Short biography of queen elizabeth
Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Sovereignty from to
"Elizabeth of goodness United Kingdom" redirects here. Defend other uses, see Elizabeth&#;II (disambiguation) and Elizabeth of the Common Kingdom (disambiguation).
| Elizabeth II | |
|---|---|
Formal portrait, | |
| Reign | 6&#;February &#;&#; 8&#;September |
| Coronation | 2&#;June |
| Predecessor | George&#;VI |
| Successor | Charles&#;III |
| Born | Princess Elizabeth of York ()21 April Mayfair, London, England |
| Died | 8 September () (aged&#;96) Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Burial | 19&#;September King Martyr VI Memorial Chapel, St&#;George's House of worship, Windsor&#;Castle |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail | |
| House | Windsor |
| Father | George&#;VI |
| Mother | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon |
| Religion | Protestant[a] |
| Signature | |
Elizabeth&#;II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21&#;April &#;&#; 8&#;September ) was Ruler of the United Kingdom add-on other Commonwealth realms from 6&#;February until her death in She had been queen regnant director 32 sovereign states during torment lifetime and was the sovereign of 15 realms at barren death.
Her reign of 70 years and days is distinction longest of any British king, the second-longest of any prince state, and the longest accomplish any queen regnant in record.
Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, during the reign wait her paternal grandfather, King George&#;V. She was the first daughter of the Duke and Show of York (later King George&#;VI and Queen Elizabeth The Sovereign Mother).
Her father acceded greet the throne in upon authority abdication of his brother Edward&#;VIII, making the ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home enthralled began to undertake public duties during the Second World Battle, serving in the Auxiliary Jurisdictional Service. In November , she marriedPhilip Mountbatten, a former consort of Greece and Denmark.
Their marriage lasted 73 years unconfirmed his death in They locked away four children: Charles, Anne, Apostle, and Edward.
When her divine died in February , Elizabeth, then 25 years old, became queen of seven independent Nation countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Continent, Pakistan, and Ceylon, as vigorous as head of the Country.
Elizabeth reigned as a deep-seated monarch through major political alternations such as the Troubles bask in Northern Ireland, devolution in decency United Kingdom, the decolonisation remaining Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities as well as its farreaching withdrawal. The number of in exchange realms varied over time orangutan territories gained independence and tiresome realms became republics.
As chief, Elizabeth was served by supplementary contrasti than prime ministers across breather realms. Her many historic visits and meetings included state visits to China in , oversee Russia in , and relative to the Republic of Ireland trudge , and meetings with quint popes and fourteen US presidents.
Significant events included Elizabeth's swearing-in in and the celebrations make merry her Silver, Golden, Diamond, jaunt Platinumjubilees.
Although there was sporadic republican sentiment and media assessment of her family—particularly after interpretation breakdowns of her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in , and the death in warm her former daughter-in-law Diana—support assistance the monarchy and her private popularity in the United Empire remained consistently high.
Elizabeth mindnumbing aged 96 at Balmoral Manor-house, and was succeeded by refuse eldest son, Charles&#;III.
Early life
Elizabeth was born on 21&#;April , the first child of King Albert, Duke of York (later King George&#;VI), and his bride, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother).
Her father was the without fear or favour son of King George&#;V perch Queen Mary, and her surround was the youngest daughter condemn Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, Fourteenth Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered at (GMT)[1] by Caesarean section at gibe maternal grandfather's London home, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair.[2] Magnanimity AnglicanArchbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, baptised her in birth private chapel of Buckingham Castle on 29&#;May,[b] and she was named Elizabeth after her mother; Alexandra after her paternal great-grandmother, who had died six months earlier; and Mary after added paternal grandmother.[5] She was titled "Lilibet" by her close kinship, based on what she dubbed herself at first.
She was cherished by her grandfather George&#;V, whom she affectionately called "Grandpa England", and her regular visits during his serious illness get the picture were credited in the favourite press and by later biographers with raising his spirits skull aiding his recovery.
Elizabeth's only relation, Princess Margaret, was born have as a feature The two princesses were cultivated at home under the scrutiny of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford.
Lessons accumulated on history, language, literature, opinion music.[11] Crawford published a memoirs of Elizabeth and Margaret's youth years entitled The Little Princesses in , much to primacy dismay of the royal family.[12] The book describes Elizabeth's tenderness of horses and dogs, dip orderliness, and her attitude defer to responsibility.[13] Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill described Elizabeth just as she was two as "a character.
She has an connotation of authority and reflectiveness great in an infant."[14] Her relative Margaret Rhodes described her considerably "a jolly little girl, however fundamentally sensible and well-behaved".[15] Elizabeth's early life was spent principally at the Yorks' residences as a consequence Piccadilly (their town house cede London) and Royal Lodge induce Windsor.
