“In general, no one taught me to be a queen: my father died too early and it happened so unexpectedly - I had to immediately get involved in the business and at the same time try not to lose face in the dirt. I had to grow up to the position that I took. It was fate, it should have been accepted and not grumbled. I think continuity is very important. My job is for life."
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain
I wonder what it's like to celebrate your birthday for more than 50 years twice a year? This question can be answered by Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on April 21, 1926 in London, and for many years her birthday has been celebrated throughout the United Kingdom not only on April 21, but also on the 3rd Saturday of June.
The title of Her Royal Majesty in the United Kingdom is: "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other Possessions and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. The coronation took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth was only 25 years old when she became queen, and has been so for several decades now.
Birthdays are celebrated every year at Windsor Castle. It begins with a walk around the city (if this action, of course, can be called that). A 21-shot salute is certainly given, which sounds at noon.
Throughout her reign, the queen has been criticized more than once, not only by the British Republicans, but also by various British media as well as the common public. Nevertheless, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy, and her popularity in the UK is at its best.
Royal
Elizabeth II (English Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (English Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - Queen of Great Britain from 1952 to the present.
Elizabeth II comes from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of 25 after the death of her father, King George VI.
She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of 15 independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica. He is also head of the Anglican Church and supreme commander armed forces Great Britain.
Coats of arms in different periods of time and in different countries
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944-1947)
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947-1952)
Royal coat of arms in Great Britain (except Scotland)
Royal coat of arms in Scotland
Royal coat of arms in Canada
The full title of Elizabeth II in Great Britain sounds like "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, the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries recognizing the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which in each of these countries the British monarch acts as head of this particular state, regardless of his titles in Great Britain proper or in third countries. Accordingly, in all these countries, the title of the queen sounds the same, with the name of the state replaced. In some countries, the words "defender of the faith" are excluded from the title. For example, in Australia, the title sounds like this: "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God the Queen of Australia and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth."
On the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, Elizabeth II also bears the title of Duke of Normandy, on the Isle of Man - the title of "Lord of Maine".
Story
Elizabeth II is the oldest British (English) monarch in history. She is currently the second longest-serving head of state in history (after Queen Victoria) and also the second longest-serving head of state in the world (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is also the world's oldest female incumbent head of state, and in Europe the oldest incumbent head of state.
He is the oldest reigning monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
During the reign of Elizabeth II, a very wide period of British history falls: the process of decolonization was completed, which was marked by the final collapse of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. This period also included many other events, such as the long ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1970
public perception
At the moment, the majority of Britons positively assess the activities of Elizabeth II as a monarch (about 69% believe that the country would be worse without the monarchy; 60% believe that the monarchy contributes to raising the country's image abroad and only 22% were against the monarchy).
Despite the positive attitude of most of her subjects, the queen was repeatedly criticized throughout her reign, in particular:
In 1963, when a political crisis arose in Britain, Elizabeth was criticized for having personally appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In 1997, for the lack of an immediate reaction to the death of Princess Diana, the queen fell not only with the anger of the British public, but even of many major British media (for example, The Guardian).
In 2004, after Elizabeth II beat a pheasant to death with a cane, a wave of indignation from environmental organizations swept across the country about the actions of the monarch.
Elizabeth II is the last representative of the so-called "old school" of monarchs: she strictly adheres to centuries-old traditions and ceremonies and never deviates from the rules of established etiquette. Her Majesty never gives interviews or makes press statements. She is in front of everyone, but at the same time is the most closed celebrity on the planet.
Childhood
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in the London district of Mayfair in the residence of the Earl of Strathmore at Brewton Street, house number 17. Now the area has been rebuilt, and the house no longer exists, but a memorial plaque has been erected on this site. She got her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).
Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her paternal grandparents were King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); by mother - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1938).
At the same time, the father insisted that the first name of the daughter be like that of the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie discussed the girl's name with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Mary. The names are all good, I told him so, but about Victoria, I absolutely agree with him. It was redundant." The christening of Princess Elizabeth took place on May 25 in the chapel of Buckingham Palace, later destroyed during the war years.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1930
In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.
The future queen received a good education at home, mainly in the humanities. She loved horses and equestrian sports since childhood. And also from childhood, unlike her more eccentric sister Margaret, she had a truly royal character. In the biography of Elizabeth II, Sarah Bradford mentions that the future queen from childhood was a very serious child, who even then had a certain understanding of the duties that fell on her as the heir to the throne, and a sense of duty. Since childhood, Elizabeth loved order, so, for example, when she went to bed, she always put slippers next to the bed, never allowing herself to scatter things in the room, as is typical for many children. And already as a queen, she always made sure that no extra light burned in the palace, personally turning off the lights in empty rooms.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1926
Photo of 1929, Elizabeth is 3 years old here
Princess Elizabeth in 1933
King George VI and (1895-1952) and Elizabeth Angela, Duchess of York (1900-2002), with their daughter, the future Queen - Princess Elizabeth, 1929
The Queen and her daughters, October 1942
princess at war
Second World War began when Elizabeth was 13 years old. On October 13, 1940, she made her first radio appearance, addressing children affected by the disasters of the war. In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of the Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of the five "state councilors" (persons entitled to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity). In February 1945, Elizabeth joined the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving military rank lieutenant. Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last participant in the Second World War who has not yet retired (the penultimate one was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).
