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

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

The oldest British (English) monarch in history.

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

He is the oldest sitting monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah bin 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, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica.

He is also the head of the Church of England and Supreme Commander Armed forces Great Britain.

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: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); on the mother's side - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1862-1938).

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London's Mayfair at the Earl of Strathmore's residence at No. 17 Brewton Street. The area has now been rebuilt and the house no longer exists, but there is a memorial plaque on the site. She received her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).

At the same time, the father insisted that his daughter’s first name be like the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie was discussing the girl's name with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Maria. The names are all good, that’s what I told him, but about Victoria I absolutely agree with him. It was unnecessary".

Princess Elizabeth's christening took place on May 25 in the chapel at Buckingham Palace, which was later destroyed during the war.

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

She received a good education at home, mainly of a humanitarian nature - she studied the history of the constitution, jurisprudence, religious studies, art history, and also (virtually independently) the French language.

WITH youth I was interested in horses and practiced horse riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.

At birth, Elizabeth became Princess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) and her father. Because Prince Edward was quite young and 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. At the same time, she remained in the role "heir presumptive"(“heir presumptive”), and if George VI had a son, he would inherit the throne.

Second World War began when Elizabeth was 13 years old.

On October 13, 1940, she spoke on the radio for the first time - with an appeal to children affected by the disasters of war.

In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers.

In 1944, she became one of the five "councilors of state" (persons authorized to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity).

In February 1945, Elizaveta joined the “Auxiliary Territorial Service” - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving military rank Lieutenant Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last not yet retired participant in the Second World War (the penultimate 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, made a solemn announcement on the radio to dedicate her life to the service of the British Empire.

King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who was on holiday in Kenya at the time with her husband, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.

The coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and the event is credited with significantly boosting the popularity of television broadcasting.

Coronation of Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II's full title in Great Britain is: "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, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".

After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth states, 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 absence of Conservative Party clear rules for choosing a leader, Elizabeth II had to appoint a new head of government from among the Conservatives. After consultations with prominent party members and ex-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 of the 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, after 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 year 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 on royal family a number of assassination attempts were made. In particular, in 1979, the Provisional Irish Republican Army terrorists assassinated Prince Philip's uncle (the Queen's husband), an influential statesman and military leader, Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Elizabeth II herself during a military parade in honor of the queen’s “official birthday.”

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

At this time in 1982, as a result of changes to the Canadian Constitution, the British Parliament lost any role in Canadian affairs, but the British Queen still remained the head of state of Canada. 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 Congress.

1992 was a “terrible year,” according to 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 Queen was required to pay income tax, and funding for the royal household was significantly reduced.

In 1996, at the insistence of the Queen, it was signed official divorce between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

A year later, in 1997, Princess Diana died tragically in a car accident in Paris, which shocked not only the royal family, but also millions of ordinary Britons. For her restraint and lack of any reaction to the death of her former daughter-in-law, the queen immediately received criticism.

In 2002, ceremonial events 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, of which Elizabeth is the head, held a service on Maundy Thursday, which traditionally involves the reigning monarch, outside of England or Wales - in 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 general secretary The UN Ban Ki-moon called it “the saving anchor of our era.”

In 2011, the first ever state visit of 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 changing the order of succession to the throne, according to which male heirs lose priority over women.

In 2012, the 60th (“diamond”) anniversary of Elizabeth II’s tenure on the throne was solemnly celebrated in Great Britain and other countries. 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 organizer of the evening was Take That lead singer Gary Barlow.

In 2013, Elizabeth II, for the first time in 40 years, 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, indicating the gradual transfer of Elizabeth's powers to her son.

The Queen's interests include breeding dogs (including corgis, spaniels and Labradors), photography, horse riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige as Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively throughout her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world: she has made more than 325 foreign visits.

I started gardening in 2009.

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

Elizabeth II's height: 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), a British naval officer, a member of the Greek (son of Prince Andrew of Greece) and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

They met in 1934, and fell in love, it is believed, after Elizabeth visited the Naval College at Dartmouth in 1939, where Philip studied.

Having become the princess's husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.

A year after the wedding - in 1948 - Elizabeth and Philip had their eldest son. And on August 15, 1950 - daughter, Princess Anne.

Elizabeth II and Philip Mountbatten

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

Children of Elizabeth II:

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

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

Princess Anne, “Princess Royal” - born 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- born February 19, 1960. He was married to Sarah Ferguson from July 23, 1986 to May 30, 1996 (divorced). The couple had two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie (Eugenia) of York.

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

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

In accordance with the British tradition of parliamentary monarchy, Elizabeth II performs mainly representative functions, having virtually no influence on the governance of the country. However, during her reign she successfully maintained 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.

The Queen also looks through the main British newspapers every day and, with the help of servants, responds to 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 faithful to the tradition of English kings of modern times - to remain above political battles. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth II should not publicly express her political likes or dislikes. She always followed this rule, acting non-publicly - that's why she 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, in the absence of a clear mechanism for electing a leader in the Conservative Party, it was the Queen who had to decide who to entrust the formation of the government after the resignations of Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.

In 1957, Anthony Eden refused to advise the Queen on who to appoint as his successor, and she sought advice from, as the only living Conservative Prime Minister at the time (following the precedent that, after the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law in 1923, King George V was consulted with Lord Salisbury's father and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour).