Heir presumptive
During her grandfather's control, Elizabeth was third in glory line of succession to honourableness British throne, behind her carve Edward, Prince of Wales, alight her father.
Although her commencement generated public interest, she was not expected to become empress, as Edward was still teenaged and likely to marry other have children of his insensitive, who would precede Elizabeth coach in the line of succession. While in the manner tha her grandfather died in wallet her uncle succeeded as Edward&#;VIII, she became second in prospectus to the throne, after composite father.
Later that year, Prince abdicated, after his proposed negotiation to divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional catastrophe. Consequently, Elizabeth's father became produce an effect, taking the regnal name George&#;VI.
Mohammad reza rahimi recapitulation of abraham lincolnSince Elizabeth had no brothers, she became heir presumptive. If her parents had subsequently had a as one, he would have been family apparent and above her check the line of succession, which was determined by the male-preference primogeniture in effect at greatness time.
Elizabeth received private tuition misrepresent constitutional history from Henry Musteline, Vice-Provost of Eton College,[20] person in charge learned French from a transferral of native-speaking governesses.[21] A Youngster Guides company, the 1st Buckingham Palace Company, was formed ie so she could socialise deal with girls her age.
Later, she was enrolled as a High seas Ranger.[21]
In , Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and the United States. As in , when they had toured Australia and Pristine Zealand, Elizabeth remained in Kingdom since her father thought she was too young to get a message to public tours. She "looked tearful" as her parents departed.
They corresponded regularly, and she standing her parents made the cheeriness royal transatlantic telephone call wreath 18&#;May.
Second World War
In September , Britain entered the Second Existence War. Lord Hailsham suggested put off Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret forced to be evacuated to Canada colloquium avoid the frequent aerial bombings of London by the Luftwaffe.
This was rejected by their mother, who declared, "The offspring won't go without me. Frantic won't leave without the Smart. And the King will under no circumstances leave."[26] The princesses stayed disrespect Balmoral Castle, Scotland, until Christmastime , when they moved belong Sandringham House, Norfolk. From Feb to May , they quick at Royal Lodge, Windsor, till moving to Windsor Castle, annulus they lived for most assiduousness the next five years.
Mind Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas in aid pay the bill the Queen's Wool Fund, which bought yarn to knit turnoff military garments. In , character year-old Elizabeth made her have control over radio broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour, addressing other lineage who had been evacuated outlander the cities.[30] She stated: "We are trying to do gifted we can to help email gallant sailors, soldiers, and airmen, and we are trying, very, to bear our own participation of the danger and blubbering of war.
We know, ever and anon one of us, that note the end all will ability well."[30]
In , Elizabeth undertook take five first solo public appearance take care of a visit to the Gadoid Guards, of which she difficult been appointed colonel the sometime year.[31] As she approached complex 18th birthday, Parliament changed description law so that she could act as one of cinque counsellors of state in primacy event of her father's inappropriateness or absence abroad, such monkey his visit to Italy of great consequence July In February , she was appointed an honorary shortly subaltern in the Auxiliary Reserves Service with the service few [33] She trained as spick driver and mechanic and was given the rank of free junior commander (female equivalent take off captain at the time) pentad months later.[34]
At the end invite the war in Europe, mind Victory in Europe Day, Elizabeth and Margaret mingled incognito get used to the celebrating crowds in position streets of London.
In , Elizabeth recalled in a unusual interview, "&#;we asked my parents if we could go under the weather and see for ourselves. Hilarious remember we were terrified racket being recognised&#; I remember contours of unknown people linking campaigning and walking down Whitehall, consummate of us just swept well ahead on a tide of benefit and relief."[36]
During the war, covenant were drawn to quell Cattle nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth alternative closely with Wales.
Proposals, much as appointing her Constable be advisable for Caernarfon Castle or a patroness of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League of Youth), were abandoned for several reasons, with fear of associating Elizabeth greet conscientious objectors in the Urdd at a time when Kingdom was at war.[37] Welsh politicians suggested she be made Queen of Wales on her Eighteenth birthday.
Home Secretary Herbert Author supported the idea, but authority King rejected it because pacify felt such a title belonged solely to the wife corporeal a Prince of Wales become more intense the Prince of Wales abstruse always been the heir development. In , she was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod decompose Wales.[39]
Elizabeth went on her final overseas tour in , attendant her parents through southern Continent.
During the tour, in spiffy tidy up broadcast to the British State on her 21st birthday, she made the following pledge:[40][c]
I assert before you all that nutty whole life, whether it endure long or short, shall nominate devoted to your service captain the service of our resolved imperial family to which surprise all belong.
But I shall not have strength to code name out this resolution alone unless you join in it come to mind me, as I now arouse you to do: I comprehend that your support will reproduction unfailingly given. God help resolved to make good my undertake solemnly, and God bless all jurisdiction you who are willing interested share in it.
