The Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain was the longest-reigning monarch of British history. She celebrated her 70th year as the throne’s holder in June 2022 when she celebrated the Platinum Jubilee.
Who Was Queen Elizabeth II?
Queen Elizabeth II was made the queen the 6th of February in 1952 and was married on June 2, 1953. The queen’s mother was Prince Charles, the heir to the throne as well as the grandma of princes William Harry and William Harry. The most long-living monarch of British historical records, her attempted to create a monarchy that was more contemporary and more responsive to the needs of the modern world as well as preserving the tradition of the crown.
Elizabeth passed away on September 8 2022, aged at 96.
Early Life
Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926 in London in the United Kingdom to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later known as King George VI) as well as Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
When she was born, at the time of her birth many people were unaware that Elizabeth would one day become the Queen of Great Britain. Elizabeth who was affectionately known as Lilibet was able to live the early years of her life and all the benefits of being a queen without the burden of being the hereditary heir.
Elizabeth’s parents split their time between their homes located in London as well as Royal Lodge, the family’s residence on the property of Windsor Great Park. Elizabeth as well as Margaret, her sister Margaret had to be taught at the home of tutors. The academic courses offered included French math, history and mathematics and singing, dancing and art lessons.
After the start of World War II in 1939, Elizabeth and her sister mostly stayed away from London after being transferred into Windsor Castle. From there , she gave some of the initial of her famed radio programs in the year 1940 in this particular broadcast, reassuring that children from Britain who were evicted from their families and homes. The 14-year-old princess, who displayed her calm and firm character and calm manner, assured her audience “that at the end of the day everything will be fine because God will be with us and grant us peace and victory.”
Elizabeth began to take on other public tasks. She was appointed colonel-in chief of the Grenadier Guards by her father, Elizabeth made her first public appearance in the public eye to check on soldiers in the year 1942. She also began accompanying the parents during official trips in Britain.
The year 1945 was the time that Elizabeth was a member of her first unit, the Auxiliary Territorial Service to assist in the efforts of the war. She worked side-by-side with fellow British women to become an expert mechanic and driver. While her time as a volunteer took a couple of months but it provided Elizabeth an insight into the world outside of the royal realm. Elizabeth had a different, memorable experience that was not associated with the monarchy as she as well as Margaret were able to mix in the crowds of citizens at Victory in Europe Day.
PHOTOS: Elizabeth’s Royal Childhood & Life Before Becoming Queen
Ascension to the Crown
In the year that Elizabeth’s great-grandfather George V died in 1936 the eldest son of George V (Elizabeth’s uncle) was crowned the King Edward VIII.. Edward however, fell in love with American divorcee Wallis Simpson and was forced to decide between his crown and his heart. In the final analysis, Edward chose Simpson and removed the crown.
The incident changed the direction of her life, giving her the title of presumed heir of the British crown. Her father was named the King George VII in 1937. He adopted his name George to show the continuity of his father. Her mother was later crowned Queen Elizabeth and on the death of King George at the age of 52, she was crowned the Queen Mother while her sister was the queen Elizabeth II.
PHOTOS: Queen Elizabeth II’s Historical Coronation
Elizabeth was named Queen Elizabeth II, on the 2nd of June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, at the age of 25.
Elizabeth took over the duties of the monarch on the 6th of February, 1952 the day her father was George VI, the King George VI, passed away. First the coronation was broadcast on television, allowing viewers around the world to be a part of the grand spectacle of the occasion.
Husband Prince Philip
Elizabeth got married to her relative Philip Mountbatten (a surname derived on the mother’s side) on the 20th of November 1947 in the London’s Westminster Abbey.
Elizabeth first was introduced to Philip who was the prince of Andrew of Greece at the age of only 13 years old. She was attracted to Philip from the beginning. They kept in touch throughout the years, and finally began to fall in love.
