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.
The monarch, who reigned over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from February 6, 1952, until her death on September 8, 2022, was born on April 21, 1926, in London, England.
Elizabeth was the eldest child of Prince Albert, duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who was also his wife. Young Elizabeth had little chance of inheriting the throne because she was the daughter of King George V’s younger son until December 11, 1936, when her uncle Edward VIII, who would later become the duke of Windsor, abdicated in favor of her father and became King George VI, making her the presumed heir.
The princess’s education was overseen by her mother, who left her daughters in the care of Marion Crawford, a governess; in addition, C.H.K. Marten, later the provost of Eton College, gave the princess a foundation in history, and the princess received instruction from visiting teachers in music and foreign languages.
The monarch and queen traveled to South Africa early in 1947 along with Princess Elizabeth. Following her return, news of her engagement to her distant cousin, erstwhile Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten of the Royal Navy, was made public. On November 20, 1947, a wedding ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey.
While traveling to New Zealand on a tour, the princess learned of George VI’s passing on February 6, 1952, and subsequently led to her succession to the throne with immediate effect. The royal entourage hurriedly made their way back to the UK after she was anointed queen, and Elizabeth and Philip settled into Buckingham Palace.
The “Platinum Jubilee,” a four-day national holiday that featured the Trooping the Colour ceremony, a thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, a pop music concert at Buckingham Palace, and a pageant that used street arts, theater, music, circus, carnival, and costume to honor the queen’s reign, was held in June 2022 to mark Elizabeth’s 70 years as monarch. Elizabeth’s involvement was constrained by health difficulties.
Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96, has received tributes from dignitaries and world leaders. The Queen’s sense of humor and generosity, as well as her strong sense of responsibility and tenacity, have all been honored.
From 6 February 1952 until her passing in 2022, she served as monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest ever recorded for a female head of state and the longest reign of any British monarch. She was the queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and ruled 15 of them at the time of her death.
Elizabeth took her Coronation Oath seriously and had a strong sense of civic and religious obligation. She worshiped with the national Church of Scotland in addition to her official position as Supreme Governor of the established Church of England.
She showed her support for interreligious dialogue and met with five popes, including Pius XII, John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. In her yearly Christmas message sent to the Commonwealth, she frequently included a personal statement about her faith.
Elizabeth supported more than 600 organizations and charities. [Elizabeth’s main pastimes included equestrianism and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh Corgis. The Charities Aid Foundation estimated that Elizabeth helped raise more than £1.4 billion for her patronages during her reign. With Dookie, her family’s first corgi, she developed a lifetime love of the breed. She and her family occasionally prepared a dinner; scenes of a casual, laid-back home life were occasionally observed.
At the time of her death, she was the monarch of 15 of the 32 sovereign states where she had been queen regnant during her lifetime. Her 70 years and 214 days of rule are the longest of any British monarch and the longest of any female head of state ever documented.
The queen, who served as monarch for 70 years, will be buried at King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her husband King Philip. On Monday, September 19, her funeral is scheduled to take place at the tiny church where her parents are also laid to rest.
