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How old is the English queen who reigns? See what "Elizabeth II" is in other dictionaries

Today, the most famous woman on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II of England, celebrates her birthday. Despite her venerable age, the Queen continues to delight us with her appearances, is the constant heroine of our “Stylish Monarchs” column, and gives valuable instructions to her heirs, Prince Charles and William, as well as her young daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton. HELLO.RU congratulates Elizabeth II on her birthday and recalls 15 interesting facts about this legendary person.

Elizabeth II

1. Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926. At the time of her birth, she was third in line to the throne; then they could not even think about her future elevation to the throne. Her father, George VI, began to rule after the unexpected abdication of his elder brother, King Edward, and thus Elizabeth came closer to power.

Queen Elizabeth II with her mother Elizabeth I and father George VI

On the day of her father's death, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, approached 25-year-old Elizabeth and said: Does this mean you will become queen? Poor thing!

2. Elizabeth's education was personally handled by her father, King George VI. Her teachers also included the Vice-Rector of Eton and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

WITH early years Lilibet, as she was called at home, was an enthusiastic and active person. She really enjoyed learning languages. Thanks to foreign governesses, she became fluent in French as a child. At age 11, while still a princess, Elizabeth became a scout and then a sea ranger.

Elizabeth II in scout uniform, 19423. Since childhood, the queen has been very fond of animals. She is the breeder of many thoroughbred horses, and often comes to watch equestrian competitions, as well as the races in which her horses compete.

Elizabeth II has been riding a horse almost since birth
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip at the Hippodrome Elizabeth II also loves dogs. Her favorite breed is the Welsh Corgi. Her father gave her her first puppy for her birthday, and since then she has had more than 30 corgis, each of which is a descendant of her firstborn, Susie. The dogs live with the Queen in the castle, travel in limousines and live in hotels.

Queen Elizabeth II with her dog

4. The Queen met her husband, Prince Philip, at the age of 8. The son of a Greek prince was forced to flee his native country to England at the age of 1 in an orange box. Naturally, King George VI of Great Britain did not welcome his daughter’s union with the “impoverished prince.” According to rumors, Elizabeth herself achieved the favor of Philip, with whom she was in love from an early age, and then proposed marriage to him.

Elizabeth and Philip at their engagement party, 1947

5. The couple announced their engagement in 1947. The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten took place on November 20, 1947. 2000 invited guests attended the celebration. The wedding dress was made by designer Norman Hartnell, and the bride's head was decorated with a diamond tiara, which Queen Mary gave her as a child.

Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

After his marriage to the princess, Philip was not anointed king. When his wife ascended the throne, he was the first to take the oath to her with the words:
I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will become your vassal in sickness and in health, and will serve you faithfully, with honor and respect, until my death. May God help me.
61 years have passed since then, and Philip is still always and everywhere next to his queen.

6. Elizabeth II is the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. She herself conducts all important meetings with the heads of the Commonwealth, and also visits military installations during her visits to other countries. She is preparing her son, Prince Charles, and grandchildren, William and Harry, for political affairs, but does not yet trust them to make decisions.

Queen Elizabeth II with her first child, Prince Charles

7. Despite her steely character and talent for government, the queen does not forget about femininity. The bright colors of dresses and suits, which she has preferred since a very young age, reveal her creative and mischievous nature.

A recognizable style, the main elements of which are a monochrome suit of rich color, a matching hat, black shoes and a handbag, was formed at the very beginning of her reign. Now, despite her advanced age, the queen is not at all afraid of bright colors and still does not change her habits. As Karl Lagerfeld said, in order to become a recognizable person, you need to dress in such a way that it is easy to copy a caricature of you. Queen Elizabeth II inspired the creativity of both famous creators and animators.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1986

8. Order surrounds the Queen in everything, so it is not surprising that in Elizabeth II’s dressing room all things have a serial number. The place and time at which the outfit was worn is also indicated. Given the Queen’s busy work schedule, this is the only way she can avoid “fashion repetitions.”

9. The Queen's working day is scheduled minute by minute. At 7:30, a tray containing a silver teapot, a jug of water and milk is brought to her bed. She starts her duties at 10:00 and finishes work around 23:00. First thing in the morning she looks at the British daily newspapers and the racing magazine The Racing Post.

Elizabeth II, 2013

After this, from the hundreds of letters from her subjects that arrived during the day, she selects a few, which she reads, and then dictates to her assistant the answers to each of them. In the first half of the day, the queen schedules several meetings - with ambassadors, bishops, and judges. Each takes no more than 15 minutes. In the evening, Elizabeth II meets with the Prime Minister and gets acquainted with official papers. At the end of the day, she attends exhibitions, concerts and other events.

10. Queen Elizabeth II has a very large family: four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. When she is not busy with business, she loves to be at home with her loved ones.

Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, three sons and daughter

She spends several weeks in August and September alone. These days, the doors of Buckingham Palace open to everyone, and the Queen goes on vacation to the Scottish castle of Balmoral. There she enjoys reading novels, doing crossword puzzles and taking a bath. By the way, Elizabeth has a funny habit associated with her latest pastime - the queen never takes a bath without her rubber duck.

Another favorite pastime of the Queen on weekends is “fussing” with dogs. Rumor has it that Elizabeth loves to comb their fur herself and even look for fleas on them.

