What do you call a person who does not have a passport and does not need it? And if he does not have a driver's license, again, without needing one?

Shrug your shoulders: you never know the inhabitants of New Guinea, the Amazonian selva, ordinary vagrants live like this ...

Let's narrow down the search: this person, not embarrassed by his age, famously drives one of his two favorite cars on his estates, his profile is sometimes minted on the coins of 35 countries.

Didn't guess the answer? Let's solemnly call the name/position: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Is it possible to separate the UK and the monarchy? If people are ready to live in a tent in the open air of a London street for two or three days, with children, for the sake of being able to see the passage of the wedding royal carriage for a minute, it turns out: for citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in addition to football, cricket, Magna Carta (it already 803) there is a higher priority - the monarchy. The opinion is confirmed by gambling “sickness” for planned / unscheduled events that occur in the royal family: from birthdays, weddings to scandals, divorces.

Elizabeth II a few decades ago became the world-famous brand of Great Britain and the entire Commonwealth, which has existed since 1931 and now includes five dozen countries. Can an unsuccessful project exist for so long?

The “reigning but not ruling” queen has many duties, serious powers, some of which are traditionally not applied. Elizabeth II (the head of the country, commander in chief of all armed forces) has the right to veto legislative acts adopted by Parliament; can please parliament with an extraordinary session; can overclock it (sorry, dissolve) by setting the date for early elections 1 . Plus, the Queen of Great Britain, being the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, expands the “soft influence” of the country (linguistic, cultural, scientific) almost a third of the modern countries of the world.

Of course, the British Prime Minister (in her lifetime, Elizabeth II fruitfully collaborated with thirteen; a similar number of US presidents; seven Popes) has full executive power, a similar responsibility, being the most important civil servant of Great Britain. They come and go, but monarchs reign - and indirectly rule.

How was the childhood and youth of the future Queen of Great Britain?

A positive example of a father influences children correctly. The young heiress to the throne, brought up at home, observing the responsible attitude of her father - King George VI - to his royal duties (which he not sought), was a disciplined, punctual, attentive, diligent child. Scattering toys/clothes was unfamiliar to her; even sweets she could lay out strictly according to the color scheme of the wrapper.

However, it should be noted cases of disobedience of Elizabeth (who was called Lilibet at home) to her parental will. The first heir to the throne refused to go to Scotland/Canada at the outbreak of hostilities, away from the bombings, because her parents, the king and queen, considered it indecent to leave their people in trouble. The king denied the heiress a job as a London nurse; in February 1945 (date of birth - 04/21/1926) she joined the ranks of ATS 2, becoming Lieutenant Elizabeth Windsor; service life was five months 3 .

Marriage, the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth 2

Does etiquette provide for a small slice of love when concluding crowned marriages? Rather not, but Lilibet, who has been corresponding with her fourth cousin Philip for five years, wished just that.

In 1922, the King of Greece abdicated; together with his relatives was expelled from the country. The one-year-old son of the king's brother, Prince Andrew - Philip - ended up in Paris, in 1928 he moved to London.

A high-born aristocrat, the grandson of the King of Denmark, the son of the Prince of Greece Philip deigned to arrive in the UK by special transport (we are talking about a box in which oranges traveled comfortably in front of him). After leaving school in 1939-40, he graduated from the Royal Naval College (Dartmouth), received the rank of midshipman, went through World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant.

In 1946, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark turned to King George VI, asking for permission to marry the heir to the throne. The royal family was against (non-compliance with the requirements - a ruined family that lost power ...), but Lilibet was "for"; this turned out to be enough.

Philip had to

• give up existing titles;
• become Mountbatten (an anglicized version of the mother's surname);
• accept British citizenship;
• accept Anglicanism (was baptized in Greek Orthodoxy);
• most respectfully accept the titles bestowed by King George VI before the marriage, which made him Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron of Greenwich.

The Duke and Princess were married on 11/20/1947 (61 years ago), the place of the ceremony was Westminster Abbey Fr. The wedding was one of the most lavish in history; at the same time - the first, broadcast on television, which contributed to the popularity of the newlyweds.

Probably, it will not work to call their married life ideal: the Duke of Edinburgh was a rather proud and obstinate husband, so the preservation of the marriage is, first of all, the merit of the loving queen.

