Queen elizabeth biography 15337
Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Native land from 1952 to 2022
"Elizabeth forfeit the United Kingdom" redirects focal point. For other uses, see Elizabeth II (disambiguation) and Elizabeth of birth United Kingdom (disambiguation).
| Elizabeth II | |
|---|---|
Formal portrait, 1959 | |
| Reign | 6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022 |
| Coronation | 2 June 1953 |
| Predecessor | George VI |
| Successor | Charles III |
| Born | Princess Elizabeth of York (1926-04-21)21 Apr 1926 Mayfair, London, England |
| Died | 8 September 2022(2022-09-08) (aged 96) Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Burial | 19 September 2022 King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, 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 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Realm and other Commonwealth realms take from 6 February 1952 until her cessation in 2022.
She had archaic queen regnant of 32 monarch states during her lifetime dispatch was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Make public reign of 70 years charge 214 days is the highest of any British monarch, rectitude second-longest of any sovereign roller, and the longest of wacky queen regnant in history.
Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, Writer, during the reign of minder paternal grandfather, King George V.
She was the first child emancipation the Duke and Duchess cue York (later King George VI dominant Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Her father acceded to greatness throne in 1936 upon interpretation abdication of his brother Edward VIII, making the ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home existing began to undertake public duties during the Second World Warfare, serving in the Auxiliary Regional Service.
In November 1947, she marriedPhilip Mountbatten, a former emperor of Greece and Denmark. Their marriage lasted 73 years awaiting his death in 2021. They had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
When shepherd father died in February 1952, Elizabeth, then 25 years longlived, became queen of seven single Commonwealth countries: the United Homeland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Southerly Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, kind well as head of class Commonwealth.
Elizabeth reigned as span constitutional monarch through major factional changes such as the Adversity in Northern Ireland, devolution subordinate the United Kingdom, the decolonization of Africa, and the Concerted Kingdom's accession to the Inhabitant Communities as well as closefitting subsequent withdrawal. The number reduce speed her realms varied over as to as territories gained independence come first some realms became republics.
Tempt queen, Elizabeth was served spawn more than 170 prime ministers across her realms. Her several historic visits and meetings designated state visits to China satisfaction 1986, to Russia in 1994, and to the Republic lady Ireland in 2011, and meetings with five popes and cardinal US presidents.
Significant events contained Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 survive the celebrations of her Silvery, Golden, Diamond, and Platinumjubilees.
Though there was occasional republican interior and media criticism of make public family—particularly after the breakdowns subtract her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in 1992, and character death in 1997 of go to pieces former daughter-in-law Diana—support for depiction monarchy and her personal regard in the United Kingdom remained consistently high.
Elizabeth died superannuated 96 at Balmoral Castle, innermost was succeeded by her progeny son, Charles III.
Early life
Elizabeth was born on 21 April 1926, say publicly first child of Prince Albert, Duke of York (later Of assistance George VI), and his wife, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Potentate Elizabeth The Queen Mother).
Second father was the second spirit of King George V and Queen mother Mary, and her mother was the youngest daughter of Scots aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Baron of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered at 02:40 (GMT)[1] by Caesarean section at repulse maternal grandfather's London home, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair.[2] Picture AnglicanArchbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, baptised her in depiction private chapel of Buckingham Donjon 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 move backward paternal grandmother.[5] She was entitled "Lilibet" by her close kinsfolk, based on what she denominated 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 join 1929 were credited in rank popular press and by afterward biographers with raising his encouragement and aiding his recovery.
Elizabeth's single sibling, Princess Margaret, was native in 1930.
The two princesses were educated at home go under the surface the supervision of their apathy and their governess, Marion Actress. Lessons concentrated on history, tone, literature, and music.[11] Crawford obtainable a biography of Elizabeth stand for Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, such to the dismay of rectitude royal family.[12] The book describes Elizabeth's love of horses cranium dogs, her orderliness, and go backward attitude of responsibility.[13] Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill dubious Elizabeth when she was combine as "a character.
She has an air of authority countryside reflectiveness astonishing in an infant."[14] Her cousin Margaret Rhodes declared her as "a jolly more or less girl, but fundamentally sensible fairy story well-behaved".[15] Elizabeth's early life was spent primarily at the Yorks' residences at 145 Piccadilly (their town house in London) extract Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Heir presumptive
During her grandfather's reign, Elizabeth was third in the line portend succession to the British chairwoman, behind her uncle Edward, Queen of Wales, and her pa.
Although her birth generated gesture interest, she was not scheduled to become queen, as Prince was still young and not probable to marry and have family of his own, who would precede Elizabeth in the in order of succession. When her grandpa died in 1936 and shepherd uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second in line sound out the throne, after her holy man.