11. The Queen is the only resident of Great Britain who does not have a passport or license. However, this does not stop her from actively traveling and driving. By the way, she first got behind the wheel at the age of 19. With 67 years of driving experience behind her, the Queen was spotted behind the wheel by paparazzi in 2012. In an unaccompanied car, Elizabeth II was returning from her Scottish residence, where she was hunting hazel grouse.

Queen Elizabeth II driving12 .During travel, the weight of the queen's luggage can reach several tons. A record figure was recorded during Elizabeth II's trip to a meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1953 - the queen carried 12 tons of clothing with her. Considering the number of her dogs that travel with her everywhere, she has also accumulated several tons of grooming supplies.

Elizabeth II

13. Elizabeth II has a number of secret signs. For example, if during official events she places her handbag on the table, then it becomes clear to those accompanying her that the Queen wishes to leave the meeting after 5 minutes. When she begins to twirl a ring on her finger or shift her bag from one hand to another, this means that she is bored with communication with her interlocutor.

Queen Elizabeth II
14. The most difficult times in the queen's life were 1992 and 2002. In the early 90s, the reputation of the monarchy was under attack due to the divorce of the Queen's heir, Prince Charles, from Princess Diana. And in 2002, the queen lost two loved ones at once - her sister Margaret and her mother Elizabeth I.

Queen Elizabeth II with Princess Diana

15. Despite the fact that the Queen turns 88 today, this event will be celebrated on a national scale only in the summer. According to a tradition that has developed over the years, the birthday of the reigning monarch of Great Britain is celebrated twice: directly on the day of the celebration with loved ones and on one of the weekends in June. It is in the summer that lavish festivities take place, people take to the streets to celebrate another year in the life and reign of the most popular monarch in the world.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain- (Queen Elizabeth II) was born on April 21, 1926 in London in the family of the Duke and Duchess of York. Queen Elizabeth usually celebrates her real birthday with her family, while the official birthday of the monarch in Great Britain... ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia

From the Windsor dynasty. Queen of Great Britain since 1952. Daughter of George VI and Elizabeth. Married since 1947 to Philip, son of the Greek Prince Andrew (born 1921). Genus. 21 Apr 1926 As a child, Elizabeth was educated at home. Except… … All the monarchs of the world

Below is a list of the monarchs of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, that is, the states that existed or exist in the British Isles, namely: Kingdom of England (871 1707, including Wales after its ... ... Wikipedia

Wikipedia has articles about other people named Anna. Anna Anne ... Wikipedia

Wikipedia has articles about other people named Victoria. Victoria Victoria ... Wikipedia

Victoria Victoria Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India ... Wikipedia

- (אלישבע) Hebrew Other forms: Elisabeth, Elissiv (Old Slavic) Produced. forms: Lisa Foreign language analogues: English. Elizabeth, Eliza Arab. اليزابيث‎‎ arm… Wikipedia

Books

, Polyakova A.A. About Queen of England Everyone has heard of Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to her to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will give you...
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. A look at the modern British monarchy, A. A. Polyakova. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to her to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will give you...
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain A look at the modern British monarchy, Polyakova A.. “My impressions of a trip to Great Britain during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton led to the understanding that Great Britain and the monarchy are inseparable. In the Middle Ages, the exclamation “In the name of...

Elizabeth II in October 1942

“In general, no one taught me to be a queen: my father died too early and it happened so unexpectedly - I had to immediately get involved in the matter and at the same time try not to lose face in the dirt. I had to grow into the position I took. It was fate, it had to be accepted and not complained. I think continuity is very important. My job is for life."
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain

I wonder what it’s like to celebrate your birthday twice a year for over 50 years? Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on April 21, 1926 in London, can answer this question, and for many years her birthday has been celebrated throughout the United Kingdom not only on April 21, but also on the 3rd Saturday in June.

The title of Her Royal Majesty in the United Kingdom is: "Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other Dominions and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George Six. The coronation took place on June 2, 1953 in Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth was only 25 years old when she became queen, and has remained so for decades.

Every year the birthday is celebrated magnificently at Windsor Castle. It begins with a walk around the city (if this action, of course, can be called that). A 21-shot fireworks display is required, which sounds at noon.

Throughout her reign, the Queen has been repeatedly criticized not only by British Republicans, but also by various British media, as well as by the general public. Nevertheless, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy, and her popularity in Great Britain is at its highest.

Royal

Elizabeth II (eng. Elizabeth II), full name- Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (English: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - Queen of Great Britain from 1952 to the present.

Elizabeth II comes from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of 25, following the death of her father, King George VI.

She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of 15 independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua - New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica. He is also the head of the Church of England and the Supreme Commander of the British Armed Forces.

Coats of arms in different periods of time and in different countries

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944–1947)

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947–1952)

Royal coat of arms in Great Britain (except Scotland)

Royal coat of arms in Scotland

Royal coat of arms of Canada

The full title of Elizabeth II in Great Britain is “Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries that recognize the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which in each of these countries the British monarch acts as the head of that particular state, regardless of his titles in Great Britain itself or in third countries. Accordingly, in all these countries the title of queen sounds the same, with the name of the state replaced. In some countries, the words “defender of the faith” are excluded from the title. For example, in Australia the title reads as follows: “Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God Queen of Australia and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth.”

On the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, Elizabeth II also bears the title of Duke of Normandy, and on the Isle of Man - the title of “Lord of Man”.

Story

Elizabeth II is the oldest British (English) monarch in history. She currently ranks second in history for the longest tenure on the British throne (after Queen Victoria) and also the second longest serving head of state in the world (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is also the oldest female sitting head of state in the world, and the oldest sitting head of state in Europe.

