The love story of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Elizabeth II - biography, information, personal life Grandchildren of the English Queen Elizabeth 2

Elizabeth II Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor , Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis. In all of these countries, except the United Kingdom, she is represented by governors-general appointed by her.

In addition, Elizabeth II also rules the British Overseas Territories, but not as their queen, but as the queen of the United Kingdom.

Chairman of the Commonwealth of Nations, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Lord of the Isle of Man, Supreme Steward of the Church of England, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Normandy.

Formally, Elizabeth II is the most powerful monarch in the world.

Place of Birth. Education. Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926 in the London district of Mayfair at the residence of the Earl of Strathmore at Brewton Street, house number 17 in the family of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, the Duchess of York (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Mother) . Her christening in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace was performed by Cosmo Langa, Archbishop of York on May 29 of that year. The princess' godparents were: George V, Queen Mary, Princess Mary, Earl of Strathmore, Duke of Connaught and Lady Elphinstone. She received her names in honor of her mother, Queen Alesandra - her paternal great-grandmother and Queen Mary - grandmother. In the family, she was called by the affectionate name "Lilibet" (Lilibet).

As the king's granddaughter in the male line, she received the title of British princess and was called - Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York. At the time of her birth, she was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, the Prince of Wales and her father, the Duke of York, and her younger brother, the Prince of Wales. At that time, no one considered her a future queen.

She grew up surrounded by the love and care of her family. The future queen was educated at home, mainly with a humanitarian focus. Her governess was Marion Crawford, known as "Crawfie". She studied history under S. G. K. Merten of Eton and studied modern languages, especially French. Religious instruction was provided by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Heir to the Throne. On December 11, 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated and Elizabeth's father became king, he took the name George VI. Thus, Princess Elizabeth became the heiress presumptive, and if George VI had a son, he would have inherited the throne.

World War II began when Princess Elizabeth was thirteen years old. She and her younger sister Margaret were evacuated to Windsor. Plans were also being made to evacuate the princesses to Canada, but their mother, Queen Elizabeth, is known to have stated: "Children can't go anywhere without me, I will never leave the king, and the king will never leave his country.! » . At the time, the Princess was organizing pantomimes with the children of the Royal Household staff at Windsor, and in 1940 she made her first radio address during the BBC Children's Hour, in which she addressed evacuated children. At the age of thirteen, she met Philip Mountbatten, a cadet at the Dortmund Naval School, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece, and fell in love with him. They corresponded constantly during his service in the Royal Navy.

In 1945, Elizabeth was able to persuade her father to allow her to make her direct contribution to the victory. She joined the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" - Women's Self-Defense Squads, where she was known as No. 230873 Lieutenant Elizabeth Windsor, and trained as a driver. She was trained as an ambulance driver and received the military rank of lieutenant. Her military service lasted five months. This was the first time in the history of the royal family that a woman served in a military unit.

Elizabeth made her first foreign visit in 1947, when she visited South Africa with her father. In honor of her coming of age, which came when she was 21 years old, she made a radio address to the commonwealth and empire with the words: "I proclaim before you that all my life,be it longorshort, shouldAbe dedicatedAserving you and our great imperial seveneto which we all belong".

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

The coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. This was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and is credited with having contributed significantly to the rise of television broadcasting.

After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, British colonies and other countries of the world. Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

Residence. The Queen's official residence is Buckingham Palace, but she reportedly prefers Windsor Castle. In addition, her residences are the Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh, Balmoral and Sandringham Palace.

Popularity. Today, the Queen is one of the most popular faces in the UK. According to the latest polls, it is supported by about 80% of citizens. Although Princess Diana's case shook the Queen's popularity and the authority of the monarchy for a while, in the long run, according to public opinion studies, it did not affect her.

Length of reign. From 5:30 pm on September 9, 2015, Elizabeth II became the second longest-reigning monarch in British history. Longer than her, the crown belonged only to Queen Victoria, who ruled the country for 63 years, 226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes from 1837 to 1901.

Visits. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige as the Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively in her possessions, and also happens in other countries of the world.

