Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; b. April 21, 1926, London) is the 12th queen and head of state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is also the queen of 15 states of the Commonwealth of Nations (Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, 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), chapter Church of England, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Lord of the Isle of Man. She was also Queen of South Africa from 29 May 1953 to 31 May 1961.

Eldest daughter of the Duke of York George, the future King of Great Britain George VI (1895-1952)

and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900–2002).

Her grandparents: George V (1865-1936), King of Great Britain

and Queen Mary (1867-1953), Princess of Teck, - by father,

Claude George Bowes-Lyon (1855–1944), Earl of Strathmore and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883–1961), by mother.

Early years of Elizabeth II

1. The Queen was born at 2:40 am on April 21, 1926 in London's Mayfair at the residence of the Earl of Strathmore on Brewton Street, house number 17.
2. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, who would go on to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

3. At the time, she was third in the line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) and her father, the Duke of York. But no one expected her father to become a king, much less that she would become a queen.

4. Princess Elizabeth was baptized with the names of Alexander and Mary in the chapel of Buckingham Palace. She was named after her mother, and her two middle names are after her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and her paternal grandmother, Queen Mary.

5. The Princess' early years were spent at 145 Piccadilly, her parents' London home, where they moved shortly after her birth, and at the White House in Richmond Park.
6. When she was six years old, her parents received government positions at the Royal House in Windsor Great Park.
7. Princess Elizabeth was educated at home with Princess Margaret, her younger sister.

8. Elizabeth was personally educated by her father, King George, and also had classes with Henry Marten, vice-rector of Eton. The Archbishop of Canterbury studied religion with her.
9. Princess Elizabeth learned French from French and Belgian governesses. This skill served the Queen well, as she was personally able to take part in conversations with ambassadors and heads of state from French-speaking countries, as well as when visiting French-speaking areas of Canada.

Princess Elizabeth in 1933

10. Princess Elizabeth became a Scout when she was eleven years old and then became a Marine Ranger.
11. In 1940, at the height of the war, the young princesses were moved for their safety to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the war years.

1943 with sister

Women's Auxiliary Territorial Corps: Princess Elizabeth, 2nd Chief of the Department of Internal Affairs, in overalls.

royal romance

12. The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

13. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip met at the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece and the Duke of Kent, who was Princess Elizabeth's uncle, in 1934.

14. The engagement of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten was announced on July 9, 1947. Prince Philip at birth received the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. He joined the Navy in 1939 and after the war, in February 1947, he became a British citizen. Prince Philip had to choose a surname in order to continue his career in the Royal Navy and he adopted the surname of his mother's British relatives, Mountbatten. At the wedding, King George VI elevated him to the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

15. Royal wedding rings were decorated with platinum and encrusted with diamonds by jeweler Philip Antrobus. He used diamonds from a diadem belonging to the mother of Prince Philip in jewelry.
16. Prince Philip had two bachelor parties before the wedding: the first - official in Dorchester, which included invited guests from the press, and the second - with close friends at the Belfrey club.
17. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947 at 11:30 am. The celebration was attended by 2000 invited guests.

Video: "Wedding"

Bridesmaid dresses were made in the same style. They were made from cheaper materials (also purchased with coupons), but due to the embroidery and interesting design, they looked decent.

Princess Margaret as a bridesmaid at Queen Elizabeth's wedding

Princess Alexandra of Kent as a bridesmaid at the Queen's wedding

18. Elizabeth had eight bridesmaids: Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Lady Caroline Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lady Mary Cambridge, Lady Elizabeth Lambert, Pamela Mountbatten, Margaret Elphinstone, Diana Bowes-Lyon.
19. Also in attendance at the wedding were HRH Prince William of Gloucester (aged five) and HRH Prince Michael of Kent (also aged five).
20. The Queen's wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell.
21. The fabric for the dress was specially made by "Winterthur Silks Limited" in Dunfermline, at the Canmore factory. For its manufacture, threads of Chinese silkworms were delivered from China. Garlands of orange fleur (the emblem of virginity), jasmine (the emblem of happiness, purity, sincerity) and the white rose of York (white rose means purity) were embroidered with small pearls and crystal rhinestones located all over the dress.

22. The queen's veil was made of light sheer fabric and topped with a diamond tiara. This tiara (which can be worn as a necklace) was made for Queen Mary in 1919. The diamonds from which it is made are taken from a necklace and tiara purchased by Queen Victoria from Collingwood and a wedding gift for Queen Mary in 1893. In August 1936, Queen Mary gave the tiara to Queen Elizabeth when she was still Princess Elizabeth for a future wedding.

Elizabeth "borrowed" the tiara from her mother. An hour before the celebration in the hands of the bride, the tiara broke in half and had to wait for the jeweler, who urgently repaired it.

23. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Abbey is the only stone that is not covered with a special cover. The day after the wedding, Princess Elizabeth, following the royal tradition begun by her mother, sent the bridal bouquet back to the abbey, where flowers were laid on the grave.
24. The bride's engagement ring was made from a Welsh gold nugget shipped from the Clogau St David mine near Dolgello.
25. About 10 thousand congratulatory telegrams were received at Buckingham Palace, and the royal couple received more than 2,500 wedding gifts from well-wishers around the world.

