Elizabeth II - wikipedia Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms For other uses, see Elizabeth II ( disambiguation ). Elizabeth II Elizabeth in 2015 Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms Canada 1952 -- present Australia 1952 -- present New Zealand 1952 -- present Jamaica 1962 -- present Barbados 1966 -- present The Bahamas 1973 -- present Grenada 1974 -- present Papua New Guinea 1975 -- present Solomon Islands 1978 -- present Tuvalu 1978 -- present St. Lucia 1979 -- present St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1979 -- present Belize 1981 -- present Antigua and Barbuda 1981 -- present St. Kitts and Nevis 1983 -- present Pakistan 1952 -- 1956 South Africa 1952 -- 1961 Ceylon 1952 -- 1972 Ghana 1957 -- 1960 Nigeria 1960 -- 1963 Sierra Leone 1961 -- 1971 Tanganyika 1961 -- 1962 Trinidad and Tobago 1962 -- 1976 Uganda 1962 -- 1963 Kenya 1963 -- 1964 Malawi 1964 -- 1966 Malta 1964 -- 1974 The Gambia 1965 -- 1970 Guyana 1966 -- 1970 Mauritius 1968 -- 1992 Fiji 1970 -- 1987 Reign 6 February 1952 -- present Coronation 2 June 1953 Predecessor George VI Heir apparent Charles, Prince of Wales Prime Ministers See list ( 1926 - 04 - 21 ) 21 April 1926 ( age 92 ) 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom Spouse Philip, Duke of Edinburgh ( m. 1947 ) Issue Detail Charles, Prince of Wales Anne, Princess Royal Prince Andrew, Duke of York Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex Full name Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor House Windsor Father George VI Mother Elizabeth Bowes - Lyon Signature show Royal family of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms HM The Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duchess of Cornwall HRH The Duke of Cambridge HRH The Duchess of Cambridge HRH Prince George of Cambridge HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge HRH Prince Louis of Cambridge HRH The Duke of Sussex HRH The Duchess of Sussex HRH The Princess Royal HRH The Duke of York HRH Princess Beatrice of York HRH Princess Eugenie HRH The Earl of Wessex HRH The Countess of Wessex HRH The Duke of Gloucester HRH The Duchess of Gloucester HRH The Duke of Kent HRH The Duchess of Kent HRH Princess Alexandra HRH Prince Michael of Kent HRH Princess Michael of Kent Elizabeth II ( Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ; born 21 April 1926 ) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth was born in London as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and she was educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, with whom she has four children : Charles, Prince of Wales ; Anne, Princess Royal ; Andrew, Duke of York ; and Edward, Earl of Wessex. When her father died in February 1952, she became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries : the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. She has reigned through major constitutional changes, such as devolution in the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation, and the decolonisation of Africa. Between 1956 and 1992, the number of her realms varied as territories gained independence and realms, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon ( renamed Sri Lanka ), became republics. Her many historic visits and meetings include a state visit to the Republic of Ireland and visits to or from five popes. Significant events have included her coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees in 1977, 2002, and 2012 respectively. In 2017, she became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee. She is the longest - lived and longest - reigning British monarch as well as the world 's longest - reigning queen regnant and female head of state, the oldest and longest - reigning current monarch and the longest - serving current head of state. Elizabeth has occasionally faced republican sentiments and press criticism of the royal family, in particular after the breakdown of her children 's marriages, her annus horribilis in 1992 and the death in 1997 of her former daughter - in - law Diana, Princess of Wales. However, support for the monarchy has consistently been and remains high, as does her personal popularity. Contents 1 Early life 2 Heir presumptive 2.1 Second World War 2.2 Marriage 3 Reign 3.1 Accession and coronation 3.2 Continuing evolution of the Commonwealth 3.3 Acceleration of decolonisation 3.4 Silver Jubilee 3.5 1980s 3.6 1990s 3.7 2000s 3.8 2010s 4 Public perception and character 4.1 Finances 5 Titles, styles, honours, and arms 5.1 Titles and styles 5.2 Arms 6 Issue 7 Ancestry 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 Bibliography 12 External links Early life Elizabeth on the cover of Time magazine, April 1929 Elizabeth was born at 02 : 40 ( GMT ) on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V. Her father, the Duke of York ( later King George VI ), was the second son of the King. Her mother, the Duchess of York ( later Queen Elizabeth ), was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfather 's London house : 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair. She was baptised by the Anglican Archbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 29 May, and named Elizabeth after her mother, Alexandra after George V 's mother, who had died six months earlier, and Mary after her paternal grandmother. Called `` Lilibet '' by her close family, based on what she called herself at first, she was cherished by her grandfather George V, and during his serious illness in 1929 her regular visits were credited in the popular press and by later biographers with raising his spirits and aiding his recovery. Portrait by Philip de László, 1933 Elizabeth 's only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930. The two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford. Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature and music. Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth and Margaret 's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to the dismay of the royal family. The book describes Elizabeth 's love of horses and dogs, her orderliness, and her attitude of responsibility. Others echoed such observations : Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as `` a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant. '' Her cousin Margaret Rhodes described her as `` a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well - behaved ''. Heir presumptive During her grandfather 's reign, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, the Duke of York. Although her birth generated public interest, she was not expected to become queen, as the Prince of Wales was still young. Many people believed he would marry and have children of his own. When her grandfather died in 1936 and her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second - in - line to the throne, after her father. Later that year, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorced socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional crisis. Consequently, Elizabeth 's father became king, and she became heir presumptive. If her parents had had a later son, she would have lost her position as first - in - line, as her brother would have been heir apparent and above her in the line of succession. Elizabeth received private tuition in constitutional history from Henry Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton College, and learned French from a succession of native - speaking governesses. A Girl Guides company, the 1st Buckingham Palace Company, was formed specifically so she could socialise with girls her own age. Later, she was enrolled as a Sea Ranger. In 1939, Elizabeth 's parents toured Canada and the United States. As in 1927, when her parents had toured Australia and New Zealand, Elizabeth remained in Britain, since her father thought her too young to undertake public tours. Elizabeth `` looked tearful '' as her parents departed. They corresponded regularly, and she and her parents made the first royal transatlantic telephone call on 18 May. Second world War Elizabeth in Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform, April 1945 In September 1939, Britain entered the Second World War, which lasted until 1945. During the war, many of London 's children were evacuated to avoid the frequent aerial bombing. The suggestion by senior politician Lord Hailsham that the two princesses should be evacuated to Canada was rejected by Elizabeth 's mother, who declared, `` The children wo n't go without me. I wo n't leave without the King. And the King will never leave. '' Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, until Christmas 1939, when they moved to Sandringham House, Norfolk. From February to May 1940, they lived at Royal Lodge, Windsor, until moving to Windsor Castle, where they lived for most of the next five years. At Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas in aid of the Queen 's Wool Fund, which bought yarn to knit into military garments. In 1940, the 14 - year - old Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast during the BBC 's Children 's Hour, addressing other children who had been evacuated from the cities. She stated : `` We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well. '' Elizabeth ( far left ) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her family and Winston Churchill on 8 May 1945, Victory in Europe Day In 1943, Elizabeth undertook her first solo public appearance on a visit to the Grenadier Guards, of which she had been appointed colonel the previous year. As she approached her 18th birthday, parliament changed the law so she could act as one of five Counsellors of State in the event of her father 's incapacity or absence abroad, such as his visit to Italy in July 1944. In February 1945, she was appointed as an honorary second subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service with the service number of 230873. She trained as a driver and mechanic and was given the rank of honorary junior commander five months later. At the end of the war in Europe, on Victory in Europe Day, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret mingled anonymously with the celebratory crowds in the streets of London. Elizabeth later said in a rare interview, `` We asked my parents if we could go out and see for ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised... I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief. '' During the war, plans were drawn up to quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Wales. Proposals, such as appointing her Constable of Caernarfon Castle or a patron of Urdd Gobaith Cymru ( the Welsh League of Youth ), were abandoned for several reasons, including fear of associating Elizabeth with conscientious objectors in the Urdd at a time when Britain was at war. Welsh politicians suggested she be made Princess of Wales on her 18th birthday. Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison supported the idea, but the King rejected it because he felt such a title belonged solely to the wife of a Prince of Wales and the Prince of Wales had always been the heir apparent. In 1946, she was inducted into the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Princess Elizabeth went in 1947 on her first overseas tour, accompanying her parents through southern Africa. During the tour, in a broadcast to the British Commonwealth on her 21st birthday, she made the following pledge : `` I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. '' Marriage Main article : Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and 1937. They are second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark and third cousins through Queen Victoria. After another meeting at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth -- though only 13 years old -- said she fell in love with Philip, and they began to exchange letters. She was 21 when their engagement was officially announced on 9 July 1947. The engagement was not without controversy ; Philip had no financial standing, was foreign - born ( though a British subject who had served in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War ), and had sisters who had married German noblemen with Nazi links. Marion Crawford wrote, `` Some of the King 's advisors did not think him good enough for her. He was a prince without a home or kingdom. Some of the papers played long and loud tunes on the string of Philip 's foreign origin. '' Later biographies reported Elizabeth 's mother initially opposed the union, dubbing Philip `` The Hun ''. In later life, however, the Queen Mother told biographer Tim Heald that Philip was `` an English gentleman ''. Before the marriage, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles, officially converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and adopted the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, taking the surname of his mother 's British family. Just before the wedding, he was created Duke of Edinburgh and granted the style His Royal Highness. Elizabeth and Philip were married on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. They received 2,500 wedding gifts from around the world. Because Britain had not yet completely recovered from the devastation of the war, Elizabeth required ration coupons to buy the material for her gown, which was designed by Norman Hartnell. In post-war Britain, it was not acceptable for the Duke of Edinburgh 's German relations, including his three surviving sisters, to be invited to the wedding. The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, was not invited either. Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles, on 14 November 1948. One month earlier, the King had issued letters patent allowing her children to use the style and title of a royal prince or princess, to which they otherwise would not have been entitled as their father was no longer a royal prince. A second child, Princess Anne, was born in 1950. Following their wedding, the couple leased Windlesham Moor, near Windsor Castle, until July 1949, when they took up residence at Clarence House in London. At various times between 1949 and 1951, the Duke of Edinburgh was stationed in the British Crown Colony of Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived intermittently in Malta for several months at a time in the hamlet of Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of Philip 's uncle, Lord Mountbatten. The children remained in Britain. Reign Accession and coronation Main article : Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Coronation of Elizabeth II, 2 June 1953 During 1951, George VI 's health declined, and Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events. When she toured Canada and visited President Harry S. Truman in Washington, D.C., in October 1951, her private secretary, Martin Charteris, carried a draft accession declaration in case the King died while she was on tour. In early 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set out for a tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of Kenya. On 6 February 1952, they had just returned to their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, after a night spent at Treetops Hotel, when word arrived of the death of the King and consequently Elizabeth 's immediate accession to the throne. Philip broke the news to the new queen. Martin Charteris asked her to choose a regnal name ; she chose to remain Elizabeth, `` of course ''. She was proclaimed queen throughout her realms and the royal party hastily returned to the United Kingdom. She and the Duke of Edinburgh moved into Buckingham Palace. With Elizabeth 's accession, it seemed probable the royal house would bear her husband 's name, becoming the House of Mountbatten, in line with the custom of a wife taking her husband 's surname on marriage. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth 's grandmother, Queen Mary, favoured the retention of the House of Windsor, and so on 9 April 1952 Elizabeth issued a declaration that Windsor would continue to be the name of the royal house. The Duke complained, `` I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children. '' In 1960, after the death of Queen Mary in 1953 and the resignation of Churchill in 1955, the surname Mountbatten - Windsor was adopted for Philip and Elizabeth 's male - line descendants who do not carry royal titles. Coronation portrait of Elizabeth II by Sir Herbert James Gunn Amid preparations for the coronation, Princess Margaret told her sister she wished to marry Peter Townsend, a divorcé ‚ 16 years Margaret 's senior, with two sons from his previous marriage. The Queen asked them to wait for a year ; in the words of Martin Charteris, `` the Queen was naturally sympathetic towards the Princess, but I think she thought -- she hoped -- given time, the affair would peter out. '' Senior politicians were against the match and the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce. If Margaret had contracted a civil marriage, she would have been expected to renounce her right of succession. Eventually, she decided to abandon her plans with Townsend. In 1960, she married Antony Armstrong - Jones, who was created Earl of Snowdon the following year. They divorced in 1978 ; she did not remarry. Despite the death of Queen Mary on 24 March, the coronation on 2 June 1953 went ahead as planned, as Mary had asked before she died. The ceremony in Westminster Abbey, with the exception of the anointing and communion, was televised for the first time. Elizabeth 's coronation gown was embroidered on her instructions with the floral emblems of Commonwealth countries : English Tudor rose ; Scots thistle ; Welsh leek ; Irish shamrock ; Australian wattle ; Canadian maple leaf ; New Zealand silver fern ; South African protea ; lotus flowers for India and Ceylon ; and Pakistan 's wheat, cotton, and jute. Continuing evolution of the Commonwealth Further information : Commonwealth realm § From Queen Elizabeth 's accession Elizabeth 's realms ( pink ) and their territories and protectorates ( dark red ) at the beginning of her reign From Elizabeth 's birth onwards, the British Empire continued its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. By the time of her accession in 1952, her role as head of multiple independent states was already established. In 1953, the Queen and her husband embarked on a seven - month round - the - world tour, visiting 13 countries and covering more than 40,000 miles by land, sea and air. She became the first reigning monarch of Australia and New Zealand to visit those nations. During the tour, crowds were immense ; three - quarters of the population of Australia were estimated to have seen her. Throughout her reign, the Queen has made hundreds of state visits to other countries and tours of the Commonwealth ; she is the most widely travelled head of state. In 1956, the British and French prime ministers, Sir Anthony Eden and Guy Mollet, discussed the possibility of France joining the Commonwealth. The proposal was never accepted and the following year France signed the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union. In November 1956, Britain and France invaded Egypt in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture the Suez Canal. Lord Mountbatten claimed the Queen was opposed to the invasion, though Eden denied it. Eden resigned two months later. Elizabeth and Commonwealth leaders at the 1960 Commonwealth Conference The absence of a formal mechanism within the Conservative Party for choosing a leader meant that, following Eden 's resignation, it fell to the Queen to decide whom to commission to form a government. Eden recommended she consult Lord Salisbury, the Lord President of the Council. Lord Salisbury and Lord Kilmuir, the Lord Chancellor, consulted the British Cabinet, Winston Churchill, and the Chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, resulting in the Queen appointing their recommended candidate : Harold Macmillan. The Suez crisis and the choice of Eden 's successor led in 1957 to the first major personal criticism of the Queen. In a magazine, which he owned and edited, Lord Altrincham accused her of being `` out of touch ''. Altrincham was denounced by public figures and slapped by a member of the public appalled by his comments. Six years later, in 1963, Macmillan resigned and advised the Queen to appoint the Earl of Home as prime minister, advice she followed. The Queen again came under criticism for appointing the prime minister on the advice of a small number of ministers or a single minister. In 1965, the Conservatives adopted a formal mechanism for electing a leader, thus relieving her of involvement. Wikisource has original text related to this article : Queen Elizabeth II 's Address to the United Nations General Assembly In 1957, she made a state visit to the United States, where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the Commonwealth. On the same tour, she opened the 23rd Canadian Parliament, becoming the first monarch of Canada to open a parliamentary session. Two years later, solely in her capacity as Queen of Canada, she revisited the United States and toured Canada. In 1961, she toured Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Iran. On a visit to Ghana the same year, she dismissed fears for her safety, even though her host, President Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced her as head of state, was a target for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, `` The Queen has been absolutely determined all through... She is impatient of the attitude towards her to treat her as... a film star... She has indeed ' the heart and stomach of a man '... She loves her duty and means to be a Queen. '' Before her tour through parts of Quebec in 1964, the press reported extremists within the Quebec separatist movement were plotting Elizabeth 's assassination. No attempt was made, but a riot did break out while she was in Montreal ; the Queen 's `` calmness and courage in the face of the violence '' was noted. Elizabeth 's pregnancies with Princes Andrew and Edward, in 1959 and 1963, mark the only times she has not performed the State Opening of the British parliament during her reign. In addition to performing traditional ceremonies, she also instituted new practices. Her first royal walkabout, meeting ordinary members of the public, took place during a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1970. Acceleration of decolonisation The Queen with Edward Heath and American First Lady Pat Nixon, 1970 The 1960s and 1970s saw an acceleration in the decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean. Over 20 countries gained independence from Britain as part of a planned transition to self - government. In 1965, however, the Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, in opposition to moves towards majority rule, declared unilateral independence from Britain while still expressing `` loyalty and devotion '' to Elizabeth. Although the Queen dismissed him in a formal declaration, and the international community applied sanctions against Rhodesia, his regime survived for over a decade. As Britain 's ties to its former empire weakened, the British government sought entry to the European Community, a goal it achieved in 1973. In February 1974, the British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, advised the Queen to call a general election in the middle of her tour of the