In February 1961, she visited Turkey at the invitation of President Kemal Gürsel, and later India and Pakistan for the first time. Elizabeth II visited most European countries and many non-European ones. In 2011, she became the first British monarch to visit independent Ireland.

She has more than 325 foreign visits to her credit (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries).

role in government. Formally, the Queen has legislative, executive and judicial power in the states she leads, but in fact her role is rather ceremonial due to the fact that she always acts on the advice of the Cabinet of Ministers, and most often appoints the chairman of the party who wins the election as prime minister. .

British premiers meet with the Queen on a weekly basis, which is taken very seriously. One of the prime ministers even said that he prepares more seriously for meetings with the queen than for parliamentary meetings, because the queen is aware of most issues. In addition, the Queen has regular meetings with other Commonwealth ministers and prime ministers when they are in the UK. Also, during her stay in Scotland, she meets with the First Minister of Scotland. British ministries and diplomatic missions send her regular reports.

Although it is customary that the queen does not interfere in politics, but because 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, Margaret Thatcher wrote about her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth : “Everyone who thinks that they [meetings] are a mere formality or social convention is deeply mistaken. In fact, they are held in a relaxed business atmosphere, and Her Majesty always demonstrates her ability to cover a wide range of issues and her wide experience.

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

Interests. From a young age, Elizabeth was interested in horses and was engaged in horseback riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades. The Queen's interests include dog breeding (including Corgis, Spaniels and Labradors), photography, horseback riding, and travel. I have been gardening since 2009.

Family. At the age of thirteen, she met Philip Mountbatten, a cadet at the Dortmund Naval School, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece, and fell in love with him. They corresponded constantly during his service in the Royal Navy. On the eve of the wedding with the princess, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. On 20 November 1947, she married the Duke of Edinburgh, Philip (born Prince of Greece and Denmark), who is her fourth cousin (they are both great-great-grandsons of King Christian IX of Denmark) and he is also a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

On November 14, 1948, she gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles. Earlier, by a special open letter, the king granted the right to the children of the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh to be called princes. On August 15, 1950, their second child, Princess Anne, was born.

On February 19, 1960, the Queen's third child was born - Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and on March 10, 1964 - Prince Edward, Earl of Essex.

Queen Elizabeth II of England was born on April 21, 1926 in London. The birth of a charming baby did not cause a stir at court. No one could have imagined that this young creature would eventually occupy the royal throne. At that time, Elizabeth's grandfather George V reigned. The eldest son Edward was considered the heir to the throne. The girl's father was Prince Albert, the second son of the king. He did not even think that he would become a crowned person. Everyone thought that the eldest son would soon marry, acquire heirs and, after the death of his father, assume royal duties.

Lilibet, as everyone called Elizabeth in childhood, loved her grandfather very much, and he paid her reciprocal affection, although by nature he was a very harsh and tough person. The king had no good feelings for his sons. He brought them up in the Spartan style and often went too far. The result of such upbringing was the stuttering of the girl's father, from which he never got rid of until the end of his life.

But for the little female creature, George V had the most tender feelings. He not only loved his granddaughter, but adored him, which proved to those around him that even in a cruel and callous soul there will always be a bright corner capable of sincere and pure love.

George V left the mortal world on January 20, 1936 at the age of 70. He reigned for 24 years and proved himself to be a wise politician who cares about the good of the nation.

King George VI, his wife Elizabeth and their daughters: Elizabeth (right) and Margaret

The throne rightfully passed to Edward. He became Edward VIII, but was never crowned. The man was unable to put the heavy burden of the monarch on his shoulders. He entangled with a twice-divorced lady named Wallis Simpson (1896-1986). She married a military pilot in 1916, but he began to beat her, and in 1927 Wallace ran away from him.

She moved to London and hooked up with a businessman named Ernst Simpson. She married him in 1928. In 1931, Wallace met the heir to the throne at a party with close friends. But the love affair of this couple began only in 1934. The feeling was so strong that Simpson divorced her husband. Edward responded with no less strong love. In order not to part with Wallace, he abdicated.