26. In addition to jewelry, the couple received many useful items for the kitchen and home from close relatives, including salt shakers from the Queen Mother, a bookcase from Queen Mary, and a picnic set from Princess Margaret.
27. "Wedding Breakfast" (lunch) was held after the wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in the Round Dining Room at Buckingham Palace. The menu included filet de Sole Mountbatten, Pedro casserole, Princess Elizabeth ice cream.
28. On their honeymoon, the couple left Waterloo Station with the princess's dog, Susan.
29. The newlyweds spent their wedding night in Hampshire, at the home of Prince Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten. The second part of the honeymoon took place in Birkhall, on the Balmoral estate.
30. In early 1948, the couple rented their first family home, Windlensham Moor, in Surrey, near Windsor Castle, where they remained until they moved into Clarence House on July 4, 1949.
31. After marrying Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh continued his naval career, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander in command of the frigate HMS Magpie.
32. Although he was the husband of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh was not crowned or anointed at the coronation ceremony in 1953. He was the first to pay respect and take the oath to Her Majesty. He kissed the newly crowned Queen with the words: "I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will be your vassal in sickness and in health, I will serve you faithfully, with honor and respect, until death. May God help me."

Herbert James Gunn Coronation Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II

33. Prince Philip accompanied the Queen on all her travels to Commonwealth countries and state visits, as well as to state events and meetings in all parts of the UK. The first of these was the Commonwealth Coronation Tour from November 1953 to May 1954, in which the couple visited Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, the Cocos Islands, Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar, having traveled a distance of 43.618 kilometers.

34. The coronation took place at Westinster Abbey on June 2, 1953. The ceremony was officiated by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury.
35. The coronation was broadcast in every part of London, on the navy, in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Sketch by Norman Hartnell for the coronation dress of Elizabeth II

Coronation dress by Norman Hartnell

Joan Hassell. Prince Charles invitation, 1953

36. The Queen and Duke Philip of Edinburgh have four children: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (b. 1948), Princess Anne (b. 1950), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960) and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b. 1964).
37. With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, the Queen became the first reigning monarch to have a child since Queen Victoria, whose youngest child, Princess Beatrice, was born in 1857.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (b. 1948)

Princess Anne, (b. 1950)

The Queen with son Charles and daughter Anne, 1954

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cornwall and Princess Anne October 1957

Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960)

Queen Elizabeth II's two youngest children, Princes Andrew and Edward.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b. 1964)

Prince Edward and Princess Sophie

38. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Philip have eight grandchildren -

Peter Phillips (b. 1977)

Zara Phillips (b. 1981)

Prince William (b. 1982),

Prince Harry (b. 1984),

Princess Beatrice (b. 1988),

Princess Eugenie (b. 1990),

Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003)

and James, Viscount Severns (b. 2007),

has a great-granddaughter - Savannah (born in 2011) and great-grandson Prince George of Cambridge (2013)

The Queen and Prince Philip pose with their grandchildren (l-r) William, Harry, Zara and her brother Peter (back row) in a warm portrait sent out for Christmas 1987

Speeches of the Queen of England

39. The Queen televises a Christmas message every year except in 1969, when she decided the royals had had enough on television after an unprecedented documentary about her family. Her greeting took the form of a written address.
40. In a 1991 message, the Queen dismissed rumors of an abdication, as she pledged to continue her service.
41. The Queen issued an injunction against The Sun in 1992 after it published the full text of her speech two days before it was broadcast. She later accepted an apology and a £200,000 donation to charity.
42. The Queen's grandfather, King George V, was the first of the royal family to speak live on the radio from Sandringham on Christmas Day in 1932.
43. George V was at first against the use of wireless devices for transmitting information, but eventually agreed.

44. There was no Christmas broadcast in 1936 and 1938.
45. In 2010, the Queen's speech was broadcast from Hampton Court Palace - the first time a historic building was used.
46. ​​Each speech is written personally by the Queen, each has a strict religious framework, reflects current issues and is often based on her own experience.

Interests and hobbies

48. An animal lover since childhood, the Queen has a keen and very knowledgeable interest in horses. As an owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds, she often comes to watch races to see how her horses are doing on the run, and often attends equestrian events.
49. Elizabeth II took part in the derby, one of the classic races in the UK, and the Ascot summer race, which has become royal since 1911.
50. The Queen's horses have won several races at Royal Ascot. Notable was the double victory on June 18, 1954, when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion named Halo won the Hardwicke Stakes, and in 1957 the Queen had four winners during the race.

Zara Philips, Princess Ahn and Elizabeth II

In her young grandchildren (children of Prince Edward), Elizabeth II also encourages horses.

51. Other interests include walks in nature and in the countryside. The Queen also loves to walk with her Labradors, which were specially bred in Sandgreenham.
52. Less well known is the Queen's interest in Scottish dance. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, the Queen hosts a dance known as the "Gillis Ball" for neighbors, estate owners, castle employees and members of the local community.
53. The Queen is the only person in the UK who can drive without a license or registration number in her car. And she doesn't have a passport.
54. The Queen is the patron of over 600 charities.
55. To formally greet the queen, men should bow their heads slightly, while women make a small curtsy. When introduced to the Queen, the proper formal address is "Your Majesty" followed by "Ma'am".

