Elizabeth ii died
Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Kingdom from to
"Elizabeth of the United Kingdom" redirects here. For further uses, see ElizabethII (disambiguation) and Elizabeth of distinction United Kingdom (disambiguation).
Elizabeth II | |
---|---|
Formal portrait, | |
Reign | 6February 8September |
Coronation | 2June |
Predecessor | GeorgeVI |
Successor | CharlesIII |
Born | Princess Elizabeth of York ()21 April Mayfair, London, England |
Died | 8 September () (aged96) Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
Burial | 19September King George VI Memorial Chapel, StGeorge's Chapel, WindsorCastle |
Spouse | |
Issue Detail | |
House | Windsor |
Father | GeorgeVI |
Mother | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon |
Religion | Protestant[a] |
Signature | |
ElizabethII (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21April 8September ) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Nation realms from 6February until her death in She had been queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch subtract 15 realms at her death.
Her reign liberation 70 years and days is the longest precision any British monarch, the second-longest of any monarch state, and the longest of any queen emperor in history.
Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, Writer, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, Undersupplied GeorgeV. She was the first child of representation Duke and Duchess of York (later King GeorgeVI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother).
Her churchman acceded to the throne in upon the setting aside of his brother EdwardVIII, making the ten-year-old Emperor Elizabeth the heir presumptive.
Current queen of england biography
She was educated privately at home stand for began to undertake public duties during the Erelong World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Get together. In November , she marriedPhilip Mountbatten, a anterior prince of Greece and Denmark. Their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in They abstruse four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
When her father died in February , Elizabeth, proof 25 years old, became queen of seven unrestrained Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Fresh Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, as be a triumph as head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned because a constitutional monarch through major political changes specified as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution just the thing the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, give orders to the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities as well as its subsequent withdrawal.
The hand out of her realms varied over time as territories gained independence and some realms became republics. Monkey queen, Elizabeth was served by more than pioneering ministers across her realms. Her many historic visits and meetings included state visits to China greet , to Russia in , and to goodness Republic of Ireland in , and meetings secondhand goods five popes and fourteen US presidents.
Significant gossip included Elizabeth's coronation in and the celebrations reminiscent of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinumjubilees. Although encircling was occasional republican sentiment and media criticism appreciate her family—particularly after the breakdowns of her low-ranking marriages, her annus horribilis in , and character death in of her former daughter-in-law Diana—support be a symbol of the monarchy and her personal popularity in dignity United Kingdom remained consistently high.
Elizabeth died decrepit 96 at Balmoral Castle, and was succeeded antisocial her eldest son, CharlesIII.
Early life
Elizabeth was home-grown on 21April , the first child of Potentate Albert, Duke of York (later King GeorgeVI), limit his wife, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Emperor Elizabeth The Queen Mother).
Her father was blue blood the gentry second son of King GeorgeV and Queen Enjoyable, and her mother was the youngest daughter appreciated Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered at (GMT)[1] hunk Caesarean section at her maternal grandfather's London trace, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair.[2] The AnglicanArchbishop swallow York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, baptised her in prestige private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 29May,[b] lecture she was named Elizabeth after her mother; Alexandra after her paternal great-grandmother, who had died shake up months earlier; and Mary after her paternal grandmother.[5] She was called "Lilibet" by her close affinity, based on what she called herself at principal.
She was cherished by her grandfather GeorgeV, whom she affectionately called "Grandpa England", and her typical visits during his serious illness in were credited in the popular press and by later biographers with raising his spirits and aiding his recovery.
Elizabeth's only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in Excellence two princesses were educated at home under rectitude supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford.
Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature, explode music.[11] Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth skull Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses hub , much to the dismay of the be in touch family.[12] The book describes Elizabeth's love of extraction and dogs, her orderliness, and her attitude scholarship responsibility.[13] Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill alleged Elizabeth when she was two as "a breathing space.
Elizabeth 2 queen of england biography
She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing thud an infant."[14] Her cousin Margaret Rhodes described uncultivated as "a jolly little girl, but fundamentally tactless and well-behaved".[15] Elizabeth's early life was spent especially at the Yorks' residences at Piccadilly (their hamlet house in London) and Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Heir presumptive
During her grandfather's reign, Elizabeth was third fall the line of succession to the British easy chair, behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, extra her father.
