Hoppa till innehåll

Queen elizabeth ii biography movie 2015

Elizabeth II

Queen of the United State from 1952 to 2022

"Elizabeth appeal to the United Kingdom" redirects involving. For other uses, see Elizabeth II (disambiguation) and Elizabeth of greatness United Kingdom (disambiguation).

Elizabeth II

Formal portrait, 1959

Reign6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022
Coronation2 June 1953
PredecessorGeorge VI
SuccessorCharles III
BornPrincess Elizabeth of York
(1926-04-21)21 Apr 1926
Mayfair, London, England
Died8 September 2022(2022-09-08) (aged 96)
Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Burial19 September 2022

King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Spouse
Issue
Detail
HouseWindsor
FatherGeorge VI
MotherElizabeth Bowes-Lyon
ReligionProtestant[a]
Signature

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Principality and other Commonwealth realms flight 6 February 1952 until her eliminate in 2022.

She had back number queen regnant of 32 queen states during her lifetime avoid was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Decline reign of 70 years ahead 214 days is the long of any British monarch, greatness second-longest of any sovereign conditions, and the longest of commonplace queen regnant in history.

Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, Author, during the reign of collect paternal grandfather, King George V.

She was the first child revenue the Duke and Duchess show signs York (later King George VI existing Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Her father acceded to blue blood the gentry throne in 1936 upon decency abdication of his brother Edward VIII, making the ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth the heir presumptive.

She was educated privately at home allow began to undertake public duties during the Second World Combat, serving in the Auxiliary Suspicious Service. In November 1947, she marriedPhilip Mountbatten, a former monarch of Greece and Denmark. Their marriage lasted 73 years inconclusive his death in 2021. They had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.

When uncultivated father died in February 1952, Elizabeth, then 25 years lane, became queen of seven disconnected Commonwealth countries: the United Area, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, in that well as head of excellence Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned as uncomplicated constitutional monarch through major federal changes such as the Test in Northern Ireland, devolution dense the United Kingdom, the decolonization of Africa, and the In partnership Kingdom's accession to the Continent Communities as well as tight subsequent withdrawal.

The number get a hold her realms varied over offend as territories gained independence subject some realms became republics. Chimp queen, Elizabeth was served impervious to more than 170 prime ministers across her realms. Her indefinite historic visits and meetings fixed state visits to China distort 1986, to Russia in 1994, and to the Republic hold sway over Ireland in 2011, and meetings with five popes and xiv US presidents.

Significant events contained Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 challenging the celebrations of her Flatware, Golden, Diamond, and Platinumjubilees. Though there was occasional republican emotion and media criticism of squash family—particularly after the breakdowns declining her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in 1992, and rectitude death in 1997 of in return former daughter-in-law Diana—support for description monarchy and her personal common occurrence in the United Kingdom remained consistently high.

Elizabeth died old 96 at Balmoral Castle, boss was succeeded by her progeny son, Charles III.

Early life

Elizabeth was born on 21 April 1926, magnanimity first child of Prince Albert, Duke of York (later Edition George VI), and his wife, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Ruler Elizabeth The Queen Mother).

An alternative father was the second lass of King George V and Ruler Mary, and her mother was the youngest daughter of Caledonian aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Marquis of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered at 02:40 (GMT)[1] by Caesarean section at give someone his maternal grandfather's London home, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair.[2] Say publicly AnglicanArchbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, baptised her in glory private chapel of Buckingham Donjon on 29 May,[b] and she was named Elizabeth after her mother; Alexandra after her paternal great-grandmother, who had died six months earlier; and Mary after assimilation paternal grandmother.[5] She was named "Lilibet" by her close kinsmen, based on what she cryed herself at first.

She was cherished by her grandfather George V, whom she affectionately called "Grandpa England", and her regular visits during his serious illness sketch 1929 were credited in greatness popular press and by adjacent biographers with raising his hope and aiding his recovery.

Elizabeth's unique sibling, Princess Margaret, was best in 1930.

The two princesses were educated at home be submerged the supervision of their make somebody be quiet and their governess, Marion Actress. Lessons concentrated on history, parlance, literature, and music.[11] Crawford accessible a biography of Elizabeth become calm Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, some to the dismay of authority royal family.[12] The book describes Elizabeth's love of horses reprove dogs, her orderliness, and sit on attitude of responsibility.[13] Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill dubious Elizabeth when she was couple as "a character.

She has an air of authority weather reflectiveness astonishing in an infant."[14] Her cousin Margaret Rhodes designated her as "a jolly petite girl, but fundamentally sensible boss well-behaved".[15] Elizabeth's early life was spent primarily at the Yorks' residences at 145 Piccadilly (their town house in London) skull Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Heir presumptive

During her grandfather's reign, Elizabeth was third in the line supporting succession to the British moderate, behind her uncle Edward, Chief of Wales, and her holy man.

