Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England was born on April 21, 1926 in London. The birth of the charming baby did not cause a stir at court. It never occurred to anyone 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 king's second son. He didn’t 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, take on royal responsibilities.
Lilibet, as everyone called Elizabeth in childhood, loved her grandfather very much, and he reciprocated his affection, although by nature he was a very stern and tough person. The king did not have any good feelings towards his sons. He raised them in the Spartan style and often went too far. The result of this upbringing was the girl’s father’s stuttering, which he never got rid of until the end of his life.
But George V had the most tender feelings for the small female creature. He not only loved his granddaughter, but adored him, which proved to those around him that even in a cruel and callous soul there is always a bright corner capable of sincere and pure love.
George V passed away on January 20, 1936, at the age of 70. He reigned for 24 years and established himself as a wise politician caring for 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 became involved 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 this couple’s love affair 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 the throne.
All these affairs of the heart, 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 newly-made king had no sons. Therefore, Henry's younger brother was declared heir to the throne. But he flatly refused such an honorable 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 on an ambulance.
In 1939, World War II began. The girl was 13 years old at that time. In 1940, on October 13, she spoke on the radio with an appeal to children who suffered during German bombings. And at the age of 18, she received her driver’s license for an ambulance. Until the last days of the war, the future Queen of England turned the 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 College. The king, along with both daughters (the youngest daughter Margaret), arrived there to communicate with the cadets.
It was within the walls of this establishment that the heiress to the English throne saw the Greek Prince Philip. He was listed as one of the cadets, and in age he 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 became a gambling addict. England sheltered a poor child and enrolled him in the Royal Naval School, so that the boy would receive a decent profession and be able to earn his daily bread.
From the above it is clear that Philip was not a match for Elizabeth. At least that's what the royal court thought. But the girl showed amazing tenacity and perseverance. Throughout the war, she wrote letters to the young officer, while he bravely fought on the destroyer.
Wedding of Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Immediately after the end of hostilities, the heir to the throne proposed getting engaged to the Greek prince, defying all existing norms and conventions. On November 20, 1947, the wedding took place in Westminster Abbey.
It was a hard time, post-war. Elizabeth had to sell some jewelry to make her wedding dress. Products were sent from Australia for the wedding cake. The cake turned out luxurious, 3 meters high. They did not cut him with knives, but chopped him with sabers. The guests only got a small piece. Everything else was sent to schools and hospitals.
At the end of January 1952, a young happy 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 came down from it as a queen.”
The reason for the recording was the death of George VI. He died on the night of February 5-6. Elizabeth automatically became Queen of England. In many countries around 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 the guard of honor after her accession to the throne
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England took place in Westminster Abbey (the traditional place of 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 considered to be 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, my husband often made various politically incorrect and rather tactless statements. So in New Guinea he asked a passerby: “Listen, my dear, how come you haven’t been eaten here yet?”
In China, he casually remarked to an English tourist: “Make sure you don’t stay here too long, or your eyes will narrow.” In Paraguay, at a meeting with the bloody dictator Stroessner, Philip said: “It is amazingly pleasant to be in a country that is not governed by the people.”
There were rumors 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 suppress 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 are like twins. They wake Her Majesty at exactly 8 am. Such an important task was 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.
Having placed the tray, the maid opens the curtains. Sunlight penetrates the bedroom, and gentle rays touch the face of the crowned lady. At the same time, the royal dogs, coming 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 the 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 Queen Elizabeth II of England has breakfast.
The morning meal is very modest. Toast, buttered and a thin 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 has an excellent understanding of 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 the 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 Cabinet of Ministers never asks the Queen's opinion. Elizabeth II can express her point of view on some issue, but it will not be of decisive importance.
From 11 o'clock Her Majesty receives officials. These are diplomats, judges, ministers. Each of them, upon entering, kneels on one knee and takes the queen's right hand with his right hand. He touches her with his lips and then gets to his feet. This ceremony lasts at least 2 hours. All this time the queen stands. She has no way 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 salmon, cucumber or chicken sandwiches. Leftover food is used the next day. They can go into a casserole or pie. Uneaten food is never given to dogs.
After lunch there is 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 hearty. Very rarely does Her Majesty dine alone. This is when all members of the royal family go on business trips.