Leisure Queen

56. Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth English monarch since William the Conqueror.
57. She has traveled to Australia 15 times, Canada 23 times, Jamaica 6 times and New Zealand 10 times.
58. Her Majesty sent about 100,000 telegrams to centenarians in the UK and Commonwealth countries.
59. The Queen dined on 23 ships and interacted with five astronauts at Buckingham Palace.
60. She made her first airplane flight in July 1945.
61. Her Majesty is the only British monarch in history who knows how to change spark plugs.
62. On VE Day, the Queen and her sister Princess Margaret slipped in the crowd during the celebration.
63. For a wedding dress, the Queen collected coupons for clothes.
64. The Queen has a bank account at Coutts & Co.
65. The Queen celebrated her golden jubilee in 2002 by visiting 70 cities and towns across the UK.
66. Tony Blair was the first prime minister to be born during her reign, which has already seen nine prime ministers before him.
67. The Queen attended 91 state banquets and posed for 139 official portraits.
68. Formally, the Queen of England still owns sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the water throughout the UK, which are recognized as "King's Fish". In addition, she owns all wild flocks of swans living in open water.

69. The Queen developed a new breed of dog known as "dorgi" when one of the corgis was bred to a dachshund named Pipkin.
70. The Queen is the first British monarch to see three child divorces.
71. Her Majesty demoted a footman for serving whiskey to her corgi.
72. The Queen has nine Royal Thrones: one in the House of Lords, two in Westminster Abbey and six in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.

73. She is a patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. One of the queen's birds is called the Sandringham Lightning.
74. There have been six Archbishops of Canterbury during the Queen's reign.
75. The height of the Queen is 5 feet 4 inches or 160 centimeters.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary). Born April 21, 1926 in London. Queen of Great Britain since 1952.

She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of twenty-five, after the death of her father, King George VI. Is among all the monarchs in the history of Great Britain.

The oldest British (English) monarch in history.

She also ranks second in the world in terms of tenure as head of state among all current heads of state (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is the world's oldest female current head of state, and in Europe the oldest current 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.

Comes from the Windsor dynasty.

She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of fifteen independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica.

He is also head of the Anglican Church and Supreme Commander of the British Armed Forces.

Queen of Great Britain

Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her grandparents are: on her father's side - 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 (1862-1938).

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in the London district of Mayfair in 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).

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.

In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.

She received a good education at home, mainly in the humanities - she studied the history of the constitution, jurisprudence, religious studies, art history, and also (actually independently) French.

From a young age she was interested in horses and was engaged in horseback riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.

At birth, Elizabeth became the Princess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VIII) and father. Since Prince Edward was young enough to be expected to marry and have children, Elizabeth was not initially considered a viable candidate for the throne.

However, Edward was forced to abdicate eleven months after the death of George V in 1936. Prince Albert (George VI) became king, and 10-year-old Elizabeth became heir to the throne and moved with her parents from Kensington to Buckingham Palace. However, she remained in the role "heir presumptive"("presumptive heir"), and if George VI had a son, he would have inherited the throne.

World War II 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 the military rank of 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).

In 1947, Elizabeth accompanied her parents on a trip to South Africa and, on her 21st birthday, went on the radio with a solemn promise to devote her life to the service of the British Empire.

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.

Coronation of Elizabeth II

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".

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.

In 1957, after the resignation of Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, due to the lack of clear rules for choosing a leader in the Conservative Party, Elizabeth II had to appoint a new head of government from among the Conservatives. After consultations with prominent members of the party and former Prime Minister Churchill, 63-year-old Harold Macmillan was appointed head of government.

In the same year, Elizabeth made her first visits to the United States and Canada as Queen of Canada. She also spoke for the first time at a session of the UN General Assembly. She was present at the opening session of the Canadian Parliament (for the first time in history with the participation of the British monarch). She continued her travels in 1961 when she made visits to Cyprus, the Vatican, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran, and Ghana.

In 1963, following the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan, on his advice, Elizabeth appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as prime minister.

In 1976, Elizabeth II inaugurated (as Queen of Canada) the XXI Olympic Games in Montreal.

1977 was an important date for the Queen - the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth II's tenure on the British throne was celebrated, in honor of which many ceremonial enterprises were held in the Commonwealth countries.

Late 1970s - early 1980s There have been a number of assassination attempts on the royal family.. In particular, in 1979, the terrorists of the "Provisional Irish Republican Army" assassinated the uncle of Prince Philip (the queen's husband), an influential statesman and military leader, Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Elizabeth II herself during a military parade in honor of the queen's "official birthday".

In 1981, the wedding of the son of Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and, which would later become a big problem for the royal family, took place.

At this time in 1982, as a result of changes in the Canadian constitution, the British Parliament lost any role in Canadian affairs, but the British Queen still remained the head of the Canadian state. In the same year, the first visit of Pope John Paul II to Great Britain in the last 450 years took place (the Queen, who is the head of the Anglican Church, received him personally).

In 1991, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the US Houses of Congress.

1992 was a "terrible year", according to the definition of Elizabeth II herself. Two of the Queen's four children - Prince Andrew and Princess Anne - divorced their spouses, Prince Charles separated from Princess Diana, Windsor Castle was badly damaged by fire, the obligation for the Queen to pay income tax was introduced, and funding for the royal court was noticeably reduced.

In 1996, at the urging of the Queen, a formal divorce was signed between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

A year later, in 1997, the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris occurred, which shocked not only the royal family, but also millions of ordinary Britons. For restraint and the absence of any reaction to the death of the former daughter-in-law, critical remarks immediately rained down on the queen.

In 2002, celebrations were held in honor of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the British throne (Golden Jubilee). But in the same year, the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, and the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.

