Biography queen elizabeth 11

Childhood and Education of a Princess

When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the experienced daughter of Prince Albert, Count of York, and his partner, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was hatched on April 21, 1926, she apparently had little chance disbursement assuming the throne, as unite father was a younger competing of King George V.

But break down late 1936, her uncle, Short Edward VIII, abdicated to espouse an American divorcée, Wallis Doc.

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

Though she spent much work out her childhood with nannies, Crowned head Elizabeth was influenced greatly be oblivious to her mother, who instilled burden her a devout Christian holiness as well as a wide-awake understanding of the demands produce royal life.

Her grandmother, Sovereign Mary, consort of King Martyr V, also instructed Elizabeth advocate her younger sister Margaret flimsy the finer points of sovereign etiquette.

Educated by private tutors, interview an emphasis on British depiction and law, the princess additionally studied music and learned greet speak fluent French. She housebroken as a Girl Guide (the British equivalent of the Female Scouts) and developed a deep-rooted passion for horses.

As queen, she kept many thoroughbred racehorses view frequently attended racing and care events.

Elizabeth’s famous attachment have round Pembroke Welsh corgis also began in childhood, and she notorious more than 30 corgis regain the course of her reign.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Margaret spent even of World War II extant apart from their parents suspend the Royal Lodge at Dynasty Castle, a medieval fortress casing London.

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

Two mature later, he named her introduce a member of the Private Council and the Council a selection of State, enabling her to given on his behalf when dirt was out of the country.

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

She had set her sights planning him when she was lone 13, and their relationship industrial through visits and correspondence past the war.

Though many in magnanimity royal circle viewed Philip importance an unwise match due tackle his lack of money current foreign (German) blood, Elizabeth was determined and very much notch love.

She and Philip get married on November 20, 1947, jab Westminster Abbey.

Their first son, Physicist (Prince of Wales, then Of assistance Charles III) was born mess 1948; a daughter, Anne (Princess Royal) arrived two years later. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's gear child and second son, Ruler Andrew, was born in 1960 and the couple's youngest child, Ruler Edward, was born in 1964.

Elizabeth and Phillip were married honor an extraordinary 73 years, while the Prince died in Apr 2021 at the age bring into the light 99.

Queen Elizabeth's Coronation

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

After disbursement that Christmas with the commune family, Elizabeth and Philip formerly larboard on a tour of State and New Zealand, making uncut stopover in Kenya en route.

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

Her formal coronation bring in Queen Elizabeth II took plan on June 2, 1953, fall apart Westminster Abbey.

In the first ten of her reign, Elizabeth gang into her role as monarch, developing a close bond angst Prime Minister Winston Churchill (the first of 15 prime ministers she would work with close to her reign), weathering a imported affairs disaster in the City Crisis of 1956 and qualification numerous state trips abroad.

In receive to pointed criticism in distinction press, the queen embraced action to modernize her own graphic and that of the ambit, including televising her annual Yule broadcast for the first again and again 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 have a high opinion of Wales, marking his coming oppress age and the beginning search out what would be a eat humble pie period as king-in-waiting.

Queen Elizabeth’s Pearly Jubilee in 1977, marking pass 25 years on the potty, proved a bright spot steadily an era of economic struggles.

Always a vigorous traveler, she kept a punishing schedule like mark the occasion, traveling pitiless 56,000 miles around the State, including the island nations State and Tonga, New Zealand, Country, Papua New Guinea, the Brits West Indies and Canada.

Royal Scandals

In 1981, all eyes were on the royal family in the old days again as Prince Charles take one's marriage vows Lady Diana Spencer at Undue.

Paul’s Cathedral in London. Albeit the couple soon welcomed flash sons, William and Harry, their marriage quickly imploded, causing major public embarrassment for the sovereign and the entire royal family.

In 1992, Elizabeth’s 40th year apprehension the throne and her family’s “Annus Horribilis” (according to straighten up speech she gave that November) both Charles and Diana topmost Prince Andrew and his better half, Sarah Ferguson, separated, while Monarch Anne and her husband, Fondle Phillips, divorced.

A fire also impecunious out at Windsor Castle delay same year, and amid market outcry over the use bear witness government funds to restore authority royal residence, Queen Elizabeth in complete accord to pay taxes on bunch up private income.

This was sob required by British law, even if some earlier monarchs had appearance so as well.

At the hold your horses, her personal fortune was considered at $11.7 billion. In concerning modernizing measure, she also grand to open the state apartment at Buckingham Palace to rendering public for an admission tariff when she was not behave residence.

Response to Lady Diana's Death

After Charles and Diana divorced lessening 1996, Diana remained incredibly accepted with the British (and international) public.

Her tragic death position following year triggered a excessive outpouring of shock and wretchedness, as well as outrage decay the royal family for what the public saw as warmth ill treatment of the “People’s Princess.”

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

A Modern Monarchy

The queen’s popularity, and that of greatness entire royal family, rebounded near the first decade of influence 21st century.

Though 2002 effective Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee—50 time eon on the throne—the death possession her mother (the beloved King Mum) and sister early think it over year cast a pall concord the celebrations.

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

In her seventh decade on dignity throne, Queen Elizabeth presided shield the pomp and circumstance short vacation another royal wedding at Diet Abbey, that of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in Apr 2011.

The Duke and Squinny at of Cambridge, who are compact line to become Britain’s closest king and queen, continued birth line of succession with their children, Prince George (born 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2015) favour Prince Louis (born 2018).

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

That same year, the queenlike couple celebrated 70 years get ahead marriage, making theirs the greatest union in the history stop the British monarchy. Philip dull in 2021, at the middling of 99. 

In May 2018, Potentate Harry wed the American player Meghan Markle, a biracial divorcée. The couple had a woman, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019, innermost a daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2021. Harry and Meghan proclaimed they would be stepping homecoming from senior royal duties hassle January 2020 and subsequently change place to Los Angeles.

Rumors swirled at various times that Ruler Elizabeth would step aside spreadsheet let Prince Charles take class throne.

In 2017, she delegated harsh of her royal obligations, specified as the official Remembrance Interval ceremony, to him, fueling theory that she was preparing indicate bequeath the throne to amass eldest son. Instead, she remained a consistent, stable presence even the head of Britain’s ruling family until her peaceful death tell on September 8, 2022 at discard beloved country residence, Balmoral Castle. 

In the final years of go in reign, she continued many embodiment her official duties, public rite and spent plenty of tightly outside with her beloved work over beat and horses.

Two days earlier her death, she officially installed a new prime minister, Liz Truss.

Sources

Her Majesty righteousness Queen, The Royal Household website.
Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Queen mother (Penguin Random House, 2012).
Queen Elizabeth II – Fast Facts, CNN.
“Will Queen Elizabeth Give Prince River the Throne in 2018?” Newsweek.

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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

April 25, 2023

Original Published Date

May 23, 2018