hour.

Every day of every year, wherever she is, The Queen receives from government ministers, and from her representatives in the Commonwealth and foreign countries, information in the form of policy papers, Cabinet documents, telegrams, letters and other State papers.

These are sent up to her by the Private Secretaries in the famous 'red boxes'. All of these papers have to be read and, where necessary, approved and signed.

A series of official meetings or 'audiences' will often follow. The Queen will see a number of important people.

These include overseas ambassadors and high commissioners, newly appointed British ambassadors, senior members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces on their appointment and retirement, and English bishops and judges on their appointment.

Each meeting usually lasts 10 to 20 minutes, and usually The Queen and her visitor meet alone.

The Queen may also meet a number of people who have won prizes or awards in a variety of fields such as literature or science, to present them individually with their prize.

If there is an Investiture - a ceremony for the presentation of honours and decorations - it begins at 11.00am and lasts just over an hour. The Queen usually meets around 100 people at each Investiture to present Orders, decorations and medals.

The Queen will often lunch privately. Every few months, she and The Duke of Edinburgh will invite a dozen guests from a wide variety of backgrounds to an informal lunch. Occasionally, the guest list may consist of far fewer people, such as a newly appointed or retiring Governor-General and their guest.

If The Queen is spending the morning on engagements away from her desk and other commitments, she will visit up to three venues before lunch, either alone or jointly with The Duke of Edinburgh.

On a regional visit, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh lunch with a wide variety of people in places ranging from town halls to hospitals.

Her Majesty The Queen (Interests)

An animal lover since childhood, The Queen takes a keen and highly knowledgeable interest in horses.

She attends the Derby at Epsom, one of the classic flat races in Britain, and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, which has been a Royal occasion since 1911.

As an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds, she often visits other race meetings to watch her horses run, and also frequently attends equestrian events.

The Queen's horses won races at Royal Ascot on a number of occasions. There was a notable double on 18 June 1954 when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion called Aureole won the Hardwicke Stakes, and in 1957 The Queen had four winners during Ascot week.

In 1984, 1986 and 1991 Her Majesty made brief private visits to the United States to see stallion stations and stud farms in Kentucky.

Other interests include walking in the countryside and working her Labradors, which were bred at Sandringham.

A lesser known interest is Scottish country dancing. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, The Queen gives dances known as Gillies' Balls, for neighbours, estate and Castle staff and members of the local community.

Her Majesty The Queen (Early public life)

As the Princess grew older, she began to take part in public life with her parents.

She made her first public speech in October 1940, when she was 14. In a live broadcast, she sent a message during the BBC's children's programme to all the children of Britain and the Commonwealth, particularly to those children who were being evacuated for safety reasons.

In early 1942 Princess Elizabeth was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, and on her sixteenth birthday she carried out her first public engagement, when she inspected the regiment.

In April 1943, Princess Elizabeth carried out her first solo public engagement, when she spent a day with a Grenadier Guards tank battalion in Southern Command.

From that time onwards, her official duties increased. She was particularly involved with organisations connected with young people. She was President of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children in Hackney and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

From March 1944 onwards, she also began to accompany the King and Queen on many of their tours within Britain.

Shortly after her eighteenth birthday in 1944, Princess Elizabeth was appointed a Counsellor of State during the King's absence on a tour of the Italian battlefields and, for the first time, carried out some of the duties of Head of State.

In August that year, with Queen Elizabeth, the Princess received an address from the House of Commons, and replied on behalf of the Throne.

In September 1944, the Princess carried out her first official tour of Scotland with her parents, including her first opening ceremony in October, when she opened the recently reconstructed Aberdeen Sailors' Home.

The Princess's first flight by air was in July 1945, when she accompanied the King and Queen on a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

In early 1945 the Princess was made a Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). By the end of the war she had reached the rank of Junior Commander, having completed her course at No. 1 Mechanical Training Centre of the ATS and passed out as a fully qualified driver.

Her Majesty The Queen (Accession and Coronation)

6 February 2013 marked the 61st anniversary of The Queen's Accession to the throne.

After her marriage in 1947, Princess Elizabeth paid formal visits with The Duke of Edinburgh to France and Greece, and in autumn 1951 they toured Canada.