In 2008, for the first time in history, the Anglican Church, headed by Elizabeth, held a Maundy Thursday service, in which the reigning monarch traditionally participates, outside of England or Wales - in the Cathedral of St. Patrick's in Armagh in Northern Ireland.

In 2010, she spoke for the second time at a meeting of the UN General Assembly. Introducing the Queen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called her "the saving anchor of our era."

In 2011, the first ever state visit by a British monarch to independent Ireland took place. In the same year, the wedding of Prince William (grandson of Elizabeth II) and Catherine Middleton took place.

In 2012, the XXX Olympic Games were held in London, inaugurated by Elizabeth II, and a new law was approved that changes the order of succession, according to which male heirs lose priority over women.

In 2012, the UK and other countries solemnly celebrated the 60th (diamond) anniversary of Elizabeth II on the throne. On June 3, a solemn water parade of more than a thousand ships and boats took place on the Thames. It is believed that this is the most grandiose river procession in history. On June 4, 2012, a concert took place on the square in front of Buckingham Palace with the participation of such stars of British and world music as Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Grace Jones, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones and others. The evening was hosted by Take That lead singer Gary Barlow.

In 2013, for the first time in 40 years, Elizabeth II refused to go to the summit of the heads of the countries of the British Commonwealth, held in Sri Lanka. Britain was represented at the summit by Prince Charles, which indicates the gradual transfer of powers of Elizabeth to her son.

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 happens in other countries of the world: she has more than 325 foreign visits to her account.

I have been gardening since 2009.

In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.

Height of Elizabeth II: 163 centimeters

Personal life of Elizabeth II:

In 1947, at the age of 21, she married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921) - an officer in the British Navy, a member of the Greek (son of the Greek Prince Andrew) and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

They met in 1934, and fell in love, it is believed, after a visit by Elizabeth in 1939 to the Naval College in Dartmouth, where Philip studied.

Having become the spouse of the princess, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

A year after the wedding - in 1948 - the eldest son was born to Elizabeth and Philip. And on August 15, 1950 - a daughter, Princess Anna.

Elizabeth II and Philip Mountbatten

In 1960, the Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, was born. In 1964, she gave birth to her third son, Prince Edward.

Children of Elizabeth II:

Born November 14, 1948. July 29, 1981 married Lady Diana Spencer. On August 28, 1996, the couple filed for divorce. They had two sons: the Duke of Cambridge and Wales.

Prince William, married to, has two children: Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Princess Anna, "Princess of royal blood" ("Princess Royal") - was born on August 15, 1950. She was married to Mark Phillips from November 14, 1973 to April 28, 1992 (divorced). The couple had two children: Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York- was born on February 19, 1960. He was married to Sarah Ferguson from July 23, 1986 - May 30, 1996 (divorced). The couple had two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie (Eugenie) of York.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex- was born on March 10, 1964. He is married to Sophie Rhys-Jones (the wedding took place on June 19, 1999). The couple have two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

The role of Elizabeth II in the political and public life of Great Britain:

In accordance with the British tradition of a parliamentary monarchy, Elizabeth II performs mainly representative functions, with little or no influence on the government of the country. However, during her reign, she successfully maintains the authority of the British monarchy. Her duties include visiting various countries on diplomatic visits, receiving ambassadors, meeting with high-ranking government officials (especially the Prime Minister), reading annual messages to Parliament, presenting awards, knighting, etc.

Also, the queen daily looks through the main British newspapers and, with the help of servants, answers some letters that are sent to her in huge quantities (200-300 pieces daily).

Throughout her time on the throne, the Queen maintained correct relations with all prime ministers. At the same time, she always remained true to the tradition of the English kings of modern times - to be above political fights. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth II should not publicly express her political likes or dislikes. She has always followed this rule by acting in a non-public manner - so her political views remain unknown.

Three times during her reign, the queen had constitutional problems with the formation of the British government.

In 1957 and 1963, with no clear mechanism for electing a leader in the Conservative Party, it was up to the Queen to decide whom to entrust with the formation of a government after the resignations of Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.

In 1957, Anthony Eden refused to advise the Queen on whom to appoint as his successor, and she turned for advice to, as the only conservative prime minister alive at that time (following the precedent for which, after the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law in 1923, King George V consulted Lord Salisbury's father and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour).

In 1963, Harold Macmillan himself advised Alec Douglas-Home to be his successor. And in 1974, after the resignation of Edward Heath as a result of an unclear election outcome, Elizabeth II appointed opposition leader Harold Wilson as prime minister.

In all these cases, the Queen acted according to the British constitutional tradition, according to which she should not take any important decisions without the advice of her ministers and privy councillors.

In addition, British prime ministers meet with the Queen every week. The Queen is more knowledgeable on most matters than meets the eye. In addition, the Queen has regular meetings with other Commonwealth ministers and prime ministers when they are in the UK on a visit. Also, during her stay in Scotland, she meets with the First Minister of Scotland. The British Ministry and diplomatic missions send her regular reports.

Although it is customary that the Queen does not interfere in politics, but due to the fact that during her long reign she had the opportunity to work with many prime ministers and leaders of other countries, her advice is always taken seriously. In her memoirs, she wrote of her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth: "Anyone who thinks that they [meetings] are a mere formality or social convention is deeply mistaken. In fact, they take place in a calm business atmosphere, and Her Majesty always demonstrates her ability to cover a wide range of issues and her great experience".

Elizabeth II is actively involved in charity and social activities. The Queen of Britain is a trustee of more than 600 different public and charitable organizations.

