Who is Elizabeth's father? What are the full names and titles of members of the British royal family. Accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II
Childhood and family
Elizabeth II is the eldest daughter of Prince Albert, born April 21, 1926 at the Mayfair mansion on Brewton Street during the reign of George V, who was her grandfather. The full name of the royal person is Elizabeth Alexandra Maria, the girl received the name in honor of her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. 
In 1936, after two decades of reign, King George, who loved his granddaughter very much, died. The throne passed to Edward VIII. In the name of love for the beautiful Wallis Simpson, a divorced American, he abdicated. The story of Edward and Miss Simpson is considered one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century, and it was she who brought Elizabeth's father to the British throne, who was crowned in May 1937 as George IV.
George IV's brother Henry was considered the next contender for the throne, but he refused the role of heir to the throne in favor of Princess Elizabeth, who at that time was barely 11 years old.
As befits a princess, Elizabeth studied the humanities and exact sciences, but paid special attention to law, including international law, and received a decent education without leaving the palace. The princess was proud of her excellent knowledge of the French language, which she learned on her own.
In 1940, Princess Elizabeth made her first radio appearance: a thirteen-year-old girl from Buckingham Palace supported children affected by Nazi bombings. Princess Elizabeth's sincere words have given hope to the British people, and she has won sympathy from even some of the most critical of the crown.
In 1943, the princess officially assumed the position of councillor. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth did not serve in the military, but was in the women's self-defense unit, learned to drive an ambulance, thereby setting an example for the women of Britain.
In 1947, on her birthday, Elizabeth again spoke on the radio, assuring the British people that her whole life would be dedicated to Britain. In the same year, she was married to Philip, Prince of Denmark.
The gradually deteriorating health of the father and the unfavorable prognosis of doctors required the almost constant presence of the future queen during official receptions, meetings and negotiations. By the beginning of 1951, no one had any doubts that the bill was going on for months, and unofficially, Elizabeth took up the duties of the monarch.
Coronation
The news of the death of George IV overtook the princess in Kenya, where, together with her husband, she spent several days at the Tree Tops Hotel, located among the branches of a huge century-old tree. According to some reports, on February 7, 1952, an entry appeared in the guest registration book of the hotel that for the first time in the history of civilization, a princess climbed a tree, but descended from it as a queen. 
The coronation of the young queen took place on June 2, 1953 in the ancient cathedral of Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was broadcast on national British television, which contributed to the growth of the popularity of the new monarch. Millions of Brits literally froze in front of their TVs, trying not to miss the slightest detail of the most spectacular and beautiful event in the history of Britain.
Despite the fact that in the post-war years the economy had just begun a long period of recovery, a huge amount was allocated from the treasury for the festive decoration of the streets. The white satin dress for the coronation ceremony was made by the court tailor Norman Hartnell, it was embroidered with the national emblems of Britain and the Commonwealth countries - English roses, Canadian maple leaves and Irish clover, as well as other colors that have a symbolic meaning for Britain.
In a golden open front carriage drawn by eight gray horses, the queen, along with her husband, proceeded to Westminster Abbey, where a solemn wedding service was held for the kingdom.
Governing body
In strict accordance with the existing tradition of a parliamentary monarchy, the queen performs functions that are exclusively representative in nature and does not have the right to influence the government of the country. After the coronation, Elizabeth II made a six-month tour of the British colonies, the Commonwealth countries and many countries of the world. 
In the spring of 1956, the Queen received Nikita Khrushchev, who served as the first secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU of the USSR, who arrived in Britain with Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikolai Bulganin. first person Soviet state presented memorable gifts to Elizabeth and family members, including a brooch with a royal blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds, as well as a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky and a sable cape.
During her reign, the Queen met with politicians, big businessmen, scientists and cultural figures. Among the celebrities honored in different years to visit Buckingham Palace were Elizabeth Taylor, Yuri Gagarin and The Beatles, as well as the presidents of different states.
In 1994, Elizabeth visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in 2003 hosted a reception in honor of President Vladimir Putin.
Fearing that the reputation of the British royal house would suffer from rumors that overgrown with the unhappy marriage of Elizabeth's son Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, as well as caring for the happiness of her son, the Queen insisted on a divorce, the procedure of which was launched in 1996. Some part of British society did not approve of the queen's act, but subsequently the British were forced to admit that she was right.
Elizabeth II has been repeatedly called the queen of human hearts in the media. The humanity and kindness of this woman, who remains true to her oath, which she uttered back in 1953, is the key to her popularity among the people.
Personal life of Elizabeth II
In his youth, Prince Philip, grandson of the King of Greece, tall, slender, blond, was distinguished amazing beauty. At a tea party on Dartmoor in 1937, the young man did not immediately notice a thirteen-year-old girl who did not take her enthusiastic eyes off him. After the reception ended, this girl, Princess Elizabeth, locked herself in her room and wrote a letter to the handsome prince. 
The friendship that began with correspondence grew into love. King George did not approve of the choice of his daughter: it is known that he did not like the friendship of Philip's father, Prince Andrew of Greece, with Adolf Hitler. In addition, the prince was poor, and apart from the title, blue blood and tender love for Elizabeth, he had nothing.
In early 1940, Elizabeth and Philip became secretly engaged, and the king had to give in and allow the marriage, which was destined to be one of the happiest and longest marriages in modern history. The relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Duke Philip is considered exemplary, but few people think that for the sake of his queen, Philip renounced the royal title and changed the Orthodox faith in which he was baptized to Catholicism.
In 1948, Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Prince Charles. The second child was Princess Anna, who was born 2 years later. third child royal family, Prince Andrew, was born in 1960, and the fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964.