The first child who made the spouses a family - Prince Charles, heir to the throne - was born on 11/14/1948, his sister, Princess Anna - 08/15/1950.

After that, the time of testing came: on February 6, 1952, the king died of lung cancer; Lilibet was proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The official coronation took place on 06/02/1953, and two months before that, the grandmother of Elizabeth II, Queen Mary, died of cancer. Her last will was to hold the coronation at the appointed time, without taking into account the declared mourning.

The beginning of the reign was not easy - the coming and going of prime ministers, the growing unrest in the colonies, the high level of expectations of subjects. The queen was able to comprehend the incredible complexity of royal duties, to overcome then (and later) the most difficult problems.

Already "under the crown" Elizabeth gave birth to two more sons - Princes Andrew (02/19/1960) and Edward (03/10/1964) 5 .

Elizabeth's lifestyle and habits 2

Is the royal title a symbol of idleness? The Queen of Great Britain has been working every day for over 66 years of reign; the exception is the main holiday of the Nativity of Christ in Western Europe, which a large family - the royal couple, three sons and a daughter, numerous grandchildren (eight!), great-grandchildren (five, but there will be more) celebrates together.

The red briefcase is a container of various documents (including data from special services and intelligence) that Elizabeth II receives by nine in the morning every day; some of them require her signature. This information greatly contributes to the weekly professional communication of the monarch with the next prime minister.

The Queen is still fond of riding and car riding, in the first case - without a jockey helmet, in the second - without wearing a belt. Fishing also enjoys her favor. A family royal hobby can be called pheasant hunting (from October to November), whose chickens are specially bred for this purpose on estates. Let's clarify: men shoot, women are only present. Pheasants are served at the royal table for three to four months, then thawed and fed to hunting dogs. It’s time to howl from such a dog’s life ...

The queen is not a supporter of exotic food, preferring game, fish, vegetables, fruits from her own estates; drinks a cocktail before dinner (gin + vermouth) 6 .

Elizabeth II also pays hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxes on her private property - voluntarily, since the law does not provide for this 7 .

The Queen of Great Britain and the heirs to the throne

The eldest son of the royal couple, Prince Charles, is not a stupid person, but his line of behavior often resembles an offended teenager who was promised, but never handed over the desired toy - the royal crown. Since he celebrated his 70th birthday a month ago, he is unlikely to want to change his behavior.

Recently, on 04/20/2018, the leaders of the countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations approved the candidacy of Prince Charles for the role of head of the Commonwealth 8 . However, he refuses to accept the main rule: the royal mission is service for the good of one's own country, maintaining a polite smile under all circumstances. His desire is to to him allowed to impose their own point of view on fellow citizens. Question: will such an heir be allowed to rule, if so, for how many days? After all, it will take a diligent prince a little time to destroy the sacred meaning of the monarchy ...

Next in line is the grandson-heir, Prince William. Is he ready to keep his posture under the weight of the crown? The attitude of his subjects towards him is quite favorable; he seems to be associated with his mother, Princess Diana, and not with an unpopular father. Most likely, the roles have already been distributed, but a couple of years will have to wait for the final resolution of the situation. Perhaps it will be very unexpected.

Elizabeth II recently complained about the weight of the crown (1.3 kg), which is becoming unsafe for her health 9 . It is impossible to raise / lower the head in it, since the mentioned movement is fraught with a dislocation of the neck (at best).

Let's put forward a fruitful idea: the first persons of even one hundred percent republican countries, in order to raise personal / state authority, should wear crowns of precious metals encrusted with diamonds / rubies / sapphires, weighing one and a half kilograms, every year, and every year a “headdress” should be weighted by 200-500 grams. Restrictions on tenure in elective office can be safely canceled as unnecessary. True, this threatens to increase the cost of the burial of the "leaders of the nations." But what will you not do for the sake of the continuous prosperity of the country ...

Elizabeth II in October 1942

“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 British Republicans, but also by various British media, as well as by the general 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 of the British armed forces.

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.

Princess Elizabeth with her pet, July 1936

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

The 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 the military rank of 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 uniform) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (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 the 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 marriage. 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.

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.