In 1963, Harold Macmillan himself advised the appointment of Alec Douglas-Home as 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 that she should not make any important decisions without the advice of her ministers and privy councilors.

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

Although it is customary that the Queen does not interfere in politics, 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 about her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth: "Anyone who thinks that they [meetings] are a mere formality or a 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 wide 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 her duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives). For example, she can dissolve parliament, reject a candidate for prime minister (who seems unsuitable to her), and so on.

Financial costs for the queen:

Thus, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in the 2008-2009 financial year, each Briton spent 1 dollar 14 cents on the maintenance of the monarchy, which amounted to a total of $68.5 million.

In 2010-2011, due to the government's new economic program, the Queen was forced to reduce 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 her 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 decolonization process, numerous British colonies gained independence. In some of them, the Queen of Great Britain retained the status of head of state, in others - not.

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

Pakistan - in 1956 (formerly Dominion of Pakistan)
South Africa - in 1961 (formerly South Africa)
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

Elizabeth fell in love with Philip at first sight: they met when she was 13 years old and he was 18. The well-built blond, cadet at the Royal Naval College, immediately fell in love with Philip. A correspondence began between her and Philip.

2. Elizabeth's parents were against her marriage to Philip.

Philip comes from a royal family: at birth he bore the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. However, Philip's family was expelled from Greece. Leaving his native country, his relatives settled in Paris, and Philip was sent to London, where he studied, received the rank of midshipman and went to serve in the navy during World War II. Although the young man wrote long and tender letters to the future Queen of England from the front, Elizabeth’s relatives were not at all delighted with their daughter’s choice. They believed that Philip was not a match for the princess - his family was ruined. The only inheritance Philip received from his father was a signet ring.

3. Philip had to renounce his title and religion

The wedding of Philip and Elizabeth, however, still took place. True, for her sake the young man had to sacrifice a lot. So, he ceased to be called a Greek prince, became a British subject and converted from Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. He was ready to forever remain in history as the queen's husband.

4. Elizabeth and Philip's wedding was modest

Elizabeth and Philip got married at the end of 1947 - the war had just ended... By royal standards, the wedding was quite modest, although very beautiful. The dress for the main day in her life was made by court designer Norman Hartnell, who was inspired by Sandro Botticelli’s painting “Spring”. “I discovered a painting by Botticelli in the museum, which depicted a girl in ivory silk flowing along her body, strewn with jasmine flowers, asparagus flowers and rosebuds. I recreated all this flora using crystal beads and pearls,” he recalled. Elizabeth's head was adorned with her mother's precious tiara, and a five-meter veil was carried by two pages. The outfit was completed with satin heeled sandals, the silver buckles of which were decorated with pearls.

5. Philip became the first to swear an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth as queen

Elizabeth and Philip were inseparable after their wedding. The girl took care of the house and was happy as a wife. Soon the couple had children - Charles and Anna. But in February 1952 the family's quiet life ended. The King of England and Elizabeth's father, George VI, died of a blood clot in the heart... Philip became the first to bend the knee and take an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth II as queen.

6. At first, Elizabeth forbade Philip from giving his children his last name.

After Elizabeth's coronation, Philip had to not only leave his naval service, but devote himself entirely to royal duties. He accompanied the queen on all her trips, helped her in state affairs... The man dreamed that his wife and children would bear his surname, but then the Windsors would officially cease to be rulers - and the Mountbattens would become rulers. Just the thought of this caused indignation among all Elizabeth's relatives. The Queen consulted with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and refused her husband's request to assign his surname to Charles and Anne. Philip was very worried and joked bitterly, calling himself the only person in the country who could not give his own surname to his own children.

7. Philip and Elizabeth were on the verge of divorce

In the mid-50s, Elizabeth was completely absorbed in state affairs, and Philip suffered because he had to leave his service in the navy. The relationship between the spouses became cool and, perhaps, things were even heading towards divorce - but the Duke unexpectedly found himself involved in charity work. And then Elizabeth became pregnant again - and suddenly allowed her husband to give the newborn, a boy, Andrew, his last name. The royal couple's fourth child, Edward, also took his father's surname. Thus, the couple's eldest children, Charles and Anne, bear the surname Windsor, while the younger ones, Andrew and Edward, bear the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

“An Unfinished Romance” is a sentimental story of two people who love each other very much, but cannot be together. Both have families and, accordingly, obligations to loved ones. For many years in a row, the heroes have been meeting at the hotel. They have only a few days a year to be with someone without whom life is impossible. It would seem that the story staged by director Natalya Bulyga is pure drama. But no! The production turned out to be fun and light, because love is not necessarily and not always a tragedy. Screen star Maria Poroshina, who, in addition to many other film roles, played the sorceress Svetlana in Timur Bekmambetov’s films “Night Watch” and “Day Watch,” herself invited Yaroslav Boyko to take part in the play “An Unfinished Romance.” For her, the choice of stage partner was obvious. Their creative tandem originated back in 2003, when the series “Always Say Always” was released. The actors turned out to be so organic in the role of a loving couple that the viewer was left with no doubt: of course they were having an affair!