Princess Elizabeth also visited Malta four times while Prince Philip was stationed there on naval duties, and enjoyed the life of a naval wife and young mother.

This way of life was not to last long, as her father's health was deteriorating. In 1952, King George VI's illness forced him to abandon his proposed visit to Australia and New Zealand. The Princess, accompanied by Prince Philip, took his place.

View three films from the archives charting the death of King George VI and The Queen's Accession and Coronation.

On Wednesday, 6 February 1952, Princess Elizabeth received the news of her father's death and her own accession to the throne, while staying in a remote part of Kenya.

The tour had to be abandoned, and the young Princess flew back to Britain as Queen. She was greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other officials at the airport.

The Coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. It was a solemn ceremony conducted by Dr Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Representatives of the peers, the Commons and all the great public interests in Britain, the Prime Ministers and leading citizens of the other Commonwealth countries, and representatives of foreign states were present.

Crowds of people viewed the procession all along the route, despite heavy rain. The ceremony was also broadcast on radio around the world and, at The Queen's request, on television for the first time.

Television brought home to hundreds of thousands of people around the Commonwealth the splendour and significance of the Coronation in a way never before possible.

The Coronation was followed by drives through every part of London, a review of the fleet at Spithead, and visits to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Her Majesty The Queen (Marriage and family)

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on 20 November 2011.

Shortly after the Royal Family returned from South Africa in 1947, the Princess's engagement to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten was announced.

The couple, who had known each other for many years, were married in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. The event was fairly simple, as Britain was still recovering from the war, and Princess Elizabeth had to collect clothing coupons for her dress, like any other young bride. They spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, Hampshire, the home of Lord Mountbatten, and at Birkhall, Balmoral.

Lieutenant Mountbatten, now His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. The Queen has paid public tribute to her husband on several occasions, recalling his loyal support and service to the country.

They have four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Prince Charles, now The Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the throne, was born in 1948, and his sister, Princess Anne, now The Princess Royal, two years later.

After Princess Elizabeth became Queen, their third child, Prince Andrew, arrived in 1960 and the fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were the first children to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria had her family.

Their grandchildren are Peter and Zara Phillips (b. 1977 and 1981); Prince William of Wales and Prince Henry of Wales (b. 1982 and 1984); Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York (b. 1988 and 1990); and The Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn (b.2003 and 2007), children of The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Their first great-grandchild, Miss Savannah Phillips, the daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips, was born in 2010.

Family life has been an essential support to The Queen throughout her reign. The family usually spends Christmas together at Sandringham in Norfolk, attending church on Christmas Day.

And in the summer of 2006, The Queen celebrated her 80th birthday by taking a cruise with all her family through the Western Isles of Scotland.

Her Majesty The Queen Education

Princess Elizabeth was educated at home with Princess Margaret, her younger sister.

After her father succeeded to the throne in 1936 and she became heir presumptive, she started to study constitutional history and law as preparation for her future role.

She received tuition from her father, as well as sessions with Henry Marten, the Vice-Provost of Eton. She was also instructed in religion by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Princess Elizabeth also learned French from a number of French and Belgian governesses. It is a skill which has stood The Queen in good stead, as she often has cause to use it when speaking to ambassadors and heads of state from French-speaking countries, and when visiting French-speaking areas of Canada.

Princess Elizabeth also studied art and music, learned to ride, and became a strong swimmer. She won the Children's Challenge Shield at London's Bath Club when she was thirteen.

Princess Elizabeth enrolled as a Girl Guide when she was eleven, and later became a Sea Ranger.

In 1940, at the height of the Blitz, the young Princesses were moved for their safety to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the war years.

It was a time of austerity and anxiety for the whole country, including the Royal Family. But at Christmas time there was a period of light relief when the young Princesses put on pantomimes with the children of members of staff for the enjoyment of her family and employees of the Royal Household.

The Queen's Early Life

The Queen was born at 2.40am on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London.

She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

At the time she stood third in line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and her father, The Duke of York. But it was not expected that her father would become King, or that she would become Queen.

The Princess was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. She was named after her mother, while her two middle names are those of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and paternal grandmother, Queen Mary.

The Princess's early years were spent at 145 Piccadilly, the London house taken by her parents shortly after her birth, and at White Lodge in Richmond Park.