He is the oldest sitting monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

The reign of Elizabeth II covers a very broad period of British history: the process of decolonization was completed, which was marked by the final collapse of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. This period also included many other events, such as the long-term ethnopolitical conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1970

Public perception

At the moment, the majority of British people have a positive assessment of Elizabeth II’s activities as a monarch (about 69% believe that the country would be worse off without the monarchy; 60% believe that the monarchy helps improve the country’s image abroad and only 22% were against the monarchy).

Despite the positive attitude of the majority of her subjects, the queen was repeatedly criticized during her reign, in particular:

In 1963, when a political crisis arose in Britain, Elizabeth was criticized for personally appointing Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In 1997, for the lack of an immediate reaction to the death of Princess Diana, the queen was attacked not only by the wrath of the British public, but also even by many major British media (for example, The Guardian).
In 2004, after Elizabeth II beat a pheasant to death with a cane while hunting, a wave of outrage from environmental organizations over the monarch's actions swept across the country.

Elizabeth II is the last representative of the so-called “old school” of monarchs: she strictly adheres to age-old traditions and ceremonies and never deviates from the rules of established etiquette. Her Majesty never gives interviews or makes statements in the press. She is in everyone's sight, but at the same time she is the most private celebrity on the planet.

Princess Elizabeth with her pet, July 1936

Childhood

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London's Mayfair at the Earl of Strathmore's residence at No. 17 Brewton Street. The area has now been rebuilt and the house no longer exists, but there is a memorial plaque on the site. She received her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).

Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895–1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900–2002). Her grandparents: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); on the mother's side - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1938).

At the same time, the father insisted that his daughter’s first name be like the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie was discussing the girl's name with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Maria. The names are all good, that’s what I told him, but about Victoria I absolutely agree with him. It was unnecessary." Princess Elizabeth's christening took place on May 25 in the chapel at Buckingham Palace, which was later destroyed during the war.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1930

In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.

The future queen received a good education at home, mainly in the humanities. Since childhood, she loved horses and equestrian sports. And also from childhood, unlike her more eccentric sister Margaret, she had a truly royal character. In the book biography of Elizabeth II by Sarah Bradford, it is mentioned that the future queen was a very serious child from childhood, who even then had a certain understanding of the responsibilities that fell on her as the heir to the throne, and a sense of duty. Since childhood, Elizabeth loved order; for example, when she went to bed, she always put her slippers next to the bed, never allowing herself to scatter things around the room, as is typical for many children. And already as a queen, she always made sure that no unnecessary lights were on in the palace, personally turning off the lights in empty rooms.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1926

Photo from 1929, Elizabeth is 3 years old here

Princess Elizabeth in 1933

King George VI (1895-1952) and Elizabeth Angela, Duchess of York (1900-2002), with their daughter, the future Queen, Princess Elizabeth, 1929

The Queen with her daughters, October 1942

Princess at War

World War II began when Elizabeth was 13 years old. On October 13, 1940, she spoke on the radio for the first time - with an appeal to children affected by the disasters of war. In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of the five "councilors of state" (persons authorized to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity). In February 1945, Elizaveta joined the “Auxiliary Territorial Service” - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving military rank Lieutenant Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider it the last not yet retired participant in the Second World War (the penultimate was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).

Princess Elizabeth (left, in military uniform) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (from left) her mother Queen Elizabeth, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret, May 8, 1945

Wedding

On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married her distant relative, who, like her, is the great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria - Prince Philip Mountbatten, son of the Greek Prince Andrew, who was then an officer in the British navy. She met him at the age of 13, when Philip was still a cadet at the Dortmouth Naval Academy. Having become her husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.

In November 2007, the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their Diamond Wedding - sixty years of marriage. For the sake of this occasion, the queen allowed herself a little liberty - for one day she and her husband retired for romantic memories in Malta, where Prince Philip once served, and the young Princess Elizabeth visited him.

Four children were born into their family: the heir to the throne is the eldest son, Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales (born 1948); Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise (born 1950); Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York (born 1960), Edward Anthony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (born 1964).

On December 29, 2010, Elizabeth II became a great-grandmother for the first time. On this day, her eldest grandson - Princess Anne's eldest son Peter Phillips - and his Canadian wife Autumn Kelly had a daughter. The girl became 12th in the British line of succession to the throne.

Coronation and beginning of reign

King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who was on holiday in Kenya at the time with her husband, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.

The coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and the event is credited with significantly boosting the popularity of television broadcasting.

After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth states, British colonies and other countries of the world. Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

The Queen with her six ladies-in-waiting
From left to right:
Lady Moira Hamilton (now Lady Moyra Campbell), Lady Anne Cox (now the Right Honorable Lady Glenconner), Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir), Lady Mary Bailey-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell), Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond- Willoughby (now Baroness de Willoughby de Eresby), Lady Jane Van-Tempest-Stewart (now the Right Honorable Lady Rayne)

Young Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen began her political activity, which included the opening of Parliament and the reception of prime ministers. In the fifties of the twentieth century, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made many visits to the territory of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries.

Meeting of Elizabeth II with heads of Commonwealth countries in 1960

In the sixties, the Queen of England made her historic visit to West Berlin at the height of Cold War, and also invited Japanese Emperor Hirohito on an official visit to Britain. Despite the turbulent social and political situation, she celebrated her silver jubilee in 1977. The celebrations were a success, with thousands of people celebrating Elizabeth II's jubilee across the country.

