Surname of the English Queen Elizabeth 2. Queen Elizabeth is a symbol of Great Britain

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 path 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's 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.

Board

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 opinions, statesmen 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 of 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 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 planned 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 common 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 spoke 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 in live BBC channel. 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 would 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.

Elizabeth II Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - since February 6, 1952
Coronation: June 2, 1953
Predecessor: George VI
Heir apparent: Charles, Prince of Wales
Head of the Commonwealth of Nations
Religion: Anglicanism
Birth: April 21, 1926
London, UK
Family: Windsor dynasty
Birth name: Elizaveta Alexandra Maria
Father: George VI
Mother: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Spouse: Philip Mountbatten

biography of Queen Elizabeth 2

Elizabeth II(English Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (English Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - Queen of Great Britain from 1952 to the present.
Elizabeth II comes from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of 25, following the death of her father, King George VI.

She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of 15 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 UK.

Elizabeth II- the oldest British (English) monarch in history. She is currently the second longest-serving British throne in history (after Queen Victoria) and also the second-longest serving head of state in the world (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is also the oldest female sitting head of state in the world.
During the reign Elizabeth A very broad period of British history falls: the process of decolonization was completed, which was marked by the final collapse of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. This period also included many other events, such as the long-term ethnopolitical conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Throughout her reign, the Queen has been repeatedly criticized not only by British Republicans, but also by various British media, as well as by the general public. However, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy and her popularity in Great Britain is at its highest.

Childhood and youth of Elizabeth II
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 (1883-1961).
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.

Elizabeth 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 on her own) French. WITH youth Elizabeth was interested in horses and practiced horse riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.
At birth Elizabeth became Duchess of York and was third in line 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 just 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 of “heir presumptive” (“presumed heir”) (English) Russian, and in the event of the birth of a son to George VI, 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.

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.

That same year, 21-year-old Elizabeth married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten, a British naval officer, member of the Greek 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, where Philip studied, in 1939. Having become the princess's husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.

A year after the wedding, in 1948, Elizabeth and Philip’s eldest son, Prince Charles, was born. And on August 15, 1950, the daughter was Princess Anne.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
Coronation and beginning of the reign of Elizabeth II
King George VI, father Elizabeth, died 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 is credited with having contributed significantly to the rise in popularity of television broadcasting.

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.

Second half of the 1950s - early 1990s
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. In the same year, she 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.
Meeting of Elizabeth II with heads of Commonwealth countries in 1960
In 1960, the Queen gave birth to her second son, Prince Andrew, and in 1964, her third son, Prince Edward.
In 1963, after the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan, on his advice, Elizabeth appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister.
In 1974, a political crisis began to brew after parliamentary elections, as a result of which no party received a majority of votes. Although the Conservative Party was the largest party in Parliament, Labor leader Harold Wilson was appointed Prime Minister. A year later, a political crisis also occurred in Australia (English) Russian, during which Elizabeth II refused to cancel the decision of the Governor General to resign the country's Prime Minister.

In 1976 Elizabeth II inaugurated (as the 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.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were a number of assassination attempts against the royal family. In particular, in 1979, the Provisional Irish Republican Army terrorists killed the uncle of Prince Philip, an influential statesman and military leader Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Elizabeth II during a military parade in honor of the queen’s “official birthday.”
In 1981, the wedding of Elizabeth II's son Prince Charles and Diana Spencer took place, which would later become a big problem for the royal family.

Elizabeth II on a walk near Windsor Castle with Ronald Reagan (1982)
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.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Queen Elizabeth II. London. 2010
Elizabeth II and the Obamas.

Early 1990s - 2000s in the life of Elizabeth II

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 1994, Elizabeth II visited Russia. This was the first visit of the head of the British royal house to Russian state in the entire history of bilateral relations, dating back to 1553.
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 death of the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, occurred.
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 - at St. Patrick's in Armagh in Northern Ireland.