She also spent time at the country homes of her paternal grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, and her mother's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.

In 1930, Princess Elizabeth gained a sister, with the birth of Princess Margaret Rose. The family of four was very close.

When she was six years old, her parents took over Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park as their own country home. In the grounds of Royal Lodge Princess Elizabeth had her own small house, Y Bwthyn Bach (the Little Cottage), which was given to her by the people of Wales in 1932.

Princess Elizabeth's quiet family life came to an end in 1936, when her grandfather, King George V, died. His eldest son came to the throne as King Edward VIII, but, before the end of the year, King Edward VIII had decided to give up the throne in order to marry the woman he loved, Mrs Wallis Simpson.

Upon his abdication, Princess Elizabeth's father acceded to the throne as King George VI, and in 1937 the two Princesses attended their parents' coronation in Westminster Abbey.

Princess Elizabeth was now first in line to the throne, and a figure of even more intense public interest.

Crown of Queen Elizabeth

The Crown of the Queen Elizabeth is the platinum crown of Queen Elizabeth, the queen consort of King George VI of the United Kingdom. It was manufactured for the coronation of George VI in Westminster Abbey in 1937. It is the first crown for a British consort to be made of platinum.

The crown was made by Garrard & Co in London, the long term manufacturer of British royal crowns, and modelled partially on the design of the Crown of Queen Mary, the crown of Mary of Teck, wife of King George V. It consists of four half-arches, in contrast to the eight half-arches of Queen Mary's crown. As with Queen Mary's crown, its arches were detachable at the cross-pattee, allowing Elizabeth to wear the crown as a circlet.

The crown is decorated with precious stones, most notably the 105-carat (21 g) Koh-i-Noor diamond in the middle of the front cross, which was confiscated by the East India Company and became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877.

After the death of her husband, Queen Elizabeth (known thereafter as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) did not wear the full crown, but wore it minus the arches as a circlet at the coronation of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The crown was placed in position on the coffin of the Queen Mother for her funeral in 2002.

The crown is now on display along with the other British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

Eating and Drinking in Sheffield

Sheffield has a very cosmopolitan attitude to food. The diverse cultures brought to Sheffield over the years have created a melting pot of traditional and exotic menus. Whatever you fancy from Turkish or Greek cuisine to classic French food there will be somewhere that makes it.

It is difficult to categorise establishments due to the wide range of menu provided by each of Sheffield's pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants so that you can get an authentic Indian meal from a pub or Falafel from an Internet café.

Drinking is a popular activity in Sheffield and there are many pubs, bars and clubs to cater for the demand. As Sheffield is becoming more continental in attitude eating and drinking are viewed as a shared activity and there are very few places that serve only food or alcohol.

David Cameron vows to end cheap alcohol sales

David Cameron has told MPs he will "deal with" cheap alcohol being sold in supermarkets in England and Wales.


It comes after reports the government has ditched plans for 45p per unit minimum alcohol pricing.

Tory MP Sarah Wollaston called on the PM to stick to the plan, saying it would cut crime and early deaths.

Mr Cameron said the government was considering the outcome of a consultation but said sales of "20p cans of lager" had "got to change".

Earlier, Labour leader Ed Miliband, who backs minimum alcohol pricing, attacked Mr Cameron over his "U-turn", asking MPs: "Is there anything he could organise in a brewery?"

The Labour leader's jibe reduced MPs, including Mr Cameron, to laughter at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Cameron said he would like to hold a party in a brewery in his constituency to celebrate the continued presence of Ed Balls as shadow chancellor in Mr Miliband's top team.

Mr Milband replied: "He obviously couldn't tell us about his policy on alcohol, minimum unit pricing, Mr Speaker. I think the reality is he has just been over-ruled by the home secretary on this one."

'Death throes'

The PM has long supported minimum alcohol pricing but is reported to have clashed with cabinet colleagues, including Home Secretary Theresa May, whose department is responsible for the policy, Education Secretary Michael Gove and Commons leader Andrew Lansley on the issue.

Mrs May, who has been touted by some as positioning herself as a possible future Tory leader, took up a low key position in the Commons chamber - away from the front bench - during PM's questions.

Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable appeared to confirm the policy has been dropped in an interview with BBC Radio 4's You and Yours, saying it was a "good concept" he "would have liked" to have seen become law.

Mr Cable said his party was in a coalition and there would have to be compromises.

Reports that minimum pricing has been dropped have angered health campaigners and some Conservative MPs concerned about the health impact of drinking, although others have welcomed the news because they say it will avoid responsible drinkers being unfairly penalised.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said that while there had been no official confirmation the plans would be dropped, sources involved in the discussion said the policy was "in its death throes".

He said the chancellor was expected to set out the government's approach to alcohol pricing in next week's Budget.

Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, who backs the plan for a minimum alcohol price, told the BBC the rumoured shift was "more about politics than policy".

"I'm very disappointed to see that Theresa (May) has changed her mind on this policy," she said.

"This is about political manoeuvrings perhaps rather than actually looking at the long-term health of the nation."

The Home Office said it was considering all representations to its consultation on the measure and would report back in due course.

'Blunderbuss policy'

If a 45p unit price were to be introduced, a can of strong lager could not be sold for less than £1.56 or a bottle of wine for less than £4.22.

The department is also considering banning multi-buy promotions, such as two-for-the-price-of-one.

Tory MP and ex-GP Sarah Wollaston told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she was "devastated" at reports minimum pricing would be dropped, describing problem drinking as "an absolute health crisis".

"We know that whenever alcohol is too cheap, people die," she said. "If the chancellor wants a message from me, it's that we're already paying a huge amount to clear up the cost of this - around £21bn a year just to deal with the crime, violence and medical costs of it."

She said any rise in alcohol duty would not tackle the problem of supermarkets discounting alcohol at very cheap prices, around 22p a unit, which was "causing carnage".

But fellow Conservative, former shadow home secretary David Davis described minimum pricing as a "blunderbuss policy" which would punish responsible drinkers on low incomes and pensioners.

He said there was no evidence minimum pricing worked because "alcoholics are not sensitive about the pennies". He called for more to be done to stop shops selling alcohol to under-age drinkers and make pubs deal with drunk people on their premises.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, director of professional activities at the British Medical Association, said she was surprised to hear rumours of the climbdown as she believed Mr Cameron was "quite clearly in favour of it".

She added: "[Mr Cameron must] be courageous. This is a once in lifetime opportunity to save lives and save the country money."

But the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said recent figures showed alcohol consumption was falling and there was little evidence showing that a minimum price would reduce problem drinking.

"Minimum unit pricing would penalise responsible drinkers and treat everyone who is looking for value in their shopping as a binge-drinker," said the body's chief executive Miles Beale.

Devolution has meant different strategies have been developing to tackle rising rates of problem drinking across the UK.

In addition to the 45p consultation in England and Wales, in Scotland a 50p price is set to be introduced.

Northern Ireland is yet to put forward a specific proposal, although it is reviewing pricing.

Britain Pledges to Defend Distant Cousins on Falkland Islands

Prime Minister David Cameron warned Argentina on Tuesday that Britain would always be ready to defend citizens in the remote Falkland Islands after they voted almost unanimously in a referendum to remain British.

Argentina, 300 miles to the west of the Falklands, has claimed the South Atlantic archipelago for almost 200 years and in 1982 invaded the islands only to be repulsed in a 74-day war with Britain.

British nationals first settled in the Falklands in the 19th century and now, three decades after the war for ownership of the islands, many still feel strongly about their fate, reports Reuters.

"The Falkland Islands may be thousands of miles away but they are British through and through, and that is how they want to stay, and people should know we will always be there to defend them," Cameron said in televised remarks.

"They want to remain British and that view should be respected by everybody, including by Argentina."

In a referendum on Sunday and Monday designed to send a defiant message to Argentina, all but three of those who cast their ballots on the islands voted for them to remain a British Overseas Territory.

In their ancestral homeland 8,000 miles away, British television channels ran continuous live coverage from the chilly, windswept and sparsely populated islands over the weekend, and Britons praised the islanders for voting "yes".

"It's a British colony. The settlers out there are all British," Tony Gill, 74, a former military pilot, said in the town of Chelmsford in eastern England.

"They've made the island what it is and now the Argentineans want to take it away from them," added Gill as he headed to a meeting with other veterans including some of those who fought in the 1982 war.