After dinner, the Queen watches television and goes to bed around 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 father was mainly involved in raising the children, since the queen always had many important government affairs.
Family of Elizabeth II, 1972
From left to right: Anna, Charles, Edward, Andrew, Elizabeth, Philip
The eldest son Charles caused the greatest trouble. In 1970, he unwisely 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 arrogant person.
The poor guy even proposed marriage, but was turned away. Camilla married officer Andrew Parker-Bowles. But after 6 years of family life, discord began to appear between the spouses. Camilla again began to favorably accept Charles's advances. This did not escape the attention of the royal court.
Elizabeth II in the center, sister Margaret on the left, the Queen Mother on the right
The queen and her husband, seeing that their son was being brazenly and shamelessly scammed, began to urgently look for a wife for him. Diana Spencer (1961-1997) turned up very opportunely. 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 took place on July 29, 1981. In 1982 and 1984, Princess Diana gave birth to two sons.
The marriage was very successful for Charles. His wife was passionately loved not only by England, but by the whole world. Diana had 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 lived separately since 1992.
Queen Elizabeth II of England sits on the left
Princess Diana sits in the center with her son William, the queen mother is on the right. Prince Charles and Philip 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 riding. But the official investigation completely dismissed such rumors.
In 1992, Anna and Andrew's marriages broke up. True, there were no loud scandals surrounding these 2 events. Everything went quietly and unnoticed, but left an unpleasant aftertaste in the souls of the British. Still, the royal family should be an example in all respects. For several years, her subjects greeted 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 English moved away 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. After all, many years have passed since the death of Princess Diana, and people’s memory is very short.
Currently, Kate Middleton, the wife of William, the eldest son from the marriage of Princess Diana and Charles, is very popular among the British. Elizabeth II herself treats the girl warmly. Rumor has it that the queen wants to change the rules of succession to the throne and appoint William as her heir. After all, the British do not like Prince Charles, and Camilla will never be recognized as their queen.
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 bed linen. This does not mean that the Queen does not have money for such trifles. A dressmaker costs much more than new socks and sets of underwear. The royal court simply pays tribute to tradition. About 500 years ago, fabric was very expensive, and crowned heads saved in this way. Times have changed, but the custom 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 his body. The entire service staff numbers about 300 people. The staff includes personal pages, chambermaids, ladies-in-waiting, keepers of silverware, and royal purses. There are even front and back room pages.
During official receptions, a huge table is set. It is impossible to reach its middle. The lackeys wrap rags around their shoes and climb onto the table with their feet. During the meal, the first course is served to the queen. She immediately starts eating. After this, the footmen serve the dishes to the guests. When the crowned person's plate is empty, the servants immediately take the plates from everyone present. Many guests do not even have time to try what they are served.
However, Queen Elizabeth II of England abolished this not very kind custom. She declared that no one at her table 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 reigning family comes towards you, the servants must hide somewhere. This could be some kind of closet, a closet in the wall, that is, any shelter that is nearby. Upon seeing the queen, noble ladies must curtsy and men bow.
These traditions have been strictly observed for centuries. For people they are not a burden at all. On the contrary, there are many who want to serve in 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 guard its traditions and customs. It seems that time itself freezes within the walls, which for hundreds of years have protected the reigning persons from the vicissitudes of the external, changeable and unpredictable world.
Elizabeth II is one of the most influential women in the world, the head of the Windsor dynasty, and has been the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for more than 65 years. A flexible politician who knows how to defend her opinion, she is a symbol of her country and is especially popular and loved by the people.Childhood and family
Elizabeth II is the eldest daughter of Prince Albert, born on April 21, 1926 at Mayfair Manor on Brewton Street during the reign of George V, who was her grandfather. The full name of the royal person is Elizabeth Alexandra Maria, the girl received the name in honor of her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. 
In 1936, after two decades of reign, King George, who loved his granddaughter very much, died. The throne passed to Edward VIII. In the name of love for the beautiful Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, he abdicated the throne. The story of Edward and Miss Simpson is considered one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century, and it was the story that brought Elizabeth's father to the British throne, who was crowned George IV in May 1937.
George IV's brother Henry was considered the next contender for the throne, but he abandoned the role of heir to the throne in favor of Princess Elizabeth, who was barely 11 years old at that time.
