While living out the Blitz on London in nearby Windsor Castle, she was privately tutored in matters of constitution by Henry Marten, an eccentric yet respected teacher who reputedly kept a pet raven in his study. Her long reign saw Britain transformed from a war-weary declining imperial power into a modern multi-cultural state that rarely looked to its monarch for leadership, but still held her in high esteem.Īnd while it witnessed its fair share of joy – not least the 2011 marriage of the Queen’s grandson Prince William to Catherine Middleton, and the birth of their three children – Elizabeth’s rule also weathered many storms, both public and personal, as the monarchy tried to keep pace with changing times.Įlizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in 1926, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York.īut she didn’t become heir presumptive to the throne until 1937, when her father was crowned King George VI after the scandalous abdication of his older brother – events dramatized in the Oscar-winning film “The King’s Speech” and hit Netflix show “The Crown.”Īs World War II erupted, Elizabeth was quietly groomed for statehood. Outside of traditional ceremonial duties, Queen Elizabeth was known to take an active interest in the affairs of the British government and meet regularly with the country's prime minister.Queen Elizabeth II, who has died age 96 after the longest reign in British history, will be mourned around the globe as one of the last monarchs born to a classic age of European royalty, when kings and queens wielded genuine political power.Įlizabeth’s death comes seven months after she marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, yet another milestone achievement in the remarkable life of a queen who, though reluctantly thrust into the spotlight at a young age, won almost universal praise for her steadfast dedication to duty. She celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
She visited and hosted many heads of state and religious leaders from all over the world, including five popes. Her reign as a constitutional monarch has overseen many political reforms and developments in the United Kingdom, such as the end of British imperialism and control over Africa, uprisings in Northern Ireland, the Cold war, and the U.K.'s withdrawal from the European Union. Elizabeth was officially coronated on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey at the age of 25. The king died in December 1952 due to coronary thrombosis. Elizabeth overtook many of his royal duties, along with her husband, including a visit to the United States. Queen Elizabeth was the eldest child of King George VI, who became monarch in 1936 after his brother King Edward VIII abdicated the Throne.ĭuring the final years of King George VI's life, he became seriously ill with smoking-related diseases. She was seen as a British icon and was widely popular despite high-profile scandals that have plagued the Windsors over the last few decades. As a young woman, Elizabeth served in the British Auxiliary Territorial Service. The marriage of 73 years produced four children, including Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Anne, Princess Royal.
She was married to Philip Mountbatten from 1947 until his death in April 2021.
She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history and the second longest-reigning monarch in the history of the world, behind French King Louis XIV. Queen Elizabeth II, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, was the sovereign monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other commonwealth countries, including Northern Ireland.