The mature years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Five years later, Britain was involved in the war against the Falkland Islands, during which Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot. In the 1980s, the Queen's first grandchildren were born - Peter and Zara Phillips, the son and daughter of Anne, Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips.

In 1992, a disaster occurred in which fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. That same year, the marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne were dissolved. The Queen called 1992 a "terrible year". In 1996, the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was dissolved. Tragedy followed in 1997 when Diana died in a car accident.

2002 was a sad year for Queen Elizabeth II of England as her sister Princess Margaret died.

Reign of Queen Elizabeth II

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II of England, many changes were made in Great Britain. The Queen successfully carries out her political duties as head of state, head of the Commonwealth of Nations, ceremonial duties, as well as visiting responsibilities within the UK and abroad.

Elizabeth II introduced many reforms to the monarchy. In 1992, she proposed taxes on profits and capital gains. She opened official royal residences to the public, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, to finance the upkeep of the royal family.

She supported the abolition of male primogeniture and unity of inheritance, which means that the eldest child can now inherit the throne, regardless of gender.

In 2012, the Queen of England celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of her reign, celebrations were held throughout the country, which once again demonstrated the love of the British.

Clothing style of the English Queen Elizabeth II

The style of the English queen can be roughly divided into two periods: the style of the young queen - a conservative and elegant style, and the style of the elderly queen, I would call it the “cheerful grandmother” style or even the “rainbow style”, because of the incredible number of changing colors in her suits and hats . However, the Queen of England always loved colorful flowers.

Throughout her life, the main elements of Queen Elizabeth II's wardrobe were: dresses or suits of medium length, always covering the knee, coats and raincoats of a trapeze cut, plus floor-length dresses for special occasions, as well as hats, always matching the suit, gloves, closed shoes , a brooch on a jacket and a string of pearls. The Queen of England also always preferred short hair. Favorite colors are pink, lilac and indigo.

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Odeon Cinema, October 31, 1955. (Photo: Monty Fresco/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II became Queen after the death of her father in February 1952, and her coronation took place on June 2, 1952. At that time, namely in the 1940s and 1950s, dresses for the princess and then the queen were made by Norman Hartnell. And Elizabeth more than once appeared in public in dresses with fluffy skirts made of duchesse satin or silk. Design it wedding dress colors Ivory and decorated with silver threads also belongs to Norman Hartnell, as does the design of the coronation dress.

From the mid-1950s through the 1960s, Hardy Amies sewed for the Queen. It is he who brings a sense of simplicity to the queen’s outfits, but this simplicity is only external, because behind it lies a very complex cut. He made his first dresses for the Queen back in 1948, when Elizabeth asked him to create a wardrobe for a trip to Canada.

Since the 1970s, Ian Thomas, a former assistant to Norman Hartnell and now the owner of his own salon, has been sewing for the Queen. His distinctive feature The flowing chiffon dresses that appeared in the queen’s wardrobe began. After his death and until the late 1980s, Queen Elizabeth was sewn by Maureen Rose from the design house of Ian Thomas.

From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, the Queen of England's wardrobe was replenished with outfits from John Anderson, because after his death his partner Karl Ludwig Rese became the queen's court designer.

Since 2000, Stuart Parvin, the youngest of Her Majesty's court designers, a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art, has been sewing for Elizabeth II. In 2002, Angela Kelly became his assistant.

The Queen of England is 86 years old. But she still steadily fulfills all the duties assigned to her and appears in public, always following her style.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with their children, Prince Andrew (center), Princess Anne (left) and Charles, Prince of Wales near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Queen Victoria's husband purchased Balmoral Castle in 1846. Queen Victoria visited Scotland frequently with her family, especially after the death of her husband in 1861, and Balmoral is still a favorite holiday destination for the royal family. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). September 9, 1960.

Hobby

The Queen's interests include breeding dogs (including corgis, spaniels and Labradors), photography, horse riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige as Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively throughout her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world (for example, in 1994 she visited Russia). She has made more than 325 foreign visits (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries). I started gardening in 2009. In addition to English, he is also fluent French

.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were photographed with penguins at London Zoo. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Circa 1938

Interesting Facts

Elizabeth II does not give interviews. Nevertheless, the press periodically flashes Interesting Facts about this extraordinary woman, which allow us to look at the most famous reigning person of our time from an unexpected side, we have selected the most striking, in our opinion, moments.

The celebration of the royal birthday in 1981 was overshadowed by an unpleasant event: shots rang out near the horse on which Elizabeth was sitting, taking part in the parade, causing everyone around to flinch. The Queen, to the delight of the public, did not even raise an eyebrow and managed to stay in the saddle.

Self-control came in handy a year later, when, while waiting for the police, she had to conduct a conversation for several minutes with a madman who managed to get into the chambers.

In 1945, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the future Queen of England, served as a mechanic in a reserve battalion of the British Army with the rank of junior officer. Obviously, the example of the “combat” grandmother inspired the young princes William and Harry, who also did not shy away from military service.

Family values for Elizabeth The second is not an empty phrase. For the sake of her son’s happiness, she crossed strict rules and blessed the second marriage of Prince Charles of Wales with socialite Camilla Parker Bowles, despite the uproar about it.

On April 17, 2013, the Queen attended the funeral of a British politician for the second time in the history of her reign: she said goodbye to Margaret Thatcher.