Princess Elizabeth (left, in military uniform) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (from left to right) her mother Queen Elizabeth, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret, May 8, 1945
Wedding
On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married her distant relative, who, like her, is the great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria - Prince Philip Mountbatten, son of the Greek Prince Andrew, who was then an officer in the British Navy. She met him at the age of 13, when Philip was still a cadet at Dortmouth naval school. Becoming her husband, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
In November 2007, the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their "diamond wedding" - the sixtieth anniversary of their life together. For the sake of such an occasion, the Queen allowed herself a little liberties - for one day they retired with her husband for romantic memories in Malta, where Prince Philip once served, and the young Princess Elizabeth visited him.
Four children were born in their family: the heir to the throne - the eldest son Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales (born 1948); Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise (born 1950); Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York (born 1960), Edward Anthony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (born 1964).
On December 29, 2010, Elizabeth II became a great-grandmother for the first time. On this day, her eldest grandson, Princess Anne's eldest son Peter Phillips, and his Canadian wife, Autumn Kelly, had a daughter. The girl became 12th in the British line of succession.
With newborn Prince Charles, December 1948
Coronation and beginning of reign
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.
Elizabeth II after her coronation in 1953
The Queen with her six ladies-in-waiting
From left to right:
Lady Moira Hamilton (now Lady Moyra Campbell), Lady Anne Cox (now Lady Glenconner), Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir), Lady Mary Bailey-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell), Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond- Willoughby (now Baroness de Willoughby de Eresby), Lady Jane Van Tempest-Stuart (now The Honorable Lady Rayne)
Young Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen began her political activities, which included the opening of Parliament and the reception of prime ministers. In the fifties of the twentieth century, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made many visits to the territory of the United Kingdom and the countries of the Commonwealth.
In the sixties, the Queen of England made her historic visit to West Berlin in the midst of cold war, and also invited the Japanese Emperor Hirohito on an official visit to Britain. Despite the turbulent social and political situation, she celebrated her silver jubilee in 1977. The celebrations were a success, thousands of people celebrated the anniversary of Elizabeth II across the country.
Mature years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II
Five years later, Britain was involved in hostilities against the Falklands, during which Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot. In the eighties of the twentieth century, the first grandchildren of the Queen were born - Peter and Zara Phillips, the son and daughter of Anna, Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips.
In 1992, a catastrophe occurred, as a result of which a fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. That same year, the marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne were annulled. The Queen called 1992 a "terrible year". In 1996, the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was annulled. Tragedy followed in 1997 when Diana died in a car accident.
2002 was a sad year for Queen Elizabeth II of England, as her sister Princess Margaret died.
Reign of Queen Elizabeth II
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II of England, many changes were made in the UK. The Queen successfully fulfills her political duties as head of state, head of the Commonwealth of Nations, ceremonial duties, as well as visiting duties within and outside the UK.
Elizabeth II introduced many reforms to the monarchy. In 1992, she proposed taxes on profits and capital gains. She opened official royal residences to the people, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, in order to fund the upkeep of the royal family.
She supported the abolition of male primogeniture and single inheritance, which means that now the eldest child can inherit the throne, regardless of gender.
In 2012, the Queen of England celebrated her 60th birthday, with celebrations taking place across the country, once again demonstrating the love of the British.
The style of clothing of the English Queen Elizabeth II
The style of the English queen can be conditionally divided into two periods: the style of the young queen - the style is conservative and elegant, and the style of the elderly queen, I would call it the style of "merry grandmother" or even "rainbow style", because of the incredible number of changing colors in her costumes and hats . However, the English queen has always loved colors.
Throughout her life, the main elements of the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth II were: dresses or suits of medium length, necessarily covering the knee, coats and raincoats of A-line cut, plus floor-length dresses for special occasions, as well as hats, always in tone with the suit, gloves, closed shoes , a brooch on a jacket and a string of pearls. The Queen of England also always preferred short haircuts. Favorite colors are pink, lilac and indigo.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Odeon Cinema on October 31, 1955. (Photo: Monty Fresco/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II becomes Queen after the death of her father in February 1952, and her coronation took place on June 2, 1952. At that time, namely in the 1940s and 1950s, Norman Hartnell sewed dresses for the princess, and then the queen. And Elizabeth more than once appeared in public in dresses with puffy skirts made of duchesse satin or silk. The design of her wedding dress in ivory and embellished with silver threads is also by Norman Hartnell, however, as is the design of the coronation dress.