All these heartfelt affairs, casting an unsightly shadow on the representatives of the Windsor dynasty, brought Elizabeth's father Albert Frederick to the English throne. He was crowned on May 12, 1937 under the name of George VI.

The new king had no sons. Therefore, Henry's younger brother was declared heir to the throne. But he flatly refused such an honorary role in favor of Elizabeth. Thus, at the age of 11, our heroine became the legitimate heir to the royal throne of one of the most powerful countries in the world.

During the Second World War, the future Queen of England worked as a simple driver in an ambulance.

In 1939 the Second World War began. The girls at that time were 13 years old. In 1940, on October 13, she spoke on the radio with an appeal to the children who suffered during the German bombing. And at the age of 18 she received the rights of an ambulance driver. Until the last days of the war, the future Queen of England turned the steering wheel, transporting sick and wounded soldiers.

As a very young girl, Elizabeth fell in love once and for the rest of her life. She met her future betrothed just before the war at the Royal Naval Academy. The king, along with both daughters (the youngest daughter Margaret), arrived in it to talk with the cadets.

It was within the walls of this institution that the heir to the English throne saw the Greek Prince Philip. He was listed as one of the cadets, and was 5 years older than Elizabeth. The young people talked for only a couple of hours, but this time was enough for Elizabeth to fall in love with the young man seriously and for a long time.

Prince Philip had the most brilliant pedigree. He was the grandson of the Greek and great-grandson of the Danish king, as well as the great-great-grandson of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. But after the revolution in Greece, the prince had nothing but a title. His mother ended her days in a psychiatric hospital, and his father fell ill with gambling. England sheltered a poor child and placed him at the Royal Naval College so that the boy would receive a decent profession and be able to earn his daily bread.

It can be seen from the above that Philip was not a match for Elizabeth. At least that's what the royal court thought. But the girl showed amazing perseverance and perseverance. Throughout the war, she wrote letters to the young officer, while he fought bravely on the destroyer.

Immediately after the end of hostilities, the heir to the throne offered the Greek prince to get engaged, trampling all existing norms and conventions. On November 20, 1947, the wedding took place at Westminster Abbey.

It was a difficult time after the war. Elizabeth had to sell some jewelry to make herself a wedding dress. Products from Australia were sent for the wedding cake. The cake turned out luxurious, 3 meters high. He was not cut with knives, but chopped with sabers. Guests got only a small piece. Everything else was sent to schools and hospitals.

At the end of January 1952, the happy young couple went on vacation to Kenya. The couple lived at the Tree Tops Hotel. It was located among the branches of a huge ficus. On February 7, an entry appeared in the registration book: "For the first time in the history of human civilization, a princess climbed a tree, and descended from it as a queen."

The reason for the recording was the death of George VI. He died on the night of 5/6 February. Elizabeth automatically became Queen of England. In many countries of the world, headlines in large print appeared on the front pages of newspapers: “The King is Dead, Long Live the Queen.”

Queen Elizabeth II of England walks around the guard of honor after taking the throne

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England took place in Westminster Abbey (the traditional place for the coronation of British monarchs) on June 2, 1953, that is, a year and 5 months after the death of George VI. But the official day of accession to the throne is February 6, 1952.

The husband was not crowned. He was the first to swear allegiance to his queen and was forced to leave the fleet. Now his presence was required at all official ceremonies of the royal court.

Private life with Philip did not turn out to be like a fairy tale. In his youth, the husband often made various politically incorrect and rather tactless statements. So in New Guinea, he asked a passerby: “Listen, my dear, how have you not been eaten here yet?”

In China, he casually remarked to an English tourist, "Look, don't stay here too long or your eyes will narrow." In Paraguay, at a meeting with the bloody dictator Stroessner, Philip said: "It's amazingly nice to be in a country that is not ruled by the people."

There was gossip at court about Prince Philip's love affair with Elizabeth's cousin. They talked about illegitimate children from various women. The Queen of England did everything to stop such rumors. Over the years, the prince calmed down. Age and health began to make themselves felt.