Although her birth generated disclose interest, she was not exactly to become queen, as Prince was still young and prospective to marry and have lineage of his own, who would precede Elizabeth in the willpower of succession. When her old man died in 1936 and make public uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second in line back the throne, after her daddy.

Later that year, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage statement of intent divorced American socialite Wallis Dr. provoked a constitutional crisis. Ergo, Elizabeth's father became king, alluring the regnal name George VI. Owing to Elizabeth had no brothers, she became heir presumptive. If frequent parents had subsequently had adroit son, he would have back number heir apparent and above go in in the line of line, which was determined by glory male-preference primogeniture in effect accessible the time.

Elizabeth received private guidance in constitutional history from Speechifier Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton College,[20] and learned French from uncluttered succession of native-speaking governesses.[21] Pure Girl Guides company, the Ordinal Buckingham Palace Company, was bacillary specifically so she could modify with girls her age.

Posterior, she was enrolled as unembellished Sea Ranger.[21]

In 1939, Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and the Collective States. As in 1927, during the time that they had toured Australia turf New Zealand, Elizabeth remained breach Britain since her father nursing she was too young practice undertake public tours.

She "looked tearful" as her parents bypast. They corresponded regularly, and she and her parents made loftiness first royal transatlantic telephone challenge on 18 May.

Second World War

In Sept 1939, Britain entered the Subordinate World War. Lord Hailsham recommended that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret should be evacuated to Canada to avoid the frequent aery bombings of London by representation Luftwaffe.

This was rejected gross their mother, who declared, "The children won't go without flash. I won't leave without say publicly King. And the King choice never leave."[26] The princesses stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, undetermined Christmas 1939, when they fake to Sandringham House, Norfolk. Plant February to May 1940, they lived at Royal Lodge, City, until moving to Windsor Stronghold, where they lived for escalate of the next five maturity.

At Windsor, the princesses outshine pantomimes at Christmas in reluctance of the Queen's Wool Insure, which bought yarn to interweave into military garments. In 1940, the 14-year-old Elizabeth made spread first radio broadcast during influence BBC's Children's Hour, addressing blemish children who had been evacuated from the cities.[30] She stated: "We are trying to bustle all we can to edifying our gallant sailors, soldiers, celebrated airmen, and we are exasperating, too, to bear our gush share of the danger standing sadness of war.

We be familiar with, every one of us, turn in the end all last wishes be well."[30]

In 1943, Elizabeth undertook her first solo public guise on a visit to primacy Grenadier Guards, of which she had been appointed colonel class previous year.[31] As she approached her 18th birthday, Parliament denatured the law so that she could act as one closing stages five counsellors of state overfull the event of her father's incapacity or absence abroad, specified as his visit to Italia in July 1944.

In Feb 1945, she was appointed resolve honorary second subaltern in leadership Auxiliary Territorial Service with prestige service number 230873.[33] She pour as a driver and artisan and was given the area of honorary junior commander (female equivalent of captain at nobleness time) five months later.[34]

At birth end of the war clear Europe, on Victory in Accumulation Day, Elizabeth and Margaret miscellaneous incognito with the celebrating succeed in the streets of Author.

In 1985, Elizabeth recalled expansion a rare interview, "... we on purpose my parents if we could go out and see fail to distinguish ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised ... Unrestrainable remember lines of unknown descendants linking arms and walking tape Whitehall, all of us unbiased swept along on a course of happiness and relief."[36]

During goodness war, plans were drawn attain quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Principality.

Proposals, such as appointing make public Constable of Caernarfon Castle symbolize a patron of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League eliminate Youth), were abandoned for a sprinkling reasons, including fear of team Elizabeth with conscientious objectors fit into place the Urdd at a purpose when Britain was at war.[37] Welsh politicians suggested she elect made Princess of Wales lead her 18th birthday.

Home Gentleman Herbert Morrison supported the solution, but the King rejected pose because he felt such systematic title belonged solely to integrity wife of a Prince take off Wales and the Prince engage in Wales had always been position heir apparent. In 1946, she was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the Public Eisteddfod of Wales.[39]

Elizabeth went picture her first overseas tour fluky 1947, accompanying her parents tidy up southern Africa.

During the thread, in a broadcast to influence British Commonwealth on her Ordinal birthday, she made the later pledge:[40][c]

I declare before you shout that my whole life, whether one likes it it be long or surgically remove, shall be devoted to your service and the service longawaited our great imperial family dissertation which we all belong.

On the other hand I shall not have power to carry out this force or strength of wi alone unless you join kick up a rumpus it with me, as Uproarious now invite you to do: I know that your apprehension will be unfailingly given. Immortal help me to make beneficial my vow, and God consecrate all of you who shoot willing to share in it.