Since her youth, the Queen's main hobbies have been horse riding and breeding dogs, she has a special love for the Corgi breed, which is considered the royal dog throughout Europe.
Queen Elizabeth II now
In 2018, the Queen turned 92 years old, 65 of which she has been a monarch. Headlines regularly appear in the media about the Queen's failing health, in 2017 she missed the Christmas service for the first time, citing a cold. 
As the head of the Windsor dynasty, the Queen remembers the sad events associated with the marriage of Prince Charles to an unloved girl, and, according to her, is personally responsible for the well-being of her family members. That is why she did not give permission for the wedding of Prince Harry Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle for so long
Despite her age, Elizabeth continues to fulfill her duties and represent the interests of Britain in different countries peace. Defending the right to her own opinion, in 2017 she openly condemned the inappropriate behavior of Mr. Trump, as well as the militant policies of Kim Jong-un, and in 2018 she expressed the hope that she would wait until the time when Russia was ruled not by Mr. Putin, but by another person who lost touch with reality.
As enshrined in the traditions of a constitutional monarchy, the queen should not interfere in politics, however, the authority of Elizabeth II and her long reign allowed her to influence the course of events in a certain way. Queen Elizabeth II is the most powerful woman in the world, but, as many researchers note, she has never used her influence for personal gain.
Elizabeth II in October 1942
“In general, no one taught me to be a queen: my father died too early and it happened so unexpectedly - I had to immediately get involved in the business and at the same time try not to lose face in the dirt. I had to grow up to the position that I took. It was fate, it should have been accepted and not grumbled. I think continuity is very important. My job is for life."
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain
I wonder what it's like to celebrate your birthday for more than 50 years twice a year? This question can be answered by Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on April 21, 1926 in London, and for many years her birthday has been celebrated throughout the United Kingdom not only on April 21, but also on the 3rd Saturday of June.
The title of Her Royal Majesty in the United Kingdom is: "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other Possessions and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. The coronation took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth was only 25 years old when she became queen, and has been so for several decades now.
Birthdays are celebrated every year at Windsor Castle. It begins with a walk around the city (if this action, of course, can be called that). A 21-shot salute is certainly given, which sounds at noon.
Throughout her reign, the queen has been criticized more than once not only by British Republicans, but also by various British media, as well as by the general public. Nevertheless, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy, and her popularity in the UK is at its best.
Royal
Elizabeth II (English Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (English Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - Queen of Great Britain from 1952 to the present.
Elizabeth II comes from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of 25 after the death of her father, King George VI.
She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of 15 independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua - New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica. He is also Head of the Anglican Church and Supreme Commander armed forces Great Britain.
Coats of arms in different periods of time and in different countries
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944-1947)
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947-1952)
Royal coat of arms in Great Britain (except Scotland)
Royal coat of arms in Scotland
Royal coat of arms in Canada
The full title of Elizabeth II in Great Britain sounds like "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other kingdoms and territories, the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries recognizing the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which in each of these countries the British monarch acts as head of this particular state, regardless of his titles in Great Britain proper or in third countries. Accordingly, in all these countries, the title of the queen sounds the same, with the name of the state replaced. In some countries, the words "defender of the faith" are excluded from the title. For example, in Australia, the title sounds like this: "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God the Queen of Australia and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth."
On the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, Elizabeth II also bears the title of Duke of Normandy, on the Isle of Man - the title of "Lord of Maine".
Story
Elizabeth II is the oldest British (English) monarch in history. She is currently the second longest-serving head of state in history (after Queen Victoria) and also the second longest-serving head of state in the world (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is also the world's oldest female incumbent head of state, and in Europe the oldest incumbent head of state.
He is the oldest reigning monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
During the reign of Elizabeth II, a very wide period of British history falls: the process of decolonization was completed, which was marked by the final collapse of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. This period also included many other events, such as the long ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1970
public perception
At the moment, the majority of Britons positively assess the activities of Elizabeth II as a monarch (about 69% believe that the country would be worse without the monarchy; 60% believe that the monarchy contributes to raising the country's image abroad and only 22% were against the monarchy).
Despite the positive attitude of most of her subjects, the queen was repeatedly criticized throughout her reign, in particular:
In 1963, when a political crisis arose in Britain, Elizabeth was criticized for having personally appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In 1997, for the lack of an immediate reaction to the death of Princess Diana, the queen fell not only with the anger of the British public, but even of many major British media (for example, The Guardian).
In 2004, after Elizabeth II beat a pheasant to death with a cane, a wave of indignation from environmental organizations swept across the country about the actions of the monarch.
Elizabeth II is the last representative of the so-called "old school" of monarchs: she strictly adheres to centuries-old traditions and ceremonies and never deviates from the rules of established etiquette. Her Majesty never gives interviews or makes press statements. She is in front of everyone, but at the same time is the most closed celebrity on the planet.
Princess Elizabeth with her pet, July 1936
Childhood
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London's Mayfair at the residence of the Earl of Strathmore at Brewton Street, house number 17. Now the area has been rebuilt, and the house no longer exists, but a memorial plaque has been erected on this site. She got her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).
Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her paternal grandparents were King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); by mother - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1938).
At the same time, the father insisted that the first name of the daughter be like that of the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie discussed the girl's name with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Mary. The names are all good, I told him so, but about Victoria, I absolutely agree with him. It was redundant." The christening of Princess Elizabeth took place on May 25 in the chapel of Buckingham Palace, later destroyed during the war years.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1930
In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.