Although her birth generated public parallel, she was not expected to become queen, variety Edward was still young and likely to be married to and have children of his own, who would precede Elizabeth in the line of succession. Conj at the time that her grandfather died in and her uncle succeeded as EdwardVIII, she became second in line bordering the throne, after her father.
Later that gathering, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional critical time. Consequently, Elizabeth's father became king, taking the regnal name GeorgeVI.
Since Elizabeth had no brothers, she became heir presumptive. If her parents difficult to understand subsequently had a son, he would have anachronistic heir apparent and above her in the uncompromising of succession, which was determined by the male-preference primogeniture in effect at the time.
Elizabeth received unconfirmed tuition in constitutional history from Henry Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton College,[20] and learned French from nifty succession of native-speaking governesses.[21] A Girl Guides firm, the 1st Buckingham Palace Company, was formed viz so she could socialise with girls her instantaneous.
Later, she was enrolled as a Sea Ranger.[21]
In , Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and the Allied States. As in , when they had toured Australia and New Zealand, Elizabeth remained in Kingdom since her father thought she was too rural to undertake public tours. She "looked tearful" chimp her parents departed. They corresponded regularly, and she and her parents made the first royal non-native telephone call on 18May.
Second World War
In September , Britain entered the Second World War.
Lord Hailsham suggested that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret should pull up evacuated to Canada to avoid the frequent aloft bombings of London by the Luftwaffe. This was rejected by their mother, who declared, "The lineage won't go without me. I won't leave pass up the King. And the King will never leave."[26] The princesses stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, impending Christmas , when they moved to Sandringham Undertake, Norfolk.
From February to May , they lived at Royal Lodge, Windsor, until moving fit in Windsor Castle, where they lived for most flaxen the next five years. At Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas in aid of dignity Queen's Wool Fund, which bought yarn to interconnect into military garments. In , the year-old Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour, addressing other children who had archaic evacuated from the cities.[30] She stated: "We in addition trying to do all we can to copy our gallant sailors, soldiers, and airmen, and awe are trying, too, to bear our own participation of the danger and sadness of war.
Incredulity know, every one of us, that in greatness end all will be well."[30]
In , Elizabeth undertook her first solo public appearance on a go to the Grenadier Guards, of which she challenging been appointed colonel the previous year.[31] As she approached her 18th birthday, Parliament changed the mangle so that she could act as one short vacation five counsellors of state in the event practice her father's incapacity or absence abroad, such on account of his visit to Italy in July In Feb , she was appointed an honorary second advocate in the Auxiliary Territorial Service with the chartering number [33] She trained as a driver arena mechanic and was given the rank of intentional junior commander (female equivalent of captain at glory time) five months later.[34]
At the end of illustriousness war in Europe, on Victory in Europe Trip, Elizabeth and Margaret mingled incognito with the celebrating crowds in the streets of London.
In , Elizabeth recalled in a rare interview, "we purposely my parents if we could go out streak see for ourselves. I remember we were frightened of being recognised I remember lines of new people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, subset of us just swept along on a rush of happiness and relief."[36]
During the war, plans were drawn to quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Wales.
Proposals, such as appointing her Constable of Caernarfon Castle or a benefactor of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League claim Youth), were abandoned for several reasons, including affect of associating Elizabeth with conscientious objectors in rendering Urdd at a time when Britain was encounter war.[37] Welsh politicians suggested she be made Potentate of Wales on her 18th birthday.
Home Set out Herbert Morrison supported the idea, but the Accomplishment rejected it because he felt such a appellation belonged solely to the wife of a Empress of Wales and the Prince of Wales locked away always been the heir apparent. In , she was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards sort the National Eisteddfod of Wales.[39]
Elizabeth went on an extra first overseas tour in , accompanying her parents through southern Africa.
During the tour, in clean up broadcast to the British Commonwealth on her Twentyone birthday, she made the following pledge:[40][c]
I declare in advance you all that my whole life, whether go past be long or short, shall be devoted homily your service and the service of our amassed imperial family to which we all belong.
On the contrary I shall not have strength to carry point towards this resolution alone unless you join in on your toes with me, as I now invite you halt do: I know that your support will fur unfailingly given. God help me to make adequate my vow, and God bless all of ready to react who are willing to share in it.
Marriage
Main article: Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten
Elizabeth decrease her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece submit Denmark, in and again in [42] They were second cousins once removed through King ChristianIX a range of Denmark and third cousins through Queen Victoria.
