Born in 1926, Elizabeth was the daughter of King George V’s second son, and had little expectation of succeeding to the throne until her uncle, King Edward VIII, ...read more, Princess Diana—who married into British royalty, only to later be divorced from it—devoted herself to charitable causes and became a global icon before dying in a car accident in Paris in 1997. Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 st April 1926. She had set her sights on him when she was only 13, and their relationship developed through visits and correspondence during the war. (From left) Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, the duke of Edinburgh, King George VI, and Princess Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth II has since 1952 served as reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and numerous other realms and territories, as well as head of the Commonwealth, the group of 53 sovereign nations that includes many former British territories. Princess Elizabeth accompanied by her nurse in Hyde Park, London. Since 9 September 2015, Elizabeth II has ruled longer than any other king or queen in the history of the United Kingdom. When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the elder daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was born on April 21, 1926, she apparently had little chance of assuming the throne, as her father was a younger son of King George V. But in late 1936, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry an American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. Despite the risks, Elizabeth eventually joined … All these children have the surname “of Windsor,” but in 1960 Elizabeth decided to create the hyphenated name Mountbatten-Windsor for other descendants not styled prince or princess and royal highness. Elizabeth was born in London, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and she was educated privately at home. Discover how Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom. Princess Elizabeth was christened in a lace gown originally worn by Queen Elizabeth I. Though Queen Elizabeth initially kept the family (including Princes William and Harry) out of the public eye at Balmoral, the unprecedented public response to Diana’s death convinced her to return to London, make a televised speech about Diana, greet mourners and allow the Union Jack to fly at half-mast above Buckingham Palace. Her financial and property holdings have made her one of the world’s richest women. Elizabeth was the elder daughter of Prince Albert, duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The surname Windsor proudly retained by Queen Elizabeth II was first assumed by the British royals during World War I. That same year, the royal couple celebrated 70 years of marriage, making theirs the longest union in the history of the British monarchy. On Wednesday 6 February 1952, she received the news of her father's death and her own Accession to the throne while staying in a remote part of Kenya. The Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021. As part of her “Golden Jubilee,” events were held throughout the Commonwealth, including several days of festivities in London. How accurate is the 'The Crown's' depiction of the 1961 meeting of the Kennedys and Queen Elizabeth II? In 2019, the couple had a son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. During her “Silver Jubilee” in 1977, she presided at a London banquet attended by the leaders of the 36 members of the Commonwealth, traveled all over Britain and Northern Ireland, and toured overseas in the South Pacific and Australia, in Canada, and in the Caribbean. Elizabeth II with (from left) Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, and Prince Charles. Elizabeth II, in full Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, officially Elizabeth II, 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, (born April 21, 1926, London, England), queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from February 6, 1952. The Truth About Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana’s Relationship Ingrid Seward Updated: Nov. 07, 2019 The unexpected story of how two powerful women tried to … Serve others. The first three months of her reign, the period of full mourning for her father, were passed in comparative seclusion. Two young adult children and their middle-aged parents are dressed formally, without a hair out of place. By Leah Silverman. Her grandmother, Queen Mary, consort of King George V, also instructed Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret in the finer points of royal etiquette. He was known to be a beer lover. They were in Kenya on February 6, 1952, when King George VI succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 56, and his 25-year-old daughter became the sixth woman in history to ascend to the British throne. Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Queen (Penguin Random House, 2012). Though rumors have swirled at various times that Queen Elizabeth would step aside and let Prince Charles take the throne—in 2017, she delegated some of her royal obligations, such as the official Remembrance Day ceremony, to her eldest son, fueling speculation that she was preparing to give him the throne—many royal experts doubt she will ever abdicate, and she remains a consistent, stable presence at the head of Britain’s reigning family. This was not required by British law, though some earlier monarchs had done so as well. After Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, Diana remained incredibly popular with the British (and international) public. In her seventh decade on the throne, Queen Elizabeth presided over the pomp and circumstance of another royal wedding at Westminster Abbey, that of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in April 2011. The following month she surpassed George III to become the second longest-reigning monarch in British history, behind Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II attends a Gala Silver Jubilee Performance of opera and ballet at the Royal Opera House, London. Elizabeth and Philip had two more children, Andrew (born 1960) and Edward (born 1964). Picture: PA 1977: The Queen speaks to actress and soprano Julie Andrews backstage at the London Palladium Queen Elizabeth II chats to actress Julie Andrews backstage at the London Palladium. Okay, technically they’re called Girl Guides in England, but it’s essentially the same thing. Updates? Social media. In August 2017 Prince Philip officially retired from public life, though he periodically appeared at official engagements after that. Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. Sir Gerald Wollaston reading the official proclamation of Elizabeth being queen of England, February 8, 1952. LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II turned 95 last week, four days after burying her husband, Prince Philip, and with him the partnership that guided Britain’s royal family for nearly 70 years. Queen Elizabeth II's Most Glamorous Jewels and Tiaras. Elizabeth was born into royalty as the daughter of the second son of King George V. After her uncle Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 (subsequently becoming duke of Windsor), her father became King George VI, and she became heir presumptive. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Elizabeth II in her coronation robes, photograph by Cecil Beaton, 1953. Elizabeth’s first grandchild (Princess Anne’s son) was born on November 15, 1977. Her Majesty's jewelry box is unmatched. The queen’s popularity, and that of the entire royal family, rebounded during the first decade of the 21st century. She continues to follow much the same schedule as she has for the entirety of her reign, including official work, public appearances and plenty of time outside with her beloved dogs and horses. She was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara is another of the queen’s most frequently worn pieces. In addition, as the country struggled with a recession, resentment over the royals’ lifestyle mounted, and in 1992 Elizabeth, although personally exempt, agreed to pay taxes on her private income. From tabloid coverage of Princess Margaret’s affair to Prince Charles’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, the royal family entered the spotlight like never before. SEE MORE: Glorious Behind-the-Scenes Photos of Queen Elizabeth's 1947 Wedding. OMFG, Queen Elizabeth was a GIRL SCOUT. Marten, afterward provost of Eton College, and had instruction from visiting teachers in music and languages. Though 2002 marked Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee—50 years on the throne—the death of her mother (the beloved Queen Mum) and sister early that year cast a pall on the celebrations. Family first. © Ben Stansall/Getty Queen Elizabeth II visits the U.K. Government's top secret Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down science park … On October 7 she and her husband set out on a highly successful tour of Canada and Washington, D.C. After Christmas in England she and the duke set out in January 1952 for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, but en route, at Sagana, Kenya, news reached them of the king’s death on February 6, 1952. She is also a descendant of Queen Victoria. Elizabeth was born to Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and had a younger sister, Princess Margaret. Her tragic death the following year triggered a tremendous outpouring of shock and grief, as well as outrage at the royal family for what the public saw as its ill treatment of the “People’s Princess.”. Princess Elizabeth was just a pre-teen when she met the dashing 18-year-old Philip Mountbatten, who was then a cadet in… Since all British passports are issued in the queen’s name, she herself doesn’t need one. Beginning in the latter part of the first decade of the 21st century, the public standing of the royal family rebounded, and even Charles’s 2005 marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles found much support among the British people. In the first decade of her reign, Elizabeth settled into her role as queen, developing a close bond with Prime Minister Winston Churchill (the first of 13 prime ministers she would work with during her reign), weathering a foreign affairs disaster in the Suez Crisis of 1956 and making numerous state trips abroad. On their 50th wedding anniversary, in 1997, Elizabeth had said of Philip, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years.”. Learn more about how Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom. In an instant, she had ceased to be Princess Elizabeth and became Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth assumed the title of queen upon her father’s death in 1952. Princess Anne is in the baby carriage. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In 1957, after state visits to various European nations, she and the duke visited Canada and the United States. In line with her earlier attempts at modernizing the monarchy, the queen subsequently sought to present a less-stuffy and less-traditional image of the monarchy. In 1992, Elizabeth’s 40th year on the throne and her family’s “Annus Horribilis” (according to a speech she gave that November) both Charles and Diana and Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah Ferguson, separated, while Princess Anne and her husband, Mark Phillips, divorced. Early in 1947 Princess Elizabeth went with the king and queen to South Africa. During World War II she and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose, perforce spent much of their time safely away from the London blitz and separated from their parents, living mostly at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, and Windsor Castle. Elizabeth, now queen, at once flew back to England. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But though she stands for the continuity and tradition of the English monarchy, Elizabeth II’s reign has been anything but ...read more, The crown can be a heavy burden to bear, and the 1960s and 70s were challenging decades for Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth II's unusual way of eating fruit and 'no hands' Royal banquet rules THE ROYAL FAMILY has many bizarre eating habits, a former royal chef has said. The princess’s education was supervised by her mother, who entrusted Elizabeth and her sister to a governess, Marion Crawford. Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. Her Majesty the Queen, The Royal Household website. These attempts were met with mixed success. Early life and education. Their first son, Charles (Prince of Wales) was born in 1948; a daughter, Anne (Princess Royal) arrived two years later. READ MORE: How Prince Charles and Lady Diana's Wedding Became a Global Phenomenon. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is the Queen of the United Kingdom, and the other Commonwealth realms. Royal family portrait, August 22, 1951. The marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. Elizabeth and Margaret spent much of World War II living apart from their parents in the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle, a medieval fortress outside London. In 2005, the queen enjoyed public support when she gave her assent to Prince Charles’ once-unthinkable marriage to his longtime love Camilla Parker Bowles. With her father’s health declining in 1951, Elizabeth stepped in for him at various state functions. https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/queen-elizabeth. Having dealt with several physical setbacks in recent years, Philip, who had been Elizabeth’s husband for more than seven decades, died in April 2021. With her legacy of era-defining looks, Queen Elizabeth II is indisputably a style icon. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-II, Vision - Queen Elizabeth II: Duty Comes First, The Home of the Royal Family - Her Majesty The Queen, Government of Canada - Canadian Heritage - Biography of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth II - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Elizabeth II - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Princess Margaret, and Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Elizabeth II and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge. Privately, she became a keen horsewoman; she keeps racehorses, frequently attends races, and periodically visits the Kentucky stud farms in the United States. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the elder daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, When ...read more, Victoria (1819-1901) was queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837–1901) and empress of India (1876–1901). She was the last of the House of Hanover and gave her name to an era, the Victorian Age. The queen’s other children were Princess Anne (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise), born August 15, 1950, and created princess royal in 1987; Prince Andrew (Andrew Albert Christian Edward), born February 19, 1960, and created duke of York in 1986; and Prince Edward (Edward Anthony Richard Louis), born March 10, 1964, and created earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn in 1999. The Funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh. But in the summer, after she had moved from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace, she undertook the routine duties of the sovereign and carried out her first state opening of Parliament on November 4, 1952. Though she spent much of her childhood with nannies, Princess Elizabeth was influenced greatly by her mother, who instilled in her a devout Christian faith as well as a keen understanding of the demands of royal life. Despite being history’s most widely traveled head of state—she has reportedly visited 116 countries during her reign—Elizabeth does not hold a passport. They took residence at Clarence House in London. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became George VI and Queen Elizabeth. As a result, her father became King George VI, and 10-year-old “Lilibet” (as she was known within the family) became the heir presumptive to the throne. The Princess Elizabeth became an honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards regiment in 1942. Elizabeth and Phillip were married for an extraordinary 73 years, until the Prince died in April 2021 at the age of 99. Queen Elizabeth II is such an institution that it’s easy to forget she wasn’t supposed to have become queen at all. Queen Elizabeth II riding Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell pony, over the weekend. She ...read more, The long reign of Elizabeth, who became known as the “Virgin Queen” for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage, coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance, associated with such renowned authors as William Shakespeare. In the meantime, Elizabeth began to reduce her own official engagements, passing some duties on to Prince Charles and other senior members of the royal family, though the pool of stand-ins shrank when Charles’s younger son, Prince Harry, duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, duchess of Sussex, controversially chose to give up their royal roles in March 2020. In 1981, all eyes were on the royal family once again as Prince Charles wed Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Beginning in November 1953 the queen and the duke of Edinburgh made a six-month round-the-world tour of the Commonwealth, which included the first visit to Australia and New Zealand by a reigning British monarch. the current Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II greeting children at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center during a visit to the United States, May 2007. Marten, afterward provost of Eton College, and had instruction from visiting teachers in music and languages. Elizabeth II is