When did Elizabeth 2 begin to reign? The Queen takes over

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 the military rank of 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 lack of clear rules for choosing a leader in the Conservative Party, Elizabeth II had to appoint a new head of government from among the Conservatives. After consultations with prominent 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, an official divorce was signed 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, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called her "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 British Commonwealth countries, 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 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 the political and social life of 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 has always followed this rule, acting non-publicly - therefore her political views remain unknown.

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

In 1957 and 1963, 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:

So, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in 2008-2009 financial year Each Briton spent $1.14 to maintain the monarchy, amounting to $68.5 million in total.

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

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain- (Queen Elizabeth II) was born on April 21, 1926 in London in the family of the Duke and Duchess of York. Queen Elizabeth usually celebrates her real birthday with her family, while the official birthday of the monarch in Great Britain... ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia

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- (אלישבע) Hebrew Other forms: Elisabeth, Elissiv (Old Slavic) Produced. forms: Lisa Foreign language analogues: English. Elizabeth, Eliza Arab. اليزابيث‎‎ arm… Wikipedia

Books

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. A look at the modern British monarchy, A. A. Polyakova. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to her to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will give you...
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain A look at the modern British monarchy, Polyakova A.. “My impressions of a trip to Great Britain during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton led to the understanding that Great Britain and the monarchy are inseparable. In the Middle Ages, the exclamation “In the name of...

When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday, she became not only the oldest monarch in the world, but also the longest-reigning head of state in British history. She comes from the Windsor dynasty and, in addition to her native island, is recognized as queen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and eight other small countries. The reign of Elizabeth Alexandra Maria saw the final collapse of the British Empire and the withdrawal of the colonies from English rule. Despite quite impressive criticism, Elizabeth II is quite a popular person in her native country.

She was born on April 21, 1926 in the family of the future king, and. The girl received her name in honor of her mother, but the princess’s full name is also made up of the names of her grandmother and great-grandmother. The queen's zodiac sign is Taurus. Elizabeth II had a sister, who was born four years after her, but died at the age of 72.

The first title in the biography of Elizabeth II appeared immediately after birth: the girl was named Princess of York. At that time, her father and uncle Edward VIII stood in front of her on the way to the throne, as did any boy who could theoretically be born to each of the candidates for the throne. The uncle initially became king, but less than a year later he lost the title to his brother.

Elizabeth II and her parents move to a luxurious castle - Buckingham Palace, where they spend their childhood and youth. Elizabeth II studied at home, but received an excellent humanities education. She is on high level I studied art, religion, law, and specifically the British Constitution. Elizabeth II is fluent in French and is believed to have learned it on her own.

For the first time, Elizabeth II addressed her future subjects at the age of 13. During World War II, she appeared on the radio and expressed support for children who were affected by the bombing. At the age of 16, the girl already independently appears in public, and a year later she becomes a state adviser and joins the women's self-defense unit. The princess learned to drive an ambulance, received training as a mechanic, and rose to the rank of lieutenant. She is the only head of state who served in real life in that war.

Governing body

On the day of her coming of age, Elizabeth II officially promised the British Empire to devote her life to serving people, although at that time her inheritance of the crown was still in doubt. After the death of her father George VI, on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen. It is curious that the coronation of a girl was broadcast on television for the first time in history, and many believe that this event gave a sharp impetus to the popularity of this medium mass media in Britain.

At the time of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, the ruler's possessions were much wider than they are today. The empire then included South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later abolished British rule. Interestingly, Elizabeth II visited each country almost immediately, becoming the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

By tradition, Queen Elizabeth II has virtually no influence on the governance of the country. A woman’s task is to represent the country at international summits and maintain the authority of the British monarchy. Throughout her entire tenure on the throne, Elizabeth II maintains correct relations with all prime ministers. And although she is above the political fray and does not publicly express her own political opinion, statesmen They consider it important to consult with her on many issues. She valued the queen's opinion, which she wrote about in her memoirs.

During her long reign over Great Britain, Elizabeth received both praise and harsh criticism. But both the queen's supporters and opponents emphasize the queen's humanity. The events of 1986 are an indicative fact. Elizabeth II was sailing on her yacht Britannia to one of her subject countries when she learned about the beginning civil war in Yemen. She immediately ordered to change course and take on board as many as possible ordinary people. Thanks to direct help Queen of England Elizabeth II over a thousand people were evacuated.

In 2015, "Canada's sexiest politician" visited Buckingham Palace. Then the Queen noted that the meeting with the Prime Minister was a unique occasion, because the last time they saw each other was 40 years ago: Justin’s father took him to see Elizabeth II when the boy was 3 years old. At the meeting, the Queen noted: “Nice to see you again, but under different circumstances.”. To which the politician retorted: “The last time we met, you were much taller.”.