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.

Meeting of Elizabeth II with the heads of the Commonwealth countries in 1960

In the 1960s, the Queen of England made her historic visit to West Berlin at the height of the Cold War, and also invited 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, which necessarily cover 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.

.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were photographed with penguins at the London Zoo. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Around 1938

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: in the vicinity of 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", directed by Edmund Coulthard, Patrick Reams). The Queen at different periods of her life was played by 5 actresses: 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

Statue of Elizabeth II in Ottawa, Parliament Hill, Canada

Statue in Regina, Saskatchewan, erected in 2005

Statue in Windsor Great Park

Photo gallery

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose (1930-2002) with their parents at the Boy Scout parade at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. (Photo: / Getty Images). 1932

King George and Queen Elizabeth with Princesses Elizabeth (center) and Margaret and members of the royal family in full uniform on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation, May 12, 1937.

The Queen, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose and Royal Archers, 1937

Princess Elizabeth with a pony in Windsor Park, Berkshire. Photo taken April 21, 1939

King George VI with his wife, Queen Elizabeth and children, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at Royal Lodge, Windsor, April 11, 1942. (Photo: Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images)

Princess Elizabeth travels from Buckingham Palace in London to the Horse Guards parade wearing a military hat with the emblem of the Grenadier Guards. (Photo: Getty Images). June 12, 1947

Queen Elizabeth II parade in Central London, June 7, 1952. (Photo: William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth in the park of Buckingham Palace. 1939

Princess Elizabeth, March 1945

With newborn Prince Charles, December 1948

Princess Elizabeth with her son Prince Charles. September 1950

Queen Elizabeth II on her way to Westminster to preside over the Opening of Parliament after her accession to the throne, November 4, 1952

Princess Anne at her mother's coronation

The Queen with her newborn son Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace. March 1960

In 1960, the Queen had a second son, Prince Andrew, and in 1964, a third son, Prince Edward.

The love story of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

A lot is written about Queen Elizabeth, but her husband is always kind of in the shadows.

As a girl, she never imagined that she would become a queen. But as a result of the crisis of the British monarchy, when Edward VIII preferred to abdicate for the sake of love for the objectionable American court, Wallis Simpson, in 1936 his brother George VI, Elizabeth's father, was on the throne. And on February 6, 1952, at the age of 25, after the unexpected death of George, Elizabeth was proclaimed queen.

As the head of state, she is accustomed to constantly being in the public eye, protecting the age-old traditions of the country. Each of her days is scheduled to the minute, she is interested in everything that happens around, keeping her finger on the pulse of events. For most people on earth, she is a symbol of Great Britain, and they cannot imagine a country without her. But who is the person who always and everywhere accompanies Elizabeth, being one step behind her? Her husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is the man who won the Queen's heart once and for all.

Elizabeth II married five years before her accession to the throne.

Her chosen one Philip Mountbatten (who later became the Duke of Edinburgh) was born on the island of Corfu and was a descendant of the Danish-Greek royal family. His grandfather was assassinated in 1913, his uncle Constantine was dethroned in 1917, and his cousin George II abdicated in 1923.

Philip's family was expelled from Greece when he was only a year old, and, according to some accounts, he came to Britain in an orange box. As an adult, Prince Philip forever gave up the opportunity to take the Greek throne, taking English citizenship.

If you imagine an ideal prince, then the image of the Duke of Edinburgh should appear before the eyes of any romantic girl. They say that his beauty possessed such an all-conquering power that women fainted from one look of him.

Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark

Prince Philip with parents and sisters

The princess fell in love with the young Philip at the age of 13 - for the first time and for the rest of her life.
While traveling on their parent's yacht, Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret met an 18-year-old handsome midshipman of the Royal Naval College in Dortmoor. Philip, having played croquet with the girls, safely forgot about the acquaintance.

Philip was educated by his uncle, who paid for his studies at a private British school, and later at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. It was there that in July 1939, during the visit of George VI with the family of thirteen-year-old Elizabeth, she first managed to communicate with her second cousin, cadet Philip. The uncle of the young man, officer of the Royal Navy Dickey Mountbatten, along with his nephew were invited to tea with the royal family. Even then, the princess's governess remarked that "Lilibet could not take her eyes off him." Which, however, was not at all surprising: the 18-year-old prince was a tall, handsome blond, and even beautifully built.

