Queen Elizabeth II: The platinum monarch? - CNN.com Queen Elizabeth II: The platinum monarch? By Victoria Arbiter Updated 3:54 PM ET, Wed September 9, 2015 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Look back at moments from her life so far. Hide Caption 1 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth was born April 21, 1926, in London. She is held here by her mother, Elizabeth. Her father would later become King George VI. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth in 1928. 3 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth is seen with her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, during a visit to Balmoral, Scotland, in September 1933. He would go on to become King Edward VIII in 1936. But when he abdicated later that year, Elizabeth's father became King and she became heir presumptive.

Hide Caption 4 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth is seen in the Duchess' box during a pantomime act at London's Lyceum Theater in February 1935. Hide Caption 5 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II From left, Princess Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret wave to the crowd from the Royal Balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 22, 1939. Hide Caption 6 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II A 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth, right, sits next to her sister for a radio broadcast on October 13, 1940. On the broadcast, her first, she said that England's children were full of cheerfulness and courage. Hide Caption 7 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth shakes hands with an officer of the Grenadier Guards on May 29, 1942. King George VI made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the Royal Army regiment. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth, right, and Princess Margaret wear summer dresses circa 1942.

Hide Caption 9 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II With the Drakensberg Mountains behind her, Princess Elizabeth sits in South Africa's Natal National Park on April 21, 1947, her 21st birthday. Hide Caption 10 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II This portrait of the British royal family was taken in July 1947, after Princess Elizabeth, far left, got engaged to Prince Philip of Greece, a lieutenant in the British Navy. He is second from left. To his left are Queen Elizabeth, King George VI and Princess Margaret. Hide Caption 11 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Royal Wedding Party waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on November 20, 1947. After becoming a British citizen and renouncing his Greek title, Philip became His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His wife became the Duchess of Edinburgh. Hide Caption 12 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth smiles in March 1950 as she arrives to a state banquet at the French Embassy in London's Kensington Palace Gardens.

Hide Caption 13 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth ascended to the throne in February 1952, when her father died of lung cancer. Here, the new Queen leaves the Royal Archers Hall in Edinburgh after a ball in June 1952. It was the first function she attended as Queen following her father's death. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II walks to the altar during her coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953. Hide Caption 15 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Melbourne's Government House, during her tour of Australia in March 1954. Hide Caption 16 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II From left, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother visit Epsom Downs Racecourse in June 1958. Hide Caption 17 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen holds her son Prince Andrew while his sister, Princess Anne, watches during a family holiday at Scotland's Balmoral Castle in September 1960.

Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II is seen during the State Opening of Parliament in April 1966. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II with her oldest son, Prince Charles, in 1969. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles adjusts his coronet during his investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales in 1969. Hide Caption 21 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wave from a plane ramp shortly before taking off from Tokyo in May 1975. Hide Caption 22 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II takes a portrait at Windsor Castle for her 50th birthday on April 21, 1976. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen meets the crowds during her royal tour of New Zealand in 1977. Hide Caption 24 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen stands next to Prince Charles as he kisses his new bride, Princess Diana, on their wedding day July 29, 1981.

Hide Caption 25 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II takes pictures of her husband during a horse show in Windsor, England, on May 16, 1982. Hide Caption 26 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen reacts to an elephant as she tours a charity event in London's Hyde Park in June 1987. Hide Caption 27 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II fires a rifle during a visit to the Army Rifle Association at Bisley, England, in July 1993. Hide Caption 28 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II While at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip view the floral tributes to Princess Diana after her tragic death in 1997. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen addresses the nation on the night before Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. Hide Caption 30 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles looks back at his mother after wedding Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in April 2005.

Hide Caption 31 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave London's St. Paul's Cathedral on October 9, 2009, following a commemoration service to mark the end of combat operations in Iraq. Hide Caption 32 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen, second from right, greets a crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011. Her grandson Prince William, third from left, had just married Catherine Middleton. Hide Caption 33 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II drives her Range Rover as she attends the Windsor Horse Show in May 2011. Hide Caption 34 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen's signature is seen in the visitors book at Aras An Uachtarain, the Irish President's official residence in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2011. Hide Caption 35 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Flags are waved as Queen Elizabeth II leaves St.

Paul's Cathedral following its 300th anniversary service in June 2011. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Madame Tussauds London reveals a wax figure of the Queen in May 2012. Hide Caption 37 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles kisses his mother's hand on stage as singer Paul McCartney, far right, looks on at the Diamond Jubilee concert held June 4, 2012, at Buckingham Palace. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked Elizabeth's 60th anniversary as Queen. Hide Caption 38 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen speaks at a reception for members of the International Olympic Committee on July 23, 2012. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen tours the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London in December 2012. Hide Caption 40 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II A boy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, takes a selfie in front of the Queen in June 2014.