Today, the queen’s height is 152 cm and her weight is 55 kg.

Personal life

Elizabeth II's personal life changed immediately after coming of age. The princess married a British naval officer, who after the wedding received the title Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Elizabeth 2 is a descendant of Queen Victoria and a scion of the Greek and Danish royal dynasties. They met when the future Queen Elizabeth II was eight years old, and the romantic relationship between the lovers began in 1939, when the princess visited the naval college, where young Philip was then studying.

Wedding of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband had four children: , and Edward. The last two were born after their mother’s accession to the British throne. The family tree of the British royal family continues to grow: children have long since acquired their own families and presented the reigning queen with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the family of Elizabeth II there was and, the first wife of Prince Charles and the mother of and. One of the strongest waves of criticism swept over Elizabeth II when she reacted with obvious delay to a car accident.

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite hobbies are breeding purebred dogs and horse riding. As she grew older, she replaced horses with cars and even today gets behind the wheel herself. By the way, the Queen does not have a driver's license. Even in her old age, Elizabeth II became interested in gardening. She is considered one of the world's most traveled heads of state and has already visited over 130 countries. The personality of Elizabeth II attracts attention and motivates creative people to create works of art. There are many lifetime monuments and sculptures of Elizabeth II. In honor of the queen, bridges and buildings are built, parks and alleys are laid out, stamps and coins are issued, and a variety of roses is even named after the monarch.

Elizabeth II often becomes a character in films. The queen was portrayed on screen, along with a dozen other actresses. And once Queen Elizabeth II herself starred in a promotional video for the opening of the London 2012 Olympics. Together with the actor who portrayed her, she flies to the Olympic Stadium by helicopter and “jumps” with a parachute. For this role, the 87-year-old Queen of Great Britain was awarded the BAFTA film award for best actress.

Royals are prohibited from maintaining accounts on in social networks. However, the royal family has a person who monitors their official " Instagram" And " Twitter", where he posts photos and recordings with the permission of the highest authorities.

It is known that a whole team works on the queen's wardrobe. Experts suggest that Elizabeth's favorite color is blue. It was in clothes of this shade that the woman most often appeared in public. This may be due to the fact that Elizabeth II's eye color is blue. Designers have always noted the elegance and refined taste of the monarch.

Despite her age, Elizabeth II prefers to go without makeup and usually only uses lipstick. The woman puts on her makeup herself.

The Queen has a collection of hats. Elizabeth has more than 5,000 of these hats in her arsenal. Moreover, the monarch appeared in public in each of them.

In 2016, for the Queen's 90th birthday, it was published documentary about Elizabeth II. Director John Bridcut was allowed to look into the personal video chronicle of the royal family.

Elizabeth II now

In January 2017, subjects were worried about the health of the ruler. Elizabeth II became very ill: the woman was struck down by a cold. For this reason, the Queen missed the Christmas and New Year's services.

In June, the monarch gave a speech from the throne in parliament. Elizabeth II presented the government program for the next two years.

In September, Elizabeth II said she plans to wait for someone other than “Mr. Putin” to rule Russia. According to the British monarch, he has lost touch with reality and there is nothing to talk about with him. The woman is sure that the time will come when Russians will again look at the British with aspiration.

In December, the Queen took part in a hunt at her country residence Sandringham. Sources reported that when the dog brought a wounded pheasant to the monarch’s feet, Elizabeth II was not at a loss and finished off the bird with a cane.

In November 2017, it became known that Prince William's brother, Harry, was officially engaged to the actress. The lovers were scheduled for May 19, 2018. However, Queen Elizabeth II did not give her consent to the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for a long time, and according to the law regulating royal marriages, before the celebration, the monarch must give official written permission to marry. And only a week before the wedding, Buckingham Palace published the consent of the British Queen. The public was sure that Elizabeth would not approve of Harry’s union with a former actress who had previously been married.

And on May 19, 2018, the whole world watched the royal celebration. 600 guests were invited to the wedding, among whom were, with his wife and others. During the wedding, the queen did not show joyful emotions and never smiled. After the ceremony, Meghan was given the title of Duchess of Sussex.

Now the British public is waiting for Markle to announce her pregnancy and give Prince Harry an heir. The press periodically reports facts that confirm that spouses are striving to have offspring.

In February, the queen rented a plot in the center of Kyiv. The media were tormented by guesses why Elizabeth II needed land in Ukraine. It turned out that the embassies of Canada and Australia, which are members of the British Commonwealth and recognize the authority of the British crown, are located on this site.

On June 18, Elizabeth II attended the traditional ceremony for presenting the highest order of knighthood in Great Britain.

On June 19, an important public event started - the royal races at Ascot. Her Majesty attended this event.