In addition to duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives). For example, she can dissolve the parliament, reject the candidacy of the prime minister (which seems unsuitable to her), and so on.

Financial costs for the queen:

So, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in the 2008-2009 financial year, each Briton spent $ 1.14 on the maintenance of the monarchy, which amounted to $ 68.5 million in total.

In 2010-2011, due to the government's new economic program, the Queen was forced to cut her spending to $51.7 million.

Starting in 2012, Elizabeth's income began to grow again (at an approximate rate of 5% per year).

Such figures cause dissatisfaction among the Republican-minded part of the British population, which considers it necessary to cut them.

States whose head was or is Elizabeth II:

Upon accession to the throne in 1952, Elizabeth became queen of seven states: Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon.

During her reign, some of these countries became republics. At the same time, as a result of the process of decolonization, numerous British colonies gained independence. In some of them, the Queen of Great Britain retained the status of head of state, in others she did not.

Abolition of the monarchy in the original possessions of Elizabeth II:

Pakistan - in 1956 (former Dominion of Pakistan)
South Africa - in 1961 (former SA)
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - in 1972 (former Dominion of Ceylon).

Newly independent states that retained the monarchy:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Grenada
Papua New Guinea
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Solomon islands
Tuvalu
Jamaica

Newly independent states that abandoned the monarchy:

Guyana
Gambia
Ghana
Kenya
Mauritius
Malawi
Malta
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Tanganyika
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Fiji

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 the history of Great Britain. 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 arts education. She studied art, religion, law and, specifically, the British Constitution at a high level. 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 broadcast on television 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 her subordinate countries when she learned about the beginning of the civil war in Yemen. She immediately ordered a change in 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 for the last time 40 years ago: Justin was taken to an appointment with 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:, 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 banned from social media accounts. 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, a documentary film about Elizabeth II was released on the occasion of the Queen's 90th birthday. 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 people, 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 of 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 a common 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. Future parents, and rested 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 wife of the president 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.

VIVAT, QUEEN! Dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Elizabeth II.

queen elizabeth ii

On April 21, 2016, the oldest monarch of Europe, Elizabeth II, turned 90 years old. Her Majesty not only embodies the traditions of the United Kingdom, but also takes an active part in the fate of the country. Rumors about the abdication of Elizabeth II of the throne arise with enviable frequency, but few of the subjects can imagine Britain without its queen.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was born on April 21, 1926. The girl was named after her mother Elizabeth, grandmother Maria and great-grandmother Alexandra.

Duke of York with eldest daughter Elizabeth

the future Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with the Queen Mother and her younger sister Princess Margaret in 1939. The princess died in 2002 at the age of 71.

sisters Elizabeth and Margaret

At the time of her birth, Elizabeth was third in line to the throne - after her uncle Edward, the future King Edward VIII, and father Prince Albert, the future George VI. At that time, no one thought about her possible ascension to the throne.

Elizabeth with parents

Elizabeth with her beloved animals

However, the fate of the future queen was different. Her uncle Edward, who spent only 10 months on the throne from January 20 to December 11, 1936, wanted to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson. In addition to the fact that his chosen one had a bad reputation in high society, she also expressed open sympathy for Nazi Germany.

sisters Elizabeth and Margaret with their parents

The British government could not approve such a dubious marriage, to which Edward stated: "I found it impossible to fulfill the duties of the king without the help and support of the woman I love." After that, he abdicated in favor of his brother Prince Albert, father of Elizabeth, the future King George VI.

Princess Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace Park

princess elizabeth

When the news came that George VI had ascended the throne, his youngest daughter Princess Margaret sympathized with her older sister Elizabeth: “Does this mean you will become queen?! Poor thing!" However, young Lilibet, as she was called in childhood, did not take these words seriously.

In the photo, Princess Elizabeth (right) with her younger sister Margaret

Elizabeth joined the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving the military rank of lieutenant.

When Elizabeth was 13 years old, the Second World War began. On October 13, 1940, she made her first radio address with an appeal of support to children affected by the disasters of the war. During World War II, Elizabeth joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Corps, where she acted as an auto mechanic and truck driver. It is worth noting that the queen still has a passion for cars and is well versed in mechanics.

Elizabeth with her fiancé Philip Mountbatten

After the war, when Elizabeth was 21 years old, she married 26-year-old British Navy officer Philip Mountbatten. The couple met during his college days. Young people corresponded for a long time, and in 1946 Philip asked the king for permission to marry.

Despite the fact that Elizabeth fell in love with Philip almost at first sight and immediately announced that she would marry him, the family of the future queen was categorically against it. The catch was that Philip, although he was formally the prince of Greece, but his father Andrew left his son neither a fortune nor land holdings - nothing but a pedigree and a signet ring, which the duke still wears. Elizabeth, however, persuaded her father to give permission for the marriage. Philip converted from Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, renounced the title of Greek prince and accepted British citizenship.

Marriage of Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Philip in 1947

Philip is Elizabeth's fourth cousin through her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. He is also a descendant of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I, and his mother was the niece of the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II.