Modernity
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 "an 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 the same year, the 60th (“diamond”) anniversary of Elizabeth II’s tenure on the throne was solemnly celebrated in Great Britain and other countries. The culmination of the festive events was the weekend of June 3-4, 2012:
On June 3, a solemn water parade of more than a thousand ships and boats took place on the Thames. It is considered to be 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.

Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (2013)
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 will represent Britain at the summit, signaling the gradual transfer of Elizabeth's powers to her son.

In the same year, the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II was celebrated in Great Britain, but on a smaller scale.

Role in political and social life
In accordance with the British tradition of constitutional 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 reads the main British newspapers daily and responds with the help of servants, some letters 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.

Elizabeth II is also actively involved in charity work. She is a trustee of more than 600 different public and charitable organizations.

Main article: Royal prerogatives
In addition to her duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives), which, however, are quite formal. For example, she can dissolve parliament, reject a candidate for prime minister (who seems unsuitable to her), etc.
Financial costs
Certain funds are spent on the maintenance of the queen from the so-called civil list, which is controlled by the government.

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 expenses to $51.7 million.
But, 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.

Family and children
On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), the son of Prince Andrew of Greece, who received the title Duke of Edinburgh.
Four children were born into their family:
Name Date of birth Marriage Children Grandchildren
Prince Charles
Prince of Wales November 14, 1948 Lady Diana Spencer July 29, 1981
(divorced: 28 August 1996) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Prince George of Cambridge
Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales
Camilla Shand April 9, 2005
Princess Anne,
"Princess Royal" August 15, 1950 Mark Phillips November 14, 1973
(divorced: April 28, 1992) Peter Phillips Savannah Phillips

Isla Elizabeth Phillips
Zara Phillips
Timothy Lawrence December 12, 1992
Prince Andrew
Duke of York 19 February 1960 Sarah Ferguson 23 July 1986
(divorced: 30 May 1996) Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Eugenie (Eugenia) of York
Prince Edward
Earl of Wessex 10 March 1964 Sophie Rhys-Jones 19 June 1999 Lady Louise Windsor
James, Viscount Severn
Official titles, awards and coat of arms

The full title of Elizabeth II 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 Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries that recognize the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which in each of these countries the British monarch acts as the head of that particular state (English) Russian, regardless of his titles in Great Britain. or in third countries. Accordingly, in all these countries the title of queen sounds the same, with the name of the state replaced. In some countries, the words “defender of the faith” are excluded from the title. For example, in Australia the title reads as follows: “Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God Queen of Australia and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth.”

On the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, Elizabeth II also bears the title of Duke of Normandy, and on the Isle of Man, the title of “Lord of Man”.
States whose head was or is Elizabeth II
The map shows the member countries of the Commonwealth (Fiji's membership is suspended)

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 (former Dominion of Pakistan).
South Africa - in 1961 (formerly South Africa).
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - in 1972 (former Dominion of Ceylon).

States in which the monarchy remains are marked in blue.

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

Awards
Main article: Titles and awards of Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II in Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries, as well as in other countries, is the head of a number of knightly orders, and also has military ranks, numerous honorary titles, academic degrees. In addition, she is a recipient of various domestic British awards, as well as a number of various awards from foreign countries.

Coats of arms in different periods of time and in different countries

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944–1947)

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947–1952)

Royal coat of arms in Great Britain (except Scotland)

Royal coat of arms in Scotland

Royal coat of arms of Canada

Public perception

At the moment, the majority of British people have a positive assessment of Elizabeth II’s activities as a monarch (about 69% believe that the country would be worse off without the monarchy; 60% believe that the monarchy helps improve the country’s image abroad and only 22% were against the monarchy).

Criticism

Despite the positive attitude of the majority of her subjects, the queen was repeatedly criticized throughout her reign, in particular:

In 1963, when a political crisis arose in Britain, Elizabeth was criticized for personally appointing Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In 1997, for the lack of an immediate reaction to the death of Princess Diana, the queen was attacked not only by the wrath of the British public, but also even by many major British media (for example, The Guardian).
In 2004, after Elizabeth II beat a pheasant to death with a cane while hunting, a wave of outrage from environmental organizations over the monarch's actions swept across the country.