That same month, the Queen's cousin Ivar Mountbatten announced that he planned to marry boyfriend James Coyle. Two years ago, a man caused a real stir in the family when he announced his non-traditional sexual orientation. Until 2011, Ivar was married to a woman named Penelope Thomson. In this marriage, the couple had three children. Ivar's ex-wife knew about her husband's inclinations and supported him. It will be Penny who will lead Ivar to the altar. The woman immediately found mutual language with Mountbatten's lover. This will be the first same-sex marriage in the royal family.

The Queen is scheduled to meet with the President of the United States on July 13, 2018. The working visit of the American leader will take place at Windsor Castle. In addition to meeting with Elizabeth, the president plans to spend several hours with the British Prime Minister.

Scandals

A loud scandal occurred in the 90s associated with Prince Charles. As you know, the man married Diana Spencer, who fell in love with the royal family and the British public, but all his life the queen’s son loved Camilla Shand. However, the monarchs were against their son’s marriage to a rootless girl, so she also quickly found a gentleman. But meetings with the prince did not stop. Diana knew about her husband's infidelities. William and Harry's mother tried to save the marriage, but it didn't work out. In 1992, recordings of a telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla were presented to the public. The words that the lovers said to each other made the royals’ ears “sag.”

Diana then became furious. As a result, the marriage turned into a war that ended in divorce.

After the tragic death of Princess Diana, those who blamed Prince Charles for what happened appeared. We went, and this happened not without the participation of Elizabeth II.

They also said that Prince Philip, the queen's husband, cheated on his wife many times. The woman did not comment on such statements.

In 2012, there was a scandal associated with the name of Prince William and. The future parents were vacationing in a private villa in France. The couple thought that they were alone on the beach, and calmly walked there, either in swimsuits or without any clothes at all. At this moment, the husband and wife were caught by the paparazzi lens.

At one time, the Queen’s sister Margaret “shone” in the center of gossip columns. In her youth, the girl was not allowed to marry for love, and she began to often visit dubious establishments. It was rumored that the ruler's closest relative was addicted to cocaine. Then she married an unloved man, whom she left after 18 years. During and after marriage, the woman did not give up pleasure walks. As a result, Margaret ended her life unhappy in a wheelchair.

The press wrote that Elizabeth II could help her sister and approve a bill that would allow her to marry her loved one. But this did not happen.

Once the queen was even buried. This happened live on the BBC. Then presenter Danny Kelly announced the death of the monarch. Later, the management of the television and radio corporation had to make an official apology to the royal family.

In 2016, there were rumors that the Queen was planning to abdicate in favor of Prince William and Kate Middleton, bypassing Prince Charles. But the rumors remained rumors.

On January 20, 1961, he ascended to the presidency of the United States. Four months later, the man and his wife met with the queen. The couple was invited to dinner. John came to visit Elizabeth II with a gift: the man presented the monarch with his photographic portrait. Historians wonder what the newly minted US president was trying to demonstrate with such a gesture. Elizabeth was surprised, but accepted the gift.

Jacqueline admitted that she was very worried before meeting the queen, but she warmly greeted the president’s wife and, so that she could calm down, showed the first lady a collection of works of art. Nine months later, Jacqueline Kennedy visited the Queen again, alone. And I was delighted with the visit. Six months later, the woman planned to host Elizabeth II, but when it turned out that the queen was pregnant, the meeting was postponed.

On April 12, 1961, a Soviet pilot-cosmonaut made his first flight into space. As a result, the young man turned into a world celebrity. Yuri Alekseevich was invited by foreign governments and organizations, including Great Britain. As a result, the queen herself wanted to talk to Gagarin, inviting the man for breakfast. Contrary to protocol, Elizabeth II sat the astronaut next to her and asked questions. Those present noted that the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.

Queen Elizabeth II is the only UK resident who does not have a passport.

Interestingly, no one except the husband has the right to touch the Queen in public. And Elizabeth the Second never raises her voice or gives interviews.

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 participate.

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 are 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 big 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 whole line 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.

1 * TWO ROYAL BIRTHDAY

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) was born on April 21, 1926. However, the official birthday of the monarch in Great Britain does not coincide with the real one. Since the reign of King Edward VII (1901-1910), this holiday has been celebrated on one of the first Saturdays in June - for the reason that the weather will be good on these days. In addition, it is in June that a solemn event takes place - the removal of the banner at the Horse Guards Parade. By the way, this year, during the celebration of the Queen’s official birthday, British pubs were allowed to stay open until 1 am (and not until 11 pm, as usual) on the occasion of the Queen’s 90th birthday on June 10 and 11.

2 * NOT ONLY BRITAIN

Elizabeth the Second is primarily the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But not only. She is also the queen of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, that’s not all: Elizabeth Second is considered the queen of 12 more independent states - Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda , Saint Kitts and Nevis. And of course, the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, which unites fifty countries - mostly former British possessions.