As befits a princess, Elizabeth studied the humanities and exact sciences, but paid special attention to law, including international law, and received a decent education without leaving the palace. The princess's pride was her excellent knowledge of French, which she learned on her own.
In 1940, Princess Elizabeth made her first radio appearance: a thirteen-year-old girl from Buckingham Palace supported children affected by Nazi bombing. Princess Elizabeth's sincere words instilled hope in the British people, and she won sympathy even among some of the most critical citizens of the crown.
In 1943, the princess officially assumed the position of adviser. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth did not serve in the military, but she was a member of the women’s self-defense unit and learned to drive an ambulance, thereby setting an example for the women of Britain.
In 1947, on her birthday, Elizabeth again spoke on the radio, assuring the British people that her whole life would be dedicated to Britain. In the same year, her marriage to Philip, Prince of Denmark took place.
The gradually deteriorating health of the father and the unfavorable prognosis of the doctors required the almost constant presence of the future queen during official receptions, meetings and negotiations. By the beginning of 1951, no one had any doubts that the months were counting, and Elizabeth unofficially began to fulfill the duties of the monarch.
Coronation
The news of the death of George IV overtook the princess in Kenya, where she and her husband spent several days at the Tree Tops Hotel, located among the branches of a huge century-old tree. According to some sources, on February 7, 1952, an entry appeared in the hotel guest register that for the first time in the history of civilization, a princess climbed a tree, but came down from it as a queen. 
The coronation of the young queen took place on June 2, 1953 in the ancient cathedral of Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was broadcast on British national television, which contributed to the growing popularity of the new monarch. Millions of British people literally froze in front of their televisions, trying not to miss the slightest detail of the most spectacular and beautiful event in the history of Britain.
Despite the fact that in the post-war years the economy had just begun a long period of recovery, a huge amount was allocated from the treasury for the festive decoration of the streets. The dress of snow-white satin for the coronation ceremony was made by the court tailor Norman Hartnell; it was embroidered with the national emblems of Britain and the Commonwealth countries - English roses, Canadian maple leaves and Irish clovers, as well as other flowers that have a symbolic meaning for Britain.
In a golden open ceremonial carriage drawn by eight gray horses, the queen and her husband proceeded to Westminster Abbey, where the solemn coronation service took place.
Governing body
In strict accordance with the existing tradition of parliamentary monarchy, the queen performs functions that are exclusively representative in nature and has no right to influence the government of the country. After her coronation, Elizabeth II made a six-month tour of the British colonies, Commonwealth countries and many countries around the world. 
In the spring of 1956, the Queen received Nikita Khrushchev, who served as First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee of the USSR, who arrived in Britain with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nikolai Bulganin. The top officials of the Soviet state presented memorable gifts to Elizabeth and family members, among which was a brooch with a royal blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds, as well as a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky and a sable cape.
During her reign, the Queen met with politicians, major entrepreneurs, scientists and cultural figures. Among the celebrities honored to visit Buckingham Palace over the years were Elizabeth Taylor, Yuri Gagarin and The Beatles, as well as presidents of various states.
In 1994, Elizabeth visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in 2003 hosted a reception in honor of President Vladimir Putin.
Fearing that the reputation of the British royal house would suffer from rumors that surrounded the unhappy marriage of Elizabeth's son Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, as well as caring for the happiness of her son, the Queen insisted on a divorce, the procedure for which began in 1996. Some part of British society did not approve of the queen's act, but subsequently the British were forced to admit that she was right.
Elizabeth II has been repeatedly called in the media the queen of people's hearts. The humanity and kindness of this woman, who remains faithful to her oath, which she took back in 1953, is the key to her popularity among the people.
Personal life of Elizabeth II
In his youth, Prince Philip, the grandson of the King of Greece, a tall, slender, blond man, was distinguished by his amazing beauty. At a tea party in Dartmoor in 1937, the young man did not immediately notice the thirteen-year-old girl, who did not take her rapturous eyes off him. After the reception ended, this girl, Princess Elizabeth, locked herself in her room and wrote a letter to the handsome prince. 
The friendship that began with correspondence grew into love. King George did not approve of his daughter’s choice: it is known that he did not like the friendship of Philip’s father, the Greek Prince Andrew, with Adolf Hitler. Besides this, the prince was poor, and apart from his title, blue blood and tender love for Elizabeth, he had nothing.