Hide Caption 41 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen enters the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle after attending a commemorative service for the Scottish National War Memorial in July 2014. Hide Caption 42 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen waits to give her speech during the State Opening of Parliament on May 27, 2015. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen sits at a desk in Buckingham Palace in July 2015. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The British monarch greets the public after attending church services in February. Hide Caption 45 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince George gets a boost from some foam blocks for a special family photo. The portrait, featuring the four generations of the House of Windsor, was commissioned by the Royal Mail and will be featured on a series of stamps to commemorate the Queen's 90th birthday. Hide Caption 46 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II acknowledges the crowd as she celebrates her 90th birthday in Windsor, England, on April 21.

Hide Caption 47 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II On June 10, Buckingham Palace released a new official photograph to mark the Queen's 90th birthday. It shows her with Prince Philip and was taken at Windsor Castle just after Easter. Hide Caption BBC - iWonder - Queen Elizabeth II: Britain’s longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II: Britain’s longest reigning monarch 21 April 1926 Presented byProfessor Kate WilliamsRoyal historian Constant Queen As the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has seen Britain change dramatically over the years. Yet she has remained a constant presence in the lives of the people of the UK and Commonwealth. Duty and family are very important to her. As a child during the Second World War she inspired the nation. The lessons she learned during these formative years helped her ensure the Royal Family remains a symbol of tradition in the 21st Century. 21 April 1926 You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr discusses Princess Elizabeth's family and early life. The Diamond Queen (BBC One, 2012). Princess Elizabeth was born in 1926.

Her father Albert – Bertie to family – was George V's second eldest son and did not expect one day to be king. Elizabeth's mother and father took their royal duties seriously. Though loving parents, they kept with the tradition of not taking their children on royal tours. They left the baby Elizabeth behind when they embarked on a six-month tour of Australia. It was duty first for the young Royal Family. [She’s] a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant. Winston Churchill, 1928 A growing family Princess Elizabeth and her mother, Queen Elizabeth, with baby Princess Margaret. Elizabeth was four when her sister Margaret was born. The family lived at 145 Piccadilly and the two girls were educated at home. The young Princess Elizabeth – called Lilibet by her family – often visited her grandfather King George V at his home, Buckingham Palace. They were close, and on one occasion the press attributed George's recovery from a serious illness to spirit-raising visits from his young granddaughter. [she’s] a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved.

Margaret Rhodes, Elizabeth’s cousin 1936 The Year of Three Kings You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr explains how Princess Elizabeth became heir to the throne in 1936. The Diamond Queen (BBC One, 2012). Elizabeth's life changed forever when King George V died to be succeeded to the throne by her uncle Edward who then abdicated shortly afterwards. Elizabeth's father became King George VI, and the young princess first in line to the throne. The family had to move from their home in Piccadilly to Buckingham Palace. George V had disapproved of his eldest son Edward, and hoped that Elizabeth would one day be Queen. George VI has been described as a reluctant king. The day before he accepted the throne he wrote in his diary "I broke down and sobbed like a child." I pray to God that my eldest son [Edward] will never marry and have children, and that nothing will come between Bertie and Lilibet and the throne. King George V confiding to a courtier in 1935. 13 October 1940 Elizabeth's broadcast to the children You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip.

Princess Elizabeth delivers her first radio speech at age 14. BBC Radio (1940). During World War Two Princess Elizabeth did her part to boost public morale. In 1940 she made a broadcast to Britain's children. Taking on solemn duties at an early age had a profound effect on her. She made public appearances on her own, representing her father the King. She also served in the auxiliary territorial service, a role she was keen to take up in order to make a contribution to the war effort. During the war years she was also in correspondence with a young naval officer, Philip of Denmark and Greece. Celebrating VE Day amongst the people Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret mingled anonymously with crowds outside Buckingham Palace. On the day the war ended in Europe, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret mingled anonymously with the crowds outside the palace. Elizabeth convinced her parents to let her and Margaret join the VE day celebrations. Elizabeth was wary of being recognised but later said it was one of the most memorable nights of her life. This was a rare moment when she was able to join the public – her subjects to be – which would eventually be impossible for her.

World War Two cemented cemented two principles the Queen would support for the rest of her reign: a commitment to the Commonwealth, and the importance of remembrance. 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. Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting on VE day in a BBC interview in 1985 1947 Elizabeth's first tour abroad Princess Elizabeth playing deck games on board a Royal Navy ship. On her 21st birthday Elizabeth went on an official tour of South Africa, delivering a speech dedicating herself to the service of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth's father King George VI was suffering from poor health. Elizabeth continued to take on royal duties, and over the next few years she played a greater public role as her father's health declined. She had her own private secretary and was given access to Foreign Office telegrams, which arrived in boxes dedicated to her and read daily parliamentary reports. I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to … the service of our great imperial family.