3 * MONARCHES AND RECORDS

Queen Elizabeth II became Queen in 1952 while on vacation in Kenya when news of the death of her father, King George VI, arrived there. The coronation took place in June 1953 in Westminster Abbey - the first time this ceremony was broadcast on television. The young queen's coronation dress was, according to her instructions, embroidered with floral emblems of the countries of the British Commonwealth. England was symbolized by the rose, Scotland by the thistle, Wales by the leek, Ireland by the shamrock, Australia by the mimosa, Canada by the maple leaf, New Zealand by the fern, South Africa by the protea, India and Ceylon by the lotus flowers, Pakistan by wheat, cotton and jute.

Today, Elizabeth II is the oldest reigning monarch in the world. (In terms of time on the throne, she is ahead of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who led the country in 1946). In September 2015, she also broke her great-great-grandmother Victoria's record for longest life among the kings and queens of Britain - by this time she had been on the throne for more than 23,226 days.

4 * NAZI SALUTES SCANDAL

Last year, The Sun tabloid published footage taken in the early 1930s showing little Princess Elizabeth standing next to her mother and sister raising her hand in a Nazi salute. The future queen’s uncle, Prince Edward (aka King Edward VIII), is also visible in the footage, known not only for his abdication of the British throne, but also for his sympathy for Hitler’s Germany. If everything was more or less clear with her uncle, it is unlikely that the seven-year-old girl understood what exactly she was depicting. Moreover, during the war with the Nazis, the British royal family did a lot to inspire their compatriots fighting the Nazis.

5 * MILITARY PAST

When World War II began, Princess Elizabeth was 13 years old. Her mother refused to evacuate her daughters to Canada: “The children will not leave without me. I won't leave without the king. But the king will never leave.”

In February 1945, the grown-up Elizabeth put on military uniform– joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she trained as a driver and mechanic.

When the war ended, Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret incognito infiltrated the crowds celebrating the victory in the streets of London.

6 * LOVE OF HER LIFE

Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, back in the thirties - they were relatives through King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria. She was only 13 when the princess fell in love with Philip and they began to correspond. The official engagement took place only after the war - in July 1947. At the same time, Philip was not rich, he was a foreigner (although he served during the war in the British Royal Navy), Orthodox - in a word, not everyone considered him a suitable match for Elizabeth. Be that as it may, the wedding took place in November 1947 in Westminster Abbey. To buy material for a wedding dress in a post-war country, Elizabeth needed cards for manufactured goods. The newlyweds received 2,500 wedding gifts from all over the world.

Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles, in November 1948. In 1950, Princess Anne was born. Ten years later - in 1960 - the Queen gave birth to another son, Prince Andrew. And finally, in 1964, the Queen gave birth to Prince Edward.

7 * ROYAL MONEY

The personal financial state of the British Queen has always aroused wide interest among the media and the public. When reports emerged in the early 1990s that Elizabeth II had a fortune estimated at £100 million, Buckingham Palace called these figures “grossly exaggerated.” And in 2015, The Sunday Times estimated the Queen's personal wealth at £340 million, placing her as the 302nd richest person in the United Kingdom. It is worth noting that the Royal Collection, which includes thousands of works of art and royal jewels, is not the personal property of the Queen, but is held in trust, just like the official royal residences (Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Duchy of Lancaster).

8 * QUEEN IN RUSSIA

In October 1994, Elizabeth II arrived in Russia on her yacht Britannia and was received by President Yeltsin. This was the first ever visit by a British monarch to our country. After the revolution, the main reason that prevented such a visit was the execution by the Bolsheviks royal family, who was related to the British royal house. The Queen visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. By the way, in 1986, Elizabeth II became the first among British monarchs to visit China.

9 * SIMPLE TASTES OF THE CROWNED MAN

Elizabeth II prefers simple food to culinary delights: she loves lamb cutlets and roast beef, fried flounder and chicken salad. Desserts include ice cream and pudding. When it comes to drinks, Queen Elizabeth prefers champagne and white wines. He doesn’t shy away from cocktails, such as martinis. The British royal family sits down to the table four times a day: breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. In the mornings, the queen brews herself Chinese tea and drinks it with milk, but without sugar. During the royal breakfast, under the dining room windows, a Scottish bagpiper plays the morning tune for the queen. This custom dates back to the times of Queen Victoria. A formal dinner with the Queen begins with soup, followed by a fish dish. The most common roast at royal dinners is baked and roasted leg of lamb, one of Elizabeth II's favorite dishes. The meat is accompanied by 3-4 types of vegetable side dishes. This is followed by a salad and then a cold dessert. 5 types of the best wine are served with dinner.