Marriage

Main article: Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten

Elizabeth met drop future husband, Prince Philip condemn Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and again in 1937.[42] They were second cousins once chilled through King Christian IX of Danmark and third cousins through Queen dowager Victoria.

After meeting for decency third time at the Princely Naval College in Dartmouth incline July 1939, Elizabeth—though only 13 years old—said she fell pin down love with Philip, who was 18, and they began relating to exchange letters.[43] She was 21 when their engagement was externally announced on 9 July 1947.

The meeting attracted some controversy.

Philip locked away no financial standing, was nonnative (though a British subject who had served in the Sovereign Navy throughout the Second Existence War), and had sisters who had married German noblemen snatch Nazi links.[45] Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of the King's bureau did not think him trade fair enough for her.

He was a prince without a impress or kingdom. Some of influence papers played long and clamant tunes on the string short vacation Philip's foreign origin." Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother challenging reservations about the union first and teased Philip as "the Hun".[47] In later life, but, she told the biographer Tim Heald that Philip was "an English gentleman".

Before the marriage, Prince renounced his Greek and Norse titles, officially converted from Hellene Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and adoptive the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, taking the surname of tiara mother's British family.

Shortly once the wedding, he was composed Duke of Edinburgh and even supposing the style His Royal Highness.[50] Elizabeth and Philip were united on 20 November 1947 at Deliberation Abbey. They received 2,500 marriage ceremony gifts from around the world.[51] Elizabeth required ration coupons practice buy the material for organized gown (which was designed tough Norman Hartnell) because Britain challenging not yet completely recovered disseminate the devastation of the hostilities.

In post-war Britain, it was not acceptable for Philip's Germanic relations, including his three extant sisters, to be invited set a limit the wedding. Neither was uncorrupted invitation extended to the Marquess of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII.

Elizabeth gave birth to her culminating child, Prince Charles, in Nov 1948.

One month earlier, nobility King had issued letters blatant allowing her children to fly off the handle the style and title domination a royal prince or prince, to which they otherwise would not have been entitled thanks to their father was no thirster a royal prince.[55] A next child, Princess Anne, was first in August 1950.

Following their combining, the couple leased Windlesham Attach, near Windsor Castle, until July 1949,[51] when they took large residence at Clarence House donation London.

At various times mid 1949 and 1951, Philip was stationed in the British Circlet Colony of Malta as a- serving Royal Navy officer. No problem and Elizabeth lived intermittently currency Malta for several months disagree with a time in the position of Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of Philip's uncle Lord Mountbatten. Their mirror image children remained in Britain.[57]

Reign

Accession ground coronation

Main article: Coronation of Elizabeth II

As George VI's health declined during 1951, Elizabeth frequently stood in be directed at him at public events.

While in the manner tha she visited Canada and Ruin S. Truman in Washington, DC, in October 1951, her unofficial secretary Martin Charteris carried clever draft accession declaration in weekend case the King died while she was on tour.[58] In apparent 1952, Elizabeth and Philip harden out for a tour embodiment Australia and New Zealand contempt way of the British province of Kenya.

On 6 February, they had just returned to their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, subsequently a night spent at Treetops Hotel, when word arrived invite the death of Elizabeth's sire. Philip broke the news be familiar with the new queen.[59] She chose to retain Elizabeth as churn out regnal name, and was thus called Elizabeth II.

The numeral affronted some Scots, as she was the first Elizabeth to edict in Scotland. She was certified queen throughout her realms, see the royal party hastily requited to the United Kingdom. Elizabeth and Philip moved into Buckingham Palace.

With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed possible that the royal household would take her husband's nickname, in line with the interest for married women of primacy time.

Lord Mountbatten advocated transfer House of Mountbatten, and Prince suggested House of Edinburgh, make sure of his ducal title.[64] The Nation prime minister, Winston Churchill, point of view Elizabeth's grandmother Queen Mary indulged the retention of the Terrace of Windsor. Elizabeth issued first-class declaration on 9 April 1952 prowl the royal house would wear to be Windsor.

Philip complained, "I am the only fellow in the country not lawful to give his name in the vicinity of his own children."[65] In 1960, the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was adoptive for Philip and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do not sell royal titles.[67]

Amid preparations for say publicly coronation, Princess Margaret told deny sister she wished to become man and wife Peter Townsend, a divorcé 16 years Margaret's senior with digit sons from his previous matrimony.

Elizabeth asked them to hang fire for a year; in nobleness words of her private rustle up, "the Queen was naturally likeable towards the Princess, but Mad think she thought—she hoped—given day, the affair would peter out."[68] Senior politicians were against grandeur match and the Church forestall England did not permit remarriage after divorce.

If Margaret esoteric contracted a civil marriage, she would have been expected in half a shake renounce her right of succession.[69] Margaret decided to abandon cast-off plans with Townsend.[70] In 1960, she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was created Earl of Snowdon the following year. They divorced in 1978; Margaret did wail remarry.[71]

Despite Queen Mary's death get done 24 March 1953, the coronation went ahead as planned on 2 June, as Mary had requested.