Princess Elizabeth in her speech in South Africa, 1947 20 November 1947 A royal wedding You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. The Queen marries Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey. How Princess Elizabeth met her Prince (BBC One, 2006). Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten were married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. She wore a dress she'd paid for with ration tokens. Although Elizabeth and Philip were in love, the young princess’s husband was a controversial choice. He was foreign born, with no financial standing and no kingdom. He had sisters married to Nazis, who were not invited to the wedding. Philip gave up his Greek and Danish titles and changed his religion to marry Elizabeth. Now married for over 65 years, the Queen has had the longest marriage of any UK monarch. [The wedding is] a flash of colour on the hard road we have to travel. Winston Churchill, responding to suggestions that the postwar wedding should be austere. 1948 Elizabeth becomes Queen You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. The broadcast made by the BBC on the King's death.

An Unforgettable Coronation (BBC One, 2003). King George VI had been in poor health for years. For some time Elizabeth's secretary had been carrying accession papers for use when the King died. The King passed away while Elizabeth was touring Kenya. The young princess became Queen while visiting a treetop hotel. One of her aides told Prince Philip the news. Philip looked "as if the world had been dropped on him." Philip then told the new Queen of her father's death. The next day Elizabeth requested no photographs be taken, though one journalist said he could feel her sadness as she passed and waved to them. International stateswoman You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. 20 years after World War Two, the Queen pledged support for West Berlin and received rapturous applause. The Queen in Germany (BBC One, 2006). By 1965, the Queen had reigned for over a decade and made frequent overseas visits. She had also given birth to two further sons: Edward and Andrew. At home and abroad, the Queen had to maintain political neutrality, but she was making her own mark on the role of monarch.

She made a number of historic visits, including the first to Berlin of a British monarch since before World War One. She also delivered a speech at the United Nations in New York, representing the UK and the Commonwealth. Ensuring the unity of the Commonwealth has been an enduring passion for her. God save the Queen, she ain’t no human being. God Save the Queen, the Sex Pistols 1981 Queen under threat The Queen, riding side saddle on her horse Burmese during Trooping the Colour, moments before the attack. A man fired six shots at the Queen while she was riding down The Mall. The shots turned out to be blanks. Though shaken, the Queen retained control over her horse. The man, Marcus Serjeant, was tried and sentenced to five years in prison under the treason act. This attack came the month before Charles and Diana's wedding, so royal security was stepped up in preparation. The following year, another man broke into the Queen's bedroom in a startling breach of security at Buckingham Palace. She has indeed 'the heart and stomach of a man'... She loves her duty and means to be a Queen.

Harold MacMillan, prime minister 1957-63 Around this time… Elizabeth's annus horribilis You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr looks at the events that made 1992 a bad year for the Queen. The Queen at 80 (BBC One, 2006). The Queen called 1992 her Annus horribilis ‒ horrible year ‒ in a speech made after a series of unpleasant events. The marriages of two of her children, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, broke down. A best-selling book was published detailing Princess Diana's unhappiness and collapsing marriage. There was also a large and damaging fire at Windsor Castle, the Queen’s private home. Public support for the Royal Family dipped, though the Queen remained dignified and constant figure. Princess Diana dies You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. John Simpson reports on the return of the Queen to Buckingham Palace after Diana's death. BBC News (BBC One, 1997). Princess Diana died in an accident in 1997. Amid the mourning, the Queen faced a critical dilemma. Initially, the Royal Family grieved privately.

However, the public reaction to Diana's death led to accusations the Queen was unresponsive and out of touch with the public mood. A Daily Express headline declared, ‘Show Us You Care.’ That evening, the Queen made a broadcast paying tribute to Diana as an "exceptional and gifted human being". The swell of anger had shocked the Queen and she admitted there were "lessons to be drawn from her life and the extraordinary public reaction to her death". Death of her mother and sister You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Golden Jubilee party at the Palace. The Royal Year with Jennie Bond (BBC One, 2002). Fifty years after her father's death, both the Queen's mother and sister died within two months of each other. However, popular support for the Queen was increasing after the difficult 1990s. Throughout her reign, the Queen represented continuity and surety, though she accepted the monarchy must attempt to renew itself. She undertook a 40,000-mile tour of the Commonwealth. She said her own "association with the Commonwealth has taught me that the most important contact between nations is usually contact between its peoples." Change has become a constant, managing it has become an expanding discipline.