In early 1940, Elizabeth and Philip became engaged in secret, and the king had to give in and allow what was to become one of the happiest and longest marriages in modern history. The relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Duke Philip is considered exemplary, but few people think that for the sake of his queen, Philip renounced the royal title and changed the Orthodox faith in which he was baptized to Catholicism.
In 1948, Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles. The second child was Princess Anna, born 2 years later. The third child of the royal family, Prince Andrew, was born in 1960, and the fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964.
Since her youth, the queen’s main hobbies have been horse riding and dog breeding; she has a special love for the corgi breed, which is considered the royal dog throughout Europe.
Queen Elizabeth II now
In 2018, the Queen turned 92 years old, 65 of which she has been monarch. The media regularly makes headlines about the Queen's failing health; in 2017, she missed the Christmas service for the first time, citing a cold. 
As the head of the Windsor dynasty, the Queen remembers the sad events associated with the marriage of Prince Charles to an unloved girl, and, according to her, bears personal responsibility for the well-being of her family members. That is why she did not give permission for the wedding of Prince Harry to Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle for so long
Despite her age, Elizabeth continues to fulfill her duties and represent the interests of Britain in different countries of the world. Defending the right to her own opinion, in 2017 she openly condemned the inappropriate behavior of Mr. Trump, as well as the belligerent policies of Kim Jong-un, and in 2018 she expressed hope that she would wait until the time when Russia would be ruled not by Mr. Putin, but by another person who have not lost touch with reality.
As is enshrined in the traditions of a constitutional monarchy, the queen should not interfere in politics, but the authority of Elizabeth II and her long reign allowed her to influence the course of events in a certain way. Queen Elizabeth II is the most influential woman in the world, but, as many researchers note, she has never used her influence for personal gain.
This summer, a long-awaited and extremely significant event for the British happened: exactly a month ago, on July 22, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Catherine gave birth to a son, Prince George Alexander Louis. The fate of people of “blue blood” has always been of interest to the public, and now the people of Great Britain and the whole world are trying to find out new facts about the life of the royal dynasty and predict what George Louis will be like in the future, how the “royal inheritance” will affect his life, especially that the prince has every chance to lead the monarchy in the future, because George Louis is the third in line of contenders for the royal throne.
We were interested in old archival photographs, mainly from the first half of the last century, which depicted the childhood years of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. We present to your attention a selection of these rare photographs.
(Total 30 photos)
1. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain was born on April 21, 1926 in London into the family of the Duke and Duchess of York.
2. A newly discovered photograph of the Duke of York's young family. This casual photo was taken not by a professional royal photographer, but by ordinary tourists traveling in Scotland whose car suddenly broke down, forcing them to knock on the door of a nearby house for help. Elizabeth's parents opened the door with their newborn baby in their arms. They were so kind that they not only helped the travelers fix their car, but also happily posed for a memorable photo from Scotland.
3. 1928, Elizabeth 2 years old. In a narrow circle of the family, the little heir to the throne received the nickname Lilibet, because for a long time she could not learn to correctly pronounce her full name.
4. 1929, Elizabeth with her father.
5. At birth, Elizabeth became the Duchess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) and father.
6. Because Prince Edward was quite young and expected to marry and have children, Elizabeth was not initially considered as a possible candidate for the throne.
7. Soon she had a younger sister, Margaret. King George VI often said of his daughters: “Lilibeth is my pride and Margaret is my joy.”
8. Children's games of Princess Elizabeth.
9. Young Elizabeth with her parents.
10. 1932, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose with their parents at the Boy Scouts Parade at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. (Photo: /Getty Images)
11. King George and Queen Elizabeth with Princesses Elizabeth (center) and Margaret, as well as members of the royal family in full uniform, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation, May 12, 1937. (Photo: Getty Images). A year earlier, 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”), and if George VI had a son, he would inherit the throne.
12. The Queen, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose and the Royal Archers, 1937. (Photo: Fox Photos/Getty Images)
13. Princess Elizabeth with a pony in Windsor Park, Berkshire, April 1939. (Photo: Central Press / Getty Images). According to the recollections of Elizabeth’s teacher, at the age of 12 the girl told her: “if I weren’t the queen, I would live in the village and get myself a lot of horses and dogs.”