The marriage of Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh took place at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The ceremony was attended by two thousand guests. The wedding cake was nine feet high and featured the heraldic insignia of both families, the monograms of the newlyweds, sugar figurines, regimental and naval badges. The cake was cut with a sword given to Philip by his father-in-law, George VI.

the cake is 9 feet high, had 4 tiers and weighed as much as 250 kilograms

On the wedding day, Philip gave his bride an elegant silver cosmetic bag, which she still carries with her in her purse. The engagement ring of Elizabeth II was made by Philip Antrobus Ltd using diamonds from the diadem of Prince Philip's mother.

official coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

On February 6, 1952, King George VI died after a long illness. And on June 2, 1953, the official coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II took place. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch. According to the data, 27 million viewers watched the ceremony, 11 million listened to it on the radio.

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 Hon. Lady Rayne)

Even the harshest critics cannot blame the queen for neglecting her duties. Once, Elizabeth II gently hinted at her wealth of experience, saying that her lifetime had "the pleasant duty of dealing with 12 prime ministers and signing 3.5 thousand laws."

Indeed, during the reign of Elizabeth II, 12 British prime ministers have changed - from Winston Churchill to David Cameron, 12 American presidents - from Truman to Barack Obama, seven popes - from Pius XII to Francis. Tony Blair, ex-Prime Minister of Great Britain, was born during the reign of the Queen. The first time Queen Elizabeth II saw Tony was when he and her son Edward played rabbits in a school play.

Although the Queen is not involved in government decision-making, the Prime Minister of Great Britain meets with her face to face every week to discuss the main issues of the political and economic life of the country.

British Queen Elizabeth II spoke at the opening ceremony
regular session of Parliament with a speech from the throne

Despite her advanced age, the Queen leads a very active life. Her schedule is scheduled by the minute. At exactly 7:30 they bring her breakfast. At 10.00, Elizabeth II begins her duties and finishes work around 23.00. In the morning, Her Majesty holds meetings with ambassadors, bishops, judges - each lasts no more than 15 minutes. In the evening he receives the Prime Minister and looks through official papers. At the end of the day, she attends exhibitions, concerts and other events.

Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Elizabeth II with her husband Philip the Duke of Edinburgh before a gala dinner as part of the G8 summit in Gleneagles

Elizabeth II has enormous influence in the international arena. In 16 countries, the British Queen is officially considered the head of state, where governors-general rule on her behalf. Elizabeth II has the right to appoint and remove them from office. At the same time, the queen herself says that her title means nothing, the real power is in the hands of the people, and she is only a tribute to tradition, a kind of symbol of power.

Obama's London visit ends with an official royal banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Since her ascension to the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has delivered her Christmas speech every year. The only exception was 1969, when a documentary about the British royal family was shown instead of a Christmas address. Also, Elizabeth II is actively involved in charity and social activities. The Queen of England is a trustee of more than 600 different public and charitable organizations.

More often than Elizabeth II in the UK, perhaps, no one travels. In 1954, Her Majesty became the first monarch to circumnavigate the world in a six-month tour.

During the reign of Elizabeth II, 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.

In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II set the absolute record for the longest stay on the throne - 63 years and 217 days. Before that, the oldest monarch of Great Britain was her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

As for Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, he was never crowned. Under British law, the husband of a reigning queen does not become king, but remains a prince consort. Nevertheless, he was the first to swear allegiance to Elizabeth II. “I, Philip, become your vassal in body and soul; I swear to serve you faithfully until the end of my days, protecting you from any enemies. God help me,” he said on the day of the coronation.

From the first days of Her Majesty's reign, Philip really accompanied her on all trips and attended protocol events. True, the prince more than once got into situations for which his wife had to blush deeply. So in New Guinea, Philip asked a passerby: “Listen, my dear, how have you not been eaten here yet?” In China, addressing an English tourist, he casually remarked: "Look, do not stay here for a long time, otherwise your eyes will narrow." And in Paraguay, at a meeting with the bloody dictator Stroessner, Philip said: "It's amazingly nice to be in a country that is not ruled by the people."

In addition to diplomatic blunders, Philip often gave palace gossip a reason to gossip about his love affairs on the side. He was credited with an affair with a cousin of Elizabeth II, they talked about illegitimate children from different women. But the queen did everything to stop such rumors. The couple managed to save the family. And in 2007, Elizabeth II and Philip celebrated a diamond wedding - the 60th anniversary of their marriage. For the British monarchy, this is a solid marital record and another record.

Charles, Prince of Wales

Unfortunately, their eldest son Prince Charles could not follow the example of his parents. The heir to the throne divorced Princess Diana after 15 years of marriage. The family was not saved either by two children - William and Harry, or by the persuasion of the queen herself. By the way, Elizabeth II played an important role in arranging this marriage.

Among all the candidates who applied for the "post" of the prince's wife, Diana Spencer, a young English woman of noble origin with a good upbringing, submissive and modest, became the best option. The queen invited her to all the events in which Charles participated in order to bring them closer. As a result, succumbing to the pressure of society - the prince was already over 30 - and his domineering mother, Charles proposed to Diana.

But the prince was not distinguished by fidelity and did not hide it. His heart belonged to Camille Parker Bowles, who later married him. And Diana did not silently endure her husband's betrayal. She briefly had a close relationship with her riding instructor, James Hewitt, to which she admitted in a 1995 television interview (Charles had made a similar confession to Camille the year before). Shortly before her death, in June 1997, Diana began dating film producer Dodi al-Fayed, the son of Egyptian billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed.