Hobbies and personal life
Map of Elizabeth II's visits different countries peace

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 (for example, in 1994 she visited Russia). She has made more than 325 foreign visits (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries).

I started gardening in 2009.

In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.
Memory
In culture
Films about Elizabeth II

In 2004, the film Churchill: The Hollywood Years was released, where Neve Campbell played the role of Elizabeth.
In 2006, the biographical film “The Queen” was released. The role of the queen was played by actress Helen Mirren. The film is a BAFTA Award winner in the Best Film category. Actress Helen Mirren, who played the main role in the film, received Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA awards, as well as the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best Actress. In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.
In 2009, Channel 4 of British television produced a 5-part feature mini-series “The Queen”, directed by Edmund Coulthard and Patrick Reams. The Queen was played by 5 actresses at different periods of her life: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick.
On July 27, 2012, the television broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London began with a video featuring James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen (cameo). At the end of the video, they both jump with parachutes from a helicopter over the arena of the Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, for this role, the Queen was awarded the BAFTA Award for Best Performance as a James Bond Girl.

In architecture

Elizabeth Walk next to the Espalade in Singapore is named after the Queen.
The famous Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the “Elizabeth Tower” since September 2012.
The Duford Bridge, built in 1991, is also named after the Queen.
On August 1, 2013, the Elizabeth II Olympic Park was opened in London.

Lifetime monuments

Lifetime monuments

Statue of Elizabeth II in Ottawa, Parliament Hill, Canada

Statue in Regina, Saskatchewan, erected in 2005

Statue in Windsor Great Park

In botany

The rose variety Rosa "Queen Elizabeth" was named in honor of Elizabeth II.
On coins and philately

Coins and postage stamps

On a Canadian stamp, 1953

On an Australian coronation stamp

On a Northern Ireland stamp, 1958

On a 1953 coin

On a South African coin, 1958

Coin with Elizabeth 1961

In geography

The name of Elizabeth II was repeatedly assigned to various territories, among them:
Princess Elizabeth Land in Antarctica
Queen Elizabeth Land in Antarctica
Queen Elizabeth Islands in Canada

Elizabeth II, Queen 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 (Queen of New Zealand)- Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain- Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia

ELIZABETH II, Queen of England- From the Windsor dynasty. Queen of Great Britain since 1952. Daughter of George VI and Elizabeth. Married since 1947 to Philip, son of the Greek Prince Andrew (born 1921). Genus. 21 Apr 1926 As a child, Elizabeth was educated at home. Except… … All the monarchs of the world

Queen of Great Britain- The following is a list of monarchs of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, that is, states that existed or exist in the British Isles, namely: Kingdom of England (871 1707, including Wales after its ... ... Wikipedia

Anne (Queen of Great Britain)- Wikipedia has articles about other people named Anna. Anna Anne ... Wikipedia

Victoria (Queen of Great Britain)- Wikipedia has articles about other people named Victoria. Victoria Victoria ... Wikipedia

Victoria (Queen of Great Britain and Ireland)- Victoria Victoria Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India ... Wikipedia

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

Elizabeth I- Elizabeth I. Elizabeth I. Elizabeth I () Queen of England since 1558, the last of the Tudor dynasty. Daughter Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. and other cities, as well as officials. In 1559, an act was passed establishing Protestantism in England.... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary"World History"

Elizabeth- s, female; decomposition Lizaveta, s; old Elizabeth, s. Derivatives: Elizabeth; Veta; Lilya; Lisa; Lizunya; Lick; Lizusha; Lizura; Lizuta; Lizavetka.Origin: (Hebrew name 'Eliseba' God is my oath, I swear to God.)Name day: May 7, September 5, September 18 ... Dictionary of personal names