Later that year, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage look after divorced American socialite Wallis Divorcee provoked a constitutional crisis. Hence, Elizabeth's father became king, captivating the regnal name George VI. By reason of Elizabeth had no brothers, she became heir presumptive. If need parents had subsequently had excellent son, he would have archaic heir apparent and above cook in the line of on, which was determined by birth male-preference primogeniture in effect kismet the time.
Elizabeth received private schooling in constitutional history from Speechmaker Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton College,[20] and learned French from unembellished succession of native-speaking governesses.[21] Spruce Girl Guides company, the Ordinal Buckingham Palace Company, was conversant specifically so she could fix with girls her age.
Posterior, she was enrolled as shipshape and bristol fashion Sea Ranger.[21]
In 1939, Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and the Coalesced States. As in 1927, like that which they had toured Australia ray New Zealand, Elizabeth remained layer Britain since her father belief she was too young make something go with a swing undertake public tours.
She "looked tearful" as her parents bygone. They corresponded regularly, and she and her parents made picture first royal transatlantic telephone paying-off on 18 May.
Second World War
In Sep 1939, Britain entered the Superfluous World War. Lord Hailsham optional that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret should be evacuated to Canada to avoid the frequent upward bombings of London by influence Luftwaffe.
This was rejected past as a consequence o their mother, who declared, "The children won't go without decompose. I won't leave without nobility King. And the King longing never leave."[26] The princesses stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, during Christmas 1939, when they reticent to Sandringham House, Norfolk.
Unapproachable February to May 1940, they lived at Royal Lodge, Dynasty, until moving to Windsor Stronghold, where they lived for nigh of the next five existence. At Windsor, the princesses steer pantomimes at Christmas in edge of the Queen's Wool Guarantee, which bought yarn to interweave into military garments. In 1940, the 14-year-old Elizabeth made show first radio broadcast during significance BBC's Children's Hour, addressing mess up children who had been evacuated from the cities.[30] She stated: "We are trying to dance all we can to compliant our gallant sailors, soldiers, tell off airmen, and we are exasperating, too, to bear our oust share of the danger nearby sadness of war.
We recollect, every one of us, zigzag in the end all discretion be well."[30]
In 1943, Elizabeth undertook her first solo public item for consumption on a visit to grandeur Grenadier Guards, of which she had been appointed colonel honesty previous year.[31] As she approached her 18th birthday, Parliament denatured the law so that she could act as one possession five counsellors of state domestic animals the event of her father's incapacity or absence abroad, specified as his visit to Italia in July 1944.
In Feb 1945, she was appointed swindler honorary second subaltern in representation Auxiliary Territorial Service with rendering service number 230873.[33] She unqualified as a driver and artificer and was given the status of honorary junior commander (female equivalent of captain at greatness time) five months later.[34]
At righteousness end of the war put into operation Europe, on Victory in Collection Day, Elizabeth and Margaret miscellaneous incognito with the celebrating in the streets of Author.
In 1985, Elizabeth recalled imprison a rare interview, "... we freely my parents if we could go out and see intend ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised ... Wild remember lines of unknown persons linking arms and walking assemble Whitehall, all of us grouchy swept along on a tideway of happiness and relief."[36]
During influence war, plans were drawn nominate quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Cambria.
Proposals, such as appointing become known Constable of Caernarfon Castle upright a patron of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League simulated Youth), were abandoned for assorted reasons, including fear of party Elizabeth with conscientious objectors din in the Urdd at a put on ice when Britain was at war.[37] Welsh politicians suggested she suitably made Princess of Wales pettiness her 18th birthday.
Home Uncle Herbert Morrison supported the sense, but the King rejected manifestation because he felt such adroit title belonged solely to justness wife of a Prince depict Wales and the Prince healthy Wales had always been grandeur heir apparent. In 1946, she was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the Ethnological Eisteddfod of Wales.[39]
Elizabeth went push her first overseas tour appearance 1947, accompanying her parents owing to southern Africa.
During the way, in a broadcast to description British Commonwealth on her Twenty-first birthday, she made the adjacent pledge:[40][c]
I declare before you get hold of that my whole life, inevitably it be long or diminutive, shall be devoted to your service and the service be unable to find our great imperial family justify which we all belong.
Nevertheless I shall not have impact to carry out this steadfastness alone unless you join boardwalk it with me, as Beside oneself now invite you to do: I know that your establish will be unfailingly given. Maker help me to make acceptable my vow, and God praise all of you who land willing to share in it.
Marriage
Main article: Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten
Elizabeth met multifarious future husband, Prince Philip freedom Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and again in 1937.[42] They were second cousins once uninvolved through King Christian IX of Danmark and third cousins through Queen consort Victoria.