On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car accident in France. People filled the fences of Buckingham and Kensington Palaces with flowers, soft toys, balloons, letters of condolence. For the lack of reaction of Elizabeth II to the death of the princess beloved by the British people, the Queen was angered by the public and many major media. The queen's popularity plummeted. For the first time in 10 years, from 13 to 30%, the number of those who were sure that without the monarchy of Great Britain "it would be better" increased.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Prime Minister Tony Blair had to save the day. He persuaded the queen to personally honor the memory of the princess. Elizabeth returned to London five days after Diana's death. Together with Prince Philip, she went to a pile of flowers at Buckingham Palace, showing people her sympathy. The crowd started clapping. On the same day, the Queen addressed the nation on live television, calling Diana "an exceptional and gifted person." “Neither in joy, nor in grief, she did not lose the ability to laugh and support others with her warmth and kindness,” said Elizabeth.

Over the years of Elizabeth's reign, the royal guard recorded more than 20 incidents related to violations of the personal safety of members of the royal family. As the Queen herself says, "danger is part of my job."

In 1974, an attempt to kidnap Princess Anne was thwarted near Buckingham Palace in London. In May 1981, an assassination attempt on Prince Charles was thwarted when a bomb-filled envelope addressed to the Prince of Wales was intercepted at a sorting post office in west London.

The attack on the queen herself was carried out a month after this incident. During the traditional parade, a young man shot six times at the horse of Elizabeth II. The pistol was loaded with blanks. The attacker was accused of violating a law passed back in 1842, which provided for the punishment for firing a weapon in close proximity to the royal person in order to frighten her.

In 2014, Scotland Yard prevented another assassination attempt on the British Queen. Four people have been arrested in London on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. They planned an attack on Elizabeth II using edged weapons.

Crown of the British Empire

An elegant creation of human hands, before which more than one generation of people bowed their heads, the Royal Crown of Britain is a crown with alternating four lilies and crosses. Above them are four semi-arcs, which are crowned with a ball with a cross. The basis of splendor is a velvet hat with an ermine edge. In total, the crown of monarchs is decorated with 2868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 273 pearls, 5 wondrous rubies.

Her Majesty wears the crown once, maximum twice a year. The crown of the British Empire, which the Queen wears at the Opening of Parliament, is very heavy, so Elizabeth II has to wear it for several days before this event to get used to its weight. Prince Charles once said that one of his most vivid childhood memories is when his mother bathed him in the bath with a crown on her head, as she was preparing for the opening of Parliament.

On May 27, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament for the 63rd time.
This is, of course, the most amazing, the most royal sight.

The Queen and Prince Philip in a carriage. The Queen also donned her personal diamond jewellery, a King George three strand diamond necklace and earrings from the Queen Mary brooch.

The Queen arrives at Westminster Abbey

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles

the queen enters parliament

On this day, she is always in white. All ladies, even ladies-in-waiting, at this ceremony, everyone must be in white. The Queen arrives in the carriage of Queen Victoria wearing the diadem of King George. In the "canonical" form, which is printed on money and stamps.

in a carriage carrying a crown

crown of the british empire

15 minute throne speech

Elizabeth has finished her Throne Speech and is about to leave Parliament

The Queen is already without the Crown of the British Empire

and the Crown of the British Empire goes back to the Tower

Speaking about the dressing room of the queen, it is worth noting that military order always reigns there. Each new thing is entered under its own name in a special catalog, which also indicates the date, time and place when it was put on. This allows Elizabeth II to avoid fashion repetition.

Queen Elizabeth II - 63 years of the monarchy in hats

On September 9, Queen Elizabeth II broke the record of Queen Victoria and became the longest-reigning monarch in British history - 63 years and 7 months. Below are the Queen's famous hats, which she wore on important occasions throughout her reign.

Today the queen dresses according to her age.

Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth II's personal dresser for 40 years, has written a book about her work, Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe, with the permission of Her Majesty.

Angela Kelly has been working on the royal image for all these years, she helps to select outfits for all events, and the Queen of Great Britain has a great many of them. Angela designs costumes, participates in the acquisition of new things and, of course, knows all the secrets of the impeccable style of Elizabeth II.

Angela Kelly at work

Of course, everyone knows about such an item of the royal dress code as a hat. But it turns out that when Queen Elizabeth II is about to visit a nursing home, she specifically selects a structured hat in a bright color so that even people with low vision can see the accessory.

Elizabeth II has never been a fashionista. And, as a royal spokeswoman admitted in an interview, even in her youth, Her Majesty dressed conservatively and never wore a miniskirt. Although at that time everyone was crazy about the new thing in the women's wardrobe, which had just come into fashion.

Often, Elizabeth II uses accessories to convey secret signs. For example, if during official events she puts her purse on the table, then it becomes clear to her attendants that the Queen wants to leave the meeting in five minutes. When she starts twisting the ring on her finger or shifting the bag from one hand to the other, it means that she is bored with the interlocutor.

One of the queen's privileges is that Her Majesty is exempt from paying taxes to the royal treasury. However, since 1992, she regularly fills out the declaration, without using tax benefits. And the Queen is the only resident of the UK who does not have a passport and a driver's license.

It is noteworthy that, despite all her fortune, Queen Elizabeth has never been included in the famous Forbes list. This is due to the fact that a significant part of her fortune is the real estate of the royal court of Great Britain. The Queen's main source of income is a fixed percentage of the profits of the Crown Estate, or the so-called sovereign grant.

According to the law, all income of the Crown Estate goes to the state treasury, after which the British monarch receives 15% of his share. Crown Estate is an independent commercial enterprise with the largest real estate portfolio in Britain. The value of the company's capital is estimated at 11.5 billion pounds.