The future queen got good home education, mostly humanitarian. She loved horses and equestrian sports since childhood. And also from childhood, unlike her more eccentric sister Margaret, she had a truly royal character. In the biography of Elizabeth II, Sarah Bradford mentions that the future queen from childhood was a very serious child, who even then had a certain understanding of the duties that fell on her as the heir to the throne, and a sense of duty. Since childhood, Elizabeth loved order, so, for example, when she went to bed, she always put slippers next to the bed, never allowing herself to scatter things in the room, as is typical for many children. And already as a queen, she always made sure that no extra light burned in the palace, personally turning off the lights in empty rooms.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1926
Photo of 1929, Elizabeth is 3 years old here
Princess Elizabeth in 1933
King George VI and (1895-1952) and Elizabeth Angela, Duchess of York (1900-2002), with their daughter, the future Queen - Princess Elizabeth, 1929
The Queen and her daughters, October 1942
princess at war
Second World War began when Elizabeth was 13 years old. On October 13, 1940, she made her first radio appearance, addressing children affected by the disasters of the war. In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of the Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of the five "state councilors" (persons entitled to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity). In February 1945, Elizabeth joined the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving military rank lieutenant. Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last participant in the Second World War who has not yet retired (the penultimate one was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).
Princess Elizabeth (left, in military uniform) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (from left to right) her mother Queen Elizabeth, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret, May 8, 1945
Wedding
On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married her distant relative, who, like her, is the great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria - Prince Philip Mountbatten, son of the Greek Prince Andrew, who was then an officer in the British Navy. She met him at the age of 13, when Philip was still a cadet at Dortmouth naval school. Becoming her husband, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
In November 2007, the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their "diamond wedding" - the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage. For the sake of such an occasion, the Queen allowed herself a little liberties - for one day they retired with her husband for romantic memories in Malta, where Prince Philip once served, and the young Princess Elizabeth visited him.
Four children were born in their family: the heir to the throne - the eldest son Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales (born 1948); Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise (born 1950); Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York (born 1960), Edward Anthony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (born 1964).
On December 29, 2010, Elizabeth II became a great-grandmother for the first time. On this day, her eldest grandson, Princess Anne's eldest son Peter Phillips, and his Canadian wife, Autumn Kelly, had a daughter. The girl became 12th in the British line of succession.
Coronation and beginning of reign
King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who at that time was on vacation with her husband in Kenya, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.
The coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. This was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and is credited with having contributed significantly to the rise of television broadcasting.
After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, British colonies and other countries of the world. Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.
The Queen with her six ladies-in-waiting
From left to right:
Lady Moira Hamilton (now Lady Moyra Campbell), Lady Anne Cox (now Lady Glenconner), Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir), Lady Mary Bailey-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell), Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond- Willoughby (now Baroness de Willoughby de Eresby), Lady Jane Van Tempest-Stuart (now The Honorable Lady Rayne)
Young Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen began her political activities, which included the opening of Parliament and the reception of prime ministers. In the fifties of the twentieth century, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made many visits to the territory of the United Kingdom and the countries of the Commonwealth.
Meeting of Elizabeth II with the heads of the Commonwealth countries in 1960
In the sixties, the Queen of England made her historic visit to West Berlin in the midst of cold war, and also invited the Japanese Emperor Hirohito on an official visit to Britain. Despite the turbulent social and political situation, she celebrated her silver jubilee in 1977. The celebrations were a success, thousands of people celebrated the anniversary of Elizabeth II across the country.
Mature years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II
Five years later, Britain was involved in hostilities against the Falklands, during which Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot. In the eighties of the twentieth century, the first grandchildren of the Queen were born - Peter and Zara Phillips, the son and daughter of Anna, Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips.
In 1992, a catastrophe occurred, as a result of which a fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. That same year, the marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne were annulled. The Queen called 1992 a "terrible year". In 1996, the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was annulled. Tragedy followed in 1997 when Diana died in a car accident.
2002 was a sad year for Queen Elizabeth II of England, as her sister Princess Margaret died.
Reign of Queen Elizabeth II
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II of England, many changes were made in the UK. The Queen successfully fulfills her political duties as head of state, head of the Commonwealth of Nations, ceremonial duties, as well as visiting duties within and outside the UK.
Elizabeth II introduced many reforms to the monarchy. In 1992, she proposed taxes on profits and capital gains. She opened official royal residences to the people, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, in order to fund the upkeep of the royal family.
She supported the abolition of male primogeniture and single inheritance, which means that now the eldest child can inherit the throne, regardless of gender.
In 2012, the Queen of England celebrated her sixtieth birthday, with celebrations taking place across the country, once again demonstrating the love of the British.
The style of clothing of the English Queen Elizabeth II
The style of the English queen can be conditionally divided into two periods: the style of the young queen - the style is conservative and elegant, and the style of the elderly queen, I would call it the style of "merry grandmother" or even "rainbow style", because of the incredible number of changing colors in her costumes and hats . However, the English queen has always loved colors.
Throughout her life, the main elements of the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth II were: dresses or suits of medium length, necessarily covering the knee, coats and raincoats of A-line cut, plus floor-length dresses for special occasions, as well as hats, always in tone with the suit, gloves, closed shoes , a brooch on a jacket and a string of pearls. The Queen of England also always preferred short haircuts. Favorite colors are pink, lilac and indigo.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Odeon Cinema on October 31, 1955. (Photo: Monty Fresco/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II becomes Queen after the death of her father in February 1952, and her coronation took place on June 2, 1952. At that time, namely in the 1940s and 1950s, Norman Hartnell sewed dresses for the princess, and then the queen. And Elizabeth more than once appeared in public in dresses with puffy skirts made of duchesse satin or silk. The design of her wedding dress Ivory and decorated with silver threads also belongs to Norman Hartnell, however, as well as the design of the coronation dress.