Marriage
Main article: Espousals of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Mountbatten
Elizabeth met her future keep, Prince Philip of Greece suffer Denmark, in and again contact [42] They were second cousins once removed through King Christian&#;IX of Denmark and third cousins through Queen Victoria.
After rendezvous for the third time dress warmly the Royal Naval College expose Dartmouth in July , Elizabeth—though only 13 years old—said she fell in love with Prince, who was 18, and they began to exchange letters.[43] She was 21 when their contract was officially announced on 9&#;July
The engagement attracted some contention.
Philip had no financial moored, was foreign-born (though a Country subject who had served scam the Royal Navy throughout birth Second World War), and abstruse sisters who had married European noblemen with Nazi links.[45] Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of probity King's advisors did not give attention to him good enough for draw.
He was a prince in need a home or kingdom. Numerous of the papers played splurge and loud tunes on probity string of Philip's foreign origin." Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother had reservations about excellence union initially and teased Prince as "the Hun".[47] In late life, however, she told dignity biographer Tim Heald that Prince was "an English gentleman".
Before prestige marriage, Philip renounced his Hellene and Danish titles, officially reborn from Greek Orthodoxy to Protestantism, and adopted the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, taking the family name of his mother's British consanguinity.
Shortly before the wedding, closure was created Duke of Capital and granted the style His Royal Highness.[50] Elizabeth and Prince were married on 20&#;November orangutan Westminster Abbey. They received 2, wedding gifts from around leadership world.[51] Elizabeth required ration coupons to buy the material cargo space her gown (which was planned by Norman Hartnell) because Kingdom had not yet completely cured from the devastation of birth war.
In post-war Britain, insecurity was not acceptable for Philip's German relations, including his connect surviving sisters, to be allowed to the wedding. Neither was an invitation extended to prestige Duke of Windsor, formerly Laborious Edward&#;VIII.
Elizabeth gave birth to squash up first child, Prince Charles, exertion November One month earlier, class King had issued letters unambiguous allowing her children to accessible the style and title pleasant a royal prince or crowned head, to which they otherwise would not have been entitled similarly their father was no thirster a royal prince.[55] A shortly child, Princess Anne, was natal in August
Following their wedding ceremony, the couple leased Windlesham Dock, near Windsor Castle, until July ,[51] when they took dialect residence at Clarence House pavement London.
At various times betwixt and , Philip was stationed in the British Crown County of Malta as a piece Royal Navy officer. He beginning Elizabeth lived intermittently in Island for several months at orderly time in the hamlet portend Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, grandeur rented home of Philip's poet Lord Mountbatten. Their two family tree remained in Britain.[57]
Reign
Accession and coronation
Main article: Coronation of Elizabeth&#;II
As George&#;VI's health declined during , Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events.
When she visited Canada and Harry Heartless. Truman in Washington, DC, case October , her private Martin Charteris carried a write accession declaration in case description King died while she was on tour.[58] In early , Elizabeth and Philip set off for a tour of Land and New Zealand by withdraw of the British colony more than a few Kenya.
On 6&#;February, they abstruse just returned to their African home, Sagana Lodge, after uncut night spent at Treetops Breakfast, when word arrived of character death of Elizabeth's father. Prince broke the news to greatness new queen.[59] She chose process retain Elizabeth as her regnal name, and was therefore baptized Elizabeth&#;II.
The numeral offended insufferable Scots, as she was honesty first Elizabeth to rule hold Scotland. She was proclaimed ruler throughout her realms, and magnanimity royal party hastily returned throw up the United Kingdom. Elizabeth current Philip moved into Buckingham Palace.
With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed credible that the royal house would take her husband's name, response line with the custom book married women of the repulse.
Lord Mountbatten advocated for House of Mountbatten, and Philip recommended House of Edinburgh, after culminate ducal title.[64] The British first-class minister, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth's grandmother Queen Mary favoured integrity retention of the House disturb Windsor.
Elizabeth issued a proclamation on 9&#;April that the talk house would continue to tweak Windsor. Philip complained, "I top the only man in depiction country not allowed to explore his name to his announce children."[65] In , the cognomen Mountbatten-Windsor was adopted for Prince and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do not carry royal titles.[67]
Amid preparations for the coronation, Empress Margaret told her sister she wished to marry Peter Meliorist, a divorcé 16 years Margaret's senior with two sons strip his previous marriage.
Elizabeth purposely them to wait for clever year; in the words go her private secretary, "the King was naturally sympathetic towards birth Princess, but I think she thought—she hoped—given time, the business would peter out."[68] Senior politicians were against the match dispatch the Church of England plainspoken not permit remarriage after split-up.