Despite her solid image, the queen is no stranger to female coquetry and small weaknesses. Slick paparazzi more than once caught the moment when she publicly adjusted her makeup at social events, not embarrassed by the crowd or her high position. Etiquette is etiquette, but a real queen should look chic!

The Queen's passion is horses and corgi dogs. In her youth, Elizabeth rode horses very well, but now she pays more attention to the charming red dogs, which thanks to her have become one of the symbols of the British monarchy.

Elizabeth II is the oldest English monarch in history and the second longest-serving British monarch. She is also the oldest female current head of state.

The rose variety Rosa "Queen Elizabeth" was named in honor of Elizabeth II.

Films about Elizabeth II

In 2004, the film Churchill: The Hollywood Years was released, where Neve Campbell played the role of Elizabeth.

In 2006, the biographical film “The Queen” was released. The role of the queen was played by actress Helen Mirren. The film is a BAFTA Award winner in the Best Film category. Actress Helen Mirren, who played the main role in the film, received Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA awards, as well as the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best Actress. In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.

In 2009, Channel 4 of British television produced a 5-part feature mini-series “The Queen”, directed by Edmund Coulthard and Patrick Reams. The Queen was played by 5 actresses at different periods of her life: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick.

On July 27, 2012, the television broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London began with a video featuring James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen (cameo). At the end of the video, they both jump with parachutes from a helicopter over the arena of the Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, for this role, the queen was awarded a BAFTA award for best performance as a James Bond girl.

In architecture

The Queen Elizabeth Walk in Esplanade Park in Singapore is named after the queen.
The famous Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the “Elizabeth Tower” since September 2012.
The Duford Bridge, built in 1991, is also named after the Queen.
On August 1, 2013, the Elizabeth II Olympic Park was opened in London.

Lifetime monuments

Statue of Elizabeth II in Ottawa, Parliament Hill, Canada

Statue in Regina, Saskatchewan, erected in 2005

Statue in Windsor Great Park

Photo gallery

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose (1930-2002) with their parents at the Boy Scouts Parade at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. (Photo: /Getty Images). 1932

King George and Queen Elizabeth with Princesses Elizabeth (center) and Margaret, and members of the Royal Family in full uniform on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation, May 12, 1937.

The Queen, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose and the Royal Archers, 1937

Princess Elizabeth with a pony in Windsor Park, Berkshire. Photo taken April 21, 1939

King George VI with his wife, Queen Elizabeth and children, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, at Royal Lodge, Windsor, 11 April 1942. (Photo: Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images)

Princess Elizabeth rides from Buckingham Palace in London to the Horse Guards Parade wearing a military hat with the emblem of the Grenadier Guards. (Photo: Getty Images). June 12, 1947

Queen Elizabeth II at a parade in Central London, 7 June 1952. (Photo: William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth in the park of Buckingham Palace. 1939

Princess Elizabeth, March 1945

With newborn Prince Charles, December 1948

Princess Elizabeth with her son Prince Charles. September 1950

Queen Elizabeth II on her way to Westminster to preside over the Opening of Parliament after her accession to the throne, November 4, 1952

Princess Anne at her mother's coronation

The Queen with her newborn son Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace. March 1960

In 1960, the Queen gave birth to her second son, Prince Andrew, and in 1964, her third son, Prince Edward.

The form of government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been a parliamentary monarchy for several centuries. Queen Elizabeth 2 has been on the throne since February 6, 1952. This name is associated with the greatness and power of the country. But what is Elizabeth's true role in governing the state and why are the British so proud of their permanent ruler?

On April 21, 1926, Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon gave birth to a daughter, the future Queen of England. In London, where the family lived, a memorial plaque was installed on Brewton Street. The heiress was christened Elizabeth (in honor of her mother) Alexandra (in honor of her great-grandmother) Maria (in honor of her grandmother). The British monarch belongs to the Windsor dynasty.

Prince Albert, Elizabeth's father, second in line to the throne, became King George VI after his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated the throne. Thus, Elizabeth acquired the status of “heir presumptive” (“presumptive heir”). This means that if the king later had a son, the throne would belong only to him.

1947 was marked by the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain to Philip Mountbatten, a British naval officer who came from the Greek and Danish royal families. The great-great-grandson of the British Queen Victoria and the Russian Emperor Nicholas I, in order to marry Elizabeth, Philip had to become a naturalized citizen of Great Britain, change Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and renounce such titles as “Prince of Denmark” and “Prince of Greece.” For all this, George VI awarded him the title Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich.

George VI died on February 6, 1952. At this time, Elizabeth and her husband were just traveling. Princess Elizabeth returned from Kenya as a queen. The coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II, held on June 2, 1953 in Westminster Abbey, was broadcast on television for the first time, and photographs were published in all newspapers. The first to take the oath of allegiance to the new queen was her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen has four children: three princes - Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Anne, all of whom are pictured below.

Formal government

Today, Queen Elizabeth performs two important functions - she rules the state and the nation. As head of state, she performs duties such as attending the annual opening ceremony of Parliament, meeting weekly with prime ministers, receiving foreign ambassadors and delegations, and making official visits to foreign countries to maintain her country's diplomatic and economic relations with others.

Most of the official powers of the monarch or the so-called “royal prerogatives” are exercised by Queen Elizabeth of England only nominally, after a preliminary consultation with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers - persons responsible to the House of Commons of Parliament. In practice, most prerogatives are exercised by UK Cabinet Ministers.

