From 6 February 1952 until her death, Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and of 14 other sovereign nations. Her seventy years and seven months was the longest of any British queen.
Born at Mayfair, London, Elizabeth was the first child of Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth).
Elizabeth’s father became the heir presumptive in 1936 when his brother King Edward VIII abdicated from the throne. She started working for the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War after receiving individual instruction at home.
She wed former Greek and Danish prince Philip Mountbatten in November 1947; their marriage lasted 73 years till his death in April 2021.
Together they produced four children: Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Anne, Princess Royal; Charles, King of the United Kingdom; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Queen Elizabeth as a baby.
Elizabeth, then 25 years old, became queen regnant of seven sovereign Commonwealth nations—the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (known now as Sri Lanka) as well as Head of the Commonwealth after her father passed away in February 1952.
Through significant political events such the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, African decolonization, and the United Kingdom’s admission to the European Communities and departure from the European Union, Elizabeth ruled as a constitutional queen.
Her domains changed throughout time as some countries became republics and others acquired their freedom. Her many historical trips and encounters include visits to or from five popes, state trips to China in 1986, Russia in 1994, and the Republic of Ireland in 2011.
Important occasions include Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively.
Elizabeth was the second-longest verifiable ruling sovereign king in world history, the oldest and longest-serving incumbent head of state, and the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch.
Buckingham Palace said on September 8, 2022, that the Queen was under medical observation in Balmoral following doctor concerns.
“Following additional evaluation this morning,” the statement said, “the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have advised she remain under medical supervision.” The Queen is still at Balmoral and comfortable.
Travelling to be with the Queen were her four children, her daughters-in-law, Prince William and Prince Harry. Then that evening, her death was verified.
Queen Elizabeth in 1927. Queen Elizabeth in 1930.
Queen Elizabeth in 1933.Queen Elizabeth in 1934.
Queen Elizabeth in 1935.Queen Elizabeth in 1939.Queen Elizabeth in 1936.Queen Elizabeth in 1935. Queen Elizabeth in 1943.She received an honorary Bachelor’s degree in music from London University in 1946.Queen Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten in 1947.
The royal newly-weds, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, acknowledge the cheers of the crowd as they drove from Buckingham Palace to Waterloo Station in London on Nov. 20, 1947. Later they left by special Royal Train from platform 11 bound for Winchester. Their honeymoon is being spent at Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire, at Earl Mountbatten’s home. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, wave to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, in this Nov. 20, 1947 photo, after their wedding. From left to right, King George VI, Princess Margaret, Lady Mary Cambridge, the bride and bridegroom, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary.H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh pose with Royal guests at Buckingham Palace in London, England, after their wedding on Nov. 20, 1947.Britain’s Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh walk down the aisle of Westminster Abbey, London, on Nov. 20, 1947, after their wedding service. They are followed by Prince Michael of Kent and Prince William of Gloucester holding the bridal train, the eight bridesmaids and then the bestman the Marquess of Milford Haven.This is the first image of the royal newly-weds H.RH. British Princess Elizabeth – Duchess of Edinburgh, and H.RH. Prince Philip – Duke of Edinburgh, in the grounds of Broadlands (the home of Earl Mountbatten, governer-general of India), at Ramsey, Hampshire, where they are spending their honeymoon, November 23, 1947. The royal couple are looking at photographs of their wedding which was held at Westminster Abbey, November 20, 1947.Princess Margaret (left), the future Queen Elizabeth II (third from left) and the Queen Mother (third from right) with the Grenadier guards on the occasion of Princess Elizabeth’s birthday, 1942.Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with a well-wisher while standing next to the General and Governor of Bermuda, Sir Alexander Hood, 1961.Queen Elizabeth II prepares to speak at University of the West Indies, Jamaica, 1953.Queen Elizabeth II watches a University of Maryland vs. University of North Carolina football game at Maryland’s Byrd Stadium during her 1957 official visit to the United States.Queen Elizabeth with Prince Charles and Elizabeth II at Princess Margaret’s wedding, 1960.
(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / AP / Flicker / Pinterest / Britannica / Life Magazine)
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