From the mid-1950s and throughout the 60s, Hardy Amis sewed for the Queen. It is he who brings a sense of simplicity to the queen's outfits, but this simplicity is only external, because behind it lies a very complex cut. He sewed his first dresses for the Queen back in 1948, when Elizabeth asked him to create a wardrobe for a trip to Canada.
Since the 1970s, Ian Thomas, a former assistant to Norman Hartnell and now the owner of his own salon, has been sewing for the Queen. Its distinguishing feature was the flying chiffon dresses that appeared in the wardrobe of the queen. After his death and until the late 1980s, Maureen Rose of Ian Thomas' design house sewed for Queen Elizabeth.
From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, the wardrobe of the English queen was replenished with outfits from John Anderson, because after his death, his partner Carl Ludwig Rese became the queen's court designer.
Since 2000, the youngest, by age, of Her Majesty's court designers, Stuart Parvin, a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art, has been sewing for Elizabeth II. In 2002, Angela Kelly became his assistant.
The Queen of England is 86 years old. But she still steadily fulfills all the duties assigned to her and appears in public, invariably following her style.
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). September 9, 1960
Hobby
The Queen's interests include dog breeding (including Corgis, Spaniels and Labradors), photography, horseback riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige of the Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively around her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world (for example, in 1994 she visited Russia). She has more than 325 foreign visits to her credit (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries). I have been gardening since 2009. In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.
Interesting Facts
Elizabeth II does not give interviews. Nevertheless, interesting facts about this outstanding woman periodically flash in the press, which allow us to look at the most famous reigning lady of our time from an unexpected angle, we have chosen the most striking, in our opinion, moments.
The celebration of the royal birthday in 1981 was overshadowed by an unpleasant event: near the horse on which Elizabeth was sitting, taking the parade, shots rang out, making everyone around shudder. The queen, to the delight of the public, did not even raise an eyebrow and managed to stay in the saddle.
Her self-control came in handy a year later, when, while waiting for the police, for several minutes she had to conduct a conversation with a madman who managed to get into the chambers.
In 1945, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the future Queen of England, served as a mechanic in a reserve battalion of the British army with the rank of junior officer. Obviously, the example of a "combat" grandmother inspired the young princes William and Harry, who also did not evade military service.
Family values for Elizabeth II is not an empty phrase. For the sake of her son's happiness, she stepped over rigid rules and blessed the second marriage of the Prince of Wales Charles to socialite Camilla Parker-Bowles, despite the hype about this.
On April 17, 2013, for the second time in the history of her reign, the Queen attended the funeral of a British politician: she said goodbye to Margaret Thatcher.
Despite the solid image, the queen is not alien to female coquetry and small weaknesses. Rogue paparazzi more than once caught the moment when she at social events, not embarrassed by the crowd and her high position, publicly corrected her makeup. Etiquette is etiquette, and a real queen should look gorgeous!
The Queen's passion is horses and Corgi dogs. In her youth, Elizabeth rode well, but now she pays more attention to charming red dogs, which, thanks to her, have become one of the symbols of the British monarchy.
Elizabeth II is the oldest English monarch in history and the second longest-serving British monarch. She is also the oldest female current head of state.
In honor of Elizabeth II, the rose variety Rosa "Queen Elizabeth" was named.
Films about Elizabeth II
In 2004, the film Churchill: The Hollywood Years was released - "Churchill Goes to War!", Where the role of Elizabeth was played by Neve Campbell.
In 2006, the biopic The Queen was released. The role of the queen was played by actress Helen Mirren. The film is a BAFTA winner in the Best Film category. Actress Helen Mirren, who played the title role in the film, won the Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best Actress. In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture.
In 2009, the 4th channel of British television (Channel 4) filmed a 5-episode fictional mini-series "The Queen" (" The Queen”, directors Edmund Coulthard, Patrick Reems). Queen in different periods 5 actresses played her life: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick.
On July 27, 2012, the television broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London began with a video featuring James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen (cameo). At the end of the video, they both parachute from a helicopter over the arena of the Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, for this role, the Queen was awarded the BAFTA Award for the best performance of the role of a James Bond girl.
In architecture
The Queen Elizabeth Avenue in Esplanade Park in Singapore is named after the Queen.
The famous Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the “Elizabeth Tower” since September 2012.
A bridge in Duford, completed in 1991, is also named after the Queen.
On August 1, 2013, the Elizabeth II Olympic Park was opened in London.