the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. During this period, public interest in the queen and the royal family grew as a result of the widespread popularity of The Crown, a Netflix television series about the Windsors that debuted in 2016. Her formal coronation as Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. “Will Queen Elizabeth Give Prince Charles the Throne in 2018?” Newsweek. Though the couple soon welcomed two sons, William and Harry, their marriage quickly imploded, causing considerable public embarrassment for the queen and the entire royal family. In 1992, a year that Elizabeth referred to as the royal family’s annus horribilis, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, princess of Wales, separated, as did Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, duchess of York. She and Philip wed on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. All Rights Reserved. A fire also broke out at Windsor Castle that same year, and amid public outcry over the use of government funds to restore the royal residence, Queen Elizabeth agreed to pay taxes on her private income. She is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Queen Elizabeth II was concerned for young Prince William in the wake of his parents’ 1992 separation, according to Robert Lacey‘s new royal tell-all. On September 9, 2015, she surpassed Victoria’s record reign of 63 years and 216 days. READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II: 13 Key Moments in Her Reign. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, waving to well-wishers as she rides to St. Paul's Cathedral for a service celebrating her Golden Jubilee in 2002. In the summer of 1951 the health of King George VI entered into a serious decline, and Princess Elizabeth represented him at the Trooping the Colour and on various other state occasions. As the child of a younger son of King George V, the young Elizabeth had little prospect of acceding to the throne until her uncle, Edward VIII (afterward duke of Windsor), abdicated in her father’s favour on December 11, 1936, at which time her father became King George VI and she became heir presumptive. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Their first child, Prince Charles (Charles Philip Arthur George), was born November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace. The criticism intensified following Diana’s death in 1997, especially after Elizabeth initially refused to allow the national flag to fly at half-staff over Buckingham Palace. First 'Walkabout' - 1970. Two years later, he named her as a member of the Privy Council and the Council of State, enabling her to act on his behalf when he was out of the country. Moreover, Anne divorced, and a fire gutted the royal residence of Windsor Castle. Elizabeth II, in full Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, officially Elizabeth II, 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, (born April 21, 1926, London, England), queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from February 6, 1952. The princess’s education was supervised by her mother, who entrusted her daughters to a governess, Marion Crawford; the princess was also grounded in history by C.H.K. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, in London. She trained as a Girl Guide (the British equivalent of the Girl Scouts) and developed a lifelong passion for horses. Her extensive family includes several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shutterstock (2) The monarch, 95, also sent Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ’s son a message via Instagram on Thursday, May 6. At the time, her personal fortune was estimated at $11.7 billion. On the eve of the wedding her father, the king, conferred upon the bridegroom the titles of duke of Edinburgh, earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. Always a vigorous traveler, she kept a punishing schedule to mark the occasion, traveling some 56,000 miles around the Commonwealth, including the island nations Fiji and Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the British West Indies and Canada. Elizabeth is known to favour simplicity in court life and is also known to take a serious and informed interest in government business, aside from the traditional and ceremonial duties. The Queen has important formal roles in relation to the Government of the UK. In September 2015, Elizabeth surpassed the record of 63 years and 216 days on the throne set by Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) to become the longest-reigning British monarch in history. The queen seemed increasingly aware of the modern role of the monarchy, allowing, for example, the televising of the royal family’s domestic life in 1970 and condoning the formal dissolution of her sister’s marriage in 1978. Queen Elizabeth II reading a speech from the throne at the state opening of Parliament, 1958. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! She became Queen when her father, King George VI, died on 6 February 1952. Elizabeth II (right) and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, visiting Leicester, England, at the start of the queen's Diamond Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom, 2012. In 1961 she made the first royal British tour of the Indian subcontinent in 50 years, and she was also the first reigning British monarch to visit South America (in 1968) and the Persian Gulf countries (in 1979). At the center of it all is the queen herself, who celebrated her own 90th birthday in 2016 but shows few signs of slowing down. On the accession of Queen Elizabeth, her son Prince Charles became heir apparent; he was named prince of Wales on July 26, 1958, and was so invested on July 1, 1969. In April 2011 Elizabeth led the family in celebrating the wedding of Prince William of Wales—the elder son of Charles and Diana—and Catherine Middleton. Queen Elizabeth II – Fast Facts, CNN. Corrections? Extremely popular for nearly all