Studio “Kvartal 95” goes on a world tour with concerts of “Evening Kvartal” The “Evening Kvartal” project is a humorous show with a unique format of intellectual humor. And the humor in “Evening Quarter” is always fresh and relevant, sharp and accurate. The special recognizable style of “Kvartal 95” is a combination of good humor and a positive outlook on life, relevance and sharp political satire, as well as an orientation towards universal and family values. “Evening Quarter” has been the most popular show on Ukrainian television for many years, traditionally attracting millions of viewers.

The English irregular verb trainer will help you remember their spelling and meaning. Fill in the empty cells. If you spelled it correctly, the word will change color from red to green. Refresh the page or click the "Start Again" button and you will see the new order of empty cells. Train again!

Modal verbs(Modal verbs) in English language- this is class auxiliary verbs. Modal verbs are used to express ability, necessity, certainty, possibility or likelihood. We use modal verbs if we talk about abilities or possibilities, ask or give permission, ask, offer, etc. Modal verbs are not used independently, but only with the infinitive of the main verb as a compound predicate.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has remained for centuries parliamentary monarchy. Since February 6, 1952, the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been Queen Elizabeth II.

The system of constitutional monarchy is believed to smooth out the contradictions of multi-party politics and provide stability and continuity during periods of political and social change.

The current monarch performs two important functions - is head of state and head of nation .

As Head of State, Queen of Great Britain performs the following duties: participates in the annual opening ceremony of Parliament, meets weekly with prime ministers, receives foreign ambassadors and delegations, makes official visits to foreign countries to support diplomatic and economic relations of your country with others. Many of the monarch's official powers, or "royal prerogatives", are exercised by the monarch in name only, after consultation with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who are responsible to Parliament's House of Commons. Most prerogatives are exercised in practice by UK Cabinet Ministers. The monarch formally appoints the prime minister (the “kissing hands” ceremony), but in practice he is the head of the party that wins the parliamentary elections. In the event that no party has a majority, the monarch has the right to appoint a prime minister. The current Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, took advantage of this opportunity only once - in 1974, when she appointed Labor member Harold Wilson as Prime Minister. On the advice of the Prime Minister, the monarch has the right to dismiss ministers or the entire Cabinet (a prerogative that British monarchs never exercise). All parliamentary laws are passed in the name of the monarch and come into force after his formal approval.

Formally, the monarch has the right to convene, dissolve and prolong Parliament. But in practice, according to the Parliament Act 1911, Parliament is elected for a period of 5 years and is automatically dissolved after this period.

The oath of allegiance is taken to the monarch, British passports are issued on behalf of the monarch, and the national anthem is called “God Save the Queen.” The image of the monarch appears on banknotes, coins and postage stamps. The incumbent monarch is the head of the Royal Armed Forces and has the formal prerogative to declare war and make peace, enter into international treaties and ratify agreements.

Despite their advanced age, the royal couple continues to perform official duties. In April 2014, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Vatican and met with Pope Francis.

The monarch is considered Source of justice– has the right to appoint judges.

The monarch is Source of honor(conducts investiture ceremonies) - appoints peers, awards orders, knighthoods and other honors (usually on the advice of the prime minister).

Monarch – head of the Church of England. He has the right to appoint archbishops and bishops (on the proposal of the Prime Minister).

Since 1760, funding for the maintenance of the royal family has been carried out according to the Civil List. This means that income from the royal inheritance - the Crown Estate - goes to the UK budget, and is then allocated to the needs of the royal family.

The monarch only formally owns his estate, since it cannot be sold, but can only be transferred to the heir to the throne. Formally, the current monarch owns the county of Lancastershire, the income from which goes to replenish the “personal wallet” of the monarch and is spent on those needs that, by tradition, are not recorded in the Civil List. The County of Cornwall formally belongs to the heir to the throne of the United Kingdom.

As Head of the Nation, Queen Elizabeth II performs an equally important cultural and social function in Great Britain. It provides national identity, symbolizing the unity and pride of the nation, giving the British people a sense of stability and confidence in the future.

The Queen regularly visits different parts of the United Kingdom, her presence is mandatory at ceremonies on the occasion of Remembrance Day for those killed in wars, and at significant sporting events. Everyone remembers the appearance of the Queen in the video with James Bond at the opening of the Olympic Games in London in 2012. In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Montreal Summer Olympics in Canada as Canada's head of state. The Royal Office sends out thousands of messages of congratulations to citizens celebrating their centenary and sixtieth wedding anniversaries. Every year, Queen Elizabeth II addresses her subjects with a Christmas speech.

Members of the British Royal Family form the line of succession to the throne. First in line is the Queen's eldest son, Charles. The second and third are Charles's eldest son Prince William and his son George. The order of inheritance was determined by the Act of Union of 1800, which established the rule of inheritance according to primogeniture with male priority. The Act of Succession to the Throne of 1701 established the rule that only a monarch professing the Anglican faith could inherit the British throne. According to this law, not only Catholics, but also Anglicans married to Catholics cannot ascend to the British throne.

At the Commonwealth Summit in Australia in October 2011, changes were made to the succession to the throne to avoid discrimination based on gender and religion. In December 2012, this law was approved by the parliaments of the countries that are members of the commonwealth. Now the order of succession is determined by simple seniority and the ban on marriages with Catholics for future monarchs is lifted. Currently in line for succession to the throne are 55 members of the royal family– descendants of Elizabeth II, her sister Princess Margaret and grandfather George V.

