Her majesty queen Elizabeth II, in full Elizabeth

Alexandra Mary, was born on the 21st of April in

1926 in London.
She is queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland from February 6, 1952. Her
official name is 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 is now the longest-reigning British
monarch since Victoria, who occupied the throne for
over 63 years.

Queen Victoria
Elizabeth was the elder daughter of Albert, duke of
York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. As a
child, her close family called her Lilibet. Her
grandfather was King George V. In 1936 King George
V died. Elizabeth's uncle, Edward VIII, became king,
but months later he gave up the throne. Elizabeth's
father then became King George VI, making
Elizabeth the next in line for the throne. She was
only 10 years old.

The duke of Windsor George VI, her

George V, her (formerly Edward father
grandfather VIII) and his wife the Queen Mother
From that time on,
Princess Elizabeth
was trained for her
future duties. She
and her younger
sister, Margaret
Rose, were
educated at home
in history, art,
music, and
horseback riding.
When Princess
Elizabeth was 13,
World War II broke
out. Because
London was
heavily bombed
during the war,
she and her sister
were sent to live in
the safety of
Windsor Castle,
outside the city. In
1940 Princess
Elizabeth gave her
first radio address.
This began her life
in the public eye.
Princess Elizabeth became engaged to
Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947.
Before their wedding King George VI gave
Philip the titles of duke of Edinburgh, earl of
Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. The
marriage took place in Westminster Abbey in
London on November 20, 1947.

Prince Philip,
duke of Edinburgh
Their first child, Prince Charles, was born in
1948. The couple later had three more
children: Princess Anne, born in 1950; Prince
Andrew, born in 1960; and Prince Edward,
born in 1964. The Queen is an affectionate
wife, loving mother and grandparent.
 Prince Andrew Princess Anne
Queen, her husband and her first
son, Prince Charles

Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother

Queen’s sister Prince Edward
Even before becoming
queen, Elizabeth
represented the royal
family with visits to
various countries. In
January 1952 she and
her husband left for a
tour of Australia and
New Zealand. In the first
stage of the trip,
however, King George
died in his sleep.
Princess Elizabeth
automatically became
Queen Elizabeth II. She
flew back at once to
England.
Queen Elizabeth's coronation, or crowning
ceremony, was held at Westminster Abbey on
June 2, 1953. She was 25 years old.
Elizabeth II is recognized as Queen or Head of the
Commonwealth by no fewer than 51 countries. The
Commonwealth is a free association of independent
states which are former British colonies. She is
Head of State of 16 countries. She makes one official
visit to a Commonwealth country at least once every
year.
Throughout her reign Queen Elizabeth
travelled widely with her husband. Among the
many places she visited were India, South
Africa, Australia, the United States, and
various countries in South America, the
Middle East, and the Caribbean.
At home, she meets regularly with the British
prime minister to discuss the political affairs
of the country. She receives visitors from
around the world and presents honors to
accomplished people. She also makes
appearances at many public events.
The Queen has no power in a political sense
yet she is an integral part of the parliamentary
system.
In 2002 Queen Elizabeth reached her Golden
Jubilee, or 50 years as queen. To mark the
anniversary, celebrations were held
throughout the United Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth II
and her husband,
Prince Philip, wave
to well-wishers
during celebrations
of the queen's
Golden Jubilee
in June 2002.
Charles Philip Arthur George,
prince of Wales was born on the
14th of November, 1948, in
Buckingham Palace, London. After
private schooling, Charles entered
Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1967.
He took a bachelor's degree there
in 1971. He also spent a term at the
University College of Wales,
learning Welsh. He then attended
the Royal Air Force College
(becoming an excellent flier) and
the Royal Naval College.
On July 29, 1981, Charles married Lady Diana
Frances Spencer, daughter of the 8th Earl
Spencer; the royal wedding was a global media
event.
The couple's first child, Prince William of Wales,
became at his birth (June 21, 1982) second in
line of succession to the throne. Their second
child, Prince Henry Charles Albert David, was
born on September 15, 1984.

Princess Diana and her

two sons
Marital difficulties led to a separation between Diana and
Charles in 1992. They divorced on August 28, 1996.
Diana’s great popularity as a member of the royal family,
both in Britain and throughout the world, attracted
considerable attention from the press, and she became
one of the most photographed women in the world.
A year later Diana died in an auto accident, along with
her companion, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, in an
automobile accident in Paris.
On April 9, 2005, he
married Camilla Parker
Bowles (born 1947), with
whom he had a long-
standing relationship. After
the wedding, Parker
Bowles took the title of
duchess of Cornwall.