From the mid-1950s and throughout the 60s, Hardy Amis sewed for the Queen. It is he who brings a sense of simplicity to the queen's outfits, but this simplicity is only external, because behind it lies a very complex cut. He sewed his first dresses for the Queen back in 1948, when Elizabeth asked him to create a wardrobe for a trip to Canada.
Since the 1970s, Ian Thomas, a former assistant to Norman Hartnell and now the owner of his own salon, has been sewing for the Queen. Its distinguishing feature was the flying chiffon dresses that appeared in the wardrobe of the queen. After his death and until the late 1980s, Maureen Rose of Ian Thomas' design house sewed for Queen Elizabeth.
From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, the wardrobe of the English queen was replenished with outfits from John Anderson, because after his death, his partner Carl Ludwig Rese became the queen's court designer.
Since 2000, the youngest, by age, of Her Majesty's court designers, Stuart Parvin, a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art, has been sewing for Elizabeth II. In 2002, Angela Kelly became his assistant.
The Queen of England is 86 years old. But she still steadily fulfills all the duties assigned to her and appears in public, invariably following her style.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with their children, Prince Andrew (center), Princess Anne (left) and Charles, Prince of Wales near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Queen Victoria's husband purchased Balmoral Castle in 1846. Queen Victoria visited Scotland frequently with her family, especially after the death of her husband in 1861, and Balmoral is still a favorite holiday destination for the royal family. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). September 9, 1960
Hobby
The Queen's interests include dog breeding (including Corgis, Spaniels and Labradors), photography, horseback riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige of the Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively in her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world (for example, in 1994 she visited Russia). She has more than 325 foreign visits to her credit (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries). I have been gardening since 2009. In addition to English, he is also fluent French
.
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were photographed with penguins at the London Zoo. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Around 1938
Interesting Facts
Elizabeth II does not give interviews. Nevertheless, interesting facts about this outstanding woman periodically flash in the press, which allow us to look at the most famous reigning lady of our time from an unexpected angle, we have chosen the most striking, in our opinion, moments.
The celebration of the royal birthday in 1981 was overshadowed by an unpleasant event: near the horse on which Elizabeth was sitting, taking the parade, shots rang out, making everyone around shudder. The queen, to the delight of the public, did not even raise an eyebrow and managed to stay in the saddle.
Her self-control came in handy a year later, when, while waiting for the police, for several minutes she had to conduct a conversation with a madman who managed to get into the chambers.
In 1945, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the future Queen of England, served as a mechanic in a reserve battalion of the British army with the rank of junior officer. Obviously, the example of a "combat" grandmother inspired the young princes William and Harry, who also did not evade military service.
Family values for Elizabeth II is not an empty phrase. For the sake of her son's happiness, she stepped over rigid rules and blessed the second marriage of the Prince of Wales Charles to socialite Camilla Parker-Bowles, despite the hype about this.
On April 17, 2013, for the second time in the history of her reign, the Queen attended the funeral of a British politician: she said goodbye to Margaret Thatcher.
Despite the solid image, the queen is not alien to female coquetry and small weaknesses. Rogue paparazzi more than once caught the moment when she was at social events, not embarrassed by the crowd and her high position, publicly corrected her makeup. Etiquette is etiquette, and a real queen should look gorgeous!
The Queen's passion is horses and Corgi dogs. In her youth, Elizabeth rode well, but now she pays more attention to charming red dogs, which, thanks to her, have become one of the symbols of the British monarchy.
Elizabeth II is the oldest English monarch in history and the second longest-serving British monarch. She is also the oldest female current head of state.
In honor of Elizabeth II, the rose variety Rosa "Queen Elizabeth" was named.
Films about Elizabeth II
In 2004, the film Churchill: The Hollywood Years was released - "Churchill Goes to War!", Where the role of Elizabeth was played by Neve Campbell.
In 2006, the biopic The Queen was released. The role of the queen was played by actress Helen Mirren. The film is a BAFTA winner in the Best Film category. Actress Helen Mirren, who played the title role in the film, was awarded the Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best female role. In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture.
In 2009, the 4th channel of British television (Channel 4) filmed a 5-episode fictional mini-series "The Queen" ("The Queen", directed by Edmund Coulthard, Patrick Reams). The Queen at different periods of her life was played by 5 actresses: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick.
On July 27, 2012, the television broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London began with a video featuring James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen (cameo). At the end of the video, they both parachute from a helicopter over the arena of the Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, for this role, the Queen was awarded the BAFTA Award for the best performance of the role of a James Bond girl.
In architecture
The Queen Elizabeth Avenue in Esplanade Park in Singapore is named after the Queen.
The famous Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the “Elizabeth Tower” since September 2012.
A bridge in Duford, completed in 1991, is also named after the Queen.
On August 1, 2013, the Elizabeth II Olympic Park was opened in London.
Lifetime monuments
Statue of Elizabeth II in Ottawa, Parliament Hill, Canada
Statue in Regina, Saskatchewan, erected in 2005
Statue in Windsor Great Park
Photo gallery
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose (1930-2002) with their parents at the Boy Scout parade at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. (Photo: / Getty Images). 1932
King George and Queen Elizabeth with Princesses Elizabeth (center) and Margaret and members of the royal family in full uniform on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation, May 12, 1937.
The Queen, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose and Royal Archers, 1937
Princess Elizabeth with a pony in Windsor Park, Berkshire. Photo taken April 21, 1939
King George VI with his wife, Queen Elizabeth and children, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at Royal Lodge, Windsor, April 11, 1942. (Photo: Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images)
Princess Elizabeth travels from Buckingham Palace in London to the Horse Guards parade wearing a military hat with the emblem of the Grenadier Guards. (Photo: Getty Images). June 12, 1947
Queen Elizabeth II parade in Central London, June 7, 1952. (Photo: William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth in the park of Buckingham Palace. 1939
Princess Elizabeth, March 1945
With newborn Prince Charles, December 1948
Princess Elizabeth with her son Prince Charles. September 1950
Queen Elizabeth II on her way to Westminster to preside over the Opening of Parliament after her accession to the throne, November 4, 1952
Princess Anne at her mother's coronation
The Queen with her newborn son Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace. March 1960
In 1960, the Queen had a second son, Prince Andrew, and in 1964, a third son, Prince Edward.