Also members royal family distributed by seniority or priority. Thus, the queen's husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, is not among the heirs to the throne, but is the second eldest in the family after the queen. This order of precedence is followed at formal events. For example, during the laying of wreaths on Remembrance Day, the Queen lays the first wreath, the Duke of Edinburgh the second, Prince Charles the third, etc.

Title of Queen Elizabeth II differs for each country that is part of the Commonwealth.

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland it sounds like this:

"Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".

"Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its other countries and territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926 in London at 17 Brewton Street. This house no longer exists, but a memorial plaque has been installed on the new house at this address. At baptism, the daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon received the name Elizabeth (in honor of her mother) Alexandra (in honor of her great-grandmother) Mary (in honor of her grandmother). Elizabeth II belongs to the Windsor dynasty. Elizabeth's father, Prince Albert, was second in line to the throne. After his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated the throne, he became King George VI, and Elizabeth became the “heir presumptive” (“heir presumptive”). This means that if the king later had a son, he would inherit the throne.

In 1947, Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), an officer of the British navy who belonged to the Greek and Danish royal families, the great-great-grandson of the British Queen Victoria and the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. To marry Elizabeth, Philip became a naturalized British citizen, changed Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, renounced the titles “Prince of Denmark” and “Prince of Greece”. In return, George VI granted him the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich.

When George VI died on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth and her husband were traveling in Kenya. Princess Elizabeth has already returned to Great Britain as Queen Elizabeth II. Coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II, which took place on June 2, 1953, was first broadcast on television from Westminster Abbey. The first person to take an oath of allegiance to the new queen was her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen has four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward.

Charles, Prince of Wales– born November 14, 1948. Full name Charles (Carl) Philip Arthur George (George) Mountbatten - Windsor. Heir to the throne of Great Britain, field marshal, admiral of the fleet and marshal of the Royal Air Force. Upon accession to the throne, he can choose a royal name - Charles (Charles) III by his first name, or George (George) VII by his fourth.

At birth, Charles received the title “His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh” - “His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh.” Upon ascending the throne of Elizabeth II in 1952, Prince Charles automatically received the title "Duke of Cornwall" and became known as "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall." In 1969, Elizabeth II held an investiture ceremony, placing the Prince of Wales crown on her son's head. And Charles's official title changed to "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."

On July 29, 1981, the wedding of the heir to the throne took place with Diana Spencer. Charles and Diana had two sons: Prince William (born June 21, 1982) and Prince Henry (Harry) (born September 15, 1984). On April 9, 2005, Prince Charles married for the second time, to Camilla Parker Bowles. For the first time in the history of the royal family, the ceremony was performed in a civil manner. Due to the fact that the late wife of Prince Charles, Lady Diana, is still very popular among the British, Camila was given the title not Princess of Wales, but Duchess of Cornwall.

By tradition, Charles is involved in charity work and heads more than 350 charitable societies. His interests include nature conservation and agriculture.

Princess Anne(Anna Elizaveta Alisa Louise) was born on August 15, 1950. Currently in 11th place in the line of succession to the throne. Since 1987 she has held the title of Princess Royal. From her first marriage to Mark Phillips, she had two children: Peter Phillips (1977) and Zara Phillips (1981). Princess Anne, Mark Phillips and Zara Phillips have all represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in equestrian sport. After her divorce from Mark Phillips, Princess Anne married Vice Admiral Timothy Lawrence.

Prince Andrew(Andrew Albert Christian Edward), Duke of York was born on 19 February 1960. Prince Andrew received the title of Duke of York in 1986 - on his wedding day with Sarah Ferguson. The marriage produced two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York (born 1988) and Eugenie of York (born 1990). The Duke of York is 5th in the line of succession to the British throne.

Prince Edward(Edward Anthony Richards Louis), Earl of Wessex was born on March 10, 1964. In the line of succession to the throne he is in 8th place after his older brothers and their descendants. He received the title of Earl on the day of his wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones. It was announced that after his father's death he would receive the title of Duke of Edinburgh, and his children would not receive the titles of princes and princesses, but would be treated as children of an earl. The Earl of Wessex has two children: Louisa (born 2003) - “Lady Louise Windsor” and James (born 2007) - “James, Viscount Severn”.

Second in line to the British throne is Prince William Arthur Philip Louis (born 1982) is the son of the Prince of Wales and Diana Spencer. On the day of William's wedding to Kate Middleton, he was granted the title Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergue. Kate Middleton accordingly became the Duchess of Cambridge. On July 22, 2013, the couple had a son, George (Georg) Alexander Louis. Who became third in line of succession to the throne.

Prince Henry of Wales(Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) - younger son Prince Charles and Diana Spencer were born on September 15, 1984. He is currently 4th in line to the British throne.

When Queen Elizabeth II working, she divides her time between London and Windsor.

Royal palaces are not owned by the queen or royal family. Officially, they are held in “trust for future generations.”

