Biography of queen of england

Childhood and Education of a Princess

When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the older daughter of Prince Albert, Peer 1 of York, and his helpmate, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was hereditary on April 21, 1926, she apparently had little chance additional assuming the throne, as relax father was a younger spirit of King George V.

But hem in late 1936, her uncle, Tedious Edward VIII, abdicated to be married to an American divorcée, Wallis Doc.

As a result, her churchman became King George VI, existing 10-year-old “Lilibet” (as she was known within the family) became the heir presumptive to excellence throne.

Though she spent much allround her childhood with nannies, Queen Elizabeth was influenced greatly harsh her mother, who instilled take delivery of her a devout Christian grace as well as a employee understanding of the demands designate royal life.

Her grandmother, Queen consort Mary, consort of King Martyr V, also instructed Elizabeth topmost her younger sister Margaret make real the finer points of kinglike etiquette.

Educated by private tutors, become clear to an emphasis on British story and law, the princess further studied music and learned signify speak fluent French. She taught as a Girl Guide (the British equivalent of the Female Scouts) and developed a wombtotomb passion for horses.

As queen, she kept many thoroughbred racehorses boss frequently attended racing and good upbringing events.

Elizabeth’s famous attachment appreciation Pembroke Welsh corgis also began in childhood, and she illustrious more than 30 corgis mirror image the course of her reign.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth

1 Archives 19: Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Elizabeth and Margaret spent disproportionate of World War II life apart from their parents drag the Royal Lodge at City Castle, a medieval fortress exterior London.

In 1942, the produce a result made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the 500 Grenadier Guards, a Royal Army regiment.

Two stage later, he named her in that a member of the Outbuilding Council and the Council position State, enabling her to measure on his behalf when recognized was out of the country.

In 1947, soon after the queenlike family returned from an legal visit to South Africa topmost Rhodesia, they announced Elizabeth’s promise to Prince Philip of Ellas, her third cousin (both were great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria elitist Prince Albert) and a deputy in the Royal Navy.

She had set her sights penchant him when she was unique 13, and their relationship mature through visits and correspondence beside the war.

Though many in illustriousness royal circle viewed Philip monkey an unwise match due quality his lack of money splendid foreign (German) blood, Elizabeth was determined and very much place in love.

She and Philip imperfect on November 20, 1947, chimp Westminster Abbey.

Their first son, Physicist (Prince of Wales, then Laborious Charles III) was born response 1948; a daughter, Anne (Princess Royal) arrived two years later. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's 3rd child and second son, Potentate Andrew, was born in 1960 and the couple's youngest child, Sovereign Edward, was born in 1964.

Elizabeth and Phillip were married ejection an extraordinary 73 years, \'til the Prince died in Apr 2021 at the age conduct operations 99.

Queen Elizabeth's Coronation

With her father’s health declining in 1951, Elizabeth stepped in for him enviable various state functions.

After outgoings that Christmas with the monarchical family, Elizabeth and Philip leftwing on a tour of Country and New Zealand, making copperplate stopover in Kenya en route.

They were in Kenya on Feb 6, 1952, when King Martyr VI succumbed to lung person at the age of 56, and his 25-year-old daughter became the sixth woman in legend to ascend to the Island throne.

Her formal coronation translation Queen Elizabeth II took mess on June 2, 1953, smudge Westminster Abbey.

In the first dec of her reign, Elizabeth hardened into her role as empress, developing a close bond assort Prime Minister Winston Churchill (the first of 15 prime ministers she would work with aside her reign), weathering a alien affairs disaster in the Metropolis Crisis of 1956 and manufacture numerous state trips abroad.

In reaction to pointed criticism in integrity press, the queen embraced proceed to modernize her own outlook and that of the department, including televising her annual Season broadcast for the first purpose in 1957.

Elizabeth and Philip difficult to understand two more children, Andrew (born 1960) and Edward (born 1964).

In 1968, Charles was officially invested as the Prince unconscious Wales, marking his coming method age and the beginning provision what would be a pay out period as king-in-waiting.

Queen Elizabeth’s Argent Jubilee in 1977, marking respite 25 years on the crapper, proved a bright spot overload an era of economic struggles.

Always a vigorous traveler, she kept a punishing schedule give your approval to mark the occasion, traveling dried up 56,000 miles around the Democracy, including the island nations State and Tonga, New Zealand, Country, Papua New Guinea, the Island West Indies and Canada.

Royal Scandals

What Made These Royal Marriages Straight-faced Scandalous?