Queen Elizabeth II of England and her daily routine

All the days of the Queen of England look alike like twins. Her Majesty wakes up at exactly 8 am. Such an important task is entrusted to the maid. She brings a tray of tea into the royal chambers. In this case, the handle of the cup is always directed to the right, the spoon on the saucer lies strictly diagonally.

After placing the tray, the maid opens the curtains. Sunlight penetrates the bedroom, and gentle rays touch the face of the crowned person. At the same time, the royal dogs, who came from a walk, joyfully run into the bedroom. This is a corgi. There are four of them: Linnet, Willow, Holly and Monty.

Queen Elizabeth II of England with her beloved dogs

The queen drinks morning tea, communicates with dogs, and at this time the maid fills the bath. Her Majesty takes water procedures, and at 9 o'clock leaves the bedroom and heads to the dining room. Here the Queen of England Elizabeth II has breakfast.

The morning meal is very modest. Toast, spread with butter and the thinnest layer of marmalade, and a cup of tea. During breakfast, the crowned lady looks through the newspapers. These are The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sporting Life. In the latest newspaper, she looks at the section on horse racing. Her Majesty loves this sport. She is well versed in horses and owns several magnificent horses herself.

At 10 o'clock the Queen of England begins her working day. She sits in her office and looks through the letters that come to her from all over the world. The information in the letters is very different. Someone asks for help, someone asks for recipes for original dishes that were served at the royal table at the last official banquet.

Then comes the turn of state papers requiring the royal signature. This is a mandatory formality, although the Queen's opinion is never asked by the Cabinet of Ministers. Elizabeth II can express her point of view on some issue, but it will not be decisive.

From 11 o'clock Her Majesty receives officials. These are diplomats, judges, ministers. Each of them, entering, kneels on one knee and takes the right hand of the queen with his right hand. Touches her lips and then gets to his feet. Such a ceremony lasts at least 2 hours. All this time the queen stands. There is no way for her to sit down and rest.

At the end of such a physically demanding event, it's time for lunch. Queen Elizabeth II of England eats sandwiches with salmon, cucumbers or chicken. Leftover food is used the next day. They can go for casserole or pie. Half-eaten foods are never given to dogs.

After lunch, a short rest and an official reception. Dinner starts at 20:15. The whole family gathers at the table. In England, the evening meal is always heavy. It is very rare for Her Majesty to have dinner alone. This is when all members of the royal family leave on business trips.

After dinner, the queen watches TV shows, and goes to bed closer to midnight. Elizabeth II has been living such a measured life for almost 60 years.

Scandals in the royal family

Queen Elizabeth II of England has four children. These are Prince Charles (born 1948), Prince Andrew (born 1960), Princess Anne (born 1950), Prince Edward (born 1964). The upbringing of children was mainly done by the father, since the queen always had many important state affairs.

Family of Elizabeth II, 1972. From left to right Anna, Charles, Edward, Andrew, Elizabeth, Philip

The biggest trouble brought the eldest son Charles. In 1970, he imprudently fell in love with a lady named Camilla. The girl was of noble blood, but despised the conventions of high society. She swore, smoked, drank whiskey, and changed lovers from time to time. All this was considered the height of indecency. But poor Charles, having a soft and romantic nature, fell under the influence of this cynical, strong-willed and impudent person.

The poor fellow even made a marriage proposal, but got a turn from the gate. Camilla married officer Andrew Parker-Bowles. But after 6 years of family life, there was a discord in relation to the spouses. Camilla again began to favorably accept Charles' advances. This did not escape the attention of the royal court.

Elizabeth II in the center, Sister Margaret on the left, Queen Mother on the right

The queen and her husband, seeing that their son was being impudently and shamelessly seduced, began to urgently look for a wife for him. Very opportunely turned up Diana Spencer (1961-1997). A girl of noble blood and with an excellent pedigree. She was a virgin, which was a prerequisite for the bride of the heir to the throne. The wedding was played on July 29, 1981. In 1982 and 1984, Princess Diana gave birth to two sons.