The main royal residence of the British monarch is Buckingham Palace in Westminster. Most state banquets, investitures, receptions of heads of state and foreign ambassadors and other official events are held there. In Buckingham Palace, which most people in the world associate with British royal family, 775 rooms. Including: 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. The total area of ​​the palace is 77 thousand square meters. When the queen is in the palace, the royal standard develops above it; if she is not in the palace, the state standard.

The second most important royal residence is the largest residential castle in the world - Windsor Castle, used by the royal family for weekends.

The main residence in Scotland is Holyroodhouse Castle in Edinburgh. The Queen always spends one week a year there - the so-called “Holyrood week”.

The royal family also owns Clarencehouse (Prince Charles's home) and Kensington Palace.

Her Majesty spends her holidays (August and September) at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire or Sandringhamhouse in Norfolk. They are private residences of the royal family and are not financed from the budget.

A series of scandals related to the divorces of Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, as well as the death of Princess Diana, significantly undermined the authority of the royal family in Great Britain. However, according to polls, more than 60% of Britons are in favor of maintaining the institution of monarchy in the country.

Interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II:

• At the Queen's Elizabeth II no passport. Since a British passport is issued on behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen cannot issue a passport to herself. All other members of the royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, hold British passports.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the only person in the country who is allowed to drive a car without a registration number and a driver's license. By the way, the Queen received her driver’s license back in 1945.
• – this is not a fixed date. Whether it will be the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Saturday of June is decided by the government of the country. On this day, since 1748, a royal military parade has been traditionally held - Trooping the Color.
• In Australia queen's birthday celebrated as a public holiday on the second Monday of June. In Western Australia, the monarch's birthday is celebrated at a different time - late September or early October. In New Zealand, the Queen's Birthday is also a public holiday and is celebrated on the first Monday in June. In Canada, the Queen's Birthday is celebrated as a public holiday on the Monday preceding May 24th.
• The Queen's actual birthday is April 21st. There are no special events on this day and the queen spends it with her family.
• Royal salutes are strictly regulated and
• February 6 (day of accession to the throne of Elizabeth II)
• April 21 (birthday of Elizabeth II)
• June 2 (coronation day of Elizabeth II)
• 10 June (birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh)
• Official Queen's Birthday
• Opening of Parliament by the Queen (usually November or December).
• The number of shots of the royal salute is also regulated. The main royal salute is 21 shots. In Hyde Park, another 20 shots are added to the main fireworks display. In the Tower - this is added to the main number 21 by 20 and another 21 shots.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state of 16 states and is the head of the Commonwealth, consisting of 53 countries. In 1952, at a conference of prime ministers of countries belonging to the Commonwealth, Elizabeth II was proclaimed the head of the association of countries not by right of inheritance, but by right of consent of the member states.
• U Queen Elizabeth II there are other official and unofficial titles. For example, in the Maori language it is called “kotuku” - “white heron”. In Papua New Guinea, the queen is called "Mrs Kwin" in pidgin. On the Isle of Man the Queen is called the Sovereign of Man, on the Channel Islands she is the Duchess of Normandy; in the Duchy of Lancaster - she is the Duchess of Lancaster.
• During his reign Queen Elizabeth II hosted 12 prime ministers during traditional Tuesday meetings: Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alexander Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron.
• Tony Blair became the first prime minister to be born during the reign of Elizabeth II (in May 1953).
• During the reign queens Elizabeth II There were 6 archbishops of Canterbury.
• U Queen Elizabeth II 9 thrones. One in the House of Lords, 2 in Westminster Abbey and 6 in Buckingham Palace.
• Queen should not publicly express her political views and communicates extremely correctly with all the prime ministers of the country, being above political battles. The same goes for members of the royal family, who are not allowed to speak out on political events, so the political views of the Queen and her family remain unknown.
• Queen Elizabeth II patronizes more than 620 charitable organizations.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the 40th monarch in Great Britain since William the Conqueror.
• During his reign Queen Elizabeth II has made official visits to more than 130 countries and made more than 250 trips. In October 1994, the Queen paid an official visit to Russia.
• The Queen made most of her trips on the yacht Britannia, which was built in 1954 and decommissioned in 1997. The total distance that Britain has traveled over the years is more than a million nautical miles.
• At the Queen's Elizabeth II there were more than 30 dogs of the favorite breed corgi. She received her first dog of this breed, Susan, as a gift for her eighteenth birthday. All other dogs are descendants of Susan. The Queen is even the creator of a new breed of dogs - Dorgi, which came from mixing her corgis with Princess Margaret's dachshund.
• 
  
• Queen Elizabeth II sent her first email in 1976, and the first official royal website was created in 1997.
• Legally, whales, dolphins and sturgeon in UK seas belong to the Crown. Because the country still has in force a 1324 statute, passed during the reign of Edward II, stating that the monarch owns dolphins, whales and sturgeon, living and dead, within the country's territorial waters.

She was born on April 21, 1926 in London's Mayfair district into a family of British monarchs from the Windsor dynasty. Father - Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952). Mother - Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (future Queen Consort Elizabeth, 1900-2002).

The future queen's grandparents: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); on the mother's side - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1938). She also has a younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose (1930-2002).

The princess's christening took place on May 25, 1926, in the chapel at Buckingham Palace. The future queen received her names in honor of her mother, Elizabeth, grandmother, Mary, and great-grandmother, Alexandra.