Austronesian Pacific Rim, requiring her to fly back to Britain. The election resulted in a hung parliament ; Heath 's Conservatives were not the largest party, but could stay in office if they formed a coalition with the Liberals. Heath only resigned when discussions on forming a coalition foundered, after which the Queen asked the Leader of the Opposition, Labour 's Harold Wilson, to form a government. A year later, at the height of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, the Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, was dismissed from his post by Governor - General Sir John Kerr, after the Opposition - controlled Senate rejected Whitlam 's budget proposals. As Whitlam had a majority in the House of Representatives, Speaker Gordon Scholes appealed to the Queen to reverse Kerr 's decision. She declined, saying she would not interfere in decisions reserved by the Constitution of Australia for the governor - general. The crisis fuelled Australian republicanism. Silver Jubilee In 1977, Elizabeth marked the Silver Jubilee of her accession. Parties and events took place throughout the Commonwealth, many coinciding with her associated national and Commonwealth tours. The celebrations re-affirmed the Queen 's popularity, despite virtually coincident negative press coverage of Princess Margaret 's separation from her husband. In 1978, the Queen endured a state visit to the United Kingdom by Romania 's communist leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, and his wife, Elena, though privately she thought they had `` blood on their hands ''. The following year brought two blows : one was the unmasking of Anthony Blunt, former Surveyor of the Queen 's Pictures, as a communist spy ; the other was the assassination of her relative and in - law Lord Mountbatten by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. According to Paul Martin, Sr., by the end of the 1970s the Queen was worried the Crown `` had little meaning for '' Pierre Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister. Tony Benn said the Queen found Trudeau `` rather disappointing ''. Trudeau 's supposed republicanism seemed to be confirmed by his antics, such as sliding down banisters at Buckingham Palace and pirouetting behind the Queen 's back in 1977, and the removal of various Canadian royal symbols during his term of office. In 1980, Canadian politicians sent to London to discuss the patriation of the Canadian constitution found the Queen `` better informed... than any of the British politicians or bureaucrats ''. She was particularly interested after the failure of Bill C - 60, which would have affected her role as head of state. Patriation removed the role of the British parliament from the Canadian constitution, but the monarchy was retained. Trudeau said in his memoirs that the Queen favoured his attempt to reform the constitution and that he was impressed by `` the grace she displayed in public '' and `` the wisdom she showed in private ''. 1980s Elizabeth riding Burmese at the 1986 Trooping the Colour ceremony During the 1981 Trooping the Colour ceremony, six weeks before the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, six shots were fired at the Queen from close range as she rode down The Mall on her horse, Burmese. Police later discovered the shots were blanks. The 17 - year - old assailant, Marcus Sarjeant, was sentenced to five years in prison and released after three. The Queen 's composure and skill in controlling her mount were widely praised. Months later, in October, the Queen was the subject of another attack while on a visit to Dunedin, New Zealand. New Zealand Security Intelligence Service documents declassified in 2018 revealed that 17 - year - old Christopher John Lewis fired a shot with a. 22 rifle from the fifth floor of a building overlooking the parade, but missed. Lewis was arrested, but never charged with attempted murder or treason, and sentenced to three years in jail for unlawful possession and discharge of a firearm. Two years into his sentence, he attempted to escape a psychiatric hospital in order to assassinate Prince Charles, who was visiting the country with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince William. From April to September 1982, the Queen was anxious but proud of her son, Prince Andrew, who was serving with British forces during the Falklands War. On 9 July, the Queen awoke in her bedroom at Buckingham Palace to find an intruder, Michael Fagan, in the room with her. In a serious lapse of security, assistance only arrived after two calls to the Palace police switchboard. After hosting US President Ronald Reagan at Windsor Castle in 1982 and visiting his California ranch in 1983, the Queen was angered when his administration ordered the invasion of Grenada, one of her Caribbean realms, without informing her. Intense media interest in the opinions and private lives of the royal family during the 1980s led to a series of sensational stories in the press, not all of which were entirely true. As Kelvin MacKenzie, editor of The Sun, told his staff : `` Give me a Sunday for Monday splash on the Royals. Do n't worry if it 's not true -- so long as there 's not too much of a fuss about it afterwards. '' Newspaper editor Donald Trelford wrote in The Observer of 21 September 1986 : `` The royal soap opera has now reached such a pitch of public interest that the boundary between fact and fiction has been lost sight of... it is not just that some papers do n't check their facts or accept denials : they do n't care if the stories are true or not. '' It was reported, most notably in The Sunday Times of 20 July 1986, that the Queen was worried that Margaret Thatcher 's economic policies fostered social divisions and was alarmed by high unemployment, a series of riots, the violence of a miners ' strike, and Thatcher 's refusal to apply sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. The sources of the rumours included royal aide Michael Shea and Commonwealth Secretary - General Shridath Ramphal, but Shea claimed his remarks were taken out of context and embellished by speculation. Thatcher reputedly said the Queen would vote for the Social Democratic Party -- Thatcher 's political opponents. Thatcher 's biographer John Campbell claimed `` the report was a piece of journalistic mischief - making ''. Belying reports of acrimony between them, Thatcher later conveyed her personal admiration for the Queen, and the Queen gave two honours in her personal gift -- membership in the Order of Merit and the Order of the Garter -- to Thatcher after her replacement as prime minister by John Major. Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said Elizabeth was a `` behind the scenes force '' in ending apartheid. By the end of the 1980s, the Queen had become the target of satire. The involvement of younger members of the royal family in the charity game show It 's a Royal Knockout in 1987 was ridiculed. In Canada, Elizabeth publicly supported politically divisive constitutional amendments, prompting criticism from opponents of the proposed changes, including Pierre Trudeau. The same year, the elected Fijian government was deposed in a military coup. As monarch of Fiji, Elizabeth supported the attempts of the Governor - General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, to assert executive power and negotiate a settlement. Coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka deposed Ganilau and declared Fiji a republic. 1990s In 1991, in the wake of coalition victory in the Gulf War, the Queen became the first British monarch to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress. Philip and Elizabeth, October 1992 In a speech on 24 November 1992, to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, Elizabeth called 1992 her annus horribilis, meaning horrible year. Republican feeling in Britain had risen because of press estimates of the Queen 's private wealth -- which were contradicted by the Palace -- and reports of affairs and strained marriages among her extended family. In March, her second son, Prince Andrew, and his wife, Sarah, separated ; in April, her daughter, Princess Anne, divorced Captain Mark Phillips ; during a state visit to Germany in October, angry demonstrators in Dresden threw eggs at her ; and, in November, a large fire broke out at Windsor Castle, one of her official residences. The monarchy came under increased criticism and public scrutiny. In an unusually personal speech, the Queen said that any institution must expect criticism, but suggested it be done with `` a touch of humour, gentleness and understanding ''. Two days later, the Prime Minister, John Major, announced reforms to the royal finances planned since the previous year, including the Queen paying income tax from 1993 onwards, and a reduction in the civil list. In December, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, formally separated. The year ended with a lawsuit as the Queen sued The Sun newspaper for breach of copyright when it published the text of her annual Christmas message two days before it was broadcast. The newspaper was forced to pay her legal fees and donated £ 200,000 to charity. In the years to follow, public revelations on the state of Charles and Diana 's marriage continued. Even though support for republicanism in Britain seemed higher than at any time in living memory, republicanism was still a minority viewpoint, and the Queen herself had high approval ratings. Criticism was focused on the institution of the monarchy itself and the Queen 's wider family rather than her own behaviour and actions. In consultation with her husband and the Prime Minister, John Major, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and her private secretary, Robert Fellowes, she wrote to Charles and Diana at the end of December 1995, saying a divorce was desirable. In August 1997, a year after the divorce, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. The Queen was on holiday with her extended family at Balmoral. Diana 's two sons by Charles -- Princes William and Harry -- wanted to attend church and so the Queen and Prince Philip took them that morning. After that single public appearance, for five days the Queen and the Duke shielded their grandsons from the intense press interest by keeping them at Balmoral where they could grieve in private, but the royal family 's seclusion and the failure to fly a flag at half - mast over Buckingham Palace caused public dismay. Pressured by the hostile reaction, the Queen agreed to return to London and do a live television broadcast on 5 September, the day before Diana 's funeral. In the broadcast, she expressed admiration for Diana and her feelings `` as a grandmother '' for the two princes. As a result, much of the public hostility evaporated. In November 1997, the Queen and her husband held a reception at Banqueting House to mark their golden wedding anniversary. She made a speech and praised Philip for his role as a consort, referring to him as `` my strength and stay ''. 