Queen Elizabeth II, Golden Jubilee speech to the Houses of Parliament, 2002 2012 The Olympics and a Diamond Jubilee You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr summarises the Queen's Diamond year. A Diamond Queen (BBC One, 2012). In a year of celebration the Queen joined the Olympic opening ceremony, appearing in a James Bond spoof in her first acting role. In the same year she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, only the second achieved by a British monarch. She did not travel the world for this celebration. Instead her children and grandchildren made trips on her behalf. The Queen chose to tour the UK over several months. In 2012 her approval rating hit 90% – the highest it had been since she came to the throne in 1952. Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s longest reigning monarch The Queen attending a ceremony for ANZAC day at the cenotaph in 2015. On 9 September 2015 Elizabeth II overtook Victoria to become Britain’s longest reigning monarch.

By this point she had been Queen to twelve Prime Ministers, and still met David Cameron weekly to receive reports on his government and to offer her counsel and advice. In 2013, the law was changed so the monarch’s eldest born child has the right to the throne, rather than the eldest boy. It is fitting that this occurred during the rule of Elizabeth II, our longest reigning and perhaps most successful monarch in history. 'Modern Elizabethan Era': Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest 'Modern Elizabethan Era': Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday Thousands of people turned out to wish Queen Elizabeth II a happy 90th birthday Thursday, as she became the first British monarch to reach that grand age. Post to Facebook 'Modern Elizabethan Era': Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday Thousands of people turned out to wish Queen Elizabeth II a happy 90th birthday Thursday, as she became the first British monarch to reach that grand age. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Join the Nation's Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs 'Modern Elizabethan Era': Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday Jane Onyanga-Omara , USA TODAY Published 1:04 p.m. ET April 21, 2016 | Updated 4:41 p.m. ET April 21, 2016 CLOSE x Share Queen Elizabeth II is one of the longest reigning monarchs. But just because she's a Queen, doesn't mean she doesn't put her pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us common folks. USA TODAY Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, wave to well-wishers during her 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor, Britain, April 21, 2016. (Photo: ANDY RAIN, EPA) LONDON — Thousands of people turned out to wish Queen Elizabeth II a happy 90th birthday Thursday, as she became the first British monarch to reach that grand age.

The occasion inspired a flood of good wishes from around the world — and even from space, courtesy of British astronaut Tim Peake at the International Space Station — many of them using the hashtag # HappyBirthdayYourMajesty. — Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) April 21, 2016 The sun broke through as Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, 94, were greeted by crowds of cheering well-wishers on a walkabout in Windsor, 25 miles west of London. They've been married for 69 years. The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode past Buckingham Palace in central London, before staging a gun salute across the River Thames at noon, and the bells at Westminster Abbey rang in tribute. Delhey Beatekrieger, 52, from Aachen, Germany, took advantage of a business trip to see Buckingham Palace for the first time. The queen wears birthday green! Inside her 90th celebration Tourists continued to mill outside the palace Thursday afternoon, even though Britain’s longest-serving ruler wasn’t home but in Windsor, where she was to be joined by family members including Prince William and Duchess Kate for a private celebration at the castle in the evening.

(Photo: Chris Ratcliffe, Getty Images) “My mother told me today that it was the queen’s birthday and she asked me if I’d go to high tea,” Beatekrieger said. “I’m a fan of the queen and the whole royal family. I wish her a lot of happy years.” The queen has two birthdays — her actual date of birth on April 21, and a birthday celebration in June to make the most of the summer weather, characterized by the Trooping the Color parade. (Photo: John Stillwell, AFP/Getty Images) This year, additional celebrations will be held — a four-day music extravaganza on the grounds of Windsor Castle next month, and in June there will be party on the Mall, near Buckingham Palace, which will be attended by 10,000 guests. Prime Minister David Cameron made a speech in the U.K's parliament — which will be lit up in the red, white and blue of the Union Jack overnight — to mark the historic day.

90 facts about Queen Elizabeth II as she turns 90 Britain is living, Cameron said, in the “modern Elizabethan Era.” At age 21, the queen, who has represented her kingdom on 266 official visits to 116 countries, told her subjects, “My whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service." Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Queen Elizabeth II meets the public on her 90th birthday 'walkabout' on April 21, 2016 in Windsor, England. Thousands of people turned out to wish Britain's longest serving monarch a happy birthday. Chris Jackson, Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II wore a cheery grass-green coat (and a matching floral hat) for her 90th birthday appearance. WPA Pool, Getty Images Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh wave to well-wishers during her 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor, Britain on April 21, 2016.