Lifetime monuments
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain- (Queen Elizabeth II) was born April 21, 1926 in London in the family of the Duke and Duchess of York. Queen Elizabeth usually celebrates her real birthday in the family circle, while the official birthday of the monarch in the UK ... ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia
From the Windsor dynasty. Queen of Great Britain since 1952. Daughter of George VI and Elizabeth. Married since 1947 to Philip, son of the Greek Prince Andrew (born 1921). Genus. 21 Apr. 1926 As a child, Elizabeth was educated at home. Except… … All the monarchs of the world
Below is a list of the monarchs of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, that is, the states that existed or exist in the British Isles, namely: The Kingdom of England (871 1707, including Wales after it ... ... Wikipedia
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- (אלישבע) Hebrew Other forms: Elisaveta, Elissiv (Old Slavic) Prod. forms: Liza Foreign language analogues: English. Elizabeth, Eliza Arab. اليزابيث arm ... Wikipedia
Books
- , Polyakova A.A. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will provide you…
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. A look at the modern British monarchy, A. A. Polyakova. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will provide you…
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain A look at the modern British monarchy, Polyakova A .. “My impressions of a trip to the UK during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton led to an understanding that the UK and the monarchy are inseparable. In the Middle Ages, the exclamation "In the name of ...
She is a woman of the 20th and 21st centuries, the ruler of the British Commonwealth of Nations and 15 independent states, the reigning queen from 1952 to the present day. Who is this? Of course, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, who also holds the title of the longest-reigning monarch in British history. What interesting facts are known about this unique and strong woman.
1. Queen's birthday
Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday twice: on April 21 (born 1926) with her family, and in early June - officially.
2. When Elizabeth ascended the throne
In 1937, Elizabeth became the heir apparent after her father George VI of the Windsor dynasty was crowned. And on February 6, 1952, at the age of 25, she ascended the throne.
3. Education of the queen
During the war years, Elizabeth joined the women's self-defense units, where she was trained as a driver. No matter how strange it may sound, the queen in her younger years drove an ambulance and a truck. She later received a water lifeguard certificate.
4. Who is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II
The spouse of Elizabeth II, Philip Mountbatten, is a Greek prince in exile, as well as a senior lieutenant in the British navy. In addition, he is also the fourth cousin of Elizabeth. The couple first met when they were 8 and 13 years old. So the age difference is 5 years. The wedding took place in 1947, when Elizabeth was 21 years old. We add that the parents of the future queen opposed the marriage with Philip, since he did not have a fortune. It sounds ridiculous, but at that time, Elizabeth was given as many as 200 additional coupons for tailoring a wedding dress.
5. How many children does Elizabeth have
The Queen has four children: Prince Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Anne. In addition, the Queen is a grandmother of many children, great-grandmother and godmother: she has 30 godchildren and goddaughters. Here are some of the lucky ones.
6. What are the powers of Queen Elizabeth
Despite her high status, the queen reigns, but does not rule the country: she officially does not influence the external and internal politics, but nevertheless, all decisions in the state are made on its behalf.
7. How much money does Queen Elizabeth II have?
It is not customary to talk about the Queen's property, but there are rumors that she is one of the richest people on earth. At the same time, the queen never carries money with her. In principle, why are they needed if you are the Queen. In addition, the queen does not have a passport, everyone will recognize her anyway.
The Queen is also not required to disclose the status of her personal accounts. In addition, despite the fact that the royal art collection is estimated at 10 billion pounds, this is not the queen's personal fortune, like the palaces, castles in which the queen and her relatives live. All of this property is owned by the state or is in the possession of the "Property of the Crown" (an independent commercial enterprise that manages royal real estate).
8. What awards does the Queen of Great Britain have?
9. What does the Queen of Great Britain drive?
You can envy the royal fleet: Bentley, Rolls-Royce Daimler, Jaguar and Land Rover. In addition, Elizabeth is a first-class driver and easily drives the wheel of a car.
10. The Queen's Pets
The Queen is very fond of dogs. She has a particular preference for the Corgi breed. There are about 30 corgis in the royal court today. Elizabeth II also loves horses: despite her age, she constantly rides horses.
11. Where Queen Elizabeth II likes to relax
But Her Majesty loves to spend her holidays in the Scottish estate of Balmoral. When the queen has breakfast, a piper walks around the castle and plays folk melodies.
12. The main residence of the British monarchs
Buckingham Palace is the main residence of all British monarchs, in which to this day Elizabeth II holds official meetings.
13. What does the Queen of Great Britain like to wear?
Elizabeth II prefers only British designers, her wardrobe has bright outfits, and the queen can only appear in black during mourning. The monarch likes to wear handbags again from the British brand Launer London with short handles. But what is contained in the royal handbag is a secret behind seven locks. The purse also serves the queen and to signal to the servants that if Her Majesty is about to leave the meal, she puts the purse on the table.
And the main highlight of the royal image is a hat, how many of them are in the wardrobe of Elizabeth II, it is difficult to calculate. Rumor has it that more than 5 thousand.