The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the monarch (the “kissing hands” ceremony), but in reality he is the head of the party who won the elections to Parliament. If none of the parties receives a majority, Queen Elizabeth has the right to appoint the Prime Minister herself. She took advantage of this opportunity only once, appointing Labor member Harold Wilson as Prime Minister in 1974.

The monarch can exercise the right (on the advice of the Prime Minister) to issue a decree on the resignation of either ministers or the entire Cabinet (but British kings never use this prerogative). All laws considered by Parliament are adopted in the name of the monarch and become valid only after his formal approval. The monarch also has the formal right to convene, dissolve Parliament, and extend its validity. But in reality, Parliament, as stated in the Parliament Act 1911, is elected for a period of 5 years and is automatically dissolved upon expiration of this period.

The oath of allegiance is taken to the king, passports are issued to the British on his behalf, and the name of the country's anthem also speaks of the importance and veneration of the monarch - “God Save the Queen.” The Queen is depicted on banknotes, coins and postage stamps. As the head of the Royal Armed Forces, he has the formal right to wage war or conclude a peace agreement, ratify agreements and conclude treaties of international importance. Despite their venerable age, the royal family continues to perform their official duties.

The monarch in England is the Source of justice, therefore he appoints judges, the Source of honor, therefore he appoints (not without the participation of the Prime Minister) peers, awards various orders, knighthoods and many other honors. While leading the Church of England, the monarch also appoints (again on the proposal of the prime minister) archbishops and bishops.

Since 1760, funding for the maintenance of the royal family has been carried out according to the Civil List. That is, income from the Crown Estate (royal inheritance) goes to the UK budget and is then allocated for the needs of the royal family. The monarch formally owns even his own estate, since it cannot be sold, but only transferred to the heir to the throne. The earldom of Lancastershire is formally owned by the current monarch. The income from it goes to replenish the ruler’s “personal wallet” and is spent on needs, according to tradition, not recorded in the Civil List.

Pride of the Nation

The public life of the future queen of England as a monarch began in the early 40s. For the first time, she spoke on the radio to the children of England who suffered from the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1943, she officially appeared in public, meeting with the Guards Grenadiers. Later, Elizabeth was included in the list of five people who were allowed to act as monarch in the event of anything happening to her father. And per year Great Victory The future royal person acquired the military rank of lieutenant and a working specialty - a mechanic-driver of a Red Cross vehicle.

As Head of the Nation, Queen Elizabeth II performs an important cultural and social significance, providing national identity, symbolizing the unity and pride of the nation. It gives UK residents a sense of stability and confidence in the future. The ruler of England constantly visits various parts of the United Kingdom. The presence of the Queen is mandatory at ceremonies, dedicated to the Day In memory of those who died in wars and at major sporting events.

Many people remember the opening of the Olympic Games in London in 2012, when the Queen appeared in a video with James Bond. She also opened the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics in Canada as Canada's head of state. Thousands of congratulatory messages are sent out by the royal office to citizens, they are addressed to those celebrating their centenary and wedding anniversaries (60 years). Every year on Christmas Day, Queen Elizabeth II addresses her subjects with a speech.

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The Queen does not have a passport. A British passport is issued on behalf of Her Majesty, but she cannot issue one to herself. All other members of the royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, have British passports.

Queen Elizabeth II is the only person in the country who is allowed to drive a car without a driver's license and registration number.

Other official and unofficial titles of the queen: "kotuku" - "white heron" (in the Maori language), "Mrs. Kwin" (in the pidgin language of Papua New Guinea). On the Isle of Man she is the Empress of Man, on the Channel Islands she is the Duchess of Normandy, and in the Duchy of Lancaster she is the Duchess of Lancaster.

Do you know how many thrones Queen Elizabeth II has? There are 9 of them in total. One is located in the House of Lords, 2 are in Westminster Abbey and 6 more are located in Buckingham Palace.

The Queen should remain above political battles, not publicly expressing her political views and communicating with all prime ministers of the state in the most correct manner. This also applies to members of the royal family, so their political views always remain unknown.

Queen Elizabeth II is the patron of more than 620 charities.

Since William the Conqueror, Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's 40th monarch.

The British Queen owned more than 30 Corgi dogs. She received her first dog of this breed, named Susan, as a gift for her 18th birthday. All other pets are descendants of the beloved Susan. The Queen unwittingly became the creator of a new breed of dog - the Dorgi, which was the result of mixing her Corgis with Princess Margaret's Dachshund.

In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II sent her first email, and in 1997, the first official royal website was created.

Queen Elizabeth II is also a large employer: about 1,200 people (from kitchen workers to private secretaries) work in royal residences.

The Queen of England received more than 3 million letters throughout her reign.

At the moment, Queen Elizabeth II continues to be one of the main symbols of England and the whole of Great Britain. Having been in power for more than 65 years, she reliably strengthened the authority of the British monarchy, and also became a real role model and a source of pride for millions of British people.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary). Born 21 April 1926 in London. Queen of Great Britain since 1952.

She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of twenty-five, following the death of her father, King George VI. Is among all monarchs in British history.

The oldest British (English) monarch in history.

She also ranks second in the world for the longest tenure as head of state among all current heads of state (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is the oldest female sitting head of state in the world, and the oldest sitting head of state in Europe.

He is the oldest sitting monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Comes from the Windsor dynasty.

She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of fifteen independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica.

He is also the head of the Church of England and Supreme Commander Armed forces Great Britain.

Queen of Great Britain

Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her grandparents: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); on the mother's side - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1862-1938).