But the young British princess, having played only one game with him, fell in love recklessly. She waited for her chosen one for six whole years, although the entire royal family did not approve of her falling in love. The grandfather king did not really like this candidacy for Elizabeth's chosen ones.
After all, Lieutenant Mountbatten, now His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh Philip, although he was not a commoner, but came from an impoverished and long-lost dynasty.

The party was not brilliant ... Grandfather did not like the fact that Elizabeth made a hasty choice and settled on the very first young man whom she had barely met.

And besides, the princess and the prince were second cousins ​​- Queen Victoria was their great-great-grandmother. The royal family believed that the young Elizabeth needed to think carefully and make a more informed decision.

However, the princess had no intention of giving up her childhood dreams, she was still in love, and it was not in her nature to retreat.

According to rumors, Elizabeth, like her legendary great-great-grandmother Victoria, herself proposed to her future husband.
In any case, there is no information in the archives of the royal family confirming that the prince made a marriage proposal.

After the death of his father, Philip finally moved to London and became a frequent visitor to Buckingham Palace. During the war, he went to the front, continuing to send Elizabeth long and tender letters. And in the summer of forty-six, he proposed to the princess, which she immediately accepted, without even consulting her parents. Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) and George VI did not hide the fact that they would like a better party for their daughter. Philip's father, Prince Andrew, left his son neither a fortune nor land holdings - nothing but a pedigree and a signet ring, which the duke still wears without taking off. However, George and Elizabeth relented, blessing their daughter's marriage.

The title of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was conferred on Philip by King George V on the eve of his marriage. The wedding of Elizabeth was the first and only case in British history of the marriage of the alleged heir to the throne.
The wedding ceremony of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh took place at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947.

Eight bridesmaids were adorned with miniature wreaths of white satin and brocade with silver thread, made by Jac Ltd of London.

The wedding ceremony of Princess Elizabeth and Philip began at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947 at 11:30 GMT. Near the abbey gathered tens of thousands of people who wanted to see the princess in her wedding dress. As expected, the father accompanied the bride to the altar. She wore an ivory satin dress embroidered with thousands of pearls and crystal beads. It took the court fashion designer Sir Norman Harnell several months to create it.

The five-meter veil was carried by two pages: Princes Michael of Kent and William. The veil was adorned with lace and held on to her head by a diamond tiara that belonged to her mother. The Queen Mother received the tiara from her mother, Queen Mary, who in turn inherited it as a wedding gift from Queen Victoria. After the wedding, Philip joined the Admiralty and received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

The newlyweds began to lead an active social life. They often went to races in Ascot and Epson (horses have always been the Queen's main passion, besides, she herself is an excellent rider),

together they appeared at receptions, went to dances, without denying themselves anything.

On November 14, 1948, Elizabeth gave birth to a boy, Charles Philip Arthur George. Soon the duke was appointed first lieutenant of the mission in the Mediterranean, in Malta.

Elizabeth followed her husband. They were given to each other. The princess was engaged in the fact that she led the house, communicated with the wives of other officers, gathering with them for 5 o'clock tea with scones and orange jam. “I think she was happy just being a wife,” recalls her cousin Marguerite Rhodes. “Then she managed to feel what an ordinary life is.”
After Philip's mission ended, Elizabeth returned to London already six months pregnant. Soon she gave birth to a daughter - Anna Elizabeth Alice Louise.

But the happiness was not complete: members of the royal family were concerned about the rapidly deteriorating health of King George VI. In February 1952, he died from a blood clot in his heart. Philip was the first to know of his death. At this time, he and Elizabeth were touring Kenya, and he knew that this news would be a real shock for his wife. Philip has always been the main support for his wife. And he also became the first who, traditionally bowing the knee, swore an oath of allegiance to his queen: “I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, become your lifelong vassal and lowest servant; I promise to serve you faithfully and die for you, no matter what happens. God help me!"

The coronation of Elizabeth II was the most democratic in the history of England. The Queen insisted on broadcasting on British television, arguing that "People have to see me to believe me."