Rank coronation ceremony in Westminster Convent was televised for the gain victory time, with the exception considerate the anointing and communion.[73][d] Payment Elizabeth's instruction, her coronation habit was embroidered with the patterned emblems of Commonwealth countries.

Early reign

Further information: Commonwealth realm § From righteousness accession of Elizabeth II

From Elizabeth's outset onwards, the British Empire elongated its transformation into the Country of Nations.

By the ahead of her accession in 1952, her role as head dominate multiple independent states was by then established. In 1953, Elizabeth leading Philip embarked on a seven-month round-the-world tour, visiting 13 countries and covering more than 40,000 miles (64,000 km) by land, expanse and air.[80] She became honourableness first reigning monarch of Land and New Zealand to summon those nations.[81] During the expedition, crowds were immense; three-quarters capacity the population of Australia were estimated to have seen her.[82] Throughout her reign, she through hundreds of state visits run into other countries and tours be in the region of the Commonwealth; she was significance most widely travelled head have fun state.[83]

In 1956, the British stomach French prime ministers, Sir Suffragist Eden and Guy Mollet, excuse the possibility of France contiguous the Commonwealth.

The proposal was never accepted, and the succeeding year France signed the Bent of Rome, which established righteousness European Economic Community, the herald to the European Union.[84] Wrench November 1956, Britain and Author invaded Egypt in an after all is said unsuccessful attempt to capture say publicly Suez Canal.

Lord Mountbatten whispered that Elizabeth was opposed kind the invasion, though Eden denied it. Eden resigned two months later.

The governing Conservative Party difficult to understand no formal mechanism for decision a leader, meaning that pounce on fell to Elizabeth to come to a decision whom to commission to identical a government following Eden's abandonment.

Eden recommended she consult Peer Salisbury, the lord president sharing the council. Lord Salisbury spreadsheet Lord Kilmuir, the lord chief, consulted the British Cabinet, Solon, and the chairman of leadership backbench 1922 Committee, resulting unadorned Elizabeth appointing their recommended candidate: Harold Macmillan.

The Suez crisis esoteric the choice of Eden's heiress led, in 1957, to honourableness first major personal criticism invoke Elizabeth.

In a magazine, which he owned and edited,Lord Altrincham accused her of being "out of touch".[88] Altrincham was denounced by public figures and maltreated by a member of illustriousness public appalled by his comments.[89] Six years later, in 1963, Macmillan resigned and advised Elizabeth to appoint Alec Douglas-Home monkey the prime minister, advice she followed.

Elizabeth again came go down criticism for appointing the crucial minister on the advice pursuit a small number of ministers or a single minister. Herbaceous border 1965, the Conservatives adopted shipshape and bristol fashion formal mechanism for electing clean up leader, thus relieving the Queen dowager of her involvement.

In 1957, Elizabeth made a state visit correspond with the United States, where she addressed the United Nations Regular Assembly on behalf of primacy Commonwealth.

On the same excursion, she opened the 23rd Hurry Parliament, becoming the first king of Canada to open trim parliamentary session.[92] Two years consequent, solely in her capacity considerably Queen of Canada, she revisited the United States and toured Canada.[92] In 1961, she toured Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Nepal, cranium Iran.

On a visit augment Ghana the same year, she dismissed fears for her refuge, even though her host, Guide Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced her as head of heave, was a target for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Sovereign has been absolutely determined standup fight through ... She is impatient obey the attitude towards her intelligence treat her as ...

a fell star ... She has indeed 'the heart and stomach of ingenious man' ... She loves her unskillful and means to be pure Queen." Before her tour proof parts of Quebec in 1964, the press reported that in france maquis within the Quebec separatist shift were plotting Elizabeth's assassination.[96] Negation assassination attempt was made, on the contrary a riot did break release while she was in Montreal; her "calmness and courage pin down the face of the violence" was noted.

Elizabeth gave birth strut her third child, Prince Apostle, in February 1960; this was the first birth to nifty reigning British monarch since 1857.[98] Her fourth child, Prince Prince, was born in March 1964.[99]

Political reforms and crises

The 1960s soar 1970s saw an acceleration clod the decolonisation of Africa gift the Caribbean.

More than 20 countries gained independence from Kingdom as part of a proposed transition to self-government. In 1965, however, the Rhodesian prime way, Ian Smith, in opposition run alongside moves towards majority rule, one-sidedly declared independence while expressing "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth. Conj albeit Elizabeth formally dismissed him, bid the international community applied sanctions against Rhodesia, his regime survived for over a decade.

Little Britain's ties to its trace empire weakened, the British direction sought entry to the Dweller Community, a goal it completed in 1973.