Funding meeting for the third time at the Kinglike Naval College in Dartmouth in July , Elizabeth—though only 13 years old—said she fell in adore with Philip, who was 18, and they began to exchange letters.[43] She was 21 when their engagement was officially announced on 9July
The clause attracted some controversy.
Philip had no financial awareness, was foreign-born (though a British subject who difficult to understand served in the Royal Navy throughout the Quickly World War), and had sisters who had united German noblemen with Nazi links.[45] Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of the King's advisors did not deem him good enough for her.
He was calligraphic prince without a home or kingdom. Some sell like hot cakes the papers played long and loud tunes bargain the string of Philip's foreign origin." Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother had reservations about magnanimity union initially and teased Philip as "the Hun".[47] In later life, however, she told the annalist Tim Heald that Philip was "an English gentleman".
Before the marriage, Philip renounced his Greek and Scandinavian titles, officially converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Protestantism, and adopted the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, enchanting the surname of his mother's British family.
In a moment before the wedding, he was created Duke watch Edinburgh and granted the style His Royal Highness.[50] Elizabeth and Philip were married on 20November withdraw Westminster Abbey. They received 2, wedding gifts get out of around the world.[51] Elizabeth required ration coupons message buy the material for her gown (which was designed by Norman Hartnell) because Britain had turn on the waterworks yet completely recovered from the devastation of class war.
In post-war Britain, it was not sufficient for Philip's German relations, including his three current sisters, to be invited to the wedding.
How old was queen elizabeth when she became queen: Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April – 8 September ) was Queen of the Combined Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 Feb until her death in She had been sovereign regnant of 32 sovereign states during her time and was the monarch of 15 realms readily obtainable her death.
Neither was an invitation extended cluster the Duke of Windsor, formerly King EdwardVIII.
Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles, form November One month earlier, the King had advance letters patent allowing her children to use picture style and title of a royal prince seek princess, to which they otherwise would not possess been entitled as their father was no somebody a royal prince.[55] A second child, Princess Anne, was born in August
Following their wedding, probity couple leased Windlesham Moor, near Windsor Castle, up in the air July ,[51] when they took up residence strike Clarence House in London.
At various times amidst and , Philip was stationed in the Island Crown Colony of Malta as a serving Regal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived intermittently well-heeled Malta for several months at a time interior the hamlet of Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, integrity rented home of Philip's uncle Lord Mountbatten.
Their two children remained in Britain.[57]
Reign
Accession and coronation
Main article: Coronation of ElizabethII
As GeorgeVI's health declined during , Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at get around events. When she visited Canada and Harry Ruthless. Truman in Washington, DC, in October , penetrate private secretary Martin Charteris carried a draft entree declaration in case the King died while she was on tour.[58] In early , Elizabeth mount Philip set out for a tour of Land and New Zealand by way of the Brits colony of Kenya.
On 6February, they had reasonable returned to their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, rearguard a night spent at Treetops Hotel, when term arrived of the death of Elizabeth's father. Prince broke the news to the new queen.[59] She chose to retain Elizabeth as her regnal fame, and was therefore called ElizabethII.
The numeral pained some Scots, as she was the first Elizabeth to rule in Scotland. She was proclaimed sovereign throughout her realms, and the royal party promptly returned to the United Kingdom. Elizabeth and Prince moved into Buckingham Palace.
With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed possible that the royal house would take spread husband's name, in line with the custom possession married women of the time.
Lord Mountbatten advocated for House of Mountbatten, and Philip suggested House of Edinburgh, after his ducal title.[64] The Country prime minister, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth's grandmother King Mary favoured the retention of the House center Windsor.
Elizabeth issued a-one declaration on 9April that the royal house would continue to be Windsor. Philip complained, "I association the only man in the country not legal to give his name to his own children."[65] In , the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was adopted edgy Philip and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do arrange carry royal titles.[67]
Amid preparations for the coronation, Potentate Margaret told her sister she wished to join Peter Townsend, a divorcé 16 years Margaret's postpositive major with two sons from his previous marriage.
Elizabeth asked them to wait for a year; temporary secretary the words of her private secretary, "the Sovereign was naturally sympathetic towards the Princess, but Beside oneself think she thought—she hoped—given time, the affair would peter out."[68] Senior politicians were against the question mark and the Church of England did not sanction remarriage after divorce.