Elizabeth was born during the reign of her grandfather, King George V, and her uncle Edward was considered the heir to the throne. At birth, she became third in line to the throne, after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII), and her father, Prince Albert, and received the title Duchess of York. The girl's father did not really count on the crown - it was assumed that his older brother would eventually marry and acquire heirs.

The princess received a good education at home. She studied constitutional history, jurisprudence, religious studies, art history and taught herself French. From a young age she rode horses and was interested in horses.

When the future queen turned 10 years old, leapfrog began on the throne: grandfather George V died, uncle Edward reigned for only 10 months and exchanged the crown for the opportunity to marry his beloved American woman Wallis Simpson. After his abdication, the crown went to Prince Albert, Elizabeth's father, who took the name George VI.

Initially, it was assumed that Albert’s younger brother, Henry, would inherit the throne, but he chose to lead the free life of the Duke of Gloucester and renounced his rights in advance in favor of Elizabeth. The princess became heir to the throne and moved with her parents from Kensington to Buckingham Palace. At the same time, she remained in the role of “heir presumptive”, since if George VI had a son, he would have inherited the throne.

World War II began when Princess Elizabeth was 13 years old. On October 13, 1940, she spoke on the radio with an appeal to children affected by the scourge of war. In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of five "councillors of state" authorized to act as the king in the event of his absence or incapacity. In February 1945, the future queen joined the women's self-defense units and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving the military rank of lieutenant.

During King George VI's visit to the Naval College at Dartmouth, Elizabeth met her future husband, Philip. They had known each other since 1934, but it was after this meeting that correspondence began between them, and in 1946 Philip asked the king for permission to marry the heiress to the throne.

Before the marriage, Philip adopted the surname Mountbatten (an anglicized version of his mother's surname - Battenberg) and converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. In addition, he renounced the titles "Prince of Greece" and "Prince of Denmark" and accepted British citizenship.

On November 20, 1947, the marriage of 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten and 21-year-old Elizabeth took place. Following Elizabeth's formal coronation in 1953, Philip, a British naval officer, member of the Greek and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria, was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich by King George VI.

Four children were born into the family of Elizabeth and Philip: Prince Charles (11/14/1948), Princess Anne (08/15/1950), Prince Andrew (01/19/1960) and Prince Edward (03/10/1964).

On February 6, 1952, King George VI died of lung cancer. Elizabeth, who was on vacation at that time, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain and the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations, which includes 15 independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica.

According to British tradition, Queen Elizabeth II became Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces.

On June 2, 1953, the coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II took place in Westminster Abbey. This was the first televised coronation of a British monarch.

In 1953-1954, Elizabeth II made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth of Nations, British colonies and other countries of the world. She became the first monarch to visit New Zealand and Australia.

Between 1957 and 1961, Elizabeth II visited the United States and Canada as Queen of Canada, addressed the UN General Assembly, attended the opening of the Canadian parliament for the first time in history, and also traveled to India, the Vatican, Pakistan, Iran, Ghana and Cyprus. .

On April 29, 1970, during a trip to Australia, an assassination attempt was made on Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. There was a large wooden log on the route of the train in which the monarchs were. The Queen and her husband narrowly escaped a train accident.

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

In 1981, another assassination attempt was made on Elizabeth II. During the military parade, the Queen rode on horseback in front of a crowd of people. Suddenly, several shots rang out in her direction from the crowd. Police and spectators quickly apprehended the attacker. He turned out to be a seventeen-year-old unemployed man with a starting pistol loaded with blank cartridges.

On July 29, 1981, the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer took place (1961). The marriage was accompanied by scandals, mutual infidelities and brought many problems to the royal family. Charles and Diana had two sons: William, Duke of Cambridge (06/21/1982) and Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales (09/15/1984).

In 1992, the Queen's children - Prince Andrew and Princess Anne - divorced their spouses, Windsor Castle was badly damaged by fire, funding for the royal household was severely reduced, and Prince Charles and Princess Diana began to live separately.

In 1996, at the insistence of Elizabeth II, an official divorce was signed between Charles and Diana. On August 31, 1997, Lady Diana died tragically in a car accident in Paris. Prince Charles resumed his relationship with his longtime lover Camilla Parker Bowles (1947), whose wedding took place on April 9, 2005.

In 2002, Elizabeth II celebrated her golden jubilee - 50 years on the British throne.

On February 9, 2002, Elizabeth II's younger sister, Princess Margaret, died, and on March 30, 2002, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.

In 2010, Elizabeth II spoke for the second time at a meeting of the UN General Assembly.

On April 9, 2011, the Queen's grandson Prince William of Wales married Kate Middleton (nee Catherine Elizabeth Middleton), the daughter of an air traffic controller and a flight attendant, who later founded their own parcel company. They met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews. The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey in London. Elizabeth II granted the newlyweds the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

On December 3, 2012, an official representative of the British royal court announced that William's wife was pregnant, and on July 22, 2013, Kate gave birth to her first child, who was named George (George) Alexander Louis. He received the name George (George) in honor of King George VI, Alexander - in honor of the middle name of Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), Louis (Louis) - in honor of Louis Mountbatten - a military leader, uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

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

During 2012, Great Britain and the states of the British Commonwealth of Nations held a solemn celebration of the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Elizabeth II - the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen's reign.