2000s Elizabeth in 2007 In 2002, Elizabeth marked her Golden Jubilee. Her sister and mother died in February and March respectively, and the media speculated whether the Jubilee would be a success or a failure. She again undertook an extensive tour of her realms, which began in Jamaica in February, where she called the farewell banquet `` memorable '' after a power cut plunged the King 's House, the official residence of the governor - general, into darkness. As in 1977, there were street parties and commemorative events, and monuments were named to honour the occasion. A million people attended each day of the three - day main Jubilee celebration in London, and the enthusiasm shown by the public for the Queen was greater than many journalists had expected. Though generally healthy throughout her life, in 2003 she had keyhole surgery on both knees. In October 2006, she missed the opening of the new Emirates Stadium because of a strained back muscle that had been troubling her since the summer. In May 2007, The Daily Telegraph, citing unnamed sources, reported the Queen was `` exasperated and frustrated '' by the policies of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that she was concerned the British Armed Forces were overstretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that she had raised concerns over rural and countryside issues with Blair. She was, however, said to admire Blair 's efforts to achieve peace in Northern Ireland. She became the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary in November 2007. On 20 March 2008, at the Church of Ireland St Patrick 's Cathedral, Armagh, the Queen attended the first Maundy service held outside England and Wales. 2010s The Queen addressed the United Nations for a second time in 2010, again in her capacity as Queen of all Commonwealth realms and Head of the Commonwealth. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki - moon, introduced her as `` an anchor for our age ''. During her visit to New York, which followed a tour of Canada, she officially opened a memorial garden for British victims of the September 11 attacks. The Queen 's visit to Australia in October 2011 -- her sixteenth visit since 1954 -- was called her `` farewell tour '' in the press because of her age. By invitation of the Irish President, Mary McAleese, the Queen made the first state visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch in May 2011. Elizabeth visiting Birmingham in July 2012 as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour Elizabeth 's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 marked 60 years on the throne, and celebrations were held throughout her realms, the wider Commonwealth, and beyond. In a message released on Accession Day, Elizabeth wrote : In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness... I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart. She and her husband undertook an extensive tour of the United Kingdom, while her children and grandchildren embarked on royal tours of other Commonwealth states on her behalf. On 4 June, Jubilee beacons were lit around the world. In November, the Queen and her husband celebrated their sapphire wedding anniversary. On 18 December, she became the first British sovereign to attend a peacetime Cabinet meeting since George III in 1781. The Queen, who opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, also opened the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London, making her the first head of state to open two Olympic Games in two countries. For the London Olympics, she played herself in a short film as part of the opening ceremony, alongside Daniel Craig as James Bond. On 4 April 2013, she received an honorary BAFTA for her patronage of the film industry and was called `` the most memorable Bond girl yet '' at the award ceremony. On 3 March 2013, Elizabeth was admitted to King Edward VII 's Hospital as a precaution after developing symptoms of gastroenteritis. She returned to Buckingham Palace the following day. A week later, she signed the new Commonwealth charter. Because of her age and the need for her to limit travelling, in 2013 she chose not to attend the biennial meeting of Commonwealth heads of government for the first time in 40 years. She was represented at the summit in Sri Lanka by her son, Prince Charles. She had cataract surgery in May 2018. The Queen surpassed her great - great - grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest - lived British monarch on 21 December 2007, and the longest - reigning British monarch and longest - reigning queen regnant and female head of state in the world on 9 September 2015. She is also the `` longest - reigning sovereign in Canada 's modern era ''. ( King Louis XIV of France reigned over Canada ( New France ) for longer than Elizabeth. ) She became the oldest current monarch after King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died on 23 January 2015. She later became the longest - reigning current monarch and the longest - serving current head of state following the death of King Bhumibol of Thailand on 13 October 2016, and the oldest current head of state on the resignation of Robert Mugabe on 21 November 2017. On 6 February 2017, she became the first British monarch to commemorate a Sapphire Jubilee, and on 20 November, she was the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum wedding anniversary. Prince Philip had retired from his official duties as the Queen 's consort in August. The Queen does not intend to abdicate, though Prince Charles is expected to take on more of her duties as Elizabeth, who celebrated her 92nd birthday in 2018, carries out fewer public engagements. On 20 April 2018, the government leaders of the Commonwealth of Nations announced that she will be succeeded by Prince Charles as head of the Commonwealth. The Queen stated it was her `` sincere wish '' that the Prince of Wales would follow her in the role. Plans for her death and funeral have been extensively prepared by most British government and media organisations for decades. Public perception and character Main article : Personality and image of Elizabeth II Since Elizabeth rarely gives interviews, little is known of her personal feelings. As a constitutional monarch, she has not expressed her own political opinions in a public forum. She does have a deep sense of religious and civic duty, and takes her coronation oath seriously. Aside from her official religious role as Supreme Governor of the established Church of England, she is a member of that church and also of the national Church of Scotland. She has demonstrated support for inter-faith relations and has met with leaders of other churches and religions, including five popes : Pius XII, John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. A personal note about her faith often features in her annual Christmas message broadcast to the Commonwealth. In 2000, she said : To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ 's words and example. Elizabeth and Ronald Reagan riding at Windsor, June 1982 She is patron of over 600 organisations and charities. Her main leisure interests include equestrianism and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Her lifelong love of corgis began in 1933 with Dookie, the first corgi owned by her family. Scenes of a relaxed, informal home life have occasionally been witnessed ; she and her family, from time to time, prepare a meal together and do the washing up afterwards. In the 1950s, as a young woman at the start of her reign, Elizabeth was depicted as a glamorous `` fairytale Queen ''. After the trauma of the Second World War, it was a time of hope, a period of progress and achievement heralding a `` new Elizabethan age ''. Lord Altrincham 's accusation in 1957 that her speeches sounded like those of a `` priggish schoolgirl '' was an extremely rare criticism. In the late 1960s, attempts to portray a more modern image of the monarchy were made in the television documentary Royal Family and by televising Prince Charles 's investiture as Prince of Wales. In public, she took to wearing mostly solid - colour overcoats and decorative hats, which allow her to be seen easily in a crowd. At her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the crowds and celebrations were genuinely enthusiastic, but in the 1980s, public criticism of the royal family increased, as the personal and working lives of Elizabeth 's children came under media scrutiny. Elizabeth 's popularity sank to a low point in the 1990s. Under pressure from public opinion, she began to pay income tax for the first time, and Buckingham Palace was opened to the public. Discontent with the monarchy reached its peak on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, though Elizabeth 's personal popularity and support for the monarchy rebounded after her live television broadcast to the world five days after Diana 's death. In November 1999, a referendum in Australia on the future of the Australian monarchy favoured its retention in preference to an indirectly elected head of state. Polls in Britain in 2006 and 2007 revealed strong support for Elizabeth, and in 2012, her Diamond Jubilee year, approval ratings hit 90 percent. Referendums in Tuvalu in 2008 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009 both rejected proposals to become republics. Elizabeth has been portrayed in a variety of media by many notable artists, including painters Pietro Annigoni, Peter Blake, Chinwe Chukwuogo - Roy, Terence Cuneo, Lucian Freud, Rolf Harris, Damien Hirst, Juliet Pannett, and Tai - Shan Schierenberg. Notable photographers of Elizabeth have included Cecil Beaton, Yousuf Karsh, Annie Leibovitz, Lord Lichfield, Terry O'Neill, John Swannell, and Dorothy Wilding. The first official portrait of Elizabeth was taken by Marcus Adams in 1926. Finances Further information : Finances of the British royal family See also : Paradise Papers Sandringham House, Elizabeth 's private residence in Norfolk Elizabeth 's personal fortune has been the subject of speculation for many years. In 1971 Jock Colville, her former private secretary and a director of her bank, Coutts, estimated her wealth at £ 2 million ( equivalent to about £ 26 million in 2016 ). In 1993, Buckingham Palace called estimates of £ 100 million `` grossly overstated ''. In 2002, she inherited an estate worth an estimated £ 70 million from her mother. The Sunday Times Rich List 2017 estimated her personal wealth at £ 360 million, making her the 329th richest person in the UK. The Royal Collection, which includes thousands of historic works of art and the Crown Jewels, is not owned by the Queen personally but is held in trust, as are her official residences, such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and the Duchy of Lancaster, a property portfolio valued at £ 472 million in 2015. Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle are personally owned by the Queen. The British Crown Estate -- with holdings of £ 12 billion in 2016 -- is held in trust and can not be sold or owned by Elizabeth in a personal capacity. Titles, styles, honours, and arms Titles and styles Main article : List of titles and honours of Elizabeth II 21 April 1926 -- 11 December 1936 : Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York 11 December 1936 -- 20 November 1947 : Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth 20 November 1947 -- 6 February 1952 : Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh Since 6 February 1952 : Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth has held many titles and honorary military positions throughout the Commonwealth, is Sovereign of many orders in her own countries, and has received honours and awards from around the world. In each of her realms she has a distinct title that follows a similar formula : Queen of Jamaica and her other realms and territories in Jamaica, Queen of Australia and her other realms and territories in Australia, etc. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies rather than separate realms, she is known as Duke of Normandy and Lord of Mann, respectively. Additional styles include Defender of the Faith and Duke of Lancaster. When in conversation with the Queen, the practice is to initially address her as Your Majesty and thereafter as Ma'am. Arms See also : Flags of Elizabeth II From 21 April 1944 until her accession, Elizabeth 's arms consisted of a lozenge bearing the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom differenced with a label of three points argent, the centre point bearing a Tudor rose and the first and third a cross of St George. Upon her accession, she inherited the various arms her father held as sovereign. The Queen also possesses royal standards and personal flags for use in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, and elsewhere. Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth ( 1944 -- 1947 ) Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh ( 1947 -- 1952 ) Coat of arms of Elizabeth II in England, Wales and Northern Ireland Coat of arms of Elizabeth II in Scotland Coat of arms of Elizabeth II in Canada ( one of three versions used in her reign ) Issue Name Birth Marriage Their children Their grandchildren Date Spouse Charles, Prince of Wales 14 November 1948 29 July 1981 Divorced 28 August 1996 Lady Diana Spencer Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex None 9 April 2005 Camilla Parker Bowles None Anne, Princess Royal 15 August 1950 14 November 1973 Divorced 28 April 1992 Mark Phillips Peter Phillips Savannah Phillips Isla Phillips Zara Tindall Mia Tindall Lena Tindall 12 December 1992 Timothy Laurence None Prince Andrew, Duke of York 19 February 1960 23 July 1986 Divorced 30 May 1996 Sarah Ferguson Princess Beatrice of York None Princess Eugenie None Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex 10 March 1964 19 June 1999 Sophie Rhys - Jones Lady Louise Windsor None James, Viscount Severn None Ancestry show Ancestors of Elizabeth II 8. Edward VII of the United Kingdom 4. George V of the United Kingdom 9. Princess Alexandra of Denmark 2. George VI of the United Kingdom 10. Francis, Duke of Teck 5. Princess Mary of Teck 11. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge 1. Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 12. Claude Bowes - Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne 6. Claude Bowes - Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne 13. Frances Dora Smith 3. Lady Elizabeth Bowes - Lyon 14. Charles Cavendish - Bentinck 7. Nina Cavendish - Bentinck 15. Carolina Burnaby See also Royalty portal Commonwealth portal British Empire portal British politics portal United Kingdom portal Household of Queen Elizabeth II List of things named after Elizabeth II Notes Jump up ^ See Queen 's Official Birthday for an explanation of why Elizabeth II 's official birthdays are not on the same day as her actual one. Jump up ^ Her godparents were : King George V and Queen Mary ; Lord Strathmore ; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn ( her paternal great - granduncle ) ; Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles ( her paternal aunt ) ; and Lady Elphinstone ( her maternal aunt ). Jump up ^ Television coverage of the coronation was instrumental in boosting the medium 's popularity ; the number of television licences in the United Kingdom doubled to 3 million, and many of the more than 20 million British viewers watched television for the first time in the homes of their friends or neighbours. In North America, just under 100 million viewers watched recorded broadcasts. Jump up ^ Canada has used three versions of the arms during her reign. This version was used between 1957 and 1994. References Jump up ^ Her full name can be seen on her marriage certificate, which is signed by both her and her father. Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 22 ; Brandreth, p. 103 ; Marr, p. 76 ; Pimlott, pp. 2 -- 3 ; Lacey, pp. 75 -- 76 ; Roberts, p. 74 Jump up ^ Hoey, p. 40 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 103 ; Hoey, p. 40 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 103 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 12 Jump up ^ Williamson, p. 205 Jump up ^ Lacey, p. 56 ; Nicolson, p. 433 ; Pimlott, pp. 14 -- 16 Jump up ^ Crawford, p. 26 ; Pimlott, p. 20 ; Shawcross, p. 21 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 124 ; Lacey, pp. 62 -- 63 ; Pimlott, pp. 24, 69 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 108 -- 110 ; Lacey, pp. 159 -- 161 ; Pimlott, pp. 20, 163 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 108 -- 110 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 105 ; Lacey, p. 81 ; Shawcross, pp. 21 -- 22 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 105 -- 106 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 8 ; Lacey, p. 76 ; Pimlott, p. 3 Jump up ^ Lacey, pp. 97 -- 98 Jump up ^ Marr, pp. 78, 85 ; Pimlott, pp. 71 -- 73 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 124 ; Crawford, p. 85 ; Lacey, p. 112 ; Marr, p. 88 ; Pimlott, p. 51 ; Shawcross, p. 25 ^ Jump up to : `` Her Majesty The Queen : Early life and education ''. Royal Household. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Marr, p. 84 ; Pimlott, p. 47 ^ Jump up to : Pimlott, p. 54 ^ Jump up to : Pimlott, p. 55 Jump up ^ Warwick, Christopher ( 2002 ). Princess Margaret : A Life of Contrasts. London : Carlton Publishing Group. p. 102. ISBN 978 - 0 - 233 - 05106 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother ''. Royal Household. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Crawford, pp. 104 -- 114 ; Pimlott, pp. 56 -- 57 Jump up ^ Crawford, pp. 114 -- 119 ; Pimlott, p. 57 Jump up ^ Crawford, pp. 137 -- 141 ^ Jump up to : `` Children 's Hour : Princess Elizabeth ''. BBC. 13 October 1940. Retrieved 22 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Early public life ''. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010. Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 71 Jump up ^ `` No. 36973 ''. The London Gazette ( Supplement ). 6 March 1945. p. 1315. Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 45 ; Lacey, p. 148 ; Marr, p. 100 ; Pimlott, p. 75 Jump up ^ `` No. 37205 ''. The London Gazette ( Supplement ). 31 July 1945. p. 3972. Jump up ^ Bond, p. 10 ; Pimlott, p. 79 Jump up ^ `` Royal plans to beat nationalism ''. BBC News. 8 March 2005. Retrieved 15 June 2010. Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 71 -- 73 Jump up ^ `` Gorsedd of the Bards ''. National Museum of Wales. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2009. Jump up ^ `` A speech by the Queen on her 21st birthday ''. Royal Household. 20 April 1947. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 132 -- 139 ; Lacey, pp. 124 -- 125 ; Pimlott, p. 86 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 10 ; Brandreth, pp. 132 -- 136, 166 -- 169 ; Lacey, pp. 119, 126, 135 Jump up ^ Heald, p. 77 Jump up ^ Edwards, Phil ( 31 October 2000 ). `` The Real Prince Philip ''. Channel 4. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2009. Jump up ^ Crawford, p. 180 Jump up ^ Davies, Caroline ( 20 April 2006 ). `` Philip, the one constant through her life ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 23 September 2009. Jump up ^ Heald, p. xviii Jump up ^ Hoey, pp. 55 -- 56 ; Pimlott, pp. 101, 137 Jump up ^ `` No. 38128 ''. The London Gazette. 21 November 1947. p. 5495. ^ Jump up to : `` 60 Diamond Wedding anniversary facts ''. Royal Household. 18 November 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010. Jump up ^ Hoey, p. 58 ; Pimlott, pp. 133 -- 134 Jump up ^ Hoey, p. 59 ; Petropoulos, p. 363 Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 61 Jump up ^ Letters Patent, 22 October 1948 ; Hoey, pp. 69 -- 70 ; Pimlott, pp. 155 -- 156 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 163 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 226 -- 238 ; Pimlott, pp. 145, 159 -- 163, 167 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 240 -- 241 ; Lacey, p. 166 ; Pimlott, pp. 169 -- 172 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 245 -- 247 ; Lacey, p. 166 ; Pimlott, pp. 173 -- 176 ; Shawcross, p. 16 Jump up ^ Bousfield and Toffoli, p. 72 ; Charteris quoted in Pimlott, p. 179 and Shawcross, p. 17 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 178 -- 179 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 186 -- 187 Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 80 ; Brandreth, pp. 253 -- 254 ; Lacey, pp. 172 -- 173 ; Pimlott, pp. 183 -- 185 Jump up ^ `` No. 41948 ''. The London Gazette ( Supplement ). 5 February 1960. p. 1003. Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 269 -- 271 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 269 -- 271 ; Lacey, pp. 193 -- 194 ; Pimlott, pp. 201, 236 -- 238 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 22 ; Brandreth, p. 271 ; Lacey, p. 194 ; Pimlott, p. 238 ; Shawcross, p. 146 Jump up ^ `` Princess Margaret ''. Royal Household. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 82 Jump up ^ `` 50 facts about The Queen 's Coronation ''. Royal Household. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 207 Jump up ^ Briggs, pp. 420 ff. ; Pimlott, p. 207 ; Roberts, p. 82 Jump up ^ Lacey, p. 182 Jump up ^ Lacey, p. 190 ; Pimlott, pp. 247 -- 248 Jump up ^ Cotton, Belinda ; Ramsey, Ron. `` By appointment : Norman Hartnell 's sample for the Coronation dress of Queen Elizabeth II ''. National Gallery of Australia. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2009. Jump up ^ Marr, p. 272 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 182 Jump up ^ `` The Commonwealth : Gifts to the Queen ''. Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 20 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Australia : Royal visits ''. Royal Household. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016. `` New Zealand : Royal visits ''. Royal Household. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Marr, p. 126 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 278 ; Marr, p. 126 ; Pimlott, p. 224 ; Shawcross, p. 59 Jump up ^ Campbell, Sophie ( 11 May 2012 ). `` Queen 's Diamond Jubilee : Sixty years of royal tours ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2016. Jump up ^ Thomson, Mike ( 15 January 2007 ). `` When Britain and France nearly married ''. BBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2009. Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 255 ; Roberts, p. 84 Jump up ^ Marr, pp. 175 -- 176 ; Pimlott, pp. 256 -- 260 ; Roberts, p. 84 Jump up ^ Lacey, p. 199 ; Shawcross, p. 75 Jump up ^ Lord Altrincham in National Review quoted by Brandreth, p. 374 and Roberts, p. 83 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 374 ; Pimlott, pp. 280 -- 281 ; Shawcross, p. 76 ^ Jump up to : Hardman, p. 22 ; Pimlott, pp. 324 -- 335 ; Roberts, p. 84 Jump up ^ Roberts, p. 84 ^ Jump up to : `` Queen and Canada : Royal visits ''. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2012. Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 114 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 303 ; Shawcross, p. 83 ^ Jump up to : Macmillan, pp. 466 -- 472 Jump up ^ Speaight, Robert ( 1970 ). Vanier, Soldier, Diplomat, Governor General : A Biography. London : William Collins, Sons and Co. Ltd. ISBN 978 - 0 - 00 - 262252 - 3. Jump up ^ Dubois, Paul ( 12 October 1964 ). `` Demonstrations Mar Quebec Events Saturday ''. The Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved 6 March 2010. Jump up ^ Bousfield, p. 139 Jump up ^ Dymond, Glenn ( 5 March 2010 ). `` Ceremonial in the House of Lords '' ( PDF ). House of Lords Library. p. 12. Retrieved 5 June 2010. Jump up ^ Hardman, pp. 213 -- 214 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 66 ; Pimlott, pp. 345 -- 354 Jump up ^ Bradford, pp. 123, 154, 176 ; Pimlott, pp. 301, 315 -- 316, 415 -- 417 Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 181 ; Pimlott, p. 418 Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 181 ; Marr, p. 256 ; Pimlott, p. 419 ; Shawcross, pp. 109 -- 110 ^ Jump up to : Bond, p. 96 ; Marr, p. 257 ; Pimlott, p. 427 ; Shawcross, p. 110 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 428 -- 429 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 449 Jump up ^ Hardman, p. 137 ; Roberts, pp. 88 -- 89 ; Shawcross, p. 178 Jump up ^ Elizabeth to her staff, quoted in Shawcross, p. 178 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 336 -- 337, 470 -- 471 ; Roberts, pp. 88 -- 89 ^ Jump up to : Heinricks, Geoff ( 29 September 2000 ). `` Trudeau : A drawer monarchist ''. National Post. Toronto. p. B12. Jump up ^ Trudeau, p. 313 Jump up ^ `` Queen 's ' fantasy assassin ' jailed ''. BBC News. 14 September 1981. Retrieved 21 June 2010. Jump up ^ Lacey, p. 281 ; Pimlott, pp. 476 -- 477 ; Shawcross, p. 192 Jump up ^ McNeilly, Hamish ( 1 March 2018 ). `` Intelligence documents confirm assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth in New Zealand ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 March 2018. Jump up ^ Ainge Roy, Eleanor ( 13 January 2018 ). `` ' Damn... I missed ' : the incredible story of the day the Queen was nearly shot ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2018. Jump up ^ Bond, p. 115 ; Pimlott, p. 487 ; Shawcross, p. 127 Jump up ^ Lacey, pp. 297 -- 298 ; Pimlott, p. 491 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 188 ; Pimlott, p. 497 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 488 -- 490 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 521 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 503 -- 515 ; see also Neil, pp. 195 -- 207 and Shawcross, pp. 129 -- 132 Jump up ^ Thatcher to Brian Walden quoted in Neil, p. 207 ; Andrew Neil quoted in Woodrow Wyatt 's diary of 26 October 1990 Jump up ^ Campbell, p. 467 Jump up ^ Thatcher, p. 309 Jump up ^ Roberts, p. 101 ; Shawcross, p. 139 ^ Jump up to : Geddes, John ( 2012 ). `` The day she descended into the fray ''. Maclean 's ( Special Commemorative Edition : The Diamond Jubilee : Celebrating 60 Remarkable years ed. ) : 72. ^ Jump up to : MacQueen, Ken ; Treble, Patricia ( 2012 ). `` The Jewel in the Crown ''. Maclean 's ( Special Commemorative Edition : The Diamond Jubilee : Celebrating 60 Remarkable years ed. ) : 43 -- 44. Jump up ^ Lacey, pp. 293 -- 294 ; Pimlott, p. 541 Jump up ^ Hardman, p. 81 ; Lacey, p. 307 ; Pimlott, pp. 522 -- 526 Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 515 -- 516 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 538 Jump up ^ `` Annus horribilis speech ''. Royal Household. 24 November 1992. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Pimlott, pp. 519 -- 534 Jump up ^ Lacey, p. 319 ; Marr, p. 315 ; Pimlott, pp. 550 -- 551 Jump up ^ Stanglin, Doug ( 18 March 2010 ). `` German study concludes 25,000 died in Allied bombing of Dresden ''. USA Today. Retrieved 19 March 2010. Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 377 ; Pimlott, pp. 558 -- 559 ; Roberts, p. 94 ; Shawcross, p. 204 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 377 Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 229 ; Lacey, pp. 325 -- 326 ; Pimlott, pp. 559 -- 561 Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 226 ; Hardman, p. 96 ; Lacey, p. 328 ; Pimlott, p. 561 Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 562 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 356 ; Pimlott, pp. 572 -- 577 ; Roberts, p. 94 ; Shawcross, p. 168 Jump up ^ MORI poll for The Independent newspaper, March 1996, quoted in Pimlott, p. 578 and O'Sullivan, Jack ( 5 March 1996 ). `` Watch out, the Roundheads are back ''. The Independent. Retrieved 17 September 2011. Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 578 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 357 ; Pimlott, p. 577 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 358 ; Hardman, p. 101 ; Pimlott, p. 610 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 134 ; Brandreth, p. 358 ; Marr, p. 338 ; Pimlott, p. 615 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 134 ; Brandreth, p. 358 ; Lacey, pp. 6 -- 7 ; Pimlott, p. 616 ; Roberts, p. 98 ; Shawcross, p. 8 Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 358 -- 359 ; Lacey, pp. 8 -- 9 ; Pimlott, pp. 621 -- 622 ^ Jump up to : Bond, p. 134 ; Brandreth, p. 359 ; Lacey, pp. 13 -- 15 ; Pimlott, pp. 623 -- 624 ^ Jump up to : `` A speech by The Queen on her Golden Wedding Anniversary ''. The Royal Household. 20 November 1997. Retrieved 10 February 2017. Jump up ^ Bond, p. 156 ; Bradford, pp. 248 -- 249 ; Marr, pp. 349 -- 350 Jump up ^ Brandreth, p. 31 Jump up ^ Bond, pp. 166 -- 167 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 157 Jump up ^ `` Queen cancels visit due to injury ''. BBC News. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2009. Jump up ^ Alderson, Andrew ( 28 May 2007 ). `` Revealed : Queen 's dismay at Blair legacy ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 May 2010. Jump up ^ Alderson, Andrew ( 27 May 2007 ). `` Tony and Her Majesty : an uneasy relationship ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 May 2010. Jump up ^ `` Queen celebrates diamond wedding ''. BBC News. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Historic first for Maundy service ''. BBC News. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008. Jump up ^ `` A speech by the Queen to the United Nations General Assembly ''. Royal Household. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Queen addresses UN General Assembly in New York ''. BBC News. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010. Jump up ^ `` Royal tour of Australia : The Queen ends visit with traditional ' Aussie barbie ' ''. The Telegraph. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011. Jump up ^ Bradford, p. 253 Jump up ^ `` The Queen 's Diamond Jubilee message ''. Royal Household. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` Prince Harry pays tribute to the Queen in Jamaica ''. BBC News. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Undertake a Royal Tour of Canada in 2012 ''. Office of the Governor General of Canada. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` Event News ''. The Queen 's Diamond Jubilee Beacons. Retrieved 28 April 2016. Jump up ^ Rayner, Gordon ( 19 November 2012 ). `` Queen and Duke of Edinburgh celebrate 65th wedding anniversary ''. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` UK to name part of Antarctica Queen Elizabeth Land ''. BBC News. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Canada 's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium Announces Broadcast Details for London 2012 Opening Ceremony, Friday ''. PR Newswire. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2015. Jump up ^ Brown, Nicholas ( 27 July 2012 ). `` How James Bond whisked the Queen to the Olympics ''. BBC News. Retrieved 27 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Queen honoured with Bafta award for film and TV support ''. BBC News. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Queen leaves hospital after stomach bug ''. BBC News. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Recovering Queen signs Commonwealth charter ''. BBC News. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting ''. BBC News. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Queen undergoes eye surgery to remove cataract ''. Jump up ^ `` Elizabeth Set to Beat Victoria 's Record as Longest Reigning Monarch in British History ''. HuffPost. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014. Jump up ^ Modh, Shrikant ( 11 September 2015 ). `` The Longest Reigning Monarch Queen Elizabeth II ''. Philately News. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` Enthralling ' Audience ' puts Britain 's queen in room with politicians ''. Chicago Sun - Times. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` Governor General to Host Special Event in Honour of Her Majesty 's Historic Reign ''. Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Crown ''. Government of Canada. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Queen Elizabeth II is now world 's oldest monarch ''. The Hindu. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Jump up ^ Rayner, Gordon ( 23 January 2015 ). `` Queen becomes world 's oldest monarch following death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` Thailand 's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88 ''. BBC News. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016. Jump up ^ PA ( 13 October 2016 ). `` Queen takes over longest reign mantle after Thailand 's King Bhumibol dies ''. AOL ( UK ). Retrieved 13 October 2016. Jump up ^ Proctor, Charlie ( 21 November 2017 ). `` BREAKING : The Queen becomes the world 's oldest living Head of State following Mugabe resignation ''. Royal Central. Retrieved 21 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` Queen Elizabeth II will be the world 's oldest head of state if Robert Mugabe is toppled ''. msn.com. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Jump up ^ Rayner, Gordon ( 29 January 2017 ). `` The Blue Sapphire Jubilee : Queen will not celebrate 65th anniversary but instead sit in ' quiet contemplation ' remembering father 's death ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Queen and Prince Philip portraits released to mark 70th anniversary ''. The Guardian. Press Association. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Jump up ^ Bilefsky, Dan ( 2 August 2017 ). `` Prince Philip Makes His Last Solo Appearance, After 65 Years in the Public Eye ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2017. Jump up ^ Brandreth, pp. 370 -- 371 ; Marr, p. 395 Jump up ^ Mansey, Kate ; Leake, Jonathan ; Hellen, Nicholas ( 19 January 2014 ). `` Queen and Charles start to ' job - share ' ''. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 January 2014. Marr, p. 395 Jump up ^ `` Charles to be next Commonwealth head ''. BBC News. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018. Jump up ^ Knight, Sam ( 16 March 2017 ). `` Operation London Bridge : the secret plan for the days after the Queen 's death ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Jump up ^ However, occasionally claims are made about her political opinions. For example after the Scottish independence referendum, 2014, the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, claimed that Elizabeth was pleased with the outcome ( Dominiczak, Peter ( 24 September 2014 ). `` David Cameron : I 'm extremely sorry for saying Queen ' purred ' over Scottish Independence vote ''. The Daily Telegraph. ). Jump up ^ `` Queen ' will do her job for life ' ''. BBC News. 19 April 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2007. Shawcross, pp. 194 -- 195 Jump up ^ `` How we are organised ''. Church of Scotland. Retrieved 4 August 2011. Jump up ^ `` Queen meets Pope Francis at the Vatican ''. BBC News. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Christmas Broadcast 2000 ''. Royal Household. 25 December 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Shawcross, pp. 236 -- 237 Jump up ^ `` About The Patron 's Lunch ''. The Patron 's Lunch. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` 80 facts about The Queen ''. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2010. Jump up ^ Bush, Karen ( 26 October 2007 ). Everything Dogs Expect You To Know. London : New Holland Publishers. p. 115. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84537 - 954 - 4. Retrieved 18 September 2012. Jump up ^ Pierce, Andrew ( 1 October 2007 ). `` Hug for Queen Elizabeth 's first corgi ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 September 2012. Jump up ^ Delacourt, Susan ( 25 May 2012 ). `` When the Queen is your boss ''. Toronto Star. Retrieved 27 May 2012. Jump up ^ Bond, p. 22 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 35 ; Pimlott, p. 180 ; Roberts, p. 82 ; Shawcross, p. 50 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 35 ; Pimlott, p. 280 ; Shawcross, p. 76 Jump up ^ Bond, pp. 66 -- 67, 84, 87 -- 89 ; Bradford, pp. 160 -- 163 ; Hardman, pp. 22, 210 -- 213 ; Lacey, pp. 222 -- 226 ; Marr, p. 237 ; Pimlott, pp. 378 -- 392 ; Roberts, pp. 84 -- 86 Jump up ^ Cartner - Morley, Jess ( 10 May 2007 ). `` Elizabeth II, belated follower of fashion ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 September 2011. Jump up ^ Bond, p. 97 ; Bradford, p. 189 ; Pimlott, pp. 449 -- 450 ; Roberts, p. 87 ; Shawcross, pp. 114 -- 117 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 117 ; Roberts, p. 91 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 134 ; Pimlott, pp. 556 -- 561, 570 Jump up ^ Bond, p. 134 ; Pimlott, pp. 624 -- 625 Jump up ^ Hardman, p. 310 ; Lacey, p. 387 ; Roberts, p. 101 ; Shawcross, p. 218 Jump up ^ `` Monarchy poll ''. Ipsos MORI. April 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2015. `` Monarchy Survey '' ( PDF ). Populus Ltd. 14 -- 16 December 2007. p. 9. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2010. `` Poll respondents back UK monarchy ''. BBC News. 28 December 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2010. Jump up ^ `` Monarchy / Royal Family Trends -- Satisfaction with the Queen ''. Ipsos MORI. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` Vincies vote `` No '' ``. BBC News. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009. Jump up ^ Riley, Ben ( 12 February 2016 ). `` Revealed : Damien Hirst 's only portrait of the Queen found in government archives ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Elizabeth II ''. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 22 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Marcus Adams ''. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 20 April 2013. Jump up ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory ( 2017 ). `` The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present ( New Series ) ''. MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 6 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` £ 2m estimate of the Queen 's wealth ' more likely to be accurate ' ''. The Times : 1. 11 June 1971. Jump up ^ Pimlott, p. 401 Jump up ^ Lord Chamberlain Lord Airlie quoted in Hoey, p. 225 and Pimlott, p. 561 Jump up ^ `` Queen inherits Queen Mother 's estate ''. BBC News. 17 May 2002. Retrieved 25 December 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Rich List 2017 ''. The Sunday Times. 7 May 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` FAQs ''. Royal Collection. Retrieved 29 March 2012. `` The Royal Collection ''. Royal Household. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The Royal Residences : Overview ''. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2009. Jump up ^ `` Accounts, Annual Reports and Investments ''. Duchy of Lancaster. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` FAQs ''. Crown Estate. Retrieved 22 March 2015. Jump up ^ `` Greeting a member of The Royal Family ''. Royal Household. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` Coat of Arms : Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth ''. Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Personal flags ''. Royal Household. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` Coat of Arms of Canada ''. Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2011. Jump up ^ Louda, Jiří ; Maclagan, Michael ( 1999 ) ( 1981 ). Lines of Succession : Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe ( 2nd ed. ). London : Little, Brown. p. 34. ISBN 978 - 0 - 316 - 84820 - 6. Bibliography Bond, Jennie ( 2006 ). Elizabeth : Eighty Glorious Years. London : Carlton Publishing Group. ISBN 1 - 84442 - 260 - 7 Bousfield, Arthur ; Toffoli, Gary ( 2002 ). Fifty Years the Queen. Toronto : Dundurn Press. ISBN 978 - 1 - 55002 - 360 - 2 Bradford, Sarah ( 2012 ). Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Our Times. London : Penguin. ISBN 978 - 0 - 670 - 91911 - 6 Brandreth, Gyles ( 2004 ). Philip and Elizabeth : Portrait of a Marriage. London : Century. ISBN 0 - 7126 - 6103 - 4 Briggs, Asa ( 1995 ). The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom : Volume 4. Oxford : Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 - 19 - 212967 - 8 Campbell, John ( 2003 ). Margaret Thatcher : The Iron Lady. London : Jonathan Cape. ISBN 0 - 224 - 06156 - 9 Crawford, Marion ( 1950 ). The Little Princesses. London : Cassell & Co. Hardman, Robert ( 2011 ). Our Queen. London : Hutchinson. ISBN 978 - 0 - 09 - 193689 - 1 Heald, Tim ( 2007 ). Princess Margaret : A Life Unravelled. London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978 - 0 - 297 - 84820 - 2 Hoey, Brian ( 2002 ). Her Majesty : Fifty Regal Years. London : HarperCollins. ISBN 0 - 00 - 653136 - 9 Lacey, Robert ( 2002 ). Royal : Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. London : Little, Brown. ISBN 0 - 316 - 85940 - 0 Macmillan, Harold ( 1972 ). Pointing The Way 1959 -- 1961 London : Macmillan. ISBN 0 - 333 - 12411 - 1 Marr, Andrew ( 2011 ). The Diamond Queen : Elizabeth II and Her People. London : Macmillan. ISBN 978 - 0 - 230 - 74852 - 1 Neil, Andrew ( 1996 ). Full Disclosure. London : Macmillan. ISBN 0 - 333 - 64682 - 7 Nicolson, Sir Harold ( 1952 ). King George the Fifth : His Life and Reign. London : Constable & Co. Petropoulos, Jonathan ( 2006 ). Royals and the Reich : the princes von Hessen in Nazi Germany. New York : Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 - 19 - 516133 - 5 Pimlott, Ben ( 2001 ). The Queen : Elizabeth II and the Monarchy. London : HarperCollins. ISBN 0 - 00 - 255494 - 1 Roberts, Andrew ; Edited by Antonia Fraser ( 2000 ). The House of Windsor. London : Cassell & Co. ISBN 0 - 304 - 35406 - 6 Shawcross, William ( 2002 ). Queen and Country. Toronto : McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 0 - 7710 - 8056 - 5 Thatcher, Margaret ( 1993 ). The Downing Street Years. London : HarperCollins. ISBN 0 - 00 - 255049 - 0 Trudeau, Pierre Elliott ( 1993 ). Memoirs. Toronto : McLelland & Stewart. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7710 - 8588 - 8 Williamson, David ( 1987 ). Debrett 's Kings and Queens of Britain. Webb & Bower. ISBN 0 - 86350 - 101 - X Wyatt, Woodrow ; Edited by Sarah Curtis ( 1999 ). The Journals of Woodrow Wyatt : Volume II. London : Macmillan. ISBN 0 - 333 - 77405 - 1 External links Listen to this article ( info / dl ) This audio file was created from a revision of the article `` Elizabeth II '' dated 23 June 2014, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ( Audio help ) More spoken articles The Queen at the Royal Family website Elizabeth II at Encyclopædia Britannica Queen Elizabeth II 's profile on BBC `` Archival material relating to Elizabeth II ''. UK National Archives. Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II at the National Portrait Gallery, London Queen Elizabeth II on IMDb Find out more on Wikipedia 's Sister projects Media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Data from Wikidata Titles and succession Elizabeth II House of Windsor Born : 21 April 1926 Regnal titles Preceded by George VI Queen of the United Kingdom 6 February 1952 -- present Incumbent Heir apparent : Charles, Prince of Wales Queen of Australia 6 February 1952 -- present Queen of Canada 6 February 1952 -- present Queen of New Zealand 6 February 1952 -- present Queen of Ceylon 6 February 1952 -- 22 May 1972 Republics established Queen of Pakistan 6 February 1952 -- 23 March 1956 Queen of South Africa 6 February 1952 -- 31 May 1961 New title Independence from the United Kingdom Queen of Ghana 6 March 1957 -- 1 July 1960 Queen of Nigeria 1 October 1960 -- 1 October 1963 Queen of Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 -- 19 April 1971 Queen of Tanganyika 9 December 1961 -- 9 December 1962 Queen of Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 -- 1 August 1976 Queen of Uganda 9 October 1962 -- 9 October 1963 Queen of Kenya 12 December 1963 -- 12 December 1964 Queen of Malawi 6 July 1964 -- 6 July 1966 Queen of Malta 21 September 1964 -- 13 December 1974 Queen of the Gambia 18 February 1965 -- 24 April 1970 Queen of Guyana 26 May 1966 -- 23 February 1970 Queen of Mauritius 12 March 1968 -- 12 March 1992 Queen of Fiji 10 October 1970 -- 6 October 1987 Queen of Jamaica 6 August 1962 -- present Incumbent Heir apparent : Charles, Prince of Wales Queen of Barbados 30 November 1966 -- present Queen of the Bahamas 10 July 1973 -- present Queen of Grenada 7 February 1974 -- present New title Independence from Australia Queen of Papua New Guinea 16 September 1975 -- present New title Independence from the United Kingdom Queen of the Solomon Islands 7 July 1978 -- present Queen of Tuvalu 1 October 1978 -- present Queen of Saint Lucia 22 February 1979 -- present Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 October 1979 -- present Queen of Belize 21 September 1981 -- present Queen of Antigua and Barbuda 1 November 1981 -- present Queen of Saint Kitts and Nevis 19 September 1983 -- present Preceded by George VI Head of the Commonwealth 1952 -- present Incumbent Military offices Preceded by The Earl Jellicoe as First Lord of the Admiralty Lord High Admiral 1964 -- 2011 Succeeded by The Duke of Edinburgh Order of precedence First Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom as sovereign Followed by The Duke of Edinburgh Queen Elizabeth II Monarchies Current Realms Antigua and Barbuda Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Grenada Jamaica New Zealand Papua New Guinea Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Solomon Islands Tuvalu United Kingdom Former Realms Ceylon Fiji Gambia Ghana Guyana Kenya Malawi Malta Mauritius Nigeria Pakistan Sierra Leone South Africa Tanganyika Trinidad and Tobago Uganda Ancestry and family Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh ( husband ) wedding wedding dress Charles, Prince of Wales ( son ) Anne, Princess Royal ( daughter ) Prince Andrew, Duke of York ( son ) Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex ( son ) George VI ( father ) Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother ( mother ) Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon ( sister ) Mountbatten - Windsor family Accession and coronation Coronation Royal guests Participants in the procession Coronation gown Medal Honours Award The Queen 's Beasts Treetops Hotel Proclamation of accession MacCormick v Lord Advocate Reign Annus horribilis Household Personality and image Prime ministers Operation London Bridge Christopher John Lewis incident Lithgow Plot Marcus Sarjeant incident Michael Fagan incident Jubilees Silver Jubilee Events Medal Honours Jubilee Gardens Jubilee line Jubilee Walkway Golden Jubilee Prom at the Palace Party at the Palace Medal Honours Jubilee Odyssey Diamond Jubilee Pageant Armed Forces Parade and Muster Thames Pageant Gloriana Spirit of Chartwell Concert Gibraltar Flotilla Medal Honours Sapphire Jubilee Sapphire Jubilee Commonwealth tours Australia official openings Canada Ships used HMS Vanguard ( 23 ) SS Gothic ( 1947 ) HMY Britannia State visits Outgoing State visit to Ireland Incoming Pope Benedict XVI President Michael D. Higgins President Xi Jinping Titles and honours Head of the Commonwealth List of things named after Elizabeth II Royal Family Order Elizabeth Cross Queen 's Official Birthday Flags Depictions Documentaries Royal Journey ( 1951 ) A Queen Is Crowned ( 1953 ) The Queen in Australia ( 1954 ) The Royal Tour of the Caribbean ( 1966 ) Royal Family ( 1969 ) Elizabeth R : A Year in the Life of the Queen ( 1992 ) Monarchy : The Royal Family at Work ( 2007 ) The Queen ( 2009 TV serial ) The Diamond Queen ( 