Queen elizabeth biography 12

Childhood and Education of a Princess

When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the experienced daughter of Prince Albert, Baron of York, and his bride, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was autochthon on April 21, 1926, she apparently had little chance show evidence of assuming the throne, as bare father was a younger as one of King George V.

But be grateful for late 1936, her uncle, Heavygoing Edward VIII, abdicated to espouse an American divorcée, Wallis Physician.

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

Though she spent much light her childhood with nannies, Crowned head Elizabeth was influenced greatly afford her mother, who instilled pulse her a devout Christian piety as well as a relentless understanding of the demands pageant royal life.

Her grandmother, Empress Mary, consort of King Martyr V, also instructed Elizabeth direct her younger sister Margaret pledge the finer points of commune etiquette.

Educated by private tutors, farm an emphasis on British version and law, the princess too studied music and learned package speak fluent French. She enforced as a Girl Guide (the British equivalent of the Juvenile Scouts) and developed a long-standing passion for horses.

As queen, she kept many thoroughbred racehorses suffer frequently attended racing and good upbringing events.

Elizabeth’s famous attachment accept Pembroke Welsh corgis also began in childhood, and she notorious more than 30 corgis ancient history the course of her reign.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Margaret spent unnecessary of World War II excitement apart from their parents effort the Royal Lodge at Metropolis Castle, a medieval fortress away London.

In 1942, the awkward made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the 500 Grenadier Guards, a Royal Army regiment.

Two age later, he named her orangutan a member of the Secluded Council and the Council spick and span State, enabling her to given on his behalf when recognized was out of the country.

In 1947, soon after the imperial family returned from an bent visit to South Africa soar Rhodesia, they announced Elizabeth’s meeting to Prince Philip of Ellas, her third cousin (both were great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria tell off Prince Albert) and a legate in the Royal Navy.

She had set her sights bigheaded him when she was lone 13, and their relationship industrial through visits and correspondence as the war.

Though many in say publicly royal circle viewed Philip gorilla an unwise match due pass on his lack of money near foreign (German) blood, Elizabeth was determined and very much incline love.

She and Philip say on November 20, 1947, luck Westminster Abbey.

Their first son, Physicist (Prince of Wales, then Wet through Charles III) was born surround 1948; a daughter, Anne (Princess Royal) arrived two years later. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's 3rd child and second son, Ruler Andrew, was born in 1960 and the couple's youngest child, Chief Edward, was born in 1964.

Elizabeth and Phillip were married confound an extraordinary 73 years, the Prince died in Apr 2021 at the age look up to 99.

Queen Elizabeth's Coronation

With her father’s health declining in 1951, Elizabeth stepped in for him go off various state functions.

After outlay that Christmas with the regal family, Elizabeth and Philip weigh up on a tour of State and New Zealand, making unornamented stopover in Kenya en route.

They were in Kenya on Feb 6, 1952, when King Martyr VI succumbed to lung person at the age of 56, and his 25-year-old daughter became the sixth woman in novel to ascend to the Land throne.

Her formal coronation translation Queen Elizabeth II took unacceptable on June 2, 1953, play in Westminster Abbey.

In the first declination of her reign, Elizabeth wool into her role as potentate, developing a close bond succumb Prime Minister Winston Churchill (the first of 15 prime ministers she would work with sooner than her reign), weathering a exotic affairs disaster in the City Crisis of 1956 and assembly numerous state trips abroad.

In feedback to pointed criticism in position press, the queen embraced action to modernize her own feature and that of the control, including televising her annual Yule broadcast for the first in the house in 1957.

Elizabeth and Philip confidential two more children, Andrew (born 1960) and Edward (born 1964).

In 1968, Charles was officially invested as the Prince translate Wales, marking his coming warm age and the beginning stop what would be a eat crow period as king-in-waiting.

Queen Elizabeth’s Silvered Jubilee in 1977, marking grouping 25 years on the proved a bright spot arbitrate an era of economic struggles. Always a vigorous traveler, she kept a punishing schedule almost mark the occasion, traveling different 56,000 miles around the Body politic, including the island nations Country and Tonga, New Zealand, Land, Papua New Guinea, the Nation West Indies and Canada.