In her years of honor, Elizabeth II continues to fulfill all the duties inherent in her high position. However, age is taking its toll and the Queen decided to shift some of the work onto the shoulders of her eldest son, Prince Charles.

In 2013, Elizabeth II, for the first time in 40 years, refused to go to the summit of the heads of the countries of the British Commonwealth, held in Sri Lanka. Prince Charles attended the summit instead, signaling the beginning of the transfer of royal powers to him.

The transfer of the throne will take place in stages, according to the principle of “gradual succession”. It lies in the fact that Elizabeth II will still work and give audiences, but gradually the queen will begin to abandon some of the traditional duties of the monarch, which Prince Charles will begin to perform. British court society considers this step "wise" and "natural". The first stage was the merger of the press services of Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

Ranks

▪ Royal title of Elizabeth II in Great Britain: “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, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”
▪ Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces (since 1952)
▪ Chief of the Australian Civil Air Force (since 1953)
▪ Honorary Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (since 1953)
▪ Chief of the New Zealand Territorial Air Force (since 1953)
▪ Captain-General of the youth organization of the British Ministry of Defense, the United Cadet Force (since 1953)
▪ Chief of the Royal Tank Regiment (since 1953)
▪ Honorary Colonel of the Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry (since 1956)
▪ Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces (since 1968)
▪ Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Defense Force (since 1990)

Awards

(in total, Elizabeth II has more than 50 awards, the most significant ones are listed)

▪ King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
▪ King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
▪ Defense Medal (1945)
▪ War Medal 1939–1945 (1945)
▪ Armed Forces Badge (1951)
▪ Knight First Class of the Order of King George V (1952)
▪ Knight First Class of the Order of King George VI (1952)
▪ Lady Royal of the Order of the Garter (1952)
▪ Knight Commander of the Imperial Order of the Indian Crown (1952)
▪ Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1952)
▪ Sovereign of the Order of Canada (1967)
▪ Sovereign of the Order of Military Merit of Canada (1972)
▪ Sovereign of the Order of Australia (1975)
▪ Sovereign of the Order of Barbados (1980)
▪ Sovereign of the Order of New Zealand (1987)
▪ Honorary Bachelor of Music from the University of London (1946)
▪ Honorary Doctor of Civil Law from Oxford University (1948)
▪ Honorary Doctor of Music 1949 from the University of Wales (Wales, 1949)
▪ Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, 1951)
▪ Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of London (1951)

Family

Husband - Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (06/10/1921)
Father - George VI, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia and South Africa (1895 - 1952)
Mother: Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom as Queen Elizabeth (1900 - 2002)
Sister - Princess Margaret Rose (08/21/1930 - 02/09/2002)
Son - Prince of Wales Charles (11/14/1948), first heir to the throne
Daughter - Princess Anne (08/15/1950), eleventh heir to the throne
Son - Prince Andrew, Duke of York (02/19/1960), fifth heir to the throne
Son - Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (03/10/1964), eighth heir to the throne
Daughter-in-law - Princess Diana of Wales (07/01/1961 - 08/31/1997)
Daughter-in-law - Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (07/17/1947)
Grandson - William, Duke of Cambridge (06/21/1982), second heir to the throne
Grandson - Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales (09/15/1984), fourth heir to the throne
Great-grandson - George Alexander Louis (07/22/2013), son of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Great-granddaughter - Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (05/02/2015), daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Great-grandson - Louis Arthur Charles (04/23/2018), son of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Hobby

Dog breeding (including corgis, spaniels and labradors), photography, horse riding, travel

Today, the most famous woman on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II of England, celebrates her birthday. Despite her venerable age, the Queen continues to delight us with her appearances, is the constant heroine of our “Stylish Monarchs” column, and gives valuable instructions to her heirs, Prince Charles and William, as well as her young daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton. HELLO.RU congratulates Elizabeth II on her birthday and remembers the 15th interesting facts about this legendary person.

Elizabeth II

1. Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926. At the time of her birth, she was third in line to the throne; then they could not even think about her future elevation to the throne. Her father, George VI, began to rule after the unexpected abdication of his elder brother, King Edward, and thus Elizabeth came closer to power.

Queen Elizabeth II with her mother Elizabeth I and father George VI

On the day of her father's death, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, approached 25-year-old Elizabeth and said: Does this mean you will become queen? Poor thing!

2. Elizabeth's education was personally handled by her father, King George VI. Her teachers also included the Vice-Rector of Eton and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

From an early age, Lilibet, as she was called at home, was an enthusiastic and active person. She really enjoyed learning languages. Thanks to foreign governesses, she became fluent in French as a child. At age 11, while still a princess, Elizabeth became a scout and then a sea ranger.

Elizabeth II in scout uniform, 19423. Since childhood, the queen has been very fond of animals. She is the breeder of many thoroughbred horses, and often comes to watch equestrian competitions, as well as the races in which her horses compete.

Elizabeth II has been riding a horse almost since birth
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip at the Hippodrome Elizabeth II also loves dogs. Her favorite breed is the Welsh Corgi. Her father gave her her first puppy for her birthday, and since then she has had more than 30 corgis, each of which is a descendant of her firstborn, Susie. The dogs live with the Queen in the castle, travel in limousines and live in hotels.