They were a unique pair. Elizabeth was reserved and quiet and Philip was loud and loud. His father the George VI, the King George VI was wary about the game because Mountbatten, though he was connected in both Danish as well as the Greek royal family, he was not a man of much wealth and was thought by some to be an unruly personality.
When they were planning they got married, Great Britain was still recovering from the destruction from World War II, and Elizabeth took advantage of coupons for clothing to buy fabrics for her dress.
The family adopted the name Windsor the move was pushed from her mom and the Prime Premier Winston Churchill which resulted in tensions with her husband. Then, in 1960 she reverted her the course and issued orders that her heirs who did not have the royal title (or required last names for legal reasons like weddings) were to use that surname, Mountbatten-Windsor. In the past, Philip inspired numerous public relations issues with his off the cuff remarks, controversial remarks and reports of possible infidelity.
Philip was killed on April 9th, 2021 aged 99.
Children
Elizabeth and Philip were quick in creating an heir. Son Charles was born in 1948 just after their wedding. Then, their daughter Anne was born in 1950. Elizabeth had two additional children, sons Andrew as well as Edward–in 1990 and 1964, respectively.
She declared Charles her successor, conferring the title the Prince of Wales. Many millions watched the ceremony live on television.
In 1981, 32-year old Charles got married to the 19 year old Diana Spencer (best known as Diana Spencer, better known as Diana) The couple had the possibility that he was forced to marry through his relatives. The wedding attracted huge crowds on the city streets London and millions of viewers watched the ceremony on TV. The public opinion about the monarchy was particularly high at that moment.
Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
Charles and Diana have given birth to the grandsons of Elizabeth Prince William and Prince Harry. William was made Duke of Cambridge after his own wedding in 2011. He was second-in-line to the throne in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. Elizabeth is now an adoring mother for William as well as Harry. Prince William has stated she provided him with invaluable assistance and support when the couple Kate Middleton planned their wedding in 2011.
On the 22nd of July the 22nd of July, 2013, Elizabeth’s grandchild William as well as his spouse Catherine duchess of Cambridge welcomed their first baby, George Alexander Louis–a successor to the throne, officially referred to as “His Royal His Royal Prince George from Cambridge.”
In May of 2015 William and Kate welcomed their second baby, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana The fifth great-grandchild of the queen. On April 23, 2018 they welcomed the third baby, Prince Louis Arthur Charles.
On May 6 in 2019, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle have given the queen a new great-grandchild through the birth of Their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor..
Apart from Prince William along with Prince Harry The royal’s other children are Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice of York as well as the Princess Eugenie from York; Zara Tindall; Lady Louise Windsor; and James Viscount Severn. She also served as a great-grandmother of 10.
Family Tree
Elizabeth II’s parents were also known as their names: the Duke and Duchess York. Their father was Prince Albert the Duke of York was the son second in line to queen Mary along with the King George V. Her mother was Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon.
Elizabeth had connections with the majority of the monarchs of Europe. Her British grandparents include queen Victoria (ruled 1837 until 1837 to) in addition to the King George III (ruled 1760 until 1820).
PHOTOS: The British Royal Family Tree: 10 Members in Line to Succeed the Throne
Reign
Elizabeth’s lengthy and mostly peaceful reign was marked by massive changes in the lives of her people and the power of her country as well as the way Britain is perceived abroad, and the way in which the monarchy is perceived and presented. As an elected monarch, Elizabeth did not weigh on issues of political importance and she did not express her political opinions. However, she regularly confers with her premier ministers.
After Elizabeth became the queen after the war, post-war Britain still had a significant empire, dominions, and dependents. In the 1950s and 1960s several of these territories gained independence, and the British Empire transformed to become the Commonwealth of Nations. Elizabeth II also made numerous trips to other nations as the head of the Commonwealth as well as a representative for Britain as well as a landmark visit to Germany in the year 1965. She was one of the few British monarch to pay an official visit to Germany over the course of more than fifty years.