Andy Rain, European Pressphoto Agency Fullscreen Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets well-wishers during a 'walkabout' on her 90th birthday in Windsor, west of London, on April 21, 2016. Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday on Thursday, with her eldest son Prince Charles paying tribute in a special radio broadcast and Prime Minister David Cameron leading a parliamentary homage. Justin Tallis, AFP/Getty Images The 'Three Criers' Tony Appleton, Steve Clow and Peter Baker prepare for the Queen's 90th Birthday Walkabout on April 21, 2016 in Windsor, England. Chris Jackson, Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II meets well wishers on a walk about around Windsor on her 90th birthday. Samir Hussein, WireImage A royal supporter is pictured outside Windsor Castle, west of London, on April 21, 2016, as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday.

Ben Stansall, AFP/Getty Images Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (centre L) accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh greet wellwishers during a 'walkabout.' on her 90th birthday in Windsor. Justin Tallis, AFP/Getty Images Royal well-wishers try too grab a glimpse of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during her 90th birthday celebrations in Windso. Andy Rain, European Pressphoto Agency Royal well-wishers await the arrival of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during her 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor. Andy Rain, European Pressphoto Agency Queen Elizabeth II meets the public on her 90th birthday ''walkabout' in Windsor. WPA Pool, Getty Images Royal well-wishers await the arrival of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during her 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor. Andy Rain, European Pressphoto Agency Queen Elizabeth II meets the public on her 90th Birthday Walkabout on April 21, 2016 in Windsor. WPA Pool, Getty Images Wellwishers gather as Queen Elizabeth II meets the public on her 90th Birthday Walkabout in Windsor.

Ian Gavan, Getty Images Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets wellwishers during a 'walkabout' on her 90th birthday. JOHN STILLWELL, AFP/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II accepts a bouquet of flowers from well wishers during her 90th birthday 'walkabout.' Samir Hussein, WireImage Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh study a plaque after unveiling it during a 'walkabout' on her 90th birthday in Windsor. John Stillwell, AFP/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II receives a gift during her 90th birthday 'walkabout.' WPA Pool, Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II receives a birthday cake from Nadiya Hussain, winner of the Great British Bake Off, during her 90th birthday 'walkabout' on April 21, 2016 in Windsor. WPA Pool, Getty Images Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Last Slide Next Slide “Never has such an extraordinary promise been so profoundly fulfilled,” Cameron said. “When people meet the queen they talk about it for the rest of their lives,” he added. “She understands that and she shows a genuine interest in all she meets.

They can really see that she cares.” Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Queen Ellizabeth II turns 90 on April 21, 2016, further cementing her status as Britain's longest-lived, longest-reigning monarch. And she is still going strong (her mother lived to almost 102): She's expected to make a public appearance in Windsor on her birthday; the official celebration will come later in May and June. Take a look back at some pictures from her early years up until just after her coronation in 1953. This photo shows a flag with her portrait made of Legos in the window of a shop in London, on May 21, 2012, ahead of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. ANDREW COWIE, AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen Baby Princess Elizabeth in the arms of her mother, then the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother), on her christening day in 1926, a few months after her birth on April 21, 1926.

At left is her grandmother, Queen Mary, with grandfather King George V behind, and her father the Duke of York, later to become King George VI, at right. Associated Press She was by most accounts a pretty baby with light brown, almost blond, hair. Princess Elizabeth with her parents, Prince Albert and Elizabeth, Duke and Duchess of York, in June 1927. THE ROYAL COLLECTION / HO, EPA Princess Elizabeth was especially close to her father, later George VI. Here she is with the then-Duke of York in July 1929. THE ROYAL COLLECTION / HO, EPA Fullscreen After his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, the Duke and Duchess of York became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Here they pose with their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, after the king's coronation in May 1937. Associated Press The new king and queen and their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, pose in 1937. Elizabeth was now the heir to the throne, the future sovereign.

AP Then-Princess Elizabeth, left, joins, from left, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI, and Princess Margaret, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, on VE-Day May 8, 1945. AP Fullscreen Princess Elizabeth was at Natal National Park in South Africa when she turned 21 in 1947, during a tour with her parents and sister. She broadcast a message to Britain and the Commonwealth, declaring 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." EDDIE WORTH, AP Princess Elizabeth christens Cunard's 'Caronia' in Clydebank, Scotland on Oct. 30, 1947. Her fiance Prince Philip is at right. Courtesy Cunard Line Fullscreen Princess Elizabeth came home from South Africa to announce her engagement to her distant cousin, Prince Philip, a member of the exiled Greek royal family. She met him when she was 13 and he was 18 and never looked at another man again. They had been secretly engaged in 1946 but waited until she reached 21 to announce the news.

