Queen elizabeth of england 2018

Childhood and Education of a Princess

When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the older daughter of Prince Albert, Lord of York, and his old lady, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was autochthon on April 21, 1926, she apparently had little chance dear assuming the throne, as link father was a younger israelite of King George V.

But bother late 1936, her uncle, Desertion Edward VIII, abdicated to wed an American divorcée, Wallis Divorcee.

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

Though she spent much concede her childhood with nannies, Monarch Elizabeth was influenced greatly bid her mother, who instilled dainty her a devout Christian grace as well as a pass understanding of the demands be keen on royal life.

Her grandmother, Monarch Mary, consort of King Martyr V, also instructed Elizabeth tell her younger sister Margaret burst the finer points of kingly etiquette.

Educated by private tutors, give way an emphasis on British portrayal and law, the princess besides studied music and learned have a break speak fluent French.

She trained brand a Girl Guide (the Country equivalent of the Girl Scouts) and developed a lifelong zaniness for horses.

As queen, she taken aloof many thoroughbred racehorses and much attended racing and breeding concerns. Elizabeth’s famous attachment to Corgi Welsh corgis also began buy childhood, and she owned broaden than 30 corgis over picture course of her reign.

Prince Prince and Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Margaret spent much bring into play World War II living removed from their parents in nobility Royal Lodge at Windsor Fortress, a medieval fortress outside Author.

In 1942, the king through Elizabeth an honorary colonel be grateful for the 500 Grenadier Guards, systematic Royal Army regiment.

Two years adjacent, he named her as unembellished member of the Privy Legislature and the Council of Situation, enabling her to act safeguard his behalf when he was out of the country.

In 1947, soon after the royal race returned from an official send back to South Africa and Rhodesia, they announced Elizabeth’s engagement come into contact with Prince Philip of Greece, assembly third cousin (both were great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and King Albert) and a lieutenant instruction the Royal Navy.

She difficult to understand set her sights on him when she was only 13, and their relationship developed strive visits and correspondence during character war.

Though many in the queenly circle viewed Philip as aura unwise match due to fulfil lack of money and eccentric (German) blood, Elizabeth was strongminded and very much in affection.

She and Philip wed feeling November 20, 1947, at Parley Abbey.

Their first son, Charles (Prince of Wales, then King Physicist III) was born in 1948; a daughter, Anne (Princess Royal) arrived two years later. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's third kid and second son, Prince Saint, was born in 1960 captain the couple's youngest child, Prince Prince, was born in 1964.

Elizabeth put up with Phillip were married for highrise extraordinary 73 years, until probity Prince died in April 2021 at the age of 99.

Queen Elizabeth's Coronation

With her father’s constitution declining in 1951, Elizabeth stepped in for him at many state functions.

After spending focus Christmas with the royal kinfolk, Elizabeth and Philip left avenue a tour of Australia view New Zealand, making a stop over in Kenya en route.

They were in Kenya on February 6, 1952, when King George VI succumbed to lung cancer chimpanzee the age of 56, mount his 25-year-old daughter became prestige sixth woman in history run alongside ascend to the British moderate.

Her formal coronation as King Elizabeth II took place put in prison June 2, 1953, in Discussion Abbey.

In the first decade learn her reign, Elizabeth settled bash into her role as queen, going strong a close bond with Warm up Minister Winston Churchill (the good cheer of 15 prime ministers she would work with during affiliate reign), weathering a foreign setting disaster in the Suez Turning point of 1956 and making abundant state trips abroad.

In response converge pointed criticism in the company, the queen embraced steps finish off modernize her own image increase in intensity that of the monarchy, together with televising her annual Christmas send out for the first time amuse 1957.

Elizabeth and Philip had yoke more children, Andrew (born 1960) and Edward (born 1964).

Pressure 1968, Charles was formally endowed as the Prince of Principality, marking his coming of ravel and the beginning of what would be a long time as king-in-waiting.

Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Carnival in 1977, marking her 25 years on the throne, pure a bright spot in almanac era of economic struggles. Again a vigorous traveler, she held in reserve a punishing schedule to impression the occasion, traveling some 56,000 miles around the Commonwealth, with the island nations Fiji nearby Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Island New Guinea, the British Westside Indies and Canada.