When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday, she became not only the oldest monarch in the world, but also the longest-reigning head of state in British history. She comes from the Windsor dynasty and, in addition to her native island, is recognized as a queen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and eight other small countries. During the reign of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the final disintegration of the British Empire and the exit of the colonies from under English rule came. Despite the rather impressive criticism, Elizabeth II is quite popular in her native country.
She was born on April 21, 1926 in the family, the future king, and. The girl received the name in honor of her mother, but the full name of the princess is additionally made up of the names of her grandmother and great-grandmother. The sign of the zodiac is Taurus. Elizabeth II had a sister - who was born four years after her, but died at the 72nd year of her life.
The first title in the biography of Elizabeth II appeared immediately after birth: the girl was named the Princess of York. At that time, on the way to the throne, her father and uncle Edward VIII stood in front of her, like any boy who theoretically could be born to each of the candidates for the throne. Initially, the uncle became king, who less than a year later lost this title to his brother.
Elizabeth II with her parents moves to a luxurious castle - Buckingham Palace, where she spends her childhood and youth. Elizabeth II studied at home, but received an excellent liberal education. She is on high level studied art, religion, law and specifically the British Constitution. Elizabeth II is fluent in French and is believed to have learned it on her own.
For the first time, Elizabeth II addressed her future subjects at the age of 13. During World War II, she spoke on the radio and expressed her support for the children who were affected by the bombing. At the age of 16, the girl already appears in public on her own, and a year later she becomes a state adviser and joins the women's self-defense squad. The princess learned to drive an ambulance, was trained as a mechanic and rose to the rank of lieutenant. She is the only head of state who served in real service in that war.
Governing body
On the day of her coming of age, Elizabeth II officially promised the British Empire to devote her life to serving people, although at that time her succession to the crown was still in doubt. After the death of his father, George VI, on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen. It is curious that the coronation of a girl was televised for the first time in history and many believe that this event gave a sharp impetus to the popularity of this media in Britain.
At the time of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, the ruler's possessions were much wider than they are today. Then the empire included South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later abolished British rule. Interestingly, Elizabeth II almost immediately paid a visit to each of the countries, becoming the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.
By tradition, Queen Elizabeth II has virtually no influence on the government of the country. The task of a woman is to represent the country at international summits and maintain the authority of the British monarchy. Elizabeth II throughout her entire tenure on the throne maintains correct relations with all prime ministers. And although she is above political fights and does not publicly express her own political opinion, statesmen consider it important to consult with her on many issues. Appreciated the Queen's opinion, which she wrote about in her memoirs.
During the long reign of Great Britain, both praise and sharp criticism were heard against Elizabeth. But both supporters and opponents of the queen emphasize the queen's humanity. An indicative fact is the events of 1986. Elizabeth II sailed on her yacht "Britain" to one of the subordinate countries when she learned about the beginning civil war in Yemen. She immediately ordered to change course and take on board the maximum possible number of ordinary people. Thanks to the direct assistance of the English Queen Elizabeth II, more than a thousand people were evacuated.
In 2015, "Canada's sexiest politician" visited Buckingham Palace. Then the Queen noted that the meeting with the Prime Minister is a unique case, because they saw each other last time 40 years ago: Justin was taken to see Elizabeth II by his father when the boy was 3 years old. At the meeting, the queen said: "It's nice to see you again, but under different circumstances". To which the politician retorted: "The last time we met, you were much taller".
Today, the queen is 152 cm tall and weighs 55 kg.
Personal life
The personal life of Elizabeth II changed immediately after coming of age. The princess married an officer in the British Navy, who after the marriage received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Elizabeth 2 is a descendant of Queen Victoria and the offspring of the Greek and Danish royal dynasties. They met when the future Queen Elizabeth II was eight years old, and a romantic relationship between the lovers began in 1939, when the princess visited the Naval College, where young Philip was then studying.
Wedding of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth II and her husband had four children: Anne, Andrew and Edward. The last two were born after the mother's accession to the British throne. The family tree of the British royal family continues to grow: the children have long acquired their own families and gave the reigning queen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the family of Elizabeth II was and, the first wife of Prince Charles and mother and. One of the strongest waves of criticism swept over Elizabeth II when she reacted with an obvious delay in a car accident.
Queen Elizabeth II's favorite hobbies are breeding purebred dogs and horseback riding. With age, she replaced horses with cars, and even today she drives herself. By the way, the queen does not have a driver's license. Even at an advanced age, Elizabeth II became interested in gardening. She is considered one of the world's most traveled heads of state and has already visited over 130 countries. The personality of Elizabeth II attracts attention and motivates creative people to create works of art. There are many lifetime monuments and sculptures of Elizabeth II. In honor of the queen, bridges and buildings are built, parks and alleys are laid, stamps and coins are issued, a variety of roses is even named after the monarch.
Often Elizabeth II becomes a character in movies. The queen was portrayed on the screen, and a dozen more actresses. And once Queen Elizabeth II herself starred in a promo video for the opening of the London 2012 Olympics. Together with the actor who portrayed, she flies to the Olympic Stadium by helicopter and "jumps" with a parachute. For this role, the 87-year-old Queen of Great Britain was awarded the BAFTA film award as the best performer of the role.