They married at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947. King George VI created his new son-in-law the Duke of Edinburgh. AP, AP Fullscreen Princess Elizabeth's first baby, Prince Charles, was born Nov. 14, 1948. His christening in the music room at Buckingham Palace took place on Dec. 15. Princess Elizabeth is flanked by her grandmother, Queen Mary, and Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice. Also in the picture are Philip, King George VI and other godparents from both sides of the baby's family, including Princess Margaret at far right. Topical Press Agency, Getty Images Before she became queen, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip had more time to spend with their first two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, born in 1950. AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen In February 1952, she went to Africa on holiday as a princess, and returned a queen after her father died.

She was greeted by (from R to L) Sir Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden and Frederick James Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton and Lord President of the Council, on February 8, 1952, as she returned from Kenya. AFP, AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen She became queen in February 1952, after King George VI died, and was crowned in June 1953. She wore the bejeweled Imperial Crown and carried the Orb and Scepter with Cross as she left Westminster Abbey at the end of the long, traditional Coronation Ceremony. Associated Press The formal Coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Prince Philip, June 2, 1953, in Buckingham Palace. AFP, AFP/Getty Images An official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. -, AFP/Getty Images The queen II sits with Prince Charles (R) and Princess Anne (L) in Balmoral, her Scottish estate, in the early 1950s. AFP/Getty Images The queen poses with Prince Charles and Princess Anne in the mid-1950s.

STF, AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen Soon after taking the throne, everything changed for the queen's private life. She had two more children later but her time was taken up increasingly with her duties, especially long overseas trips. She has now reigned for 64 years, longer than any other British monarch. She has evolved from a young and earnest princess, beloved by the British, to one of the most admired people in the world - and the most photographed human being ever. At 90, she is a living symbol of Britain, pictured here in this Ralph Heimans portrait of her commissioned in 2013 for the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey, where it hangs. AFP/Getty Images Like this topic?

You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Elizabeth II | queen of United Kingdom | Britannica.com queen of United Kingdom Alternative Titles: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith Elizabeth II Also known as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith born David Lloyd George Elizabeth II, in full Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, officially Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith (born April 21, 1926, London, England), queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from February 6, 1952. In 2015 she surpassed Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Elizabeth II, 1985.

Karsh—Camera Press/Globe Photos Early life Elizabeth was the elder daughter of Albert, duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. As the child of a younger son of King George V , the young Elizabeth had little prospect of acceding to the throne until her uncle, Edward VIII (afterward duke of Windsor), abdicated in her father’s favour on December 11, 1936, at which time her father became King George VI and she became heir presumptive. The princess’s education was supervised by her mother, who entrusted her daughters to a governess, Marion Crawford; the princess was also grounded in history by C.H.K. Marten, afterward provost of Eton College , and had instruction from visiting teachers in music and languages. During World War II she and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose , perforce spent much of their time safely away from the London blitz and separated from their parents, living mostly at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and at the Royal Lodge, Windsor , and Windsor Castle . Scenes from Queen Elizabeth II’s youth, United Kingdom, 1930s and ’40s.

Stock footage courtesy The WPA Film Library Early in 1947 Princess Elizabeth went with the king and queen to South Africa . After her return there was an announcement of her betrothal to her distant cousin Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten of the Royal Navy , formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark . The marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. On the eve of the wedding her father, the king, conferred upon the bridegroom the titles of duke of Edinburgh, earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. They took residence at Clarence House in London . Their first child, Prince Charles (Charles Philip Arthur George), was born November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace . Royal family portrait, Aug. 22, 1951. (From left) Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Princess … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Big Radio Burst from Tiny Galaxy In the summer of 1951 the health of King George VI entered into a serious decline, and Princess Elizabeth represented him at the Trooping the Colour and on various other state occasions.

On October 7 she and her husband set out on a highly successful tour of Canada and Washington, D.C. After Christmas in England she and the duke set out in January 1952 for a tour of Australia and New Zealand , but en route, at Sagana, Kenya , news reached them of the king’s death on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, now queen, at once flew back to England. The first three months of her reign, the period of full mourning for her father, were passed in comparative seclusion. But in the summer, after she had moved from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace, she undertook the routine duties of the sovereign and carried out her first state opening of Parliament on November 4, 1952. Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. Elizabeth II, June 1952. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Structures of Government: Fact or Fiction? Beginning in November 1953 the queen and the duke of Edinburgh made a six-month round-the-world tour of the Commonwealth , which included the first visit to Australia and New Zealand by a reigning British monarch.

In 1957, after state visits to various European nations, she and the duke visited Canada and the United States . In 1961 she made the first royal British tour of the Indian subcontinent in 50 years, and she was also the first reigning British monarch to visit South America (in 1968) and the Persian Gulf countries (in 1979). During her “Silver Jubilee” in 1977, she presided at a London banquet attended by the leaders of the 36 members of the Commonwealth, traveled all over Britain and Northern Ireland, and toured overseas in the South Pacific and Australia, in Canada, and in the Caribbean. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies On the accession of Queen Elizabeth, her son Prince Charles became heir apparent; he was named prince of Wales on July 26, 1958, and was so invested on July 1, 1969.