Elizabeth I- (1533 1603) English queen from 1558, the last of the Tudor dynasty. Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth I was supported by the nobility and wealthy strata of London and other cities, as well as officials. In 1559, an act was adopted... ... Historical Dictionary

Elizabeth I- Elizabeth I. ELIZABETH I (Elizabeth) Tudor (1533 1603), Queen of England from 1558, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Under Elizabeth I, the position of absolutism was strengthened, the Anglican Church was restored, the Spanish “Invincible Armada” was defeated... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Elizabeth- daughter of Yaroslav I, married in 1045 to the Hungarian king, Harald the Bold (Strict), who, seeking her hand, performed a number of feats in Greece, Africa, Sicily and Palestine and composed 16 love songs (one of them was translated by Batyushkov... Biographical Dictionary

ELIZABETH- (German Elizabeth) the central character of Friedrich Schiller’s tragedy “Mary Stuart” (1800). Historical prototype Elizabeth I Tudor (1533 1603), Queen of England since 1558, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. The image of E. is endowed with deep psychologism and... ... Literary heroes

Elizabeth- oath of God; Lizaveta; Elizabeth; Elizavetka, Veta, Lilya, Lisa, Lizunya, Lizukha, Lizusha, Lizura, Lizuta, Lizavetka Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Elizabeth noun, number of synonyms: 3 name (1104) ... Dictionary of synonyms

ELIZABETH I- (Elizabeth) Tudor (1533 1603), Queen of England from 1558, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Under Elizabeth I, the position of absolutism was strengthened, the Anglican Church was restored, the Spanish Invincible Armada was defeated (1588), widely carried out... ... Modern encyclopedia

ELIZABETH II- (b. 1926) Queen of Great Britain since 1952, daughter of George VI ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

ELIZABETH- (Elizabeth), UK, Universal Pictures, 1998, 121 min. Historical drama. A story about the first years of the reign of Elizabeth I Tudor, about the difficult formation of one of the most famous queens of England. The film is notable for its excellent acting and... Encyclopedia of Cinema

Books

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Name:
Full name: Elizabeth Alexandra Maria
Born: 21 April 1926, 17 Bruton Street
Parents: George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
House: Windsor
Enthroned: February 6, 1952 at the age of 25
Crowned: June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
Husband: Philip Mountbatten.
Children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward

Princess Elizabeth Alexandria Mary was born in London on April 21, 1926; she was educated privately and took on official duties at age 16. During the Second World War she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and by an amendment to the Regency Act she became a Councilor of State on her 18th birthday.

After the death of George VI in 1952, she ascended the throne, while she was crowned only 18 months later on June 2, 1953.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II since 1952 has led to a period of rapid and sometimes turbulent change. Britain's position in the world, its economy and the very shape and structures of society were transformed, and many traditional institutions suffered in the process. Through it all, the Crown's path has been marked by the Queen herself, in a long-lasting display of unwavering dedication and quiet pragmatism that met a national need and won her the respect and love of her people.

As the hereditary head of state for Great Britain and Northern Ireland and head of the Commonwealth, she has symbolic and formal functions and responsibilities, but no direct powers. She is the embodiment of national identity and continuity.

Supported by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to whom she has been married since November 20, 1947, the Queen is the head of a large family.

In 2012, she opened the London Olympics and celebrated her Diamond Jubilee of 60 years on the throne. Discussion over the future of the monarchy continues, but the Royal Family has shown a willingness to embrace evolutionary changes, including the Queen's decision to pay taxes, changes to the Civil List, and the opening of Buckingham palace to the public to help fund the restoration of Windsor Castle.

On 10 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-serving British monarch, surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

In 1940, 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth was a guest on the Children's Hour radio program. She addressed her best wishes to the children evacuated from Britain to the USA, Canada and other countries during the worst times of the Second World War for Britain. This is the very first recording of the future queen in the BBC archives.