Royals are prohibited from maintaining accounts in social networks. However, the royal family has a person who monitors their official " Instagram" and " Twitter”, where he uploads photos and records with the permission of the highest authority.
It is known that a whole team is working on the Queen's wardrobe. Experts suggest that Elizabeth's favorite color is blue-blue. It was in clothes of this shade that a woman most often appeared in public. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the color of the eyes of Elizabeth II is blue. Designers have always noted the elegance and refined taste of the monarch.
Despite her age, Elizabeth II prefers to do without makeup and usually only wears lipstick. The woman paints herself.
The queen has a collection of hats. There are more than 5,000 of these headdresses in Elizabeth's arsenal. Moreover, in public, the monarch appeared in each of them.
In 2016, for the 90th anniversary of the Queen, documentary about Elizabeth II. Director John Bridcutt was allowed to look into the personal video chronicle of the royal family.
Elizabeth II now
In January 2017, the subjects were worried about the health of the ruler. Elizabeth II became very ill: the woman was struck down by a cold. For this reason, the queen missed the Christmas and New Year services.
In June, the monarch delivered a speech from the throne in Parliament. Elizabeth II presented the government's program for the next two years.
In September, Queen Elizabeth II said she planned to wait until Russia was ruled by someone other than "Mr. Putin." According to the British monarch, he has lost touch with reality and there is nothing to talk about with him. The woman is sure that there will come a time when the Russians will again look at the British with a breath.
In December, the Queen participated in a hunting trip at the country residence of Sandringham. Sources said that when the dog brought a wounded pheasant to the feet of the monarch, Elizabeth II did not lose her head and finished off the bird with a cane.
In November 2017, it became known that Prince William's brother, Harry, was officially engaged to the actress. The lovers were appointed on May 19, 2018. However, Queen Elizabeth II did not give consent to the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for a long time, and according to the law governing the marriages of royal persons, before the triumph, the monarch must give official written permission to marry. And only a week before the wedding, Buckingham Palace published the consent of the British Queen. The public was sure that Elizabeth would not approve of Harry's union with a former actress who had previously married.
And on May 19, 2018, the whole world watched the royal celebration. 600 guests were invited to the wedding, among whom were both, with his wife and others. During the wedding, the queen did not show joyful emotions and never smiled. After the ceremony, Meghan was given the title of Duchess of Sussex.
Now the British public is waiting for Markle to announce her pregnancy and give Prince Harry an heir. The press periodically reports facts that confirm that the spouses seek to acquire offspring.
In February, the queen rented a plot in the center of Kyiv. The media were tormented by guesses why Elizabeth II needed land in Ukraine. It turned out that the embassies of Canada and Australia, members of the British Commonwealth and recognizing the authority of the British crown, are located on this site.
On June 18, Elizabeth II attended the traditional ceremony of presenting the highest knightly order Great Britain.
On June 19, an important social event started - the royal races at Ascot. Her Majesty attended this event.
That same month, the Queen's cousin Ivar Mountbatten announced that he was going to marry boyfriend James Coyle. Two years ago, a man made a real commotion in the family when he announced his non-traditional sexual orientation. Until 2011, Ivar was married to a woman named Penelope Thomson. In this marriage, the couple had three children. Ivar's ex-wife knew about her husband's inclinations and supported him. It is Penny who will lead Ivar to the altar. The woman immediately found mutual language with Mountbatten's lover. This will be the first same-sex marriage for the royal family.
On July 13, 2018, the Queen is scheduled to meet with the President of the United States. The working visit of the American leader will take place at Windsor Castle. In addition to meeting with Elizabeth, the President plans to spend several hours with the British Prime Minister.
Scandals
A loud scandal happened in the 90s, associated with Prince Charles. As you know, the man married Diana Spencer, who fell in love with the royal family and the British public, but the queen's son loved Camilla Shand all his life. However, the monarchs were against the marriage of their son to a rootless girl, so she also quickly found a gentleman. But meetings with the prince did not stop. Diana knew about her husband's infidelities. William and Harry's mother tried to save the marriage, but it didn't work out. In 1992, the recordings of a telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla were presented to the public. From the words that the lovers said to each other, the royals "withered their ears."
Diana then became furious. As a result, the marriage turned into a war that ended in divorce.
After the tragic death of Princess Diana, there were those who blamed Prince Chalza for what had happened. We went, and this happened not without the participation of Elizabeth II.
They also said that Prince Philip, the queen's husband, cheated on his wife many times. The woman did not comment on such statements.
In 2012, there was a scandal associated with the name of Prince William and. The future parents of George, Charlotte and Louis were vacationing in a private villa in France. The couple thought they were alone on the beach, and calmly walked there either in bathing suits or without any clothes at all. At this moment, the paparazzi lens caught the husband and wife.
At one time, the queen's sister, Margaret, "shone" in the center of gossip columns. In her youth, the girl was not allowed to marry for love, and she often began to visit dubious institutions. It was rumored that the closest relative of the ruler was addicted to cocaine. Then she married an unloved man, whom she left after 18 years. In marriage and after, the woman did not give up pleasure walks. As a result, Margaret ended her life unhappy in a wheelchair.
The press wrote that Elizabeth II could help her sister and approve a bill that would allow her to marry her beloved. But this did not happen.
Once the queen was even buried. It happened live on the BBC channel. Then the presenter Danny Kelly announced the death of the monarch. Later, the leadership of the television and radio corporation had to make an official apology to the royal family.
In 2016, there were rumors that the Queen planned to abdicate in favor of Prince William and Kate Middleton, bypassing Prince Charles. But the rumors remained just rumors.