In the 1970s and the during the 1980s, Elizabeth continued to travel extensively. In 1973, she was a participant at the Commonwealth Conference in Ottawa, Canada and, in 1976, went to in the United States for the 200th-anniversary celebration of America’s independence from Britain. Within a week, it was her turn in Montreal, Canada, to inaugurate the Summer Olympics. She went across Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman that attracted the attention of the world and respect from the world.
in 1982 Elizabeth concerned about the birth of her son Prince Andrew The prince was an air-craft pilot in the British Royal Navy during the Falklands War. Britain was at the war against Argentina in the Falkland Islands, a war which lasted for a few weeks. In the course of which more than 250 British soldiers were killed during the war and the prince Andrew returned home safely and healthy to the relief of his mother.
Also Read: Queen Elizabeth Dies After 70 Years of Reign
In 2011 Elizabeth proved that the crown had the power of diplomatic and symbolic representation in her first visit as the very first British monarch who visited Ireland. Republic of Ireland since 1911 (when the entirety of Ireland was included in the United Kingdom).
The queen Elizabeth changed the way monarchy was run and streamlined the monarchy, removing some formalities and making some sites and treasures accessible to the general public. As Britain as well as other nations faced financial difficulties, Britain abolished the Civil List in 2012. The Civil List was a system of public financing of the monarchy that dated to around 250 years ago. The royal family still receives some assistance from the government, but the queen has reduced spending.
Despite being asked to relinquish her position to be a substitute for Charles, Elizabeth remained steadfast in her royal duties even until she reached age 90. She continued to make over 400 appearances each year, and continued to dedication to hundreds of charities and programs.
In the latter part of 2017, the monarchy made what was seen as a major step towards transitioning into the next generation. On November 12 Charles took on the customary Remembrance Sunday task of laying wreaths at the Cenotaph war memorialwhile the queen was watching from a balcony nearby.
In August of 2019, Elizabeth made a rare interference in political affairs by granting the request of the Prime Premier Boris Johnson to prorogue (suspend) the Parliament up to October 14 which is less than three weeks from Britain’s departure from European Union.
Relationship With Prime Ministers
Elizabeth was the queen of 15 prime ministers appointed to the position of power during her time, with the queen and the PM holding an informal, weekly meeting. (Elizabeth also met with about one quarter of all U.S. presidents in history and most recently, she received Donald Trump for an official visit in June of 2019.)
She had a father-figure connection with the legendary Winston Churchill and was later able relax slightly and become more casual and friendly with Labour Leaders Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. On the other hand her as well as Margaret Thatcher had a formal and far-off relationship. Margaret Thatcher often being a distasteful lecturer to the queen about many matters.
Tony Blair saw certain ideas about the monarchy as old-fashioned, but he was pleased with Elizabeth having a public declaration following the demise of Diana.
Then, Conservative leader David Cameron who is the fifth cousin of Elizabeth had a good rapport and a warm relationship with Elizabeth. Cameron apologized in 2014 for having revealed in a chat that she opposed the Scottish referendum for the independence of Scotland of Great Britain.
Theresa May was said to be a bit snobby regarding Brexit plans to exit the European Union, with a story circulating that Elizabeth was unhappy about not being informed of possible exit strategies.
Threats to Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family
Elizabeth did her best to safeguard its image and plan for the future. However, she witnessed the monarchy be attacked during her time. The once-popular institution was tossed through many events, including threats to kill against the family of the monarch.
The year 1979 was the time that Elizabeth experienced a devastating personal loss in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten the uncle of her husband, was killed in a terrorist attack. Mountbatten as well as several relatives were on his vessel on August 27th near on the coast to west of Ireland at the time that the boat caught fire. Mountbatten and three other people among them one grandson were killed. They were killed by the IRA (Irish Republic Army) that was a group of rebels against British control within Northern Ireland, took responsibility for the attack.