2012 ) Elizabeth at 90 : A Family Portrait ( 2016 ) The Coronation ( 2018 ) Film and television A Question of Attribution ( 1992 TV ) Her Majesty ( 2001 ) The Queen ( 2006 ) Happy and Glorious ( 2012 ) A Royal Night Out ( 2015 ) The Crown ( 2016 -- ) Plays A Question of Attribution ( 1988 ) The Audience ( 2013 ) Handbagged Portraits Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II -- An 80th Birthday Portrait Pietro Annigoni 's Portraits The Queen Books The Queen and I The Uncommon Reader Winnie - the - Pooh Meets the Queen Songs God Save the Queen Her Majesty Stamps Machin series ( list ) Wilding series Castle series Canadian domestic rate stamp Country definitives Animals Corgis Dookie Susan Horses Aureole Burmese Carrozza Dunfermline Estimate Height of Fashion Highclere Pall Mall Winston Related Elizabeth II 's jewels Sagana Lodge Villa Guardamangia Children 's Party at the Palace The Queen 's Birthday Party Jeannette Charles Links to related articles English, Scottish and British monarchs Monarchs of England until 1603 Monarchs of Scotland until 1603 Alfred the Great Edward the Elder Ælfweard Æthelstan Edmund I Eadred Eadwig Edgar the Peaceful Edward the Martyr Æthelred the Unready Sweyn Edmund II Cnut Harold I Harthacnut Edward the Confessor Harold II Edgar Ætheling William I William II Henry I Stephen Matilda Henry II Henry the Young King Richard I Henry III Edward I Edward II Edward III Richard II Henry IV Henry V Henry VI Edward IV Edward V Richard III Henry VII Henry VIII Edward VI Jane Mary I and Philip Elizabeth I Kenneth I MacAlpin Donald I Constantine I Áed Giric Eochaid Donald II Constantine II Malcolm I Indulf Dub Cuilén Amlaíb Kenneth II Constantine III Kenneth III Malcolm II Duncan I Macbeth Lulach Malcolm III Donald III Duncan II Donald III Edgar Alexander I David I Malcolm IV William I Alexander II Alexander III Margaret of Norway John Balliol Robert I David II Edward Balliol Robert II Robert III James I James II James III James IV James V Mary I James VI Monarchs of England and Scotland after the Union of the Crowns from 1603 James VI & I Charles I Charles II James II & VII William III & II and Mary II Anne British monarchs after the Acts of Union 1707 Anne George I George II George III George IV William IV Victoria Edward VII George V Edward VIII George VI Elizabeth II Debatable or disputed rulers are in italics. Current members of the Order of the Garter Ex officio The Queen The Prince of Wales Knights and Ladies Companion The Lord Bramall The Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover The Lord Ashburton Sir Timothy Colman The Duke of Abercorn The Lord Inge Sir Antony Acland The Lord Butler of Brockwell The Lord Morris of Aberavon Sir John Major The Lord Luce Sir Thomas Dunne The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers The Lord Boyce The Lord Stirrup The Baroness Manningham - Buller The Lord King of Lothbury The Lord Shuttleworth Sir David Brewer Lady Mary Fagan The Viscount Brookeborough 3 vacancies Royal Knights and Ladies The Duke of Edinburgh The Duke of Kent The Princess Royal The Duke of Gloucester Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy The Duke of York The Earl of Wessex The Duke of Cambridge Stranger Knights and Ladies Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg The Queen of Denmark The King of Sweden King Juan Carlos I of Spain Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands The Emperor of Japan The King of Norway The King of Spain The King of the Netherlands Officers The Bishop of Winchester ( Prelate ) The Duke of Abercorn ( Chancellor ) The Dean of Windsor ( Registrar ) Thomas Woodcock ( Garter Principal King of Arms ) The Clarenceux King of Arms ( Secretary ) Sarah Clarke ( Black Rod ) Current monarchs of sovereign states Africa Letsie III Mohammed VI Mswati III Asia Hamad Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Hassanal Bolkiah Norodom Sihamoni Akihito Abdullah II Sabah IV Muhammad V Qaboos Tamim Salman Rama X Khalifa * Europe Macron ^ and Vives Sicília ^ Philippe Margrethe II Hans - Adam II ( Regent : Alois ) Henri Albert II Willem - Alexander Harald V Felipe VI Carl XVI Gustaf Elizabeth II Francis Americas Elizabeth II Oceania Elizabeth II Tupou VI * Officially President ^ Ex officio as President of France and Bishop of Urgell British princesses The generations indicate descent from George I, who formalised the use of the titles prince and princess for members of the British royal family. Where a princess may have been or is descended from George I more than once, her most senior descent, by which she bore or bears her title, is used. 1st generation Sophia Dorothea, Queen in Prussia 2nd generation Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Princess Amelia Princess Caroline Mary, Landgravine of Hesse - Kassel Louise, Queen of Denmark and Norway 3rd generation Duchess Augusta of Brunswick Princess Elizabeth Princess Louisa Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark and Norway 4th generation Charlotte, Princess Royal and Queen of Württemberg Princess Augusta Sophia Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse - Homburg Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh Princess Sophia Princess Amelia Princess Sophia of Gloucester Princess Caroline of Gloucester 5th generation Princess Charlotte, Princess Leopold of Saxe - Coburg - Saalfeld Princess Elizabeth of Clarence Queen Victoria Augusta, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg - Strelitz Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck 6th generation Victoria, Princess Royal and German Empress Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine Princess Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig - Holstein Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg Princess Frederica, Baroness von Pawel - Rammingen Princess Marie of Hanover 7th generation Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife Princess Victoria Maud, Queen of Norway Marie, Queen of Romania Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia Princess Alexandra, Princess of Hohenlohe - Langenburg Princess Beatrice, Duchess of Galliera Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden Princess Patricia, Lady Patricia Ramsay Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone Princess Marie Louise, Princess Maximilian of Baden Alexandra, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg - Schwerin Princess Olga of Hanover 8th generation Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk Princess Sibylla, Duchess of Västerbotten Princess Caroline Mathilde of Saxe - Coburg and Gotha Frederica, Queen of Greece 9th generation Queen Elizabeth II Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy 10th generation Anne, Princess Royal 11th generation Princess Beatrice of York Princess Eugenie Lady Louise Windsor 12th generation Princess Charlotte of Cambridge Status debatable ; see her article. Duchesses of Edinburgh Princess Augusta of Saxe - Gotha ( 1736 -- 1751 * ) Duchesses of Gloucester and Edinburgh Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia ( 1874 -- 1900 * ) Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom ( 1947 -- 1952 ^ ) * From marriage to husband 's death ^ From marriage to accession as Queen WorldCat Identities BNF : cb11974322d ( data ) GND : 118529889 ISNI : 0000 0001 2123 3290 LCCN : n80126296 MusicBrainz : 911ffa04 - 7051 - 4172 - a370 - 02f1102120ef NDL : 00620626 NKC : jn20000700038 SELIBR : 184346 SNAC : ZFXJ9EaP SUDOC : 027772357 ULAN : 500233087 VIAF : 20471592 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elizabeth_II&oldid=866516184 '' Categories : Elizabeth II 1926 births 20th - century British monarchs 21st - century British monarchs 20th - century British women 21st - century British women Auxiliary Territorial Service officers British Anglicans British philanthropists British Presbyterians British princesses British racehorse owners and breeders British women in World War II Girlguiding UK Heads of state of Antigua and Barbuda Heads of state of the Bahamas Heads of state of Barbados Heads of state of Belize Heads of state of Canada Heads of state of Fiji Heads of state of the Gambia Heads of state of Ghana Heads of state of Grenada Heads of state of Guyana Heads of state of Jamaica Heads of state of Kenya Heads of state of Malawi Heads of state of Malta Heads of state of Mauritius Heads of state of New Zealand Heads of state of Nigeria Heads of state of Pakistan Heads of state of Papua New Guinea Heads of state of Saint Kitts and Nevis Heads of state of Saint Lucia Heads of state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Heads of state of Sierra Leone Heads of state of the Solomon Islands Heads of state of Tanganyika Heads of state of Trinidad and Tobago Heads of state of Tuvalu Heads of state of Uganda Heads of the Commonwealth Honorary air commodores House of Windsor Jewellery collectors Living people Monarchs of Australia Monarchs of Ceylon Monarchs of South Africa Monarchs of the United Kingdom People from Mayfair Protestant monarchs Queens regnant in the British Isles Women in the Canadian armed services Hidden categories : Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y Articles with short description Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people Use dmy dates from October 2018 Use British English from December 2017 Spoken articles Articles with hAudio microformats Articles with Encyclopædia Britannica links Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with NDL identifiers Wikipedia articles with NKC identifiers Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers Wikipedia articles with ULAN identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Featured articles Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Wikinews Wikiquote Wikisource Acèh Afrikaans Alemannisch አማርኛ Ænglisc Aragonés Asturianu Avañe'ẽ Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bahasa Banjar Bân - lâm - gú Башҡортса Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ भोजपुरी Bikol Central Bislama Български Bosanski Brezhoneg Буряад Català Cebuano Čeština Chavacano de Zamboanga Cymraeg Dansk Davvisámegiella Deutsch Diné bizaad Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Estremeñu Euskara فارسی Français Frysk Furlan Gaeilge Gaelg Gàidhlig Galego गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hornjoserbsce Hrvatski Ido Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Interlingue Ирон IsiZulu Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa ಕನ್ನಡ ქართული Қазақша Kernowek Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Kurdî Кыргызча ລາວ لۊری شومالی Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Limburgs Lumbaart Magyar मैथिली Македонски Malagasy മലയാളം Malti Māori मराठी მარგალური مصرى Bahasa Melayu Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nāhuatl Nederlands नेपाली नेपाल भाषा 日本 語 Нохчийн Nordfriisk Norfuk / Pitkern Norsk Norsk nynorsk Nouormand Novial Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Papiamentu Picard Piemontèis Tok Pisin Plattdüütsch Polski Português Qırımtatarca Română Runa Simi Русский Gagana Samoa संस्कृतम् Scots Shqip Sicilianu සිංහල Simple English SiSwati Slovenčina Slovenščina Ślůnski Soomaaliga کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் Taqbaylit Tarandíne Татарча / tatarça తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Thuɔŋjäŋ Українська اردو ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Vepsän kel ' Tiếng Việt Volapük Winaray 吴语 ייִדיש Yorùbá 粵語 Žemaitėška 中文 Kabɩyɛ 152 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 October 2018, at 20 : 28 ( UTC ). 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Question: when did the current queen of england become queen
Answer: 6 February 1952