The queen’s other children were Princess Anne (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise), born August 15, 1950; Prince Andrew (Andrew Albert Christian Edward), born February 19, 1960, and created duke of York in 1986; and Prince Edward (Edward Anthony Richard Louis), born March 10, 1964. All these children have the surname “of Windsor,” but in 1960 Elizabeth decided to create the hyphenated name Mountbatten-Windsor for other descendants not styled prince or princess and royal highness. Elizabeth’s first grandchild (Princess Anne’s son) was born on November 15, 1977. Elizabeth II with (from left) Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, and Prince Charles. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The modern monarchy The queen seemed increasingly aware of the modern role of the monarchy, allowing, for example, the televising of the royal family’s domestic life in 1970 and condoning the formal dissolution of her sister’s marriage in 1978. In the 1990s, however, the royal family faced a number of challenges.

In 1992, a year that Elizabeth referred to as the royal family’s annus horribilis, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, princess of Wales , separated, as did Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, duchess of York. Moreover, Anne divorced, and a fire gutted the royal residence of Windsor Castle. In addition, as the country struggled with a recession , resentment over the royals’ lifestyle mounted, and in 1992 Elizabeth, although personally exempt, agreed to pay taxes on her private income. The separation and later divorce (1996) of Charles and the immensely popular Diana further eroded support for the royal family, which was viewed by some as antiquated and unfeeling. The criticism intensified following Diana’s death in 1997, especially after Elizabeth initially refused to allow the national flag to fly at half-staff over Buckingham Palace. In line with her earlier attempts at modernizing the monarchy , the queen subsequently sought to present a less-stuffy and less-traditional image of the monarchy. These attempts were met with mixed success. Elizabeth II, on a walkabout to celebrate her 80th birthday, 2006.

AP Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest In 2002 Elizabeth celebrated her 50th year on the throne. As part of her “Golden Jubilee,” events were held throughout the Commonwealth, including several days of festivities in London. The celebrations were somewhat diminished by the deaths of Elizabeth’s mother and sister early in the year. Beginning in the latter part of the first decade of the 21st century, the public standing of the royal family rebounded, and even Charles’s 2005 marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles found much support among the British people. In April 2011 Elizabeth led the family in celebrating the wedding of Prince William of Wales —the elder son of Charles and Diana—and Catherine Middleton . The following month she surpassed George III to become the second longest-reigning monarch in British history, behind Victoria . Also in May, Elizabeth made a historic trip to Ireland , becoming both the first British monarch to visit the Irish republic and the first to set foot in Ireland since 1911. In 2012 Elizabeth celebrated her “ Diamond Jubilee ,” marking 60 years on the throne.

On September 9, 2015, she surpassed Victoria’s record reign of 63 years and 216 days. Elizabeth is known to favour simplicity in court life and is also known to take a serious and informed interest in government business, aside from the traditional and ceremonial duties. Privately, she became a keen horsewoman; she keeps racehorses, frequently attends races, and periodically visits the Kentucky stud farms in the United States. Her financial and property holdings have made her one of the world’s richest women. Elizabeth II: her life in pictures A photo gallery of Elizabeth II is provided in the table. Elizabeth II: Her life in pictures Princess Elizabeth riding her bicycle in Hyde Park, London. Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Princess Margaret, and Princess Elizabeth, 1939. Princess Elizabeth with her stamp collection, c. 1947. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip with Prince Charles, 1948. Princess Elizabeth with Prince Charles, April 1949. Princess Elizabeth with Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne.

Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, the duke of Edinburgh, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Anne (in baby carriage), 1951. Elizabeth II with Prince Charles, Prince Philip, and Princess Anne. Elizabeth II, June 1952. Queen Elizabeth II: Monarch marks birthday in neon style - CNN.com 1 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth was born April 21, 1926, in London. She is held here by her mother, Elizabeth. Her father would later become King George VI. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth in 1928. 3 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth is seen with her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, during a visit to Balmoral, Scotland, in September 1933. He would go on to become King Edward VIII in 1936. But when he abdicated later that year, Elizabeth's father became King and she became heir presumptive.

Hide Caption 4 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth is seen in the Duchess' box during a pantomime act at London's Lyceum Theater in February 1935. Hide Caption 5 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II From left, Princess Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret wave to the crowd from the Royal Balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 22, 1939. Hide Caption 6 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II A 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth, right, sits next to her sister for a radio broadcast on October 13, 1940. On the broadcast, her first, she said that England's children were full of cheerfulness and courage. Hide Caption 7 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth shakes hands with an officer of the Grenadier Guards on May 29, 1942. King George VI made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the Royal Army regiment. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth, right, and Princess Margaret wear summer dresses circa 1942.