The Queen receives an annual salary of around £40 million. The sources of finance that support the monarchy are investments and income from the Royal Lands.

In June 2015, the Financial Times reported that Queen Elizabeth II would receive a record income from real estate deals she owns, which is managed by Crown Estate. In the first three months of 2015, the company earned £285 million, of which Queen Elizabeth II is entitled to £43 million.

No matter how much money the queen has in her account, she can always withdraw it using her personal ATM. It is installed on the first floor of Buckingham Palace. One of the most prestigious and reliable banks in the country, Coutts, is responsible for its maintenance. And, of course, it never runs out of cash. This is strictly monitored.

VIVAT, QUEEN!

With Elizabeth II, as with all people, funny things happen from time to time. One of these was associated with the pride of our cosmonautics, Yuri Gagarin. The story took place in 1961. According to English court etiquette, after drinking tea, there is no lemon from a cup. However, Yuri Gagarin, the bearer of Soviet traditions, did not know this. The queen and her entourage were shocked when the astronaut crushed the lemon in a jar and put it straight into his mouth. But Elizabeth did not dare to offend the invited guest and saved the situation by doing the same.

Her Majesty receives the President of the United States at Buckingham Palace
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle

Another violator of royal etiquette was the wife of US President Michelle Obama. In 2009, at a reception at Buckingham Palace, she friendly hugged the monarch's shoulder. Such a gesture is considered a gross violation in the UK. According to the existing protocol, which dates back to the Middle Ages, no one has the right to touch the British monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Hollywood actress
Angelina Jolie the title of lady for her humanitarian work.

The actress was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George

Her Majesty at a meeting with the actors of the series Game of thrones. The series, now involved in the biography of the royal person, is the “Game of Thrones”. The Queen of Great Britain visited the new studios where the mega-popular series is being filmed. Elizabeth II talked with the actors, walked around the film sets, but did not dare to sit on the throne.

Once, in 1991, a security officer denied Elizabeth herself access to the private wing of the Royal Horse Show in Windsor. Later, he justified himself: "I thought that this old lady was just lost." And in 1982, an unemployed man broke into Her Majesty's private quarters. The stranger sat on the bed of the queen for 10 minutes, while she entertained him with imperturbable calm, waiting for the guards and the police.

Renamed from September 2012 and bears the name of Queen Elizabeth

The name of Elizabeth II has been repeatedly assigned to various territories, including Queen Elizabeth Land in Antarctica, the Queen Elizabeth Islands in Canada. Even the famous clock tower Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the "Elizabeth Tower" since September 2012. Rosa Queen Elizabeth is also named in honor of Her Majesty. In the United Kingdom, 237 streets bear the name of Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth Islands in Canada

Barbeau's Peak Barbeau Peak

Barbeau Peak (2616 meters) is the highest peak of Ellesmere Island, the archipelago and the territory of Nunavut. The climate of the islands is extremely severe, arctic. The islands are covered with polar deserts. The total area of ​​the islands is 419,061 km². Many of the islands are among the largest on the globe, the largest of them is Ellesmere, the other major island is Devon.

To date, Elizabeth II has 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. The eldest son of the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton gave the Queen great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte. And this means that neither the Queen nor her subjects should worry about the future of the monarchy in the UK.

Prince Charles' eldest son, Prince William

Prince William (Wilhelm) Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge

Prince William and Kate Middleton

wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton
April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London

George Alexander Louis - the firstborn, was born on June 22, 2013 at the London clinic of St. Mary

The two-year-old prince went to the West Acre Montessori Nursery in Norfolk, in the east of England. Duchess Kate chose kindergarten for her two-year-old son not on the basis of prestige or high cost, but for reasons of learning efficiency. In the garden where George Alexander Louis went, teaching is based on the Montessori system. This system is focused on independence, creativity and non-standard thinking.

Daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, born May 2, 2015

In honor of the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton's child, London's Tower Bridge was lit up with pink lights. The whole world rejoiced and rejoiced for the happy royal family.

Charlotte is 6 months old. The newborn princess became the fourth in succession to the throne after her grandfather Charles, father and brother George.

Prince Charles' youngest son - Prince Harry

According to the results of the past 2015, Prince Harry took first place in the ranking of the most enviable suitors on the planet. From a young age, Harry is closely watched by journalists, not missing the slightest opportunity to highlight any transgression of the prince in the press. From the age of 17, he regularly appeared in the gossip column. Once he was filmed in a pub in a state of intoxication, later scandalous photographs of a naked Prince at a party in Las Vegas were printed. The royal family was seriously agitated by his behavior. Father Charles decided to send his son after graduating from college to the Sandhurst Military Academy. The measure taken helped, and Harry settled down a bit.

Elizabeth II is one of the most influential women in the world, the head of the Windsor dynasty, who has been the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for more than 65 years. A flexible politician who knows how to defend her opinion, she is a symbol of her country and is especially popular and loved by the people.

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 VI.

George VI'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 VI 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. The first persons of the Soviet state presented memorable gifts to Elizabeth and family members, among which was 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 who were honored to visit Buckingham Palace in different years were Elizabeth Taylor, Yuri Gagarin and The Beatles, as well as 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, the grandson of the King of Greece, was a tall, slender blond, distinguished by 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 relent and allow a marriage that 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. The third child of the 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 of the world. 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.