As for shoes, these are Anello & Davide shoes with a small heel with a rounded toe. The Queen is very careful about shoes and therefore tries to change shoes less often, and more often put heels. But the new shoes for the royal person are broken in by the so-called Cinderella, who has the same foot size as Elizabeth II.
And a few more interesting facts about Elizabeth II:
- no one but her husband has the right to touch the queen in public. History knows only 4 violators who allowed themselves to do this: Michelle Obama, Canadian cyclist Louis Garneau and two Australian prime ministers, Paul Keating and John Howard;
- the queen never raises her voice, even when she is furious, and never gives interviews.
How long Elizabeth II will reign is an open question, since the queen is not going to give up her throne in favor of her heirs, and considers her reign to be a matter of life, and for many Britons she is the “bastion of stability” of the state.
The form of government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been a parliamentary monarchy for several centuries. Queen Elizabeth 2 has been on the throne since February 6, 1952. This name is associated with the greatness and power of the country. But what is the true role of Elizabeth in government and why are the British so proud of their permanent ruler?
On April 21, 1926, Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon had a daughter, the future Queen of England. In London, where the family lived, a memorial plaque was installed on Brewton Street. The heiress was christened Elizabeth (in honor of her mother) Alexandra (in honor of her great-grandmother) Maria (in honor of her grandmother). The British monarch belongs to the Windsor dynasty.
Prince Albert, Elizabeth's father, second in line to the throne, became King George VI after his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated. Thus, Elizabeth acquired the status of "heir presumptive" ("supposed heir"). This means that if later the king had a son, then the throne would belong only to him.
In 1947, the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with Philip Mountbatten, an officer of the British Navy, a native of the Greek and Danish royal families, is significant. Great-great-grandson of the British Queen Victoria and Russian emperor Nicholas I, for the sake of marrying Elizabeth, Philip had to become a naturalized citizen of Great Britain, change Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and abandon such titles as “Prince of Denmark” and “Prince of Greece”. For all this, George VI honored him with the title Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.
George VI died on February 6, 1952. At this time, Elizabeth and her husband were just on a journey. Princess Elizabeth returned from Kenya as queen. The coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II, which took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, was broadcast on television for the first time, and photos were published in all newspapers. The first to take the oath of allegiance to the new queen was her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Queen has four children: three princes - Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Anne, all of them in the photo below.
Formal government
Today, Queen Elizabeth performs two important functions - she rules the state and the nation. As head of state, she performs such duties as attending the annual opening ceremony of Parliament, weekly meetings with prime ministers, receiving foreign ambassadors and delegations, visiting foreign countries with official visits to maintain diplomatic and economic relations of their country with others.
Most of the official powers of the monarch or the so-called "royal prerogatives" Queen Elizabeth of England performs only nominally, after a preliminary meeting with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers - persons responsible to the House of Commons of Parliament. In practice, most of the prerogatives are exercised by British Cabinet Ministers.
The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the monarch (the “kiss of hands” ceremony), but in reality he is the head of the party who won the elections to Parliament. If none of the parties receives a majority, Queen Elizabeth has the right to appoint the prime minister herself. She took advantage of this opportunity only once, appointing Harold Wilson to the post of Labor Prime Minister in 1974.
The monarch can use the right (on the advice of the prime minister) to issue a decree on the resignation of either ministers or the entire Cabinet (but British kings never use this prerogative). All laws considered by Parliament are made in the name of the monarch and take effect only after his formal approval. Also, the monarch has the formal right to convene, dissolve the Parliament, and prolong its action. But in reality, the Parliament, as stated in the Parliament Act of 1911, is elected for a term of 5 years and is dissolved automatically at the end of this term.
They take an oath of allegiance to the king, passports are issued on his behalf to the British, the name of the country's anthem also speaks of the importance and reverence of the monarch - "God save the Queen." The Queen is depicted on banknotes, coins and postage stamps. As the head of the Royal Armed Forces, and has the formal right to wage war or conclude a peace agreement, ratify agreements and conclude treaties of international importance. Despite their venerable age, the royal family continues to perform their official duties.
The monarch in England is the Source of justice, therefore he appoints judges, the Source of honor, therefore he appoints (not without the participation of the Prime Minister) peers, awards various orders, knighthoods and many other honors. While heading the Church of England, the monarch also appoints (again at the suggestion of the prime minister) archbishops and bishops.
Since 1760, the maintenance of the royal family has been financed according to the Civil List. That is, the income from the Crown Estate (royal inheritance) goes to the UK budget, and then allocated to the needs of the royal family. Even the monarch formally owns his estate, since it cannot be sold, but only transferred to the heir to the throne. The earldom of Lancastershire is formally held by the current monarch. Income from it goes to replenish the "personal purse" of the ruler and is spent on needs, according to tradition, not recorded in the Civil List.