Princess Elizabeth's christening took place on May 25 in the chapel at Buckingham Palace, which was later destroyed during the war.

In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.

She received a good education at home, mainly of a humanitarian nature - she studied the history of the constitution, jurisprudence, religious studies, art history, and also (virtually independently) the French language.

WITH youth I was interested in horses and practiced horse riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.

At birth, Elizabeth became Princess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) and her father. Because Prince Edward was quite young and expected to marry and have children, Elizabeth was not initially considered a viable candidate for the throne.

However, Edward was forced to abdicate eleven months after the death of George V in 1936. Prince Albert (George VI) became king, and 10-year-old Elizabeth became heir to the throne and moved with her parents from Kensington to Buckingham Palace. At the same time, she remained in the role "heir presumptive"(“heir presumptive”), and if George VI had a son, he would inherit the throne.

Second World War began when Elizabeth was 13 years old.

On October 13, 1940, she spoke on the radio for the first time - with an appeal to children affected by the disasters of war.

In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers.

In 1944, she became one of the five "councilors of state" (persons authorized to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity).

In February 1945, Elizaveta joined the “Auxiliary Territorial Service” - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving the military rank of lieutenant. Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last not yet retired participant in the Second World War (the second to last was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).

In 1947, Elizabeth accompanied her parents on a trip to South Africa and, on her 21st birthday, made a solemn announcement on the radio to dedicate her life to the service of the British Empire.

King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who was on holiday in Kenya at the time with her husband, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.

Coronation of Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II's full title in Great Britain is: "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other kingdoms and territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".

After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth states, British colonies and other countries of the world.

Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

In 1957, after the resignation of Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, due to the lack of clear rules for choosing a leader in the Conservative Party, Elizabeth II had to appoint a new head of government from among the Conservatives. After consultations with prominent party members and ex-Prime Minister Churchill, 63-year-old Harold Macmillan was appointed head of government.

In the same year, Elizabeth made her first visits to the United States and Canada as Queen of Canada. She also spoke for the first time at a session of the UN General Assembly. She was present at the opening of the session of the Canadian Parliament (for the first time in history with the participation of the British monarch). She continued her travels in 1961, when she made visits to Cyprus, the Vatican, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran, and Ghana.

In 1963, after the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan, on his advice, Elizabeth appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister.

In 1976, Elizabeth II inaugurated (as Queen of Canada) the XXI Olympic Games in Montreal.

1977 was an important year for the Queen - the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth II's tenure on the British throne was celebrated, in honor of which many ceremonial enterprises were held in the Commonwealth countries.

Late 1970s - early 1980s a number of assassination attempts were made against the royal family. In particular, in 1979, the Provisional Irish Republican Army terrorists assassinated the uncle of Prince Philip (the Queen’s husband), an influential statesman and military leader Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Elizabeth II herself during a military parade in honor of the queen’s “official birthday.”

In 1981, the wedding of Elizabeth II's son Prince Charles took place, which would later become a big problem for the royal family.

At this time in 1982, as a result of changes to the Canadian Constitution, the British Parliament lost any role in Canadian affairs, but the British Queen still remained the head of state of Canada. In the same year, the first visit of Pope John Paul II to Great Britain in the last 450 years took place (the Queen, who is the head of the Anglican Church, received him personally).

In 1991, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the US Congress.

1992 was a “terrible year,” according to Elizabeth II herself. Two of the Queen's four children - Prince Andrew and Princess Anne - divorced their spouses, Prince Charles separated from Princess Diana, Windsor Castle was badly damaged by fire, the Queen was required to pay income tax, and funding for the royal household was significantly reduced.

In 1996, at the insistence of the Queen, an official divorce was signed between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

A year later, in 1997, Princess Diana died tragically in a car accident in Paris, which shocked not only the royal family, but also millions of ordinary Britons. For her restraint and lack of any reaction to the death of her former daughter-in-law, the queen immediately received criticism.

In 2002, ceremonial events were held in honor of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the British throne (Golden Jubilee). But in the same year, the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and the queen mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.

In 2008, for the first time in history, the Anglican Church, of which Elizabeth is the head, held a service on Maundy Thursday, which traditionally involves the reigning monarch, outside of England or Wales - in St. Patrick's in Armagh in Northern Ireland.

In 2010, she spoke for the second time at a meeting of the UN General Assembly. Introducing the Queen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called her "the saving anchor of our era."

In 2011, the first ever state visit of a British monarch to independent Ireland took place. In the same year, the wedding of Prince William (grandson of Elizabeth II) and Catherine Middleton took place.

In 2012, the XXX Olympic Games were held in London, inaugurated by Elizabeth II, and a new law was approved changing the order of succession to the throne, according to which male heirs lose priority over women.

In 2012, the 60th (“diamond”) anniversary of Elizabeth II’s tenure on the throne was solemnly celebrated in Great Britain and other countries. On June 3, a solemn water parade of more than a thousand ships and boats took place on the Thames. It is believed that this is the most grandiose river procession in history. On June 4, 2012, a concert took place on the square in front of Buckingham Palace with the participation of such stars of British and world music as Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Grace Jones, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones and others. The organizer of the evening was Take That lead singer Gary Barlow.

In 2013, Elizabeth II, for the first time in 40 years, refused to go to the summit of the heads of the British Commonwealth countries, held in Sri Lanka. Britain was represented at the summit by Prince Charles, indicating the gradual transfer of Elizabeth's powers to her son.

I started gardening in 2009.

In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.