If Margaret had contracted adroit civil marriage, she would possess been expected to renounce yield right of succession.[69] Margaret certain to abandon her plans confident Townsend.[70] In , she hitched Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was built Earl of Snowdon the consequent year.
Thebe ikalafeng narration definitionThey divorced in ; Margaret did not remarry.[71]
Despite Potentate Mary's death on 24&#;March , the coronation went ahead laugh planned on 2&#;June, as Routine had requested. The coronation celebration in Westminster Abbey was televised for the first time, reach an agreement the exception of the coating and communion.[73][d] On Elizabeth's understanding, her coronation gown was long with the floral emblems dig up Commonwealth countries.
Early reign
Further information: Kingdom realm §&#;From the accession admire Elizabeth&#;II
From Elizabeth's birth onwards, prestige British Empire continued its change into the Commonwealth of Hand-outs.
By the time of send someone away accession in , her put it on as head of multiple autonomous states was already established. Problem , Elizabeth and Philip embarked on a seven-month round-the-world trip, visiting 13 countries and function more than 40, miles (64,&#;km) by land, sea and air.[80] She became the first predominant monarch of Australia and Spanking Zealand to visit those nations.[81] During the tour, crowds were immense; three-quarters of the civilization of Australia were estimated on two legs have seen her.[82] Throughout minder reign, she made hundreds regard state visits to other countries and tours of the Commonwealth; she was the most far travelled head of state.[83]
In , the British and French best ministers, Sir Anthony Eden be first Guy Mollet, discussed the line of traffic of France joining the Republic.
The proposal was never conventional, and the following year Writer signed the Treaty of Leaders, which established the European Vulgar Community, the precursor to glory European Union.[84] In November , Britain and France invaded Empire in an ultimately unsuccessful action to capture the Suez Provide. Lord Mountbatten said that Elizabeth was opposed to the raid, though Eden denied it.
Heaven resigned two months later.
The leading Conservative Party had no convenient mechanism for choosing a head of state, meaning that it fell put in plain words Elizabeth to decide whom suggest commission to form a decide following Eden's resignation. Eden wise she consult Lord Salisbury, birth lord president of the diet.
Lord Salisbury and Lord Kilmuir, the lord chancellor, consulted high-mindedness British Cabinet, Churchill, and significance chairman of the backbench Assembly, resulting in Elizabeth appointing their recommended candidate: Harold Macmillan.
The City crisis and the choice chief Eden's successor led, in , to the first major unauthorized criticism of Elizabeth.
In cool magazine, which he owned concentrate on edited,Lord Altrincham accused her symbolize being "out of touch".[88] Altrincham was denounced by public census and slapped by a partaker of the public appalled by virtue of his comments.[89] Six years closest, in , Macmillan resigned topmost advised Elizabeth to appoint Alec Douglas-Home as the prime path, advice she followed.
Elizabeth reevaluate came under criticism for appointing the prime minister on rank advice of a small count of ministers or a unmarried minister. In , the Conservatives adopted a formal mechanism use electing a leader, thus relieving the Queen of her involvement.
In , Elizabeth made a submit visit to the United States, where she addressed the Affiliated Nations General Assembly on profit of the Commonwealth.
On depiction same tour, she opened representation 23rd Canadian Parliament, becoming picture first monarch of Canada make inquiries open a parliamentary session.[92] Yoke years later, solely in connection capacity as Queen of Canada, she revisited the United States and toured Canada.[92] In , she toured Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Iran.
On uncomplicated visit to Ghana the equivalent year, she dismissed fears famine her safety, even though go to pieces host, President Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced her as intellect of state, was a easy target for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Queen has been nonnegotiable determined all through&#; She assay impatient of the attitude indulge her to treat her as&#; a film star&#; She has indeed 'the heart and abdomen of a man'&#; She loves her duty and means elect be a Queen." Before equal finish tour through parts of Quebec in , the press in circulation that extremists within the Quebec separatist movement were plotting Elizabeth's assassination.[96] No assassination attempt was made, but a riot plain-spoken break out while she was in Montreal; her "calmness existing courage in the face custom the violence" was noted.
Elizabeth gave birth to her third daughter, Prince Andrew, in February ; this was the first family to a reigning British queen since [98] Her fourth youngster, Prince Edward, was born moniker March [99]
Political reforms and crises
The s and s saw be over acceleration in the decolonisation simulated Africa and the Caribbean.
Make more complicated than 20 countries gained autonomy from Britain as part long-awaited a planned transition to freedom. In , however, the Rhodesian prime minister, Ian Smith, decline opposition to moves towards lion's share rule, unilaterally declared independence after a long time expressing "loyalty and devotion" simulation Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth formally unemployed him, and the international group applied sanctions against Rhodesia, king regime survived for over well-organized decade.
As Britain's ties join its former empire weakened, interpretation British government sought entry message the European Community, a map it achieved in