Hide Caption 9 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II With the Drakensberg Mountains behind her, Princess Elizabeth sits in South Africa's Natal National Park on April 21, 1947, her 21st birthday. Hide Caption 10 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II This portrait of the British royal family was taken in July 1947, after Princess Elizabeth, far left, got engaged to Prince Philip of Greece, a lieutenant in the British Navy. He is second from left. To his left are Queen Elizabeth, King George VI and Princess Margaret. Hide Caption 11 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Royal Wedding Party waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on November 20, 1947. After becoming a British citizen and renouncing his Greek title, Philip became His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His wife became the Duchess of Edinburgh. Hide Caption 12 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth smiles in March 1950 as she arrives to a state banquet at the French Embassy in London's Kensington Palace Gardens.

Hide Caption 13 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth ascended to the throne in February 1952, when her father died of lung cancer. Here, the new Queen leaves the Royal Archers Hall in Edinburgh after a ball in June 1952. It was the first function she attended as Queen following her father's death. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II walks to the altar during her coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953. Hide Caption 15 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Melbourne's Government House, during her tour of Australia in March 1954. Hide Caption 16 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II From left, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother visit Epsom Downs Racecourse in June 1958. Hide Caption 17 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen holds her son Prince Andrew while his sister, Princess Anne, watches during a family holiday at Scotland's Balmoral Castle in September 1960.

Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II is seen during the State Opening of Parliament in April 1966. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II with her oldest son, Prince Charles, in 1969. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles adjusts his coronet during his investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales in 1969. Hide Caption 21 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wave from a plane ramp shortly before taking off from Tokyo in May 1975. Hide Caption 22 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II takes a portrait at Windsor Castle for her 50th birthday on April 21, 1976. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen meets the crowds during her royal tour of New Zealand in 1977. Hide Caption 24 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen stands next to Prince Charles as he kisses his new bride, Princess Diana, on their wedding day July 29, 1981.

Hide Caption 25 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II takes pictures of her husband during a horse show in Windsor, England, on May 16, 1982. Hide Caption 26 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen reacts to an elephant as she tours a charity event in London's Hyde Park in June 1987. Hide Caption 27 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II fires a rifle during a visit to the Army Rifle Association at Bisley, England, in July 1993. Hide Caption 28 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II While at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip view the floral tributes to Princess Diana after her tragic death in 1997. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen addresses the nation on the night before Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. Hide Caption 30 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles looks back at his mother after wedding Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in April 2005.

Hide Caption 31 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave London's St. Paul's Cathedral on October 9, 2009, following a commemoration service to mark the end of combat operations in Iraq. Hide Caption 32 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen, second from right, greets a crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011. Her grandson Prince William, third from left, had just married Catherine Middleton. Hide Caption 33 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II drives her Range Rover as she attends the Windsor Horse Show in May 2011. Hide Caption 34 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen's signature is seen in the visitors book at Aras An Uachtarain, the Irish President's official residence in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2011. Hide Caption 35 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Flags are waved as Queen Elizabeth II leaves St.

Paul's Cathedral following its 300th anniversary service in June 2011. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Madame Tussauds London reveals a wax figure of the Queen in May 2012. Hide Caption 37 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles kisses his mother's hand on stage as singer Paul McCartney, far right, looks on at the Diamond Jubilee concert held June 4, 2012, at Buckingham Palace. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked Elizabeth's 60th anniversary as Queen. Hide Caption 38 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen speaks at a reception for members of the International Olympic Committee on July 23, 2012. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen tours the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London in December 2012. Hide Caption 40 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II A boy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, takes a selfie in front of the Queen in June 2014.

Hide Caption 41 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen enters the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle after attending a commemorative service for the Scottish National War Memorial in July 2014. Hide Caption 42 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen waits to give her speech during the State Opening of Parliament on May 27, 2015. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen sits at a desk in Buckingham Palace in July 2015. Hide Caption Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The British monarch greets the public after attending church services in February. Hide Caption 45 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince George gets a boost from some foam blocks for a special family photo. The portrait, featuring the four generations of the House of Windsor, was commissioned by the Royal Mail and will be featured on a series of stamps to commemorate the Queen's 90th birthday. Hide Caption 46 of 48 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II acknowledges the crowd as she celebrates her 90th birthday in Windsor, England, on April 21. Hide Caption

Question: What was the first name of the sister of British monarch Queen Elizabeth II?
Answer: Margaret