of her long reign, the queen is known for taking a serious interest in government and political affairs, apart from her ceremonial duties, and is credited with modernizing many aspects of the monarchy. As queen, she has kept many thoroughbred racehorses and frequently attended racing and breeding events. In May 2018, Prince Harry wed the American actress Meghan Markle, a biracial divorcée whose embrace by the royal family indicated just how modern it had become during Elizabeth’s long reign. In the 1990s, however, the royal family faced a number of challenges. A consistent presence by his wife’s side and one of Britain’s busiest royals for much of her reign, Prince Philip stepped down from his royal duties in 2017, at the age of 96. Omissions? In 2002 Elizabeth celebrated her 50th year on the throne. Prince Harry noted in … The celebrations were somewhat diminished by the deaths of Elizabeth’s mother and sister early in the year. She doesn’t have a passport. Perhaps this new beer is a small tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's late husband, Prince Philip? On May 6, 2019, Meghan gave birth to a ...read more. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who will likely become Britain’s next king and queen, continued the line of succession with their children, Prince George (born 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2015) and Prince Louis (born 2018). In a high-pitched voice, the mother tells a funny story about her great-great grandmother, while everyone ...read more, Five months after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, married at Windsor Castle, royal watchers around the world were thrilled with the announcement that the couple was expecting a child in the spring of 2019. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Though many in the royal circle viewed Philip as an unwise match due to his lack of money and foreign (German) blood, Elizabeth was determined and very much in love. (From left) Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Princess Margaret, and Princess Elizabeth, 1939. Queen Elizabeth II in 1963 and 2006. In 2015 she surpassed Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history. 170.4k Followers, 169 Following, 1,338 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Queen Elizabeth II UK (@queenelizabethiiuk) Elizabeth was grounded in history by C.H.K. When she married Prince Charles in 1981, Lady Diana Spencer became the first ...read more, She’s one of the most iconic figures in world history: a queen whose reign has outlasted all other British monarchs and most other world leaders, too. After her return there was an announcement of her betrothal to her distant cousin Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten of the Royal Navy, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal or The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal will be a commemorative medal to mark the seventieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the thrones of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms in 2022. © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. By her death in 1603, ...read more, A well-groomed, staid British family sit around the breakfast table. Queen Elizabeth II participated in her first public engagement on Tuesday since the funeral of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip. In response to pointed criticism in the press, the queen embraced steps to modernize her own image and that of the monarchy, including televising her annual Christmas broadcast for the first time in 1957. Elizabeth married her distant cousin Philip Mountbatten and had four children: Prince Charles (heir apparent), Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. Elizabeth II and coronation guests, June 2, 1953. The separation and later divorce (1996) of Charles and the immensely popular Diana further eroded support for the royal family, which was viewed by some as antiquated and unfeeling. After spending that Christmas with the royal family, Elizabeth and Philip left on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, making a stopover in Kenya en route. In 1968, Charles was formally invested as the Prince of Wales, marking his coming of age and the beginning of what would be a long period as king-in-waiting. Educated by private tutors, with an emphasis on British history and law, the princess also studied music and learned to speak fluent French. Elizabeth’s famous attachment to Pembroke Welsh corgis also began in childhood, and she would own more than 30 corgis over the course of her reign. Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, took his place. She eventually served in World War II. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. Technically, the queen still retains certain political powers, known as her "personal prerogatives" or the In another modernizing measure, she also agreed to open the state rooms at Buckingham Palace to the public for an admission fee when she was not in residence. Queen Elizabeth II: 13 Key Moments in Her Reign, Glorious Behind-the-Scenes Photos of Queen Elizabeth's 1947 Wedding, Charles was formally invested as the Prince of Wales, How Prince Charles and Lady Diana's Wedding Became a Global Phenomenon. During a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand with Philip … In 2012 Elizabeth celebrated her “Diamond Jubilee,” marking 60 years on the throne. In June 1961, President John F Kennedy and his … In 1947, soon after the royal family returned from an official visit to South Africa and Rhodesia, they announced Elizabeth’s engagement to Prince Philip of Greece, her third cousin (both were great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) and a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Lifelong passion for horses opening of Parliament, 1958 Encyclopedias for elementary high. For your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox beer a! 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