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, gives valuable guidance 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 ascension to the throne. Her father, George VI, began to rule after the unexpected renunciation of power by his elder brother, King Edward, thus Elizabeth came closer to power.

Queen Elizabeth II with mother Elizabeth I and father George VI

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

2. Elizabeth was personally trained by her father, King George VI. Her teachers also included the Vice-Chancellor of Eton and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

From an early age, Lilibet, as she was called at home, was a passionate and active person. She really enjoyed learning languages. Thanks to foreign governesses, she mastered French in childhood. At the age of 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 Thoroughbreds and often comes to see equestrian competitions, as well as the races in which her horses participate.

Elizabeth II has been sitting on a horse almost from birth
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip at the Hippodrome Also, Elizabeth II 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 over 30 Corgis, each of which is a descendant of her first child, Suzy. The dogs live with the queen in the castle, travel in limousines and live in hotels.

Queen Elizabeth II with a 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, the daughter's union with the "impoverished prince" was not welcomed by King George VI of Great Britain. According to rumors, Elizabeth herself achieved the location of Philip, whom she had been in love with from an early age, and then made him a marriage proposal.

Elizabeth and Philip at their engagement, 1947

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

Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

After marrying 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 be your vassal in sickness and in health, serving you faithfully, with honor and respect, until 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 Armed Forces of England. She herself holds 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 she still does not trust them to make decisions.

Queen Elizabeth II with her first child, Prince Charles

7. Despite the steel character and talent for government, the queen does not forget about femininity. The bright colors of dresses and suits, which she prefers from a very young age, betray her creative and mischievous nature.

A recognizable style, the main elements of which are a monochrome suit of saturated 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 cartoon from you. Queen Elizabeth II inspired the work of both famous creators and animators.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1986

8. Order surrounds the Queen in everything, so it is not surprising that in the dressing room of Elizabeth II, all things have a serial number. It also indicates the place and time at which the outfit was worn. Given the Queen's busy work schedule, this is the only way she can avoid "fashion repetition".

9. The working day of the queen is scheduled by the minute. At 7:30 a.m., a tray is brought to her bed containing a silver teapot, a jug of water and milk. At 10:00, she begins her duties and finishes work around 23:00. In the morning, the first thing she does is look through the daily British newspapers and the racing magazine The Racing Post.

Elizabeth II, 2013

After that, out of hundreds of letters from subjects who came in a day, she selects a few that she reads, and then dictates to her assistant the answers to each of them. In the first half of the day, the queen appoints several meetings - with ambassadors, bishops, 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. At a time when she is not busy with business, she likes to be at home with loved ones.

Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, three sons and a daughter

She spends several weeks in August and September alone. These days, the doors of Buckingham Palace open for everyone, and the Queen leaves to rest in the Scottish castle of Balmoral. There she likes to read novels, do crossword puzzles and take a bath. By the way, a funny habit is connected with Elizabeth's last pastime - the queen never takes a bath without her rubber duck.

Another of the Queen's favorite pastimes on weekends is "fussing" with the dogs. Rumor has it that Elizabeth loves to comb their hair on their own and even look for fleas from them.

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

Queen Elizabeth II driving12 .During travels, the weight of the Queen's luggage can reach several tons. The record figure was recorded during the trip of Elizabeth II to a meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1953 - the queen was carrying 12 tons of clothes with her. Considering the number of her dogs that travel with her everywhere, there are also several tons of grooming items for them.

Elizabeth II

13. Elizabeth II has a number of secret signs. For example, if during official events she puts her handbag on the table, then it becomes clear to her attendants that the queen wants to leave the meeting after 5 minutes. When she begins to twist the ring on her finger or shift the bag from one hand to the other, this means that she is bored with communication with the interlocutor.

Queen Elizabeth II
14. The most difficult times in the life of the queen are 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, with Princess Diana. And in 2002, the queen lost two beloved people at once - her sister Margaret and 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 evolved over the years, the reigning monarch of Great Britain celebrates his birthday twice: directly on the day of the celebration with relatives and friends, and on one of the weekends in June. It is in the summer that magnificent festivities take place, people take to the streets to celebrate another year of the life and reign of the most popular royal person in the world.

When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday, she became not only the oldest monarch in the world, but also the longest-reigning head of state in the history of Great Britain. She comes from the Windsor dynasty and, in addition to her native island, is recognized