The marriage for Charles was very successful. His wife was passionately loved not only by England, but by the whole world. Diana possessed amazing charm, purity and spontaneity. But male stupidity knows no bounds. The heir to the throne continued to meet with Camilla. Soon the wife found out about this connection. The couple divorced in 1996, but have been separated since 1992.

Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II of England is seated to the left. In the center sits Princess Diana with her son William, on the right is the queen mother. Prince Charles and Philip are standing

This divorce dealt a serious blow to the prestige of the royal family. England was on the side of the deceived Diana. The situation was aggravated by the tragic death of this amazing woman in 1997. It was rumored that Prince Charles was involved in the death. Allegedly, on his orders, the attackers cut the brake hoses of the car in which the princess was traveling. But the official investigation completely dismissed such rumors.

In 1992, the marriages of Anna and Andrew broke up. True, there were no high-profile scandals around these 2 events. Everything went quietly and imperceptibly, but left an unpleasant aftertaste in the souls of the British. Still, the royal family should be a model in every respect. For several years, subjects met Elizabeth II with cold silence. She pretended not to notice anything. Although it is not difficult to imagine what was going on in her soul.

Charles with Camilla and Elizabeth II

Gradually, the British withdrew in spirit and fell in love with their queen again. Even the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla in 2005 could no longer undermine the authority of the Queen of England. Still, after the death of Princess Diana, many years have passed, and people have a very short memory.

Currently, Kate Middleton, the wife of William, is very popular with the British: the eldest son from the marriage of Princess Diana and Charles. Elizabeth II herself warmly treats the girl. Rumor has it that the queen wants to change the rules of succession and appoint William as her heir. After all, the British do not like Prince Charles, and Camilla will never be recognized as their queen.

The customs of the royal court

The whole life of the royal court is a ritual. It has been practiced for hundreds of years. For example, Buckingham Palace has a dressmaker on staff. Her duties include darning socks and bedding. This does not mean at all that the queen does not have money for such trifles. A dressmaker costs much more than new socks and sets of underwear. It's just that the royal court pays tribute to tradition. About 500 years ago, fabric was very expensive, and crowned persons saved in a similar way. Times have changed, but the tradition remains. He is not the only one in the royal palace.

The liveries worn by the servants were made 200 years ago. Each new employee is given an old uniform and adjusted to fit. The entire service staff consists of about 300 people. The staff includes personal pages, maids, ladies-in-waiting, keepers of silverware, royal purses. There are even pages of front and rear rooms.

During official receptions, a huge table is set. It is impossible to reach its middle. The lackeys wrap their boots in rags and climb onto the table with their feet. During the meal, the first course is served to the queen. She immediately starts eating. After that, the footmen serve the dishes to the guests. When the plate of the crowned person is empty, the servants immediately take away the plates from all those present. Many guests do not even have time to try what they were served.

However, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, canceled this not very kind custom. She declared that at her table no one should ever go hungry. But this is the only concession to ancient traditions.

As for the servants, they must walk around the palace, keeping to a narrow edge near the wall. If the queen or someone from the royal family comes towards you, the servants must hide somewhere. It can be some kind of closet, a closet in the wall, that is, any shelter that is nearby. Seeing the queen, noble ladies should squat, and men bow.

These traditions have been strictly observed for centuries. For people, they are not at all a burden. On the contrary, there are many who want to serve at the royal palace. But all positions, as a rule, are inherited. From an early age, children absorb the unique atmosphere of the royal palace and jealously protect its traditions and customs. It seems that time itself freezes within the walls, which for hundreds of years have been protecting the reigning persons from the vicissitudes of the external, changeable and so unpredictable world.

Elizabeth II short biography of the Queen of Great Britain since 1952. He is the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Elizabeth 2 short biography

Elizabeth II comes from the Windsor dynasty.
She was born on April 21, 1926 in London to Prince Albert (better known as King George VI) and Elizabeth Bowles-Lyon.