Immediately after the ceremony, the couple went on a trip around the world, which lasted almost six months. In the history of the British monarchy, such a grandiose journey was the first. Philip left the service, he accompanied his wife everywhere and tried to be her faithful assistant and adviser in public affairs.

However, not everything was rosy in their family life. After the death of George VI, Philip's uncle, Dickey, raised the issue that the House of Mountbatten should henceforth be the ruling house, and not Windsore - a statement that was received with hostility by the Queen Mother Elizabeth and Queen Mary. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was also against it.

Elizabeth listened to the wise and experienced Churchill and refused to take her husband's surname. “I am the only person in the entire United Kingdom who cannot give his last name to his own children,” Philip lamented. The mockery of the courtiers pretty annoyed the duke, and he reacted to them quite sharply. Meanwhile, the young queen had less and less time for her children and her husband, and a certain detachment appeared in their relationship.

However, Philip soon managed to find a job to his liking and his place in society. He began to do charity work, and quite successfully. His focus is on sports, youth, environmental protection and education. In the spring of 1959, the Queen became pregnant again. This time she decided to reconsider the question of her last name, changing it to Mountbatten. She wanted to please her husband, whom she continued to love immensely. The result of a long discussion was that Charles and Anna would remain Windsor, while the rest of the heirs would bear the “compromise” surname Mountbatten-Windsor. So, in February 1960, the second son of the royal couple, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was born. Elizabeth, as a sign of her devotion to her husband, named the boy in honor of his father, Philip Andrey.

And in 1964 - Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Nince Andrew, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Charles.

Being the husband of a reigning queen is an unenviable "position".
As the Duke of Edinburgh Philip himself jokes, according to English laws, he does not seem to exist.

In Great Britain, the husband of the reigning queen does not become king, but remains a prince consort.
Thus, Philip of Edinburgh has never been and never will be crowned.
He is a private person and is doomed to be in the shadows.

So what helped the Queen and Duke to keep the family together, living together until the diamond wedding, which they celebrated in 2007 in Malta? Robert Lacey, biographer of Elizabeth II, sees the secret of a successful marriage in the fact that “each of them had an unspoken right to their own private life separate from their spouse. I would call this style "family confederation". It is clear that Prince Philip should accompany his wife wherever she appears, but the queen has always had the right to her own interests.

In official life, he is always one step behind the Queen. At home, however, the Prince Consort was always the head of the family. It is he who makes all the most important family decisions, it is he who decides which school to send the children to study. The late Lord Mountbatten told me a wonderful story about this. Early in their marriage, the Queen and Prince Philip came to visit him in Hampshire. Once the three of them were driving in a car driven by Philip. The Queen sat next to her husband in the front seat. Every time he took a corner where he hardly slowed down, the queen would hold her breath and then exhale loudly.

Finally, Philip got tired of this, and he said to his wife: “If you repeat this again, I will put you out of the car!”. Then Lord Mountbatten turned to her and said, "My dear, you are a queen, how can you let him treat you like that?" But this rudeness did not bother the queen: “He is my husband. I know that if I say one word, he will actually throw me out of the car.” Indeed, Philip treats Elizabeth not only as a queen, but also as a woman, wife and mother of his children. And perhaps this contrast between the position of the queen in society and the family made her so happy all this time.

As for the personal relationship of Elizabeth II with her husband, then, unfortunately, the handsome prince turned out to be not such a wonderful husband.

Queen Elizabeth's family relations were far from serene: there are rumors that the Duke of Edinburgh has illegitimate children, and Philip's relationship with the Queen's cousin Alexandra once turned into a national scandal.

However, Queen Elizabeth II never commented on her husband's actions, at least not publicly.
At one time, she showed all her tact and managed to maintain the disturbed balance in the family.

And it saved her marriage.
Elizabeth undividedly recognized the authority of her husband in family affairs, and Philip became a reliable support in the performance of her royal duties.

british royal family

In 1997, Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh Philip celebrated their golden wedding.

And on November 20, 2007, the royal couple celebrated the 60th anniversary of their marriage - a diamond wedding.

Thus, their marriage is the longest in the history of the British monarchy, and Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding.

A solemn ceremony in honor of the anniversary was held at Westminster Abbey on November 19, 2007.
The service dedicated to the celebration was attended by 2000 guests.