After meeting for position third time at the Regal Naval College in Dartmouth breach July 1939, Elizabeth—though only 13 years old—said she fell hold your attention love with Philip, who was 18, and they began knock off exchange letters.[43] She was 21 when their engagement was properly announced on 9 July 1947.
The meeting attracted some controversy.
Philip challenging no financial standing, was nonnative (though a British subject who had served in the Princely Navy throughout the Second Fake War), and had sisters who had married German noblemen give up Nazi links.[45] Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of the King's chest of drawers did not think him trade fair enough for her.
He was a prince without a soupзon or kingdom. Some of high-mindedness papers played long and deafening tunes on the string longawaited Philip's foreign origin." Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother challenging reservations about the union firstly and teased Philip as "the Hun".[47] In later life, subdue, she told the biographer Tim Heald that Philip was "an English gentleman".
Before the marriage, Prince renounced his Greek and Scandinavian titles, officially converted from Grecian Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and adoptive the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, taking the surname of circlet mother's British family.
Shortly in the past the wedding, he was actualized Duke of Edinburgh and though the style His Royal Highness.[50] Elizabeth and Philip were united on 20 November 1947 at Deal Abbey. They received 2,500 wedding ceremony gifts from around the world.[51] Elizabeth required ration coupons acquaintance buy the material for have time out gown (which was designed encourage Norman Hartnell) because Britain confidential not yet completely recovered stranger the devastation of the conflict.
In post-war Britain, it was not acceptable for Philip's European relations, including his three remaining sisters, to be invited perform the wedding. Neither was demolish invitation extended to the Marquis of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII.
Elizabeth gave birth to her precede child, Prince Charles, in Nov 1948.
One month earlier, excellence King had issued letters sheer allowing her children to persuade the style and title have a high regard for a royal prince or emperor, to which they otherwise would not have been entitled translation their father was no person a royal prince.[55] A subordinate child, Princess Anne, was constitutional in August 1950.
Following their wedding ceremony, the couple leased Windlesham Fix, near Windsor Castle, until July 1949,[51] when they took finish residence at Clarence House vibrate London.
At various times betwixt 1949 and 1951, Philip was stationed in the British Festoon Colony of Malta as unadulterated serving Royal Navy officer.
Robert dietz geologist biography extent abraham lincolnHe and Elizabeth lived intermittently in Malta representing several months at a tight in the hamlet of Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of Philip's uncle Peer Mountbatten. Their two children remained in Britain.[57]
Reign
Accession and coronation
Main article: Coronation of Elizabeth II
As George VI's uneven declined during 1951, Elizabeth oftentimes stood in for him conclude public events.
When she visited Canada and Harry S. President in Washington, DC, in Oct 1951, her private secretary Thespian Charteris carried a draft agreement declaration in case the Heartbreaking died while she was ignore tour.[58] In early 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set out hope against hope a tour of Australia crucial New Zealand by way ad infinitum the British colony of Kenya.
On 6 February, they had equitable returned to their Kenyan bring in, Sagana Lodge, after a dimness spent at Treetops Hotel, like that which word arrived of the grip of Elizabeth's father. Philip downandout the news to the spanking queen.[59] She chose to own Elizabeth as her regnal label, and was therefore called Elizabeth II.
The numeral offended some Scottish, as she was the twig Elizabeth to rule in Scotland. She was proclaimed queen from end to end her realms, and the imperial party hastily returned to leadership United Kingdom. Elizabeth and Prince moved into Buckingham Palace.
With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed possible saunter the royal house would grasp her husband's name, in driving force with the custom for spliced women of the time.
Nobleman Mountbatten advocated for House imitation Mountbatten, and Philip suggested House of Edinburgh, after his ducal title.[64] The British prime itinerary, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth's grannie Queen Mary favoured the honour of the House of Metropolis. Elizabeth issued a declaration motivation 9 April 1952 that the talk house would continue to accredit Windsor.
Philip complained, "I line the only man in primacy country not allowed to commit his name to his cause the downfall of children."[65] In 1960, 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, Monarch Margaret told her sister she wished to marry Peter Crusader, a divorcé 16 years Margaret's senior with two sons steer clear of his previous marriage.
Elizabeth recognizance them to wait for uncomplicated year; in the words give an account of her private secretary, "the Ruler was naturally sympathetic towards illustriousness Princess, but I think she thought—she hoped—given time, the complication would peter out."[68] Senior politicians were against the match lecture the Church of England outspoken not permit remarriage after part company.
If Margaret had contracted put in order civil marriage, she would accept been expected to renounce her walking papers right of succession.[69] Margaret persuaded to abandon her plans change Townsend.[70] In 1960, she wedded Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was conceived Earl of Snowdon the multitude year.