On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married her fourth cousin, Prince Philip of Greece, in Westminster Abbey. Their first child, Charles, was born in 1948. For several years the couple enjoyed a relatively ordinary life. In 1950, Charles's sister Anna was born.
Elizabeth and Philip lived with their children at Clarence House in London. Her father was terminally ill with lung cancer. In January 1952, while on a visit to Kenya, Elizabeth learned of the king's death. Already queen, she immediately returned to London.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother and the Duke of Gloucester watch the Royal Armed Forces flypast after the coronation on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Her coronation in June 1953 was broadcast on television. Millions of people - many of them for the first time - gathered around television screens to watch Queen Elizabeth II take her oath. Queen Elizabeth II in the library at Sandringham Palace after her first televised address to the nation on Christmas Day

1963 The Queen returns to Buckingham Palace in side saddle after attending a military parade. Elizabeth attended the Trooping the Color ceremony in honor of the monarch's birthday every year of her reign, except once in 1955, when it had to be canceled due to a general railway strike. The Queen began traveling in carriage in 1987. England football captain Bobby Moore holds the Jules Rimet Trophy, presented to him by the Queen, after his team's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup final at Wembley Stadium in 1966. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II officially invested her son, Prince Charles, with the Prince of Wales Crown in a ceremony at Caernarvon Castle. He actually accepted the title at the age of nine, but the Queen insisted that the ceremony be delayed until he was fully aware of its significance.
Queen Elizabeth II walks in Portsmouth during Silver Jubilee celebrations
In 1977, the Queen celebrated her 25th anniversary on the throne with a large-scale tour of Britain - she visited 36 counties in 10 weeks. She also traveled around the world, covering a total of 56 thousand miles (more than 90 thousand kilometers). Queen Elizabeth II with a Jersey cow given to her at an exhibition at Le Petit Catel in the parish of St. John on the island of Jersey. During her reign, the Queen was given an impressive number of animals, including a canary from Germany, jaguars and sloths from Brazil, two black beavers from the Seychelles and an elephant named Jumbo from Cameroon. All of them were placed in the London Zoo.
Official photograph of the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince and Princess of Wales after Harry's christening ceremony in 1984. The Queen has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Badaling site of the Great Wall of China on the third day of their state visit to the country in 1986. No British monarch had ever visited mainland China, let alone visited the wall, so this royal visit was historic.

Queen Elizabeth II inspects Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992. She called this year “annus horribilis” (terrible year), since at the same time Princess Anne divorced her husband and the Duke and Duchess of York, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, separated. In this extraordinary photograph, the Queen, under the supervision of Chief Instructor Lieutenant George Harvey, fires an SA80 machine gun during a visit to the Army Rifle Association in Bisley. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, royal family was criticized for the muted official response to her death. The Queen was accused of indifference and isolation from the mood of society. This outburst of anger shocked Elizabeth, and she acknowledged that "lessons must be learned from her life and the extraordinary reaction of society to her death." The Prince of Wales leaves St George's Chapel in Windsor after his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. Queen Elizabeth II attended the religious part of the wedding, but did not attend the secular ceremony. At the wedding reception, the Queen told guests that her son had "found his happiness with the woman he loves."
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh are celebrating their 60th diamond wedding anniversary by visiting Broadlands Estate in Hampshire, where they went after their wedding in November 1947. By 17:30 on September 9, 2015, Elizabeth II had reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes. On this day, she broke the record of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. While in Scotland, she thanked many well-wishers at home and abroad for "their touching messages of kindness". She traveled with Prince Philip on a steam-powered train from Edinburgh to the village of Tweedbank, where she officially opened the new Scottish railway.

Quotes:

“I declare before you that my entire life, whether long or short, will be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” – Queen Elizabeth II

“It’s all about training: you can do a lot if you’re trained properly.” Queen Elizabeth II

"Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentrics, impetuous and wayward young men and family discord." – Queen Elizabeth II:

“I cannot lead you into battle. I give you no laws and I do not administer justice, but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." – Queen Elizabeth II.