Speaking alongside Gill at a local bus stop, Brian Polson, another veteran, nodded and added: "You defend your own."

Argentina's left-leaning president, Cristina Fernandez, has piled pressure on Britain to negotiate the sovereignty of the islands - something London refuses to do unless the islanders themselves request talks.

About 650 Argentines and 255 Britons were killed in the 1982 war that started after Argentinean forces invaded the islands, prompting Britain's prime minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher, to dispatch a naval task force to retake them.

Aberdeen Climate

Aberdeen Climate
Aberdeen is located in Scotland, between the River Dee and the River Don. The city was built over hills and valleys. The original hills are Castle Hill, St. Catherine's Hill and Windmill Hill. Windmill Hill is also known as Gallowgate.

The area of Aberdeen is 71.22 square miles. This includes the former burghs of Old Aberdeen, New Aberdeen, Woodside, and the Royal Burgh of Torry.

Aberdeen is known for its cold, biting winds and the driving rain, which come in from the North Sea.

The average temperature is 8 Degrees Celsius or 47 Degrees Fahrenheit. This varies from a low of 5 Degrees Celsius or 41 Degrees Fahrenheit to a high of 11 Degrees Celsius or 52 Degrees Fahrenheit.

The summer season is usually between June and August where the average high temperature is 16 Degrees Celsius or 63 Degrees Fahrenheit and the average low temperature is 9 Degrees Celsius or 49 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Winter begins in December and ends around February. During that time the average high is 6 Degrees Celsius or 43 Degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low temperature is 0 Degrees Celsius or 33 Degrees Fahrenheit.

The wettest months are October and November. The average annual precipitation in Aberdeen is 753 millimeters or 29.7 inches, which is about 64 millimeters or 2.5 inches in Summer and 62 millimeters or 2.5 inches in Winter.

The best time to visit Aberdeen would therefore be around the Summer months, which would be between June and August.

History of Oxford Street in London

Grosvenor Estate

The Grosvenor Estate was located between Park Lane and Davies Street. The estate was a private home owned by one of the most prestige families in London, but slowly became one of the only private properties on Oxford Street.

Georgian Homes

From 1838 to 1840 many Georgian homes built next to the Grosvenor Estate were remodeled with shop fronts. The miles of commercial development ended at Park Lane.

Uniformity

Between 1865 and 1890 Oxford Street was completely rebuilt and every building stood in uniform. However, by the end of the 19th century financial pressures forced the street to return to its original form.

Selfridges

Since 1908 Oxford Street has been considered a shopping mecca with the building of Selfridges, a high-end department store in high competition with Harrod's. The store is famous for its exclusive collections of merchandise.

Marquee Club

London is home to many legendary clubs, but one of the most influential was the famous Marquee Club. The Marquee Club eventually moved to Soho, but its original address was on Oxford Street.

London Hyde Park Activities

Monument Tour

Hype Park features several prominent memorials, and visiting them can make for an excellent walking tour of the grounds. The most prominent is the Diana Memorial, erected in 2004 in honor of the late Princess Diana. Others include the July 7 memorial to the London bombings of 2005, the Marble Arch that originally stood in front of Buckingham Palace, the Queen Elizabeth Gates erected by Elizabeth II, and a Holocaust Memorial just to the east of the Serpentine River.

Boat Rides

The Serpentine River is actually an artificial lake built in the heart of Hyde Park. From April until October, the Boat House on the northern side rents rowboats and paddle boats. It makes an extremely pleasant way to tour the length of the park, especially on London's rare hot days when the water can be especially inviting.

Speaker's Corner

Since 1872, the northeast corner of Hyde Park has been set aside for the practice of free speech. Anyone can stand in Speaker's Corner and talk about any topic, provided there's no obscenity or scuffling with fellow speakers. Other London parks have similar sites, but Hyde Park's is the most notable: speakers there have included Karl Marx, George Orwell and William Morris.

Rotten Row

Rotten Row runs along the south side of Hyde Park and originally served as a bridle trail where the upper class could ride their horses. The title derives from "route du roi," the French term for "king's row." You can still ride horses there, and members of the Household Cavalry use it as an exercise facility from time to time.

