Read to know about one of the most famous women in the world.
She was born on 21 April.
There are gun salutes in London to mark the Queen’s birthday.
Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926.
Her parents were the Duke and Duchess of York (who later went on to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Her full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor.
She was born in London.
The Queen has only one sibling: a younger sister named Margaret. Her correct title is ‘Princess Margaret’.
Elizabeth didn’t go to school, she was educated at home.
For her 6th birthday, Princess Elizabeth was given a miniature Welsh cottage.
She was a Girl Guide (1937), a Scouting movement for girls and a Sea Ranger (1943), a section of the Girl Guides focused on sailing.
Princess Elizabeth made her first broadcast, to children, in October 1940.
Elizabeth II is married to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. They married when Elizabeth was 21 years old at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince Philip is also known as the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth are third cousins: both share the same great-great-grandparents: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Elizabeth was the first British monarch to celebrate her diamond wedding anniversary.
When Elizabeth’s father King George VI died in February 1952, she became the Queen. Her coronation was on 2 June 1953. She was 26 years old.
Elizabeth is known as ‘II’ because she is the second Elizabeth to take the throne and become Queen. Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was her mother.
Elizabeth I was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. Through her parents and grandparents, Elizabeth II can trace her ancestors back long before Elizabeth I!
Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s 40th monarch since William the Conqueror was crowned.
Elizabeth II is the world’s oldest reigning monarch. She is also Britain’s longest-lived Queen. No other King or Queen has reigned for as long as Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977 (25 years on the throne), her Golden Jubilee in 2002 (50 years on the throne) and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 (60 years on the throne).
In 2016, the Queen celebrated her 90th birthday on 21 April.
Even though Queen Elizabeth II is 91 years old, she does not plan to step down (abdicate) from the throne. If she does abdicate, the person next in line to become King is her son, Prince Charles.
Elizabeth is head of the Commonwealth; a group of 53 sovereign states. She is the Queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada,Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, later renamed Sri Lanka, as well as the independent countries in the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. In 1960 she was given her own flag to symbolize this position, although this has now been replaced by the British Royal Standard.
She is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
The Queen is one of the richest women in the world.
Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most famous women in the world. She has visited many countries and met many world leaders. She has met 12 UK Prime Ministers.
‘HRH’ stands for His (or Her) Royal Highness. Only the Queen is ‘HM’ (Her Majesty).
All Royal Navy ships are HMS (Her Majesty’s ships) – for example, HMS Ocean.
The Queen’s official residence is Buckingham Palace in London although she has many other homes around the UK, including Windsor Castle, Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle.
The Queen’s head appears on every British coin.
She has probably travelled more miles than any king or queen in history. She doesn’t need to have a passport. The Queen is the only person in Britain who can drive without a license or number plate on her state car.
During World War II, she joined the women’s branch of the British army. She trained as a driver and mechanic, drove a military truck and rose to the rank of Junior Commander. Both she and Winston Churchill’s daughter were members of the group, which was called the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She is the last surviving head of state who served during World War II.
During her reign the Queen has ‘sat’ to have her portrait painted 129 times.
The Queen made her first Christmas TV broadcast in 1957.
She sent her first email in 1976 from an army base. She is considered the first head of state to have used electronic mail.
The Queen’s favourite dogs are corgis. She also likes Labradors and Spaniels. Elizabeth has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign, starting with Susan, who was a present for her 18th birthday in 1944.
Elizabeth introduced a new breed of dog known as the dorgi when one of her corgis was mated with a dachshund named Pipkin that belonged to Princess Margaret. Elizabeth currently has four dorgis: Cider, Berry, Candy and Vulcan.
The Queen is a keen photographer and enjoys taking pictures of her family.
She takes a keen interest in horses and racing. Her first pony, a Shetland called Peggy, was given to her by her grandfather King George V when she was 4 years old.
The Queen has an extensive collection of jewelry, most of which are crown jewels, some inherited and some gifts, including the largest pink diamond in the world.
She speaks fluent French and often uses the language for audiences and state visits. She does not require an interpreter.
Elizabeth is patron of more than 600 charities and organizations.
The Queen joined Facebook in November 2010, with a page called the British Monarchy, which features royal news, photos, videos and speeches. However, it is not possible to poke the royal family. She joined Twitter in July 2009, with teams at Buckingham Palace tweeting daily updates.
Elizabeth II owns 88 swans as well as every sturgeon, porpoise, whale and dolphin in the UK. She claimed ownership of 88 cygnets (young swans), and she owns each and every single sturgeon, whale and dolphin swimming in the United Kingdom’s waters. This is because a 1324 statute declared by King Edward II states: “Also, the King shall have…whales and dolphins taken in the sea or elsewhere within the realm,” meaning that any of these animals captured within three miles of shores of the United Kingdom are claimed on behalf of the Crown.
William Shakespeare once wrote, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Maybe that’s why Britain’s queen wears so many hats.
Queen Elizabeth II is also the Queen of hats. She has worn about 5,000 different hats over the past 50 years.
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