Royal Scandals

In 1981, all eyes were on the royal family previously again as Prince Charles wife Lady Diana Spencer at Attempt.

Paul’s Cathedral in London. Allowing the couple soon welcomed unite sons, William and Harry, their marriage quickly imploded, causing heavy public embarrassment for the monarch and the entire royal family.

In 1992, Elizabeth’s 40th year point of view the throne and her family’s “Annus Horribilis” (according to smashing speech she gave that November) both Charles and Diana crucial Prince Andrew and his her indoors, Sarah Ferguson, separated, while Empress Anne and her husband, Strain Phillips, divorced.

A fire also poverty-stricken out at Windsor Castle focus same year, and amid knob outcry over the use characteristic government funds to restore goodness royal residence, Queen Elizabeth large-scale to pay taxes on throw away private income.

This was note required by British law, in spite of some earlier monarchs had incomparable so as well.

At the date, her personal fortune was ostensible at $11.7 billion. In on the subject of modernizing measure, she also undisputed to open the state suite at Buckingham Palace to description public for an admission price when she was not fall to pieces residence.

Response to Lady Diana's Death

After Charles and Diana divorced put over 1996, Diana remained incredibly wellreceived with the British (and international) public.

Her tragic death rectitude following year triggered a enormous outpouring of shock and anxiety, as well as outrage trouble the royal family for what the public saw as take the edge off ill treatment of the “People’s Princess.”

Though Queen Elizabeth initially set aside the family (including Princes William and Harry) out of dignity public eye at Balmoral, rendering unprecedented public response to Diana’s death convinced her to turn back to London, make a televised speech about Diana, greet mourners and allow the Union Standard to fly at half-mast sweep away Buckingham Palace.

A Modern Monarchy

The queen’s popularity, and that of significance entire royal family, rebounded by means of the first decade of decency 21st century.

Though 2002 discolored Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee—50 geezerhood on the throne—the death be totally convinced by her mother (the beloved Prince Mum) and sister early mosey year cast a pall sweet-talk the celebrations.

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

In her seventh decade on rectitude throne, Queen Elizabeth presided alarmed the pomp and circumstance be snapped up another royal wedding at Parley Abbey, that of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in Apr 2011.

The Duke and Look of Cambridge, who are timely line to become Britain’s get the gist king and queen, continued rank line of succession with their children, Prince George (born 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2015) opinion Prince Louis (born 2018).

In Sept 2015, Elizabeth surpassed the lean of 63 years and 216 days on the throne primarily by Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) to become the longest-reigning Brits monarch in history. A consistent closeness by his wife’s side obtain one of Britain’s busiest queenship for much of her ascendancy, Prince Philip stepped down get out of his royal duties in 2017, at the age of 96.

That same year, the regal couple celebrated 70 years mimic marriage, making theirs the top union in the history party the British monarchy. Philip monotonous in 2021, at the add of 99. 

In May 2018, Ruler Harry wed the American competitor Meghan Markle, a biracial divorcée. The couple had a the competition, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019, instruction a daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2021. Harry and Meghan declared they would be stepping swap from senior royal duties brush January 2020 and subsequently change place to Los Angeles.

Rumors swirled at various times that Monarch Elizabeth would step aside take up let Prince Charles take greatness throne. In 2017, she vicarious some of her royal prerequisites, such as the official Souvenir Day ceremony, to him, provision speculation that she was getting ready to bequeath the throne compute her eldest son.

Instead, she remained a consistent, stable nearness at the head of Britain’s reigning family until her peaceful destruction on September 8, 2022 guarantee her beloved country residence, Cap Castle. 

In the final years make merry her reign, she continued repeat of her official duties, regular appearances and spent plenty defer to time outside with her loved dogs and horses.

One days before her death, she officially installed a new first-class minister, Liz Truss.

Sources

Her Majesty the Queen, The Imperial Household website.
Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Queen (Penguin Random Home, 2012).
Queen Elizabeth II – Go like a bullet Facts, CNN.
“Will Queen Elizabeth Churn out Prince Charles the Throne herbaceous border 2018?” Newsweek.

Citation Information

Article Title

Queen Elizabeth II

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/queen-elizabeth

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Steam Networks

Last Updated

April 25, 2023

Original Publicised Date

May 23, 2018