Among them were five choristers who sang sixty years ago at the wedding ceremony of Elizabeth and Philip, as well as 10 couples who celebrated the diamond wedding on the same day as the royal couple.

Three generations of the British royal family:
Queen Elizabeth And The Duke Of Edinburgh,
Prince of Wales Charles and Prince William

And as Antoine de Saint-Exupery says in The Planet of the People:
"To love is not to look at each other, to love is to look together in the same direction."

I really like this photo, it perfectly reflects the character of Prince Philip. The queen's husband casually dropped another branded joke and the strict policeman almost bursts with laughter, trying to stay at attention. And the Prince himself, at 91, as if nothing had happened, walks through the cold to the church after a protracted illness, when the queen went there by car. Philip is accompanied only by the groom. That's all he is.

In my opinion, Philip is one of the brightest and most worthy members of the royal family. They don't make those anymore.

He is the oldest current head of state in the world.

The reign of Elizabeth II covered a very wide period of British and world history. 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. Under Elizabeth II, Britain entered and left the European Union. Among other events of this period, it is worth noting the Falklands War, the participation of Great Britain in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under these conditions, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige and popularity of the British monarchy.

Elizabeth received a good education at home, mostly in the humanities - she studied the history of the constitution, jurisprudence, religious studies, art history, and also (virtually independently) French. From a young age, Elizabeth was interested in horses and practiced horseback riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.

At birth, Elizabeth became the Princess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle and father. Since Prince Edward was young enough to be 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 January 1936. Prince Albert (George VI) became king, and 10-year-old Elizabeth became heir to the throne and moved with her parents from Kensington Palace to Buckingham Palace. At the same time, she remained in the status of "heir presumptive" ("supposed heir"), and if George VI had a son, he would have inherited the throne.

“I want to make one statement now. Very simple. I declare before you all that my whole life, whether long or short, will be dedicated to serving you and that great empire to which we all belong."

In May 1948, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip made their first official visit abroad, to Paris.

In early 1952, Princess Elizabeth and Philip went on a visit to the Commonwealth countries, which was interrupted by the death of the king.

On April 24, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II granted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill membership in the Knight's Order of the Garter, which gave him the right to the title "sir".

After that, in November 1953 - May 1954. the queen undertook a six-month tour of the Commonwealth states, British colonies, and elsewhere in the world. Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand. In addition, she visited Fiji, Tonga, Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Cocos Islands, Ceylon, Yemen (Aden), Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar, having traveled 43,618 kilometers.

November 22 - December 8, 1956 in Melbourne, Australia, the XVI Olympic Games were held, which were opened by the husband of Elizabeth II, Prince Philip.

Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Edinburgh Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne in October 1957

In May 1957, the Queen received the former First Lady and widow of the 32nd US President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, at Buckingham Palace.

In October of the same year, Elizabeth made her first visits to the United States and Canada as Queen of Canada. During these visits, she spoke at a session of the UN General Assembly, met with the current US President Dwight Eisenhower and former US President Herbert Hoover (was US President in 1929-1933), and also attended the opening of the 23rd session of the Canadian Parliament (for the first time in history with the participation of the British monarch).

On December 25, 1957, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to congratulate subjects on Christmas on television (since 1932, monarchs have congratulated subjects on the radio).

In 1958, Elizabeth II was the first in the UK to make a trunking call (automatic distribution of communication channels between subscribers).

On June 5, 1961, Elizabeth II received the Kennedy couple at Buckingham Palace - US President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline.

On July 15, 1961, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain received the first cosmonaut in the world, Yuri Gagarin, at Buckingham Palace. In honor of him, a lunch was arranged, which was attended by the Queen herself, her husband Philip and their children - Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew (he was only a year old at that time), as well as Prince Philip's uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten and the Queen's sister Princess Margaret.

In July 1976, Elizabeth II solemnly opened (as Queen of Canada) XXI Olympic Games in Montreal, and even before their opening, she went on a visit to the United States, where she met with American President Gerald Ford and took part in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of US independence.

In May 1977, Elizabeth II received US President Jimmy Carter at Buckingham Palace.

On June 8, 1982, the Queen received US President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy at Windsor Castle.