Pride of the Nation
The public life of the future queen of England as a monarch began in the 40s. For the first time, she spoke on the radio to the children of England, who suffered from the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1943, she officially appeared in public, meeting with the Guards Grenadiers. Later, Elizabeth was included in the list of five persons who were allowed to perform the functions of the monarch in the event that something happened to her father. And per year Great Victory the future royal persona received the military rank of lieutenant and a working specialty - a driver of a Red Cross car.
As Head of the Nation, Queen Elizabeth II performs an important function of cultural and social significance, ensuring national identity, symbolizing the unity and pride of the nation. It gives the people of the UK a sense of stability and confidence in the future. The ruler of England constantly visits various parts of the United Kingdom. The presence of the Queen is obligatory at solemn ceremonies, dedicated to the Day In memory of those who died in wars, at major sporting events.
Many remember the opening of the London Olympics in 2012 when the Queen appeared in a video with James Bond. The Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, which took place in 1976, were also opened by her as head of state of Canada. Thousands of congratulatory messages for subjects are sent out by the royal office, they are addressed to those who celebrate the centenary and wedding anniversary (60 years). Every year on Christmas Day, Queen Elizabeth II addresses her subjects with a speech.
Do you know that…
The queen does not have a passport. The British passport is issued in the name of Her Majesty, but she cannot issue it to herself. All other members of the royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, hold British passports.
Queen Elizabeth II is the only person in the country who is allowed to drive a car without a driver's license and registration number.
Other official and unofficial titles of the queen: "kotuku" - "white heron" (in the Maori language), "Mrs. Quin" (in the pidgin language in Papua New Guinea). In the Isle of Man she is the Empress of Maine, in the Channel Islands she is the Duchess of Normandy, and in the Duchy of Lancaster she is the Duchess of Lancaster.
Do you know how many thrones Queen Elizabeth II has? There are 9 in total. One is located in the House of Lords, 2 in Westminster Abbey and 6 more are located in Buckingham Palace.
The queen should be above political battles, not publicly expressing her political views and communicating with all the prime ministers of the state with the utmost correctness. This also applies to members of the royal family, so their political views always remain unknown.
Queen Elizabeth II is patron of over 620 charities.
Since William the Conqueror, Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's 40th monarch.
The British Queen has had over 30 Corgis. She received her first dog of this breed, named Susan, as a gift for 18 years. All other pets are descendants of the beloved Susan. The queen unwittingly became the creator of a new breed of dog - the dorgi, which was the result of mixing her corgi with Princess Margaret's dachshund.
In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II sent her first email, and in 1997, the first official royal website was created.
Queen Elizabeth II is also a major employer: about 1,200 people work in royal residences (from kitchen workers to personal secretaries).
Over 3 million letters were received by the Queen of England during her entire reign.
At the moment, Queen Elizabeth II continues to be one of the main symbols of England and the whole of Great Britain. Being in power for more than 65 years, she reliably strengthened the authority of the British monarchy, and also became a real role model and a source of pride for millions of Britons.
and Queen Mary (1867-1953), Princess of Teck, - by father,
Claude George Bowes-Lyon (1855–1944), Earl of Strathmore and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883–1961), by mother.
Early years of Elizabeth II
1. The Queen was born at 2:40 am on April 21, 1926 in London's Mayfair at the residence of the Earl of Strathmore on Brewton Street, house number 17.
2. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, who would go on to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
3. At the time, she was third in the line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) and her father, the Duke of York. But no one expected her father to become a king, much less that she would become a queen.
4. Princess Elizabeth was baptized with the names of Alexander and Mary in the chapel of Buckingham Palace. She was named after her mother, and her two middle names are after her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and her paternal grandmother, Queen Mary.
5. The Princess' early years were spent at 145 Piccadilly, her parents' London home, where they moved shortly after her birth, and at the White House in Richmond Park.
6. When she was six years old, her parents received government positions at the Royal House in Windsor Great Park.
7. Princess Elizabeth was educated at home with Princess Margaret, her younger sister.
8. Elizabeth was personally educated by her father, King George, and also had classes with Henry Marten, vice-rector of Eton. The Archbishop of Canterbury studied religion with her.
9. Princess Elizabeth learned French from French and Belgian governesses. This skill served the Queen well, as she was personally able to take part in conversations with ambassadors and heads of state from French-speaking countries, as well as when visiting French-speaking areas of Canada.
Princess Elizabeth in 1933
10. Princess Elizabeth became a Scout when she was eleven years old and then became a Marine Ranger.
11. In 1940, at the height of the war, the young princesses were moved for their safety to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the war years.
1943 with sister
Women's Auxiliary Territorial Corps: Princess Elizabeth, 2nd Chief of the Department of Internal Affairs, in overalls.
royal romance
12. The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.
13. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip met at the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece and the Duke of Kent, who was Princess Elizabeth's uncle, in 1934.