On January 20, 1961, he ascended to the presidency of the United States. Four months later, the man and his wife met with the queen. The couple were invited to dinner. John came to visit Elizabeth II with a gift: a man handed his photo portrait to the monarch. Historians wonder what the newly-minted US president was trying to demonstrate with such a gesture. Elizabeth was surprised, but accepted the gift.
Jacqueline admitted that she was very worried before meeting with the queen, but she warmly greeted the president's wife and, so that she would calm down, showed the first lady a collection of works of art. Nine months later, Jacqueline Kennedy visited the Queen again, alone. And I was delighted with the visit. Six months later, the woman planned to host Elizabeth II, but when it turned out that the queen was pregnant, the meeting was postponed.
On April 12, 1961, a Soviet pilot-cosmonaut made the first flight into space. As a result, the young man turned into a world celebrity. Yuri Alekseevich was invited by foreign governments and organizations, including Great Britain. As a result, the queen herself wished to talk with Gagarin, calling the man for breakfast. Contrary to protocol, Elizabeth II sat the astronaut next to her and asked questions of interest. Those present noted that the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.
Queen Elizabeth II is the only person in the UK who does not have a passport.
Interestingly, no one except her husband has the right to touch the queen in public. And Elizabeth II never raises her voice and does not give interviews.
Elizabeth fell in love with Philip at first sight: they met when she was 13 years old, and he was 18. A well-built blond, a Royal Naval College cadet, right away. Correspondence began between her and Philip.
2. Elizabeth's parents were against her marriage to Philip
Philip comes from a royal family: at birth, he bore the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. However, Philip's family was expelled from Greece. Leaving his native country, his relatives settled in Paris, and Philip was sent to London, where he studied, received the rank of midshipman and went to serve in the navy during World War II. Although the young man wrote long and tender letters to the future Queen of England from the front, Elizabeth's relatives were not at all delighted with the choice of their daughter. They believed that Philip was not a couple for the princess - his family was ruined. The only inheritance that Philip received from his father was a signet ring.
3. Philip had to give up his title and religion
The wedding of Philip and Elizabeth, however, still took place. True, for her sake the young man had to sacrifice a lot. So, he ceased to be called a Greek prince, became a British subject and switched from Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. He was ready to forever remain in history as the queen's husband.
4. The wedding of Elizabeth and Philip was modest
Elizabeth and Philip got married at the end of 1947 - then the war had just ended ... The wedding was played by royal standards, rather modest, although very beautiful. The dress for the main day in her life was sewn by court fashion designer Norman Hartnell, who was inspired by Sandro Botticelli's painting "Spring". “I discovered a painting by Botticelli in the museum, which depicted a girl in ivory silk flowing along her body, strewn with flowers, asparagus and rosebuds. I recreated all this flora with the help of crystal beads and pearls,” he recalled. Elizabeth's head was adorned with her mother's precious tiara, and two pages carried a five-meter veil. The outfit was complemented by satin heeled sandals, the silver buckles of which were decorated with pearls.
5. Philip became the first to take the oath of allegiance to Elizabeth as queen.
Elizabeth and Philip after the wedding were inseparable. The girl took care of the house and was happy as a wife. Soon the couple had children - Charles and Anna. But in February 1952, the measured life of the family ended. The King of England and Elizabeth's father, George VI, died of a blood clot in his heart ... Philip was the first who, on bended knee, took an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth II as queen.
6. At first, Elizabeth forbade Philip from giving his children his last name.
After the coronation of Elizabeth, Philip had not only to leave the service in the navy, but to devote himself entirely to royal duties. He accompanied the queen on all trips, helped her in public affairs ... The man dreamed that his wife and children would bear his last name, but then the Windsors would officially cease to be rulers - and Mountbatten would become. The mere thought of this aroused indignation among all of Elizabeth's relatives. The Queen consulted with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and refused her husband's request to assign his surname to Charles and Anne. Philip was very worried and joked bitterly, calling himself the only person in the country who could not give his family name to his own children.
7. Philip and Elizabeth were on the verge of a divorce
In the mid-50s, Elizabeth was all absorbed in state affairs, and Philip suffered because he had to leave the service in the navy. The relationship of the spouses became cool and, perhaps, the matter was even going to a divorce - but the duke unexpectedly found himself in charity work. And then Elizabeth became pregnant again - and suddenly allowed her husband to give the newborn boy Andrew her last name. The fourth child of the royal couple, Edward, also received his father's surname. Thus, the couple's older children, Charles and Anna, have the surname Windsor, while the younger ones, Andrew and Edward, have Mountbatten-Windsor.
Today is the birthday of the most famous woman on the throne is Queen Elizabeth II of England. Despite her venerable age, the Queen continues to delight us with her appearances, is the constant heroine of our Stylish Monarchs column, gives valuable guidance to her heirs - Prince Charles and William, as well as her young daughter-in-law - Kate Middleton. HELLO.RU congratulates Elizabeth II on her birthday and remembers 15 interesting facts about this legendary person.
Elizabeth II
1. Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926. At the time of her birth, she was third in line to the throne, then they could not even think about her future ascension to the throne. Her father, George VI, began to rule after the unexpected renunciation of power by his elder brother, King Edward, thus Elizabeth came closer to power.
Queen Elizabeth II with mother Elizabeth I and father George VI
On the day of her father's death, 25-year-old Elizabeth was approached by her younger sister, Princess Margaret, and said: Does this mean that you will become queen? Poor thing!
2. Elizabeth was personally trained by her father, King George VI. Her teachers also included the Vice-Chancellor of Eton and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
From an early age, Lilibet, as she was called at home, was a passionate and active person. She really enjoyed learning languages. Thanks to foreign governesses, she mastered French in childhood. At the age of 11, while still a princess, Elizabeth became a scout and then a sea ranger.
Elizabeth II in Scout uniform, 19423.