Sports

South of the Serpentine sits a series of six tennis courts open to the public. The area also contains a bowling green, and the Serpentine itself allows daily public swimming in the summer. Playgrounds for children are located nearby, as well as near the Edinburgh Gate on the north side of the park.

What Is the Meaning of Name London?

London is the capital of England, which is one of four countries that makes up Great Britain or the United Kingdom (UK, for short).

Population Question

Its population is documented at 7 1/2 million people, but the population could be easily twice that figure.

1st Meaning

The meaning of the name London is disputed. It might be based on the name of King Lud, who took over the city in pre-medieval times. Kaerludein was the city's name, and it could have been phonetically altered to London.

2nd Meaning

Another more plausible theory is that the name came from a Welsh-Celtic word "Lyndon," meaning "shadowy waters," describing the characteristics of the Thames River.

3rd Meaning

When the Romans invaded in 43 AD, they named the city Londinium. Londinium means "a settlement on a lower bank." It was so named by Emperor Claudius in 55 BC to describe the location and purpose of the city: to be a military camp.

Better Theories

The latter two theories of the meaning of the name of London seem to have more validity.

Name It & Claim It

There was much importance placed on this city, because it had so many dwellers wishing to claim it as their own.

The History of Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, London Read more: The History of Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, London

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a historic theatre in London where musicals and plays are staged. The theatre is one of the longest-running playhouses in the city, as it has featured plays since the 17th century.

Beginning

Dramatist Thomas Killigrew built the first Theatre Royal on Bridges Street, which opened in 1663. The first building was a 700-seat, three-tiered wooden structure.

Early Performances

According to London-theatreland.co.uk, the theatre's acting company held performances of "talk drama," actor-driven plays. This included Restoration comedies. These plays differed from those held by the rival acting company, which had operas and baroque plays.

Struggles

In the beginning, the theatre struggled because its plays were not popular among the masses. It was frequented by some individuals, such as businessman Samuel Pepys. The first Theatre Royal burned down in 1672.

Second Theatre

The second Theatre Royal, a 2,000-seat auditorium, was built on Drury Lane. The theatre company continued to have problems because of political unrest in the country, changes in management, financial issues and actor walkouts.

Shakespeare Pieces

From 1747 to 1776, 24 of William Shakespeare's plays were staged at the theatre. During this period, the theatre was successful while under the ownership of actor David Garrick.

Other Theatres

The second Royal Theatre was demolished in 1791 to make room for a larger theatre, which was opened in 1794 and burned down in 1809. The current theatre, a 3,060-seat building, opened in 1812 with the production of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." After World War II, the theatre began to have musical productions.

Places in London to Meet Single Women

Cultural Attractions

You won't have to look hard to find a museum in London. They are almost as common as pubs. Since women love men with intelligence, these are great places to exhibit your brainpower. For example, stop by the National Portrait Gallery. Founded in 1856, it houses around 10,000 works of portraiture. The top floors display historical figures from centuries long past, so stick to the ground floor, where contemporary people are featured. Not only will it be easy to start a conversation with women (simply discuss who's who on the walls), but also admission is free.

Afternoon Teas

This beloved English tradition is enjoyed by women of all ages. They usually go in groups to chat and savor delicious sandwiches, pastries and scones---along with tea and champagne. Two of the finest afternoon tea experiences to be had in London are offered by The Ritz London and Claridge's hotels. Held in elegant settings that often feature live music, the food is simply divine. Men, take care to dress smartly and comfortably as you may need to loosen your belt.

Shopping Destinations

Women love to shop, and in London Oxford Street is a mecca for shoppers. It's home not only to several colossal department stores, but also to many famous designer boutiques. Two good places for men to scope out are Selfridges & Co. and John Lewis. Both of these department stores rank high among trendy women who are updating their wardrobes. If a woman catches your eye, you'll make a great first impression by offering to carry her bags.

Nightclubs

London's nightclubs are always a spot to connect with single women. One of the most popular clubs is Fabric London, a veritable superclub that contains three dance floors. Or, try out a favorite hotspot of Prince Harry---Beach Blanket Babylon, which is located in the Notting Hill area. This opulent bar housed in a Georgian mansion boasts a glamorous vibe along with an exotic array of cocktails.