Elizabeth II's height: 163 centimeters

Personal life of Elizabeth II:

In 1947, at the age of 21, she married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), a British naval officer, member of the Greek (son of the Greek Prince Andrew) and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

They met in 1934, and fell in love, it is believed, after Elizabeth visited the Naval College at Dartmouth in 1939, where Philip studied.

Having become the princess's husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.

A year after the wedding - in 1948 - Elizabeth and Philip had their eldest son. And on August 15, 1950 - daughter, Princess Anne.

Elizabeth II and Philip Mountbatten

In 1960, the Queen gave birth to her second son, Prince Andrew. In 1964, she gave birth to her third son, Prince Edward.

Children of Elizabeth II:

Born November 14, 1948. On 29 July 1981 he married Lady Diana Spencer. On August 28, 1996, the couple filed for divorce. They had two sons: the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Wales.

Prince William, married to , has two children: Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Princess Anne, “Princess Royal” - born August 15, 1950. She was married to Mark Phillips from November 14, 1973 to April 28, 1992 (divorced). The couple had two children: Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York- born February 19, 1960. He was married to Sarah Ferguson from July 23, 1986 to May 30, 1996 (divorced). The couple had two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie (Eugenia) of York.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex- born March 10, 1964. Married to Sophie Rhys-Jones (wedding on June 19, 1999). The couple have two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

The role of Elizabeth II in political and public life Great Britain:

In accordance with the British tradition of parliamentary monarchy, Elizabeth II performs mainly representative functions, having virtually no influence on the governance of the country. However, during her reign she successfully maintained the authority of the British monarchy. Her duties include visiting various countries on diplomatic visits, receiving ambassadors, meeting with high-ranking government officials (especially the Prime Minister), reading annual messages to parliament, presenting awards, knighting, etc.

The Queen also looks through the main British newspapers every day and, with the help of servants, responds to some letters that are sent to her in huge quantities (200-300 pieces daily).

Throughout her time on the throne, the Queen maintained correct relations with all prime ministers. At the same time, she always remained faithful to the tradition of English kings of modern times - to remain above political battles. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth II should not publicly express her political likes or dislikes. She has always followed this rule, acting non-publicly - therefore her political views remain unknown.

Three times during her reign, the Queen had constitutional problems with the formation of the British government.

In 1957 and 1963, in the absence of a clear mechanism for electing a leader in the Conservative Party, it was the Queen who had to decide who to entrust the formation of the government after the resignations of Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.

In 1957, Anthony Eden refused to advise the Queen on who to appoint as his successor, and she sought advice from, as the only living Conservative Prime Minister at the time (following the precedent that, after the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law in 1923, King George V was consulted with Lord Salisbury's father and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour).

In 1963, Harold Macmillan himself advised the appointment of Alec Douglas-Home as his successor. And in 1974, after the resignation of Edward Heath as a result of an unclear election outcome, Elizabeth II appointed opposition leader Harold Wilson as prime minister.

In all these cases, the Queen acted according to the British constitutional tradition that she should not make any important decisions without the advice of her ministers and privy councilors.

In addition, British prime ministers meet with the Queen every week. The Queen is more knowledgeable on most matters than she appears at first glance. In addition, the Queen has regular meetings with other Commonwealth ministers and premiers when they are visiting the UK. Also, during her stay in Scotland, she meets with the First Minister of Scotland. The Ministry and British diplomatic missions send her regular reports.

Although it is customary that the Queen does not interfere in politics, due to the fact that during her long reign she had the opportunity to work with many prime ministers and leaders of other countries, her advice is always taken seriously. In her memoirs she wrote about her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth: "Anyone who thinks that they [meetings] are a mere formality or a social convention is deeply mistaken. In fact, they take place in a calm business atmosphere, and Her Majesty always demonstrates her ability to cover a wide range of issues and her wide experience.".

Elizabeth II is actively involved in charity and social activities. The Queen of Britain is a trustee of more than 600 different public and charitable organizations.

In addition to her duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives). For example, she can dissolve parliament, reject a candidate for prime minister (who seems unsuitable to her), and so on.

Financial costs for the queen:

Thus, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in the 2008-2009 financial year, each Briton spent 1 dollar 14 cents on the maintenance of the monarchy, which amounted to a total of $68.5 million.

In 2010-2011, due to the government's new economic program, the Queen was forced to reduce her spending to $51.7 million.

Starting in 2012, Elizabeth’s income began to grow again (at an approximate rate of 5% per year).

Such figures cause dissatisfaction among the republican-minded part of the British population, which considers it necessary to cut them.

States whose head was or is Elizabeth II:

Upon her accession to the throne in 1952, Elizabeth became queen of seven states: Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon.

During her reign, some of these countries became republics. At the same time, as a result of the decolonization process, numerous British colonies gained independence. In some of them, the Queen of Great Britain retained the status of head of state, in others - not.

Abolition of the monarchy in the original dominions of Elizabeth II:

Pakistan - in 1956 (formerly Dominion of Pakistan)
South Africa - in 1961 (formerly South Africa)
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - in 1972 (former Dominion of Ceylon).

Newly independent states that retained the monarchy:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Grenada
Papua New Guinea
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Solomon islands
Tuvalu
Jamaica

Newly independent states that abandoned the monarchy:

Guyana
Gambia
Ghana
Kenya
Mauritius
Malawi
Malta
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Tanganyika
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Fiji

How old is the English queen who reigns? See what "Elizabeth II" is in other dictionaries

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Formal government

Pride of the Nation

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