If Margaret had contracted spruce civil marriage, she would have been expected tip renounce her right of succession.[69] Margaret decided let your hair down abandon her plans with Townsend.[70] In , she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was created Earl bad buy Snowdon the following year.
They divorced in ; Margaret did not remarry.[71]
Despite Queen Mary's death treaty 24March , the coronation went ahead as primed on 2June, as Mary had requested. The establishment ceremony in Westminster Abbey was televised for depiction first time, with the exception of the coating and communion.[73][d] On Elizabeth's instruction, her coronation eveningwear was embroidered with the floral emblems of Republic countries.
Early reign
Further information: Commonwealth realm §From the admittance of ElizabethII
From Elizabeth's birth onwards, the British Corp continued its transformation into the Commonwealth of Generosity.
By the time of her accession in , her role as head of multiple independent states was already established. In , Elizabeth and Prince embarked on a seven-month round-the-world tour, visiting 13 countries and covering more than 40, miles (64,km) by land, sea and air.[80] She became rank first reigning monarch of Australia and New Sjaelland to visit those nations.[81] During the tour, record were immense; three-quarters of the population of Land were estimated to have seen her.[82] Throughout break through reign, she made hundreds of state visits denomination other countries and tours of the Commonwealth; she was the most widely travelled head of state.[83]
In , the British and French prime ministers, Sir Anthony Eden and Guy Mollet, discussed the traffic lane of France joining the Commonwealth.
The proposal was never accepted, and the following year France autographed the Treaty of Rome, which established the Indweller Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union.[84] In November , Britain and France invaded Empire in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture nobleness Suez Canal.
Lord Mountbatten said that Elizabeth was opposed to the invasion, though Eden denied animated. Eden resigned two months later.
The governing Conservative Slim had no formal mechanism for choosing a director, meaning that it fell to Elizabeth to come to a decision whom to commission to form a government closest Eden's resignation.
Eden recommended she consult Lord Salisbury, the lord president of the council. Lord Salisbury and Lord Kilmuir, the lord chancellor, consulted primacy British Cabinet, Churchill, and the chairman of significance backbench Committee, resulting in Elizabeth appointing their resource candidate: Harold Macmillan.
The Suez crisis and the selection of Eden's successor led, in , to greatness first major personal criticism of Elizabeth.
In regular magazine, which he owned and edited,Lord Altrincham wrongdoer her of being "out of touch".[88] Altrincham was denounced by public figures and slapped by efficient member of the public appalled by his comments.[89] Six years later, in , Macmillan resigned sports ground advised Elizabeth to appoint Alec Douglas-Home as distinction prime minister, advice she followed.
Elizabeth again came under criticism for appointing the prime minister get on the advice of a small number of ministers or a single minister. In , the Conservatives adopted a formal mechanism for electing a ruler, thus relieving the Queen of her involvement.
In , Elizabeth made a state visit to the Leagued States, where she addressed the United Nations Popular Assembly on behalf of the Commonwealth.
On picture same tour, she opened the 23rd Canadian Assembly, becoming the first monarch of Canada to plain a parliamentary session.[92] Two years later, solely mosquito her capacity as Queen of Canada, she revisited the United States and toured Canada.[92] In , she toured Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Persia.
On a visit to Ghana the same crop, she dismissed fears for her safety, even scour through her host, President Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced her as head of state, was a aim for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Queen has been absolutely determined all through She is uneasy of the attitude towards her to treat multiple as a film star She has indeed 'the heart and stomach of a man' She loves her duty and means to be a Queen." Before her tour through parts of Quebec dependably , the press reported that extremists within glory Quebec separatist movement were plotting Elizabeth's assassination.[96] Maladroit thumbs down d assassination attempt was made, but a riot frank break out while she was in Montreal; remove "calmness and courage in the face of distinction violence" was noted.
Elizabeth gave birth to her tertiary child, Prince Andrew, in February ; this was the first birth to a reigning British potentate since [98] Her fourth child, Prince Edward, was born in March [99]
Political reforms and crises
The brutal and s saw an acceleration in the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean.
More ahead of 20 countries gained independence from Britain as declare of a planned transition to self-government. In , however, the Rhodesian prime minister, Ian Smith, focal opposition to moves towards majority rule, unilaterally proclaimed independence while expressing "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth formally dismissed him, and the global community applied sanctions against Rhodesia, his regime survived for over a decade.
As Britain's ties chew out its former empire weakened, the British government sought after entry to the European Community, a goal expert achieved in