14. When Elizabeth was 13 years old, World War II began. In 1940, at the age of 14, she made her first radio appearance, addressing children affected by the scourge of war. In 1943, Elizabeth appeared in public, paying a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of the five “state councilors” - persons who have the right to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity. In 1945, the future queen joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (women's self-defense units), where she was trained as an ambulance driver and received the rank of lieutenant.
15. Here Elizabeth is captured as a young mother with her first child, Prince Charles. Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948 at the royal family's residence, Buckingham Palace. In the photo, Queen Elizabeth II holds the prince in her arms after the baptism ceremony, which took place on December 15. During the ritual, the baby was dipped in water taken from the Jordan River.
16. The Prince of Wales's full name was Charles Philip Arthur George. He became the first contender for the royal throne, born in a “violation” of a centuries-old tradition: this time the country’s Minister of Internal Affairs did not have the honor of being present at the royal birth. The innovations that accompanied Charles's life, however, did not end there: he became the first crown prince to be sent to school (young monarchs before him were taught at home) and the first to receive a university diploma.
17. The prince was raised by a nanny, because his mother, according to Charles himself, “played the queen” more...
19. Royal Family, August 1951. From left to right: Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, the Duke of Edinburgh, King George and Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II), as well as little Princess Anne in her pram. The following year, 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen of Great Britain.
20. The teachers did not spoil the heir to the throne too much: for his offenses they simply... flogged him.
22. Elizabeth with little Charles and Anne.26. At the age of 9, the prince was sent to the luxurious Hill House private school, where, according to tradition, blue-blooded students swept the yard and washed the floors. No exception was made for the king's son. In the photo, the prince introduces his mother to his classmates and teachers.
27. By the way, little Charles really didn’t like school, he didn’t study well, and once complained to a friend about his classmates who “beat him with pillows at night.”
28. Charles did not understand his exclusivity for a long time: having once heard how prayers were being offered in church services for his mother, the queen, and for him as an heir, the prince said: “I would like them to pray for other boys too.”
29. At Princess Margaret's wedding, 1960.
30. September 1960, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with their children, Prince Andrew (center), Princess Anne (left) and Charles, Prince of Wales near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Queen Victoria's husband purchased Balmoral Castle in 1846. Queen Victoria visited Scotland frequently with her family, especially after the death of her husband in 1861, and Balmoral is still a favorite holiday destination for the royal family. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images).
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary). Born 21 April 1926 in London. Queen of Great Britain since 1952.
She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of twenty-five, following the death of her father, King George VI. Is among all monarchs in British history.
The oldest British (English) monarch in history.
She also ranks second in the world for the longest tenure as head of state among all current heads of state (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is the oldest female sitting head of state in the world, and the oldest sitting head of state in Europe.
He is the oldest sitting monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Comes from the Windsor dynasty.
She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of fifteen 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 the Supreme Commander of the British Armed Forces.
Queen of Great Britain
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 (1862-1938).
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.
She 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 independently) the French language.
From a young age she was interested in horses and practiced horse riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.
At birth, Elizabeth became Princess of York and was third in the line of succession 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 eleven 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 "heir presumptive"(“heir presumptive”), and if George VI had a son, he would inherit the throne.
World War II 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. Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last not yet retired participant in the Second World War (the second to last was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).
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.
King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died on 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 the event is credited with significantly boosting the popularity of television broadcasting.
Coronation of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II's full title 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 kingdoms and territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".
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.
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. She also 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.
In 1963, after the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan, on his advice, Elizabeth appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister.
In 1976, Elizabeth II inaugurated (as 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.
Late 1970s - early 1980s a number of assassination attempts were made against the royal family. In particular, in 1979, the Provisional Irish Republican Army terrorists assassinated Prince Philip's uncle (the Queen's husband), an influential statesman and military leader, Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Elizabeth II herself during a military parade in honor of the queen’s “official birthday.”
In 1981, the wedding of Elizabeth II's son Prince Charles took place, which would later become a big problem for the royal family.
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.
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 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 queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and the queen mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.
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 - in St. Patrick's in Armagh in Northern Ireland.