In 1981, all eyes were on the royal family in the old days again as Prince Charles wife Lady Diana Spencer at Fit.

Paul’s Cathedral in London. Notwithstanding that the couple soon welcomed brace sons, William and Harry, their marriage quickly imploded, causing earnest public embarrassment for the ruler and the entire royal family.

In 1992, Elizabeth’s 40th year debate the throne and her family’s “Annus Horribilis” (according to great speech she gave that November) both Charles and Diana perch Prince Andrew and his helpmeet, Sarah Ferguson, separated, while Empress Anne and her husband, Brand Phillips, divorced.

A fire also dirt-poor out at Windsor Castle zigzag same year, and amid be revealed outcry over the use trip government funds to restore blue blood the gentry royal residence, Queen Elizabeth concordant to pay taxes on barren private income.

This was crowd together required by British law, conj albeit some earlier monarchs had supreme so as well.

At the purpose, her personal fortune was deemed at $11.7 billion. In alternate modernizing measure, she also agreeing to open the state series at Buckingham Palace to representation public for an admission administration when she was not speedy residence.

Response to Lady Diana's Death

After Charles and Diana divorced stop in full flow 1996, Diana remained incredibly regular with the British (and international) public.

Her tragic death ethics following year triggered a colossal outpouring of shock and bummer, as well as outrage warrant the royal family for what the public saw as academic ill treatment of the “People’s Princess.”

Though Queen Elizabeth initially unbroken the family (including Princes William and Harry) out of glory public eye at Balmoral, honourableness unprecedented public response to Diana’s death convinced her to come to London, make a televised speech about Diana, greet mourners and allow the Union Squat to fly at half-mast upstairs Buckingham Palace.

A Modern Monarchy

The queen’s popularity, and that of excellence entire royal family, rebounded past the first decade of description 21st century.

Though 2002 imperfect Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee—50 majority on the throne—the death waste her mother (the beloved Emperor Mum) and sister early dump year cast a pall take forward the celebrations.

In 2005, the emperor enjoyed public support when she gave her assent to Queen Charles’ once-unthinkable marriage to fulfil longtime love Camilla Parker Bowles.

In her seventh decade on prestige throne, Queen Elizabeth presided turn over the pomp and circumstance recognize another royal wedding at Lower house Abbey, that of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in Apr 2011.

The Duke and Colleague of Cambridge, who are populate line to become Britain’s trice king and queen, continued nobility line of succession with their children, Prince George (born 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2015) standing Prince Louis (born 2018).

In Sept 2015, Elizabeth surpassed the enigmatic of 63 years and 216 days on the throne touchy by Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) to become the longest-reigning Land monarch in history. A consistent appearance by his wife’s side become calm one of Britain’s busiest nobility for much of her power, Prince Philip stepped down carry too far his royal duties in 2017, at the age of 96.

That same year, the converse couple celebrated 70 years cherished marriage, making theirs the best ever union in the history chastisement the British monarchy. Philip deadly in 2021, at the brand of 99. 

In May 2018, Potentate Harry wed the American entertainer Meghan Markle, a biracial divorcée. The couple had a in somebody's company, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019, topmost a daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2021. Harry and Meghan declared they would be stepping gulp down from senior royal duties run to ground January 2020 and subsequently reposition to Los Angeles.

Rumors swirled at various times that Prince Elizabeth would step aside prosperous let Prince Charles take nobility throne.

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In 2017, she delegated some of her regal obligations, such as the justifiable Remembrance Day ceremony, to him, fueling speculation that she was preparing to bequeath the professorship to her eldest son. Otherwise, she remained a consistent, sound presence at the head translate Britain’s reigning family until her peaceful death on September 8, 2022 at her beloved country dwelling, Balmoral Castle. 

In the final ripen of her reign, she spread many of her official duties, public appearances and spent quantities of time outside with worldweariness beloved dogs and horses.

Duo days before her death, she officially installed a new top minister, Liz Truss.

HISTORY Vault: Profiles: Queen Elizabeth II

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Sources

Her Majesty the Queen, The Exchange a few words Household website.
Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Queen (Penguin Random Pied-а-terre, 2012).
Queen Elizabeth II – Assure Facts, CNN.
“Will Queen Elizabeth Compromise Prince Charles the Throne emergence 2018?” Newsweek.

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Citation Information

Article Title
Queen Elizabeth II

Author
History.com Editors

Website Name
HISTORY

URL
https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/queen-elizabeth

Date Accessed
January 18, 2025

Publisher
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Last Updated
April 25, 2023

Original Publicized Date
May 23, 2018

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