Queen Elizabeth II with her dog

4. The Queen met her husband, Prince Philip, at the age of 8. The son of a Greek prince was forced to flee his native country to England at the age of 1 in an orange box. Naturally, King George VI of Great Britain did not welcome his daughter’s union with the “impoverished prince.” According to rumors, Elizabeth herself achieved the favor of Philip, with whom she was in love from an early age, and then proposed marriage to him.

Elizabeth and Philip at their engagement party, 1947

5. The couple announced their engagement in 1947. The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten took place on November 20, 1947. 2000 invited guests attended the celebration. The wedding dress was made by designer Norman Hartnell, and the bride's head was decorated with a diamond tiara, which Queen Mary gave her as a child.

Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

After his marriage to the princess, Philip was not anointed king. When his wife ascended the throne, he was the first to take the oath to her with the words:
I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will become your vassal in sickness and in health, and will serve you faithfully, with honor and respect, until my death. May God help me.
61 years have passed since then, and Philip is still always and everywhere next to his queen.

6. Elizabeth II is the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. She herself conducts all important meetings with the heads of the Commonwealth, and also visits military installations during her visits to other countries. She is preparing her son, Prince Charles, and grandchildren, William and Harry, for political affairs, but does not yet trust them to make decisions.

Queen Elizabeth II with her first child, Prince Charles

7. Despite her steely character and talent for government, the queen does not forget about femininity. The bright colors of dresses and suits, which she has preferred since a very young age, reveal her creative and mischievous nature.

A recognizable style, the main elements of which are a monochrome suit of rich color, a matching hat, black shoes and a handbag, was formed at the very beginning of her reign. Now, despite her advanced age, the queen is not at all afraid of bright colors and still does not change her habits. As Karl Lagerfeld said, in order to become a recognizable person, you need to dress in such a way that it is easy to copy a caricature of you. Queen Elizabeth II inspired the creativity of both famous creators and animators.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1986

8. Order surrounds the Queen in everything, so it is not surprising that in Elizabeth II’s dressing room all things have a serial number. The place and time at which the outfit was worn is also indicated. Given the Queen’s busy work schedule, this is the only way she can avoid “fashion repetitions.”

9. The Queen's working day is scheduled minute by minute. At 7:30, a tray containing a silver teapot, a jug of water and milk is brought to her bed. She starts her duties at 10:00 and finishes work around 23:00. First thing in the morning she looks at the British daily newspapers and the racing magazine The Racing Post.

Elizabeth II, 2013

After this, from the hundreds of letters from her subjects that arrived during the day, she selects a few, which she reads, and then dictates to her assistant the answers to each of them. In the first half of the day, the queen schedules several meetings - with ambassadors, bishops, and judges. Each takes no more than 15 minutes. In the evening, Elizabeth II meets with the Prime Minister and gets acquainted with official papers. At the end of the day, she attends exhibitions, concerts and other events.

10. Queen Elizabeth II has a very large family: four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. When she is not busy with business, she loves to be at home with her loved ones.

Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, three sons and daughter

She spends several weeks in August and September alone. These days, the doors of Buckingham Palace open to everyone, and the Queen goes on vacation to the Scottish castle of Balmoral. There she enjoys reading novels, doing crossword puzzles and taking a bath. By the way, Elizabeth has a funny habit associated with her latest pastime - the queen never takes a bath without her rubber duck.

Another favorite pastime of the Queen on weekends is “fussing” with dogs. Rumor has it that Elizabeth loves to comb their fur herself and even look for fleas on them.

11. The Queen is the only resident of Great Britain who does not have a passport or license. However, this does not stop her from actively traveling and driving. By the way, she first got behind the wheel at the age of 19. With 67 years of driving experience behind her, the Queen was spotted behind the wheel by paparazzi in 2012. In an unaccompanied car, Elizabeth II was returning from her Scottish residence, where she was hunting hazel grouse.

Queen Elizabeth II driving12 .During travel, the weight of the queen's luggage can reach several tons. A record figure was recorded during Elizabeth II's trip to a meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1953 - the queen carried 12 tons of clothing with her. Considering the number of her dogs that travel with her everywhere, she has also accumulated several tons of grooming supplies.

Elizabeth II

13. Elizabeth II has a number of secret signs. For example, if during official events she places her handbag on the table, then it becomes clear to those accompanying her that the Queen wishes to leave the meeting after 5 minutes. When she begins to twirl a ring on her finger or shift her bag from one hand to another, this means that she is bored with communication with her interlocutor.

Queen Elizabeth II
14. The most difficult times in the queen's life were 1992 and 2002. In the early 90s, the reputation of the monarchy was under attack due to the divorce of the Queen's heir, Prince Charles, from Princess Diana. And in 2002, the queen lost two loved ones at once - her sister Margaret and her mother Elizabeth I.

Queen Elizabeth II with Princess Diana

15. Despite the fact that the Queen turns 88 today, this event will be celebrated on a national scale only in the summer. According to a tradition that has developed over the years, the birthday of the reigning monarch of Great Britain is celebrated twice: directly on the day of the celebration with loved ones and on one of the weekends in June. It is in the summer that lavish festivities take place, people take to the streets to celebrate another year in the life and reign of the most popular monarch in the world.