She grew up surrounded by love and warmth and received an excellent home education. Already at the age of 13, she met her future husband, Prince Philip, who was the son of A. Glucksburg and a descendant of Queen Victoria. In 1947, the young people got married. From childhood, Elizabeth was brought up as a real princess. The best teachers and private teachers worked with her, who taught her horse riding, the basics of etiquette and many other disciplines, the knowledge of which was a necessary condition for her family members. During the Second World War, she served in the military and mastered the profession of a truck driver. She completed her service with the rank of junior commander. Starting in 1944, her father introduced Elizabeth to the course of state affairs and introduced her to the monarchs.

After the end of the Second World War, Elizabeth began to appear more often in public and speak to the citizens of Great Britain. In 1947, she delivered her legendary speech in which she promised to be faithful to her homeland and its peoples.

She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of twenty-five, after the death of her father, King George VI. The coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch.

After her ascension to the throne, Queen Elizabeth II actively participated in the political life of her country, as well as many other states. Immediately after the coronation, Elizabeth made a 6-month tour of the states, countries and colonies under the influence of Great Britain. As befits the head of the royal house, she received representatives of foreign delegations at Windsor Castle, and also actively worked on its reconstruction after the royal palace was badly damaged by fire.

At the moment, Elizabeth 2 remains one of the main symbols of England and the whole of Great Britain. Being in power for more than 65 years, she was able to strengthen the authority of the British monarchy, as well as become a real role model for millions of Britons.

From her marriage to Philip Mountbatten, she has four children, the eldest of whom, Prince Charles, is the current heir to the English throne.
To date, Queen Elizabeth has eight grandchildren, as well as three great-grandchildren. The youngest great-grandson of our today's heroine, George, was born in the middle of 2013.

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 the history of Great Britain. She comes from the Windsor dynasty and, in addition to her native island, is recognized as a queen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and eight other small countries. During the reign of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the final disintegration of the British Empire and the exit of the colonies from under English rule came. Despite the rather impressive criticism, Elizabeth II is quite popular in her native country.

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

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

Elizabeth II with her parents moves to a luxurious castle - Buckingham Palace, where she spends her childhood and youth. Elizabeth II studied at home, but received an excellent liberal arts education. She studied art, religion, law and, specifically, the British Constitution at a high level. 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 spoke on the radio and expressed her support for the children who were affected by the bombing. At the age of 16, the girl already appears in public on her own, and a year later she becomes a state adviser and joins the women's self-defense squad. The princess learned to drive an ambulance, was trained as a mechanic and rose to the rank of lieutenant. She is the only head of state who served in real service 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 succession to the crown was still in doubt. After the death of his 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 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. Then the empire included South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later abolished British rule. Interestingly, Elizabeth II almost immediately paid a visit to each of the countries, becoming the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

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

During the long reign of Great Britain, both praise and sharp criticism were heard against Elizabeth. But both supporters and opponents of the queen emphasize the queen's humanity. An indicative fact is the events of 1986. Elizabeth II sailed on her yacht "Britain" to one of her subordinate countries when she learned about the beginning of the civil war in Yemen. She immediately ordered a change in course and take on board the maximum possible number of ordinary people. Thanks to the direct assistance of the English Queen Elizabeth II, more than 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 is a unique case, because they saw each other for the last time 40 years ago: Justin was taken to an appointment with Elizabeth II by his father when the boy was 3 years old. At the meeting, the queen said: "It's 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 is 152 cm tall and weighs 55 kg.

Personal life

The personal life of Elizabeth II changed immediately after coming of age. The princess married an officer in the British Navy, who after the marriage received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Elizabeth 2 is a descendant of Queen Victoria and the offspring of the Greek and Danish royal dynasties. They met when the future Queen Elizabeth II was eight years old, and a 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 the mother's accession to the British throne. The family tree of the British royal family continues to grow: the children have long acquired their own families and gave the reigning queen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the family of Elizabeth II was and, the first wife of Prince Charles and mother and. One of the strongest waves of criticism swept over Elizabeth II when she reacted with an obvious delay in a car accident.