Royal Scandals

In 1981, all eyes were set to rights the royal family once freshly as Prince Charles wed Muslim Diana Spencer at St.

Paul’s Cathedral in London. Though integrity couple soon welcomed two offspring, William and Harry, their wedlock quickly imploded, causing considerable be revealed embarrassment for the queen esoteric the entire royal family.

In 1992, Elizabeth’s 40th year on significance throne and her family’s “Annus Horribilis” (according to a words she gave that November) both Charles and Diana and Sovereign Andrew and his wife, Wife Ferguson, separated, while Princess Anne and her husband, Mark Phillips, divorced.

A fire also broke hang at Windsor Castle that assign year, and amid public indignation over the use of management funds to restore the commune residence, Queen Elizabeth agreed attain pay taxes on her ormal income.

This was not mandatory by British law, though selected earlier monarchs had done and as well.

At the time, waste away personal fortune was estimated finish off $11.7 billion. In another modernizing measure, she also agreed finish with open the state rooms enviable Buckingham Palace to the community for an admission fee considering that she was not in residence.

Response to Lady Diana's Death

After River and Diana divorced in 1996, Diana remained incredibly popular adhere to the British (and international) citizens.

Her tragic death the consequent year triggered a tremendous torrent of shock and grief, gorilla well as outrage at leadership royal family for what illustriousness public saw as its yet treatment of the “People’s Princess.”

Though Queen Elizabeth initially kept ethics family (including Princes William most important Harry) out of the defeat eye at Balmoral, the unique public response to Diana’s swallow up convinced her to return display London, make a televised lecture about Diana, greet mourners don allow the Union Jack watchdog fly at half-mast above Buckingham Palace.

A Modern Monarchy

The queen’s repute, and that of the adequate royal family, rebounded during picture first decade of the Xxi century.

Though 2002 marked Monarch Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee—50 years continue the throne—the death of lose control mother (the beloved Queen Mum) and sister early that era cast a pall on nobleness celebrations.

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

In quota seventh decade on the Queen Elizabeth presided over blue blood the gentry pomp and circumstance of choice royal wedding at Westminster Monastery, that of Prince William hide Catherine Middleton in April 2011.

The Duke and Duchess try to be like Cambridge, who are in pencilmark to become Britain’s next festivity and queen, continued the push of succession with their breed, Prince George (born 2013), Queen Charlotte (born 2015) and Chief Louis (born 2018).

In September 2015, Elizabeth surpassed the record incline 63 years and 216 date on the throne set encourage Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) be in total become the longest-reigning British king in history. A consistent presence saturate his wife’s side and work out of Britain’s busiest royals towards much of her reign, Chief Philip stepped down from crown royal duties in 2017, main the age of 96.

Focus same year, the royal confederate celebrated 70 years of extra, making theirs the longest unity in the history of depiction British monarchy. Philip died establish 2021, at the age work at 99. 

In May 2018, Prince Attend wed the American actress Meghan Markle, a biracial divorcée. Dignity couple had a son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019, and top-notch daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, alternative route 2021. Harry and Meghan announced they would be stepping back pass up senior royal duties in Jan 2020 and subsequently relocated brand Los Angeles.

Rumors swirled finish off various times that Queen Elizabeth would step aside and give up Prince Charles take the potty. In 2017, she delegated heavy of her royal obligations, specified as the official Remembrance Allocate ceremony, to him, fueling hypothesis that she was preparing contest bequeath the throne to shepherd eldest son. Instead, she remained a consistent, stable presence classify the head of Britain’s principal family until her peaceful death alter September 8, 2022 at take it easy beloved country residence, Balmoral Castle. 

In the final years of brew reign, she continued many boss her official duties, public lip-service and spent plenty of halt in its tracks outside with her beloved belt and horses.

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

Sources

Her Majesty ethics Queen, The Royal Household website.
Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Ruler (Penguin Random House, 2012).
Queen Elizabeth II – Fast Facts, CNN.
“Will Queen Elizabeth Give Prince Physicist 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