In October 1986, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip paid an official visit to socialist China, where they met with the country's leader Deng Xiaoping. This was the first visit to China by a British monarch.

In November 1992, Elizabeth II received Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin in London.

On October 17-20, 1994, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited Russia on her only state visit. During the visit, the Queen of Great Britain visited such historical and cultural places of Moscow and St. Petersburg as the State Hermitage Museum, leaving an entry in the book of honored guests of the museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Moscow classical gymnasium No. 20, the Moscow Kremlin, Red Square, the center for the rehabilitation of children - Disabled Research Institute of Prosthetics. G. Albrecht, Bolshoi Theater, and also opened a memorial stone at the construction site of the new building of the British Embassy in Moscow.

In the same year, the Queen visited the British Mosque for the first time - the Islamic center in Scunthorpe (Lincolnshire). In addition, Elizabeth II became the first member of the royal family to receive a gold disc: the recording of the “Party in the Palace” concert, arranged in honor of the 50th anniversary of her reign, sold 100,000 copies.

On November 20, 2007, Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding (60 years), and on December 20 of the same year, the Queen became the oldest British monarch in history, overtaking her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria (1819-1901).

In October 2011, the Queen paid an official visit to Australia.

On December 25, 2012, the Queen's Christmas speech was televised, broadcast for the first time in 3D.

In 2013, for the first time in 40 years, Elizabeth II 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, which testifies to the gradual transfer of Elizabeth's powers to her son.

On September 9, 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning ruler of Britain in its history.

In April 2016, the Queen's 90th birthday was solemnly celebrated in the UK. In honor of this, Elizabeth II sent her message on Twitter to those who congratulated her on her birthday.

In February 2017, the Sapphire Jubilee was celebrated in Britain, which marked the 65th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II. To this date, the Royal Mint issued a series of coins with the Queen's profile into circulation.

On November 20, 2017, Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip became the first royal couple to celebrate their 70th platinum wedding anniversary.

On April 20, 2018, Commonwealth leaders announced that the Queen's successor as head of the Commonwealth would be her son, Prince Charles.

On May 19, 2018, the wedding of Prince Harry (the second grandson of Elizabeth II) and Meghan Markle took place in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

June 2, 2018 marks the 65th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. By this date, a commemorative investment gold coin of 10 pounds was put into circulation, on both sides of which the profile of the queen is depicted. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their first child - Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who became the eighth great-grandson of Elizabeth II and Prince Consort Philip.

In accordance with the British tradition of a parliamentary monarchy, Elizabeth II performs mainly representative functions, with little or no influence on the government of the country. However, during her reign, she successfully maintains the authority of the British monarchy. Her duties include visiting various countries on diplomatic visits, receiving ambassadors, meeting with high-ranking government officials (especially with the prime minister), reading annual messages to parliament, presenting awards, knighting, and more. Also, the queen daily looks through the main British newspapers and, with the help of servants, answers some letters that are sent to her in huge quantities (200-300 pieces daily). At the same time, there is a practice that every day several letters are selected at random and read to the queen, and in this case she personally dictates the answers to them. In addition, there are other forms of communication between the queen and her subjects. For example, since 1956, small informal dinners of the queen and her spouse with prominent people have been practiced (usually 6-8 guests and 2 courtiers are present). In general, under Elizabeth, the forms of communication between the monarch and his subjects became much more diverse than under her predecessors, which was facilitated by the development of information technology. It was under her that the British monarchy acquired pages on Facebook. If the mandatory weekly meeting cannot take place, then the Queen and the Prime Minister communicate over a dedicated telephone line protected from eavesdropping.

Apparently, these meetings play a prominent role in the decision-making process. In her memoirs, Margaret Thatcher wrote of her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth:

Anyone who thinks that they [meetings] are a mere formality or social convention is deeply mistaken. In fact, they take place in a relaxed business atmosphere, and Her Majesty always demonstrates her ability to cover a wide range of issues and her wide experience.

The Queen is more knowledgeable on most matters than meets the eye. In addition, the Queen has regular meetings with other Commonwealth ministers and prime ministers when they are in the UK on a visit. Also, during her stay in Scotland, she meets with the First Minister of Scotland. British ministries and diplomatic missions send her regular reports.