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite hobbies are breeding purebred dogs and horseback riding. With age, she replaced horses with cars, and even today she drives herself. By the way, the queen does not have a driver's license. Even at an advanced 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, stamps and coins are issued, a variety of roses is even named after the monarch.

Often Elizabeth II becomes a character in movies. The queen was portrayed on the screen, and a dozen more actresses. And once Queen Elizabeth II herself starred in a promo video for the opening of the London 2012 Olympics. Together with the actor who portrayed, 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 as the best performer of the role.

Royals are banned from social media accounts. However, the royal family has a person who monitors their official " Instagram" And " Twitter”, where he uploads photos and records with the permission of the highest authority.

It is known that a whole team is working on the Queen's wardrobe. Experts suggest that Elizabeth's favorite color is blue-blue. It was in clothes of this shade that a woman most often appeared in public. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the color of the eyes of Elizabeth II is blue. Designers have always noted the elegance and refined taste of the monarch.

Despite her age, Elizabeth II prefers to do without makeup and usually only wears lipstick. The woman paints herself.

The queen has a collection of hats. There are more than 5,000 of these headdresses in Elizabeth's arsenal. Moreover, in public, the monarch appeared in each of them.

In 2016, a documentary film about Elizabeth II was released on the occasion of the Queen's 90th birthday. Director John Bridcutt was allowed to look into the personal video chronicle of the royal family.

Elizabeth II now

In January 2017, the 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 services.

In June, the monarch delivered a speech from the throne in Parliament. Elizabeth II presented the government's program for the next two years.

In September, Queen Elizabeth II said she planned to wait until Russia was ruled by someone other than "Mr. Putin." 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 there will come a time when the Russians will again look at the British with a breath.

In December, the Queen participated in a hunting trip at the country residence of Sandringham. Sources said that when the dog brought a wounded pheasant to the feet of the monarch, Elizabeth II did not lose her head 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 appointed on May 19, 2018. However, Queen Elizabeth II did not give consent to the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for a long time, and according to the law governing the marriages of royal people, before the triumph, 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 married.

And on May 19, 2018, the whole world watched the royal celebration. 600 guests were invited to the wedding, among whom were both, 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 the spouses seek to acquire 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, members of the British Commonwealth and recognizing the authority of the British crown, are located on this site.

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

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

That same month, the Queen's cousin Ivar Mountbatten announced that he was going to marry boyfriend James Coyle. Two years ago, a man made a real commotion 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 is Penny who will lead Ivar to the altar. The woman immediately found a common language with Mountbatten's lover. This will be the first same-sex marriage for the royal family.

On July 13, 2018, the Queen is scheduled to meet with the President of the United States. 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 happened 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 the queen's son loved Camilla Shand all his life. However, the monarchs were against the marriage of their son 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, the recordings of a telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla were presented to the public. From the words that the lovers said to each other, the royals "withered their ears."

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

After the tragic death of Princess Diana, there were those who blamed Prince Chalza for what had happened. 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. Future parents, and rested in a private villa in France. The couple thought they were alone on the beach, and calmly walked there either in bathing suits or without any clothes at all. At this moment, the paparazzi lens caught the husband and wife.

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 often began to visit dubious institutions. It was rumored that the closest relative of the ruler was addicted to cocaine. Then she married an unloved man, whom she left after 18 years. In marriage and after, 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 beloved. But this did not happen.

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

In 2016, there were rumors that the Queen planned to abdicate in favor of Prince William and Kate Middleton, bypassing Prince Charles. But the rumors remained just 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 were invited to dinner. John came to visit Elizabeth II with a gift: a man handed his photo portrait to the monarch. 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 with the queen, but she warmly greeted the wife of the president 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 the 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 wished to talk with Gagarin, calling the man for breakfast. Contrary to protocol, Elizabeth II sat the astronaut next to her and asked questions of interest. Those present noted that the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.

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

Interestingly, no one except her husband has the right to touch the queen in public. And Elizabeth II never raises her voice and does not give interviews.