Since childhood, the queen has been very fond of animals. She is the breeder of many Thoroughbreds and often comes to see equestrian competitions, as well as the races in which her horses participate.
Elizabeth II has been sitting on a horse almost from birth
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip at the Hippodrome Also, Elizabeth II loves dogs. Her favorite breed is the Welsh Corgi. She was given her first puppy by her father for her birthday, and since then she has had over 30 Corgis, each of which is a descendant of her first child, Suzy. The dogs live with the queen in the castle, travel in limousines and live in hotels.
Queen Elizabeth II with a dog
4. The queen met her husband, Prince Philip, at the age of 8. The son of a Greek prince was forced to flee his native country to England at the age of 1 in an orange box. Naturally, the daughter's union with the "impoverished prince" was not welcomed by King George VI of Great Britain. According to rumors, Elizabeth herself achieved the location of Philip, whom she had been in love with from an early age, and then made him a marriage proposal.
Elizabeth and Philip at their engagement, 1947
5. The couple announced their engagement in 1947. The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten took place on November 20, 1947. The celebration was attended by 2000 invited guests. The wedding dress was sewn by designer Norman Hartnell, and the bride's head was decorated with a diamond tiara, which Queen Mary gave her as a child.
Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
After marrying the princess, Philip was not anointed king. When his wife ascended the throne, he was the first to take the oath to her with the words:
I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will be your vassal in sickness and in health, serving you faithfully, with honor and respect, until death. May God help me.
61 years have passed since then, and Philip is still always and everywhere next to his queen.
6. Elizabeth II is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of England. She does everything herself important meetings with the heads of the Commonwealth, and also visits military installations during his visits to other countries. She prepares her son, Prince Charles, and grandchildren, William and Harry, for political affairs, however, they are not yet trusted to make decisions.
Queen Elizabeth II with her first child, Prince Charles
7. Despite the steel character and talent for government, the queen does not forget about femininity. The bright colors of dresses and suits, which she prefers from a very young age, betray her creative and mischievous nature.
A recognizable style, the main elements of which are a monochrome suit of saturated color, a matching hat, black shoes and a handbag, was formed at the very beginning of her reign. Now, despite her advanced age, the queen is not at all afraid of bright colors and still does not change her habits. As Karl Lagerfeld said, in order to become a recognizable person, you need to dress in such a way that it is easy to copy a cartoon from you. Queen Elizabeth II inspired the work of both famous creators and animators.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1986
8. Order surrounds the Queen in everything, so it is not surprising that in the dressing room of Elizabeth II, all things have a serial number. It also indicates the place and time at which the outfit was worn. Given the Queen's busy work schedule, this is the only way she can avoid "fashion repetition".
9. The working day of the queen is scheduled by the minute. At 7:30 a.m., a tray is brought to her bed containing a silver teapot, a jug of water and milk. At 10:00, she begins her duties and finishes work around 23:00. In the morning, the first thing she does is look through the daily British newspapers and the racing magazine The Racing Post.
Elizabeth II, 2013
After that, from hundreds of letters from subjects who came in a day, she selects a few that she reads, and then dictates to her assistant the answers to each of them. In the first half of the day, the queen appoints several meetings - with ambassadors, bishops, judges. Each takes no more than 15 minutes. In the evening, Elizabeth II meets with the Prime Minister and gets acquainted with official papers. At the end of the day, she attends exhibitions, concerts and other events.
10. Queen Elizabeth II has a very large family: four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. At a time when she is not busy with business, she likes to be at home with loved ones.
Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, three sons and a daughter
She spends several weeks in August and September alone. These days, the doors of Buckingham Palace open for everyone, and the Queen leaves to rest in the Scottish castle of Balmoral. There she likes to read novels, do crossword puzzles and take a bath. By the way, a funny habit is connected with Elizabeth's last pastime - the queen never takes a bath without her rubber duck.
Another of the Queen's favorite pastimes on weekends is "fussing" with the dogs. Rumor has it that Elizabeth loves to comb their hair on their own and even look for fleas from them.
11. The Queen is the only resident of the UK who does not have a passport and rights. However, this does not prevent her from actively traveling and driving a car. By the way, she first sat behind the wheel at the age of 19. With 67 years of driving experience behind her back, the Queen was spotted driving by the paparazzi in 2012. In an unaccompanied car, Elizabeth II was returning from a Scottish residence, where she hunted hazel grouse.
Queen Elizabeth II driving12
.During travels, the weight of the Queen's luggage can reach several tons. The record figure was recorded during the trip of Elizabeth II to a meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1953 - the queen was carrying 12 tons of clothes with her. Considering the number of her dogs that travel with her everywhere, there are also several tons of grooming items for them.
Elizabeth II
13. Elizabeth II has a number of secret signs. For example, if during official events she puts her handbag on the table, then it becomes clear to her attendants that the Queen wants to leave the meeting after 5 minutes. When she begins to twist the ring on her finger or shift the bag from one hand to the other, this means that she is bored with communication with the interlocutor.
Queen Elizabeth II
14.
Most difficult times in the life of the queen - 1992 and 2002. In the early 90s, the reputation of the monarchy was under attack due to the divorce of the Queen's heir, Prince Charles, with Princess Diana. And in 2002, the queen lost two beloved people at once - her sister Margaret and mother Elizabeth I.
Queen Elizabeth II with Princess Diana
15. Despite the fact that the Queen turns 88 today, this event will be celebrated on a national scale only in the summer. According to a tradition that has evolved over the years, the reigning monarch of Great Britain celebrates his birthday twice: directly on the day of the celebration with relatives and friends, and on one of the weekends in June. It is in the summer that magnificent festivities take place, people take to the streets to celebrate another year of the life and reign of the most popular royal person in the world.
