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Queen Elizabeth II Biography

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Who is the Queen of England - Queen Elizabeth II?

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2, 1953, after becoming queen on February 6, 1952(Queen Elizabeth II age 26). Many had the doubt regarding who is the queen of london and it was known that queen elizabeth II is the one. She is the grandmother of Princes William and Harry and the mother of Prince Charles, the successor to the throne. She has endeavoured to make her reign more modern and sympathetic to a changing public while upholding the crown's traditions as the longest-serving monarch in British history.

Queen Elizabeth II Information

Full name: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor

Born: Princess Elizabeth of York, 21 April 1926 (Queen Elizabeth II aged 95)

Height: 1.63 m

Spouse: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

House: Windsor

Father: George VI

Mother: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

Children: Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Grandchildren: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, MORE


Early Life

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on April 21, 1926, to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later known as King George VI) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

Most people did not realise Elizabeth would one day become Queen of the United Kingdom when she was born. Elizabeth, also known as Lilibet, was able to spend the first decade of her life with all of the benefits of becoming a royal without the stress of being the heir apparent.

Elizabeth's father and mother split their time between a London home and Royal Lodge, the family's residence in Windsor Great Park. Tutors educated Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret at residence. French, mathematics, and history classes were offered, as well as dance, singing, and painting lessons.

When World War II broke out in 1939, Elizabeth and her sister were evacuated to Windsor Castle and generally kept out of London. She went on to make the first of her renowned radio broadcasts in 1940, this one consoling British youngsters who had been evacuated from their homes and relatives. "In the end, all will be well; because God will look for us and bring us victory and peace," the 14-year-old princess assured them, displaying her calm and steadfast demeanour. Elizabeth soon began to take on additional public responsibilities. Elizabeth created her first public appearance reviewing the troops in 1942, when her father designated her colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards. She started accompanying her parents on official tours throughout the United Kingdom.

Elizabeth enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 to aid in the war effort. She studied to be an experienced driver and mechanic alongside other British ladies. While Elizabeth's voluntary job was just for a few months, it gave her a look into a world other than the royal one. On Victory in Europe Day, she and Margaret have been permitted to mingle freely and anonymously among the citizens, giving her additional unique experience from outside the monarchy.


Ascension to the Crown

When Elizabeth's grandfather, George V, died in 1936, his eldest son, Edward VIII (Elizabeth's uncle), ascended to the throne. Edward, on the other hand, was head over heels in love with American divorcee Wallis Simpson, and he had to choose among the throne and his heart. In the end, Edward surrendered the throne in favour of Simpson.

The event transformed her life forever, making her the presumptive heir to the British throne. In 1937, her father was crowned King George VI, using the title George to maintain a sense of continuity with his father. Her mother was given the title of Queen Elizabeth, and after King George died in 1952, she was given the title of Queen Mother, and her daughter was given the title of Queen Elizabeth II.

Coronation

At the age of 27, Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953.

When her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth took over the reigns of the monarchy. The coronation ceremony has been broadcast live on television for the first time, permitting people all around the world to watch the pomp and grandeur.


Elizabeth Alexandra Marriage

On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth alexandra married her distant cousin Philip Mountbatten (a surname taken from his mother's family) at Westminster Abbey in London.

When Elizabeth was just 13, she met Philip, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece. From the beginning, she was smitten with him. Over the years, the two remained in touch and ultimately fell in love. They were an uncommon couple. Philip was exuberant and opinionated, but Elizabeth was shy and reserved. While Mountbatten had links to both the Danish and Greek royal families, her father, King George VI, was reluctant about the match as he didn't have a lot of money and was thought to have a gruff attitude by some. Great Britain had been recuperating from the scars of World War II at the time of their wedding, and Elizabeth used clothes coupons to buy fabric for her gown.

Her mother and Prime Minister Winston Churchill lobbied for the family to take the name Windsor, which irritated her husband. In 1960, the Queen made a U-turn, ordering that her descendants who did not have royal titles (or who required last names for legal reasons like weddings) take the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Philip's off-the-cuff, inflammatory comments and speculations of potential infidelities have caused several public relations issues over the years.


Elizabeth Alexandra Children

Elizabeth and Philip didn't spend any time having a child: their son Charles was welcomed a year after their wedding, and their daughter Anne was born in 1950. Andrew and Edward, Elizabeth's boys, were born in 1960 and 1964, respectively. She appointed Charles her official successor by bestowing the title of Prince of Wales on him in 1969. The ceremony was broadcast live to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Charles married Diana Spencer (better known as Princess Diana) in 1981, when he was 32 years old. Later, reports surfaced that he was forced into the marriage by his family. The wedding drew huge crowds to London's streets, and millions tuned in to watch the ceremonies on television. At the period, public opinion of the monarchy was particularly high.


Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren

Prince William, who has been named Duke of Cambridge upon his own marriage in 2011, second-in-line to the throne, and Prince Harry, Elizabeth's grandchild, were born to Charles and Diana in 1982 and 1984, respectively. Elizabeth has established herself as William and Harry's adoring grandmother. She provided important help and advice to Prince William and Kate Middleton as they prepared their 2011 wedding, according to Prince William. On July 22, 2013, Elizabeth's grandson William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to their first child, George Alexander Louis, who will be addressed as "His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge" in the future.

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the queen's fifth great-grandchild, was born on May 2, 2015, to William and Kate. Their third child, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, was born on April 23, 2018.

With the birth of their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan Markle, gave the queen another great-grandchild. Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice of York; Zara Tindall; Princess Eugenie of York; Lady Louise Windsor; and James, Viscount Severn are the queen's other grandchildren, in addition to Prince Harry and Prince William. She also has ten great-grandchildren.


Finances

For many years, Elizabeth's personal money has been the topic of curiosity. Her wealth was estimated to be £2 million in 1971 by Jock Colville, her former private assistant and a director of her bank, Coutts (equal to around £28 million in 2019). Estimates of £100 million were deemed "grossly inflated" by Buckingham Palace in 1993. Her mother left her a £70 million estate in 2002, which she inherited. Her personal wealth was projected to be £350 million by the Sunday Times Rich List 2020, ranking her the 372nd richest person in the United Kingdom.

She became top one on the ranking when it launched in the Sunday Times Rich List 1989, with a stated worth of £5.2 billion (about £13 billion in today's value), that included state assets which were not hers individually.


Queen Elizabeth II- Titles and styles

  • From 21 April 1926 to 11 December 1936: Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York

  • From 11 December 1936 to 20 November 1947: Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth

  • From 20 November 1947 to 6 February 1952: Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh

  • Since 6 February 1952: Her Majesty The Queen

Elizabeth has held numerous titles and honorary military roles within the Commonwealth, is the sovereign of numerous orders in her own countries, and has won numerous honours and accolades from all over the world.

FAQs on Queen Elizabeth II Biography

1. Who is the Queen of England?

Ans. The England queen's name is Elizabeth II.

2. Is There a Surname for Queen Elizabeth II?

Ans. Her father, King George VI, was born into the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as per the History Channel. Due to anti-German prejudice during World War I, the family was renamed to Windsor. "Elizabeth R," writes the queen when she signs her name. The letter R stands for Regina (queen).

Moreover, during her engagement to Prince Philip, her future husband-to-be dropped his father's Germanic surname, Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, in favour of his maternal grandparents' surname, Mountbatten.