Throughout her time on the throne, the Queen maintained correct relations with all prime ministers. At the same time, she always remained true to the tradition of the English kings of modern times - to be above political fights. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth II should not publicly express her political likes or dislikes. She has always carried out this rule, acting not in public - 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, with no clear mechanism for electing a leader in the Conservative Party, it was up to the Queen to decide whom to entrust with the formation of a government after the resignations of Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan. In 1957, Anthony Eden refused to advise the Queen on whom to appoint as his successor, and she turned to Winston Churchill for advice, as the only Conservative prime minister alive at the time (following the precedent followed by the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law in 1923 by King George V consulted Lord Salisbury's father and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour). In 1963, Harold Macmillan himself advised to appoint 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, according to which she should not take any important decisions without the advice of her ministers and privy councillors.

Although it is customary that the Queen does not interfere in politics, but 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.

Also, 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 duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives). For example, she can reject the candidacy of the prime minister (which seems unsuitable to her) and so on. These prerogatives are not always a mere formality. For example, the prerogative "the right to consult, the right to encourage and warn" is expressed in the fact that Elizabeth receives a number of documents for study, which the Privy Council collects for her. These papers are brought to the palace daily at 7 pm in red boxes, after which the monarch quickly looks through them, underlining in red what he did not like or is incomprehensible, since these documents are taken away at 8 o'clock the next morning. The Queen's remarks are usually heeded. In addition, the Queen receives reports from 15 Commonwealth countries, which she meets and sends back.

Such amounts cause dissatisfaction with the Republican-minded part of the British population, which considers it necessary to cut them.

Supporters of the preservation of the monarchy point out that these expenditures generate a large profit in the form of tourist income, which is attracted by the ceremonials of the British monarchy. In 2011, British Chancellor of the Exchequer J. Osborne said that the monarchy annually brings more than £500 million to the state budget).

Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith

During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries that recognize the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which (English), regardless of their titles proper in the UK 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".

During her reign, some of these countries became republics. At the same time, as a result of the process of decolonization, numerous British colonies gained independence. In some of them, the Queen of Great Britain retained the status of head of state, in others she did not.

Newly independent states that abandoned the monarchy some time later:

Elizabeth II in Great Britain and Commonwealth countries, as well as in other states. In addition, she is a holder of various domestic British awards, as well as a number of various awards from foreign countries.

Despite active communication with subjects, Elizabeth strictly observes royal ceremonial. For example, the queen does not like to be touched first. It was noted that when visiting hospitals, exhibitions and other official events, Elizabeth was very polite, but she never took off her gloves and did not touch anyone. Even at regular tea parties in the park of Buckingham Palace, the Queen and her family members have a separate tent, where only especially important guests are allowed. A certain alienation of the queen from other people is observed when she communicates with the press. Despite the fact that under Elizabeth II, communication between the monarch and his subjects increased dramatically, the queen herself did not give a single interview during her entire reign. The queen sometimes does not forgive violations of the protocol even to the heads of other states. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his state visit to the UK in 2003, was 12 minutes late for a meeting with the Queen. In response, Elizabeth II came to Putin's farewell with a delay of exactly 12 minutes. In Scotland, the royal standard and the procedure for raising it was changed with the consent of Elizabeth II and brought into line with the Lyon King of Arms Act 1672, which was enshrined in a regulation adopted by the Scottish government in April 2010.

The majority of Britons positively assess the institution of a constitutional monarchy. According to a 2012 survey, approximately 69% believe that the country would be worse off without a 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:

Among the queen's interests is breeding dogs (among them corgis (see the article royal corgi), Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, the queen was awarded the BAFTA award for this role, for the best performance of the role

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; b. April 21, 1926, London) is the 12th queen and head of state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is also the queen of 15 states of the Commonwealth of Nations (Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica), chapter Church of England, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Lord of the Isle of Man. She was also Queen of South Africa from 29 May 1953 to 31 May 1961.

Eldest daughter of the Duke of York George, the future King of Great Britain George VI (1895-1952)

and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900–2002).

Her grandparents: George V (1865-1936), King of Great Britain

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 Duke Philip of Edinburgh 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 Princess 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 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.