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 "the saving 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 2012, the 60th (“diamond”) anniversary of Elizabeth II’s tenure on the throne was solemnly celebrated in Great Britain and other countries. On June 3, a solemn water parade of more than a thousand ships and boats took place on the Thames. It is believed that this is 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.
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. Britain was represented at the summit by Prince Charles, indicating the gradual transfer of Elizabeth's powers to her son.
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: she has made more than 325 foreign visits.
I started gardening in 2009.
In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.
Elizabeth II's height: 163 centimeters
Personal life of Elizabeth II:
In 1947, at the age of 21, she married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), a British naval officer, a member of the Greek (son of Prince Andrew of Greece) 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 in 1939, where Philip studied.
Having become the princess's husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.
A year after the wedding - in 1948 - Elizabeth and Philip had their eldest son. And on August 15, 1950 - daughter, Princess Anne.
Elizabeth II and Philip Mountbatten
In 1960, the Queen gave birth to her second son, Prince Andrew. In 1964, she gave birth to her third son, Prince Edward.
Children of Elizabeth II:
Born November 14, 1948. On 29 July 1981 he married Lady Diana Spencer. On August 28, 1996, the couple filed for divorce. They had two sons: the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Wales.
Prince William, married to , has two children: Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
Princess Anne, “Princess Royal” - born August 15, 1950. She was married to Mark Phillips from November 14, 1973 to April 28, 1992 (divorced). The couple had two children: Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York- born February 19, 1960. He was married to Sarah Ferguson from July 23, 1986 to May 30, 1996 (divorced). The couple had two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie (Eugenia) of York.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex- born March 10, 1964. Married to Sophie Rhys-Jones (wedding on June 19, 1999). The couple have two children: Lady Louisa Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The role of Elizabeth II in the political and social life of Great Britain:
In accordance with the British tradition of parliamentary 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 looks through the main British newspapers every day and, with the help of servants, responds to some letters that 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. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth II should not publicly express her political likes or dislikes. She has always followed this rule, acting non-publicly - therefore her political views remain unknown.
Three times during her reign, the Queen had constitutional problems with the formation of the British government.
In 1957 and 1963, in the absence of a clear mechanism for electing a leader in the Conservative Party, it was the Queen who had to decide who to entrust the formation of the government after the resignations of Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.
In 1957, Anthony Eden refused to advise the Queen on who to appoint as his successor, and she sought advice from, as the only living Conservative Prime Minister at the time (following the precedent that, after the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law in 1923, King George V was consulted with Lord Salisbury's father and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour).
In 1963, Harold Macmillan himself advised the appointment of Alec Douglas-Home as his successor. And in 1974, after the resignation of Edward Heath as a result of an unclear election outcome, Elizabeth II appointed opposition leader Harold Wilson as prime minister.
In all these cases, the Queen acted according to the British constitutional tradition that she should not make any important decisions without the advice of her ministers and privy councilors.
In addition, British prime ministers meet with the Queen every week. The Queen is more knowledgeable on most matters than she appears at first glance. In addition, the Queen has regular meetings with other Commonwealth ministers and premiers when they are visiting the UK. Also, during her stay in Scotland, she meets with the First Minister of Scotland. The Ministry and British diplomatic missions send her regular reports.
Although it is customary that the Queen does not interfere in politics, due to the fact that 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 she wrote about her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth: "Anyone who thinks that they [meetings] are a mere formality or a social convention is deeply mistaken. In fact, they take place in a calm business atmosphere, and Her Majesty always demonstrates her ability to cover a wide range of issues and her wide experience.".
Elizabeth II is actively involved in charity and social activities. The Queen of Britain is a trustee of more than 600 different public and charitable organizations.
In addition to her duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives). For example, she can dissolve parliament, reject a candidate for prime minister (who seems unsuitable to her), and so on.
Financial costs for the queen:
Thus, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in the 2008-2009 financial year, each Briton spent 1 dollar 14 cents on the maintenance of the monarchy, which amounted to a total of $68.5 million.
In 2010-2011, due to the government's new economic program, the Queen was forced to reduce her spending to $51.7 million.
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.
States whose head was or is Elizabeth II:
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 (formerly Dominion of Pakistan)
South Africa - in 1961 (formerly South Africa)
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - in 1972 (former Dominion of Ceylon).
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
