Elizabeth II Queen of Great Britain since 1952 Date of Birth: 21.04.1926 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II, the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth countries, has been the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom since 1952. She is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. Her full title in some countries includes the words 'Defender of the Faith'. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-serving and oldest British monarch, surpassing all previous records. She ascended to the throne at the age of 25 following the death of her father, King George VI. Only Queen Victoria has had a longer reign in British history.

Under Queen Elizabeth II's reign, the process of decolonization was completed, leading to the dissolution of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. Her reign also witnessed the ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland, the war between Britain and Argentina, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In her personal life, significant events for Queen Elizabeth II include the births and marriages of her children and grandchildren, the investiture ceremony of the Prince of Wales, and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees in 1977, 2002, and 2012 respectively. Tragic milestones include the death of her father at the age of 56, the assassination of her uncle, Lord Mountbatten, the divorces of her children Prince Andrew and Princess Anne in 1992, and the death of her former daughter-in-law, Princess Diana, in 1997. She also experienced the deaths of her mother and sister, Princess Margaret Rose, in 2002.

Queen Elizabeth II has faced criticism from British republicans, while the media and the public have expressed their dissatisfaction with events in the British royal family. Nevertheless, she has managed to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy and her own popularity. Queen Elizabeth II, whose full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, was born via Caesarean section on April 21, 1926, in Mayfair, London. In 1930, her only sister, Princess Margaret, was born. Queen Elizabeth received her education at home, with a focus on humanities. From a young age, she developed an interest in horses and has been involved in equestrian activities for many decades.

After her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936, her father, Prince Albert, became King George VI. At the age of 10, Elizabeth became the heir presumptive to the throne, and she and her parents moved to Buckingham Palace. In her first radio broadcast in October 1940, a young Elizabeth addressed children affected by the hardships of World War II. Her first public appearance took place in 1943 during a visit to the Grenadier Guards. She was 16 years old at the time. Upon reaching her majority, Elizabeth became a "counselor of state" with the authority to act as a substitute for the king in his absence or in case of his incapacity.

In February 1945, Elizabeth received training in the women's branch of the British Army, where she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In 1947, Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, her third cousin and a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. After their marriage, Philip was given the title Duke of Edinburgh. They had their first child, Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1948, followed by their daughter Anne in 1950. Their second son, Andrew, was born in 1960, and their third son, Edward, arrived in 1964.

Following the death of her father, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. She appointed Harold Macmillan as the new Prime Minister in 1957 and later Alexander Douglas-Home in 1963. In 1979, after the assassination of her uncle, Prince Philip's, the Queen herself was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt during her birthday celebration. In 1991, she became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the US Congress. From 1990 to 2000, she had to pay income tax following a serious fire at Windsor Castle. During this period, she experienced the loss of her sister and mother, insisted on the official divorce of her son Charles and Diana, and faced criticism after the death of her former daughter-in-law.

In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II declined to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, sending Prince Charles in her place, indicating her gradual transition of responsibilities. According to Forbes magazine in 2010, her personal fortune was estimated to be around $450 million. The maintenance of the monarchy, according to Buckingham Palace, costs approximately $50-70 million annually. Since January 23, 2015, she has been the oldest reigning monarch in the world, following the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Throughout Queen Elizabeth II's reign, she has witnessed a wide range of British and global historical events. The process of decolonization concluded, resulting in the dissolution of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. Under her reign, the United Kingdom joined and later left the European Union. Other significant events include the prolonged ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and Britain's involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite these challenges, Queen Elizabeth II has managed to maintain the prestige and popularity of the British monarchy.

On April 9, 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth's husband, passed away at the age of 99 in Windsor Castle. Their marriage lasted for over 73 years, making it the longest royal marriage in history. Following her husband's death, Queen Elizabeth became the first British monarch to reign as a widow since the time of Queen Victoria. She privately acknowledged that the death of Prince Philip had left a significant void. June 2022 will mark the celebration of her Platinum Jubilee, commemorating her 70-year reign. On May 27, 2024, Queen Elizabeth II may become the longest-reigning monarch in world history, surpassing the current record held by King Louis XIV of France.

Overall, Queen Elizabeth II's reign has spanned a significant period in British and global history. She has managed to navigate through various challenges while maintaining the prestige and popularity of the British monarchy.