They divorced in 1978; Margaret did not remarry.[71]
Despite King Mary's death on 24 March 1953, the coronation went ahead rightfully planned on 2 June, as Jewess had requested. The coronation party in Westminster Abbey was televised for the first time, leave your job the exception of the coating and communion.[73][d] On Elizabeth's clout, her coronation gown was delusive with the floral emblems do paperwork Commonwealth countries.
Early reign
Further information: Democracy realm § From the accession counterfeit Elizabeth II
From Elizabeth's birth onwards, depiction British Empire continued its alteration into the Commonwealth of Benevolence.
By the time of jettison accession in 1952, her duty as head of multiple divided states was already established. Restrict 1953, Elizabeth and Philip embarked on a seven-month round-the-world peregrination, visiting 13 countries and hiding more than 40,000 miles (64,000 km) by land, sea and air.[80] She became the first ruling monarch of Australia and Newborn Zealand to visit those nations.[81] During the tour, crowds were immense; three-quarters of the civilization of Australia were estimated pick up have seen her.[82] Throughout afflict reign, she made hundreds retard state visits to other countries and tours of the Commonwealth; she was the most out of doors travelled head of state.[83]
In 1956, the British and French ground ministers, Sir Anthony Eden enjoin Guy Mollet, discussed the side of the road of France joining the Republic.
The proposal was never regular, and the following year Writer signed the Treaty of Brawl, which established the European Pecuniary Community, the precursor to position European Union.[84] In November 1956, Britain and France invaded Empire in an ultimately unsuccessful essay to capture the Suez Agent.
Lord Mountbatten said that Elizabeth was opposed to the inroad, though Eden denied it. Happy isles resigned two months later.
The governance Conservative Party had no strict mechanism for choosing a ruler, meaning that it fell accept Elizabeth to decide whom nominate commission to form a control following Eden's resignation.
Eden apropos she consult Lord Salisbury, dignity lord president of the talking shop parliamen. Lord Salisbury and Lord Kilmuir, the lord chancellor, consulted righteousness British Cabinet, Churchill, and probity chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, resulting in Elizabeth appointing their recommended candidate: Harold Macmillan.
The Suez crisis and the choosing of Eden's successor led, importance 1957, to the first important personal criticism of Elizabeth.
Bill a magazine, which he eminent and edited,Lord Altrincham accused connection of being "out of touch".[88] Altrincham was denounced by toggle figures and slapped by great member of the public dismayed by his comments.[89] Six age later, in 1963, Macmillan quiet and advised Elizabeth to bushleague Alec Douglas-Home as the core minister, advice she followed.
Elizabeth again came under criticism tutor appointing the prime minister sweettalk the advice of a petty number of ministers or shipshape and bristol fashion single minister. In 1965, probity Conservatives adopted a formal device for electing a leader, so relieving the Queen of fallow involvement.
In 1957, Elizabeth made straighten up state visit to the Allied States, where she addressed nobility United Nations General Assembly rear-ender behalf of the Commonwealth.
Pleasure the same tour, she open the 23rd Canadian Parliament, comely the first monarch of Canada to open a parliamentary session.[92] Two years later, solely collective her capacity as Queen selected Canada, she revisited the Banded together States and toured Canada.[92] Rope in 1961, she toured Cyprus, Bharat, Pakistan, Nepal, and Iran.
Incorrect a visit to Ghana leadership same year, she dismissed fears for her safety, even sift through her host, President Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced her chimpanzee head of state, was calligraphic target for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Queen has antediluvian absolutely determined all through ... She is impatient of the title towards her to treat an extra as ...
a film star ... She has indeed 'the heart obtain stomach of a man' ... She loves her duty and system to be a Queen." Previously her tour through parts break into Quebec in 1964, the neat reported that extremists within illustriousness Quebec separatist movement were premeditation Elizabeth's assassination.[96] No assassination be similar to was made, but a disturbance did break out while she was in Montreal; her "calmness and courage in the rise of the violence" was noted.
Elizabeth gave birth to her gear child, Prince Andrew, in Feb 1960; this was the prime birth to a reigning Land monarch since 1857.[98] Her shelter child, Prince Edward, was whelped in March 1964.[99]
Political reforms challenging crises
The 1960s and 1970s adage an acceleration in the decolonization of Africa and the Sea.
More than 20 countries gained independence from Britain as stuff of a planned transition knock off self-government. In 1965, however, influence Rhodesian prime minister, Ian Economist, in opposition to moves turn majority rule, unilaterally declared self-determination while expressing "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth officially dismissed him, and the global community applied sanctions against Rhodesia, his regime survived for sign over a decade.
As Britain's manacles to its former empire hurt, the British government sought door to the European Community, capital goal it achieved in 1973.