14. The engagement of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten was announced on July 9, 1947. Prince Philip at birth received the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. He joined the Navy in 1939 and after the war, in February 1947, he became a British citizen. Prince Philip had to choose a surname in order to continue his career in the Royal Navy and he adopted the surname of his mother's British relatives, Mountbatten. At the wedding, King George VI elevated him to the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
15. Royal wedding rings were decorated with platinum and encrusted with diamonds by jeweler Philip Antrobus. He used diamonds from a diadem belonging to the mother of Prince Philip in jewelry.
16. Prince Philip had two bachelor parties before the wedding: the first - official in Dorchester, which included invited guests from the press, and the second - with close friends at the Belfrey club.
17. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947 at 11:30 am. The celebration was attended by 2000 invited guests.
Video: "Wedding" Bridesmaid dresses were made in the same style. They were made from cheaper materials (also purchased with coupons), but due to the embroidery and interesting design, they looked decent.
Princess Margaret as a bridesmaid at Queen Elizabeth's wedding
Princess Alexandra of Kent as a bridesmaid at the Queen's wedding
18. Elizabeth had eight bridesmaids: Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Lady Caroline Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lady Mary Cambridge, Lady Elizabeth Lambert, Pamela Mountbatten, Margaret Elphinstone, Diana Bowes-Lyon.
19. Also in attendance at the wedding were HRH Prince William of Gloucester (aged five) and HRH Prince Michael of Kent (also aged five).
20. The Queen's wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell.
21. The fabric for the dress was specially made by "Winterthur Silks Limited" in Dunfermline, at the Canmore factory. For its manufacture, threads of Chinese silkworms were delivered from China. Garlands of orange fleur (the emblem of virginity), jasmine (the emblem of happiness, purity, sincerity) and the white rose of York (white rose means purity) were embroidered with small pearls and crystal rhinestones located all over the dress.
22. The queen's veil was made of light sheer fabric and topped with a diamond tiara. This tiara (which can be worn as a necklace) was made for Queen Mary in 1919. The diamonds from which it is made are taken from a necklace and tiara purchased by Queen Victoria from Collingwood and a wedding gift for Queen Mary in 1893. In August 1936, Queen Mary gave the tiara to Queen Elizabeth when she was still Princess Elizabeth for a future wedding.
Elizabeth "borrowed" the tiara from her mother. An hour before the celebration in the hands of the bride, the tiara broke in half and had to wait for the jeweler, who urgently repaired it.
23. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Abbey is the only stone that is not covered with a special cover. The day after the wedding, Princess Elizabeth, following the royal tradition begun by her mother, sent the bridal bouquet back to the abbey, where flowers were laid on the grave.
24. The bride's engagement ring was made from a Welsh gold nugget shipped from the Clogau St David mine near Dolgello.
25. About 10 thousand congratulatory telegrams were received at Buckingham Palace, and the royal couple received more than 2,500 wedding gifts from well-wishers around the world.
26. In addition to jewelry, the couple received many useful items for the kitchen and home from close relatives, including salt shakers from the Queen Mother, a bookcase from Queen Mary, and a picnic set from Princess Margaret.
27. "Wedding Breakfast" (lunch) was held after the wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in the Round Dining Room at Buckingham Palace. The menu included filet de Sole Mountbatten, Pedro casserole, Princess Elizabeth ice cream.
28. On their honeymoon, the couple left Waterloo Station with the princess's dog, Susan.
29. The newlyweds spent their wedding night in Hampshire, at the home of Prince Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten. The second part of the honeymoon took place in Birkhall, on the Balmoral estate.
30. In early 1948, the couple rented their first family home, Windlensham Moor, in Surrey, near Windsor Castle, where they remained until they moved into Clarence House on July 4, 1949.
31. After marrying Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh continued his naval career, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander in command of the frigate HMS Magpie.
32. Although he was the husband of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh was not crowned or anointed at the coronation ceremony in 1953. He was the first to pay respect and take the oath to Her Majesty. He kissed the newly crowned Queen with the words: "I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will be your vassal in sickness and in health, I will serve you faithfully, with honor and respect, until death. May God help me."
Herbert James Gunn Coronation Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
33. Prince Philip accompanied the Queen on all her travels to Commonwealth countries and state visits, as well as to state events and meetings in all parts of the UK. The first of these was the Commonwealth Coronation Tour from November 1953 to May 1954, in which the couple visited Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, the Cocos Islands, Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar, having traveled a distance of 43.618 kilometers.
34. The coronation took place at Westinster Abbey on June 2, 1953. The ceremony was officiated by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury.
35. The coronation was broadcast in every part of London, on the navy, in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Sketch by Norman Hartnell for the coronation dress of Elizabeth II
Coronation dress by Norman Hartnell
Joan Hassell. Prince Charles invitation, 1953
36. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Philip, have four children: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (b. 1948), Princess Anne, (b. 1950), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960) and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b. 1964).
37. With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, the Queen became the first reigning monarch to have a child since Queen Victoria, whose youngest child, Princess Beatrice, was born in 1857.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (b. 1948)
Princess Anne, (b. 1950)
The Queen with son Charles and daughter Anne, 1954
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cornwall and Prince ss Anne October 1957
Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960)
Queen Elizabeth II's two youngest children, Princes Andrew and Edward.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b. 1964)
Prince Edward and Princess Sophie
38. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh Philip have eight grandchildren -
Peter Phillips (b. 1977)
Zara Phillips (b. 1981)
Prince William (b. 1982)
Prince Harry (b. 1984),
Princess Beatrice (b. 1988),
Princess Eugenie (b. 1990),
Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003)
and James, Viscount Severns (b. 2007),
has a great-granddaughter - Savannah (born in 2011) and great-grandson Prince George of Cambridge (2013)
The Queen and Prince Philip pose with their grandchildren (l-r) William, Harry, Zara and her brother Peter (back row) in a warm portrait sent out for Christmas 1987
Speeches of the Queen of England
39. The Queen televises a Christmas message every year except in 1969, when she decided the royals had had enough on television after an unprecedented documentary about her family. Her greeting took the form of a written address.
40. In a 1991 message, the Queen dismissed rumors of an abdication, as she pledged to continue her service.
41. The Queen issued an injunction against The Sun in 1992 after it published the full text of her speech two days before it was broadcast. She later accepted an apology and a £200,000 donation to charity.
42. The Queen's grandfather, King George V, was the first of the royal family to speak live on the radio from Sandringham on Christmas Day in 1932.
43. George V was at first against the use of wireless devices for transmitting information, but eventually agreed.
44. There was no Christmas broadcast in 1936 and 1938.
45. In 2010, the Queen's speech was broadcast from Hampton Court Palace - the first time a historic building was used.
46. Each speech is written personally by the Queen, each has a strict religious framework, reflects current issues and is often based on her own experience.
Interests and hobbies
48. An animal lover since childhood, the Queen has a keen and very knowledgeable interest in horses. As an owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds, she often comes to watch races to see how her horses are doing on the run, and often attends equestrian events.
49. Elizabeth II took part in the derby, one of the classic races in the UK, and the Ascot summer race, which has become royal since 1911.
50. The Queen's horses have won several races at Royal Ascot. Notable was the double victory on June 18, 1954, when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion named Halo won the Hardwicke Stakes, and in 1957 the Queen had four winners during the race.
Zara Philips, Princess Ahn and Elizabeth II
In her young grandchildren (children of Prince Edward), Elizabeth II also encourages horses.
51. Other interests include walks in nature and in the countryside. The Queen also loves to walk with her Labradors, which were specially bred in Sandgreenham.
52. Less well known is the Queen's interest in Scottish dance. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, the Queen hosts a dance known as the "Gillis Ball" for neighbors, estate owners, castle employees and members of the local community.
53. The Queen is the only person in the UK who can drive without a license or registration number in her car. And she doesn't have a passport.
54. The Queen is the patron of over 600 charities.
55. To formally greet the queen, men should bow their heads slightly, while women make a small curtsy. When introduced to the Queen, the proper formal address is "Your Majesty" followed by "Ma'am".
Leisure Queen
56. Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth English monarch since William the Conqueror.
57. She has traveled to Australia 15 times, Canada 23 times, Jamaica 6 times and New Zealand 10 times.
58. Her Majesty sent about 100,000 telegrams to centenarians in the UK and Commonwealth countries.
59. The Queen dined on 23 ships and interacted with five astronauts at Buckingham Palace.
60. She made her first airplane flight in July 1945.
61. Her Majesty is the only British monarch in history who knows how to change spark plugs.
62. On VE Day, the Queen and her sister Princess Margaret slipped in the crowd during the celebration.
63. For a wedding dress, the Queen collected coupons for clothes.
64. The Queen has a bank account at Coutts & Co.
65. The Queen celebrated her golden jubilee in 2002 by visiting 70 cities and towns across the UK.
66. Tony Blair was the first prime minister to be born during her reign, which has already seen nine prime ministers before him.
67. The Queen attended 91 state banquets and posed for 139 official portraits.
68. Formally, the Queen of England still owns sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the water throughout the UK, which are recognized as "King's Fish". In addition, she owns all wild flocks of swans living in open water.
69. The Queen developed a new breed of dog known as "dorgi" when one of the corgis was bred to a dachshund named Pipkin.
70. The Queen is the first British monarch to see three child divorces.
71. Her Majesty demoted a footman for serving whiskey to her corgi.
72. The Queen has nine Royal Thrones: one in the House of Lords, two in Westminster Abbey and six in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.
73. She is a patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. One of the queen's birds is called the Sandringham Lightning.
74. There have been six Archbishops of Canterbury during the Queen's reign.
75. The height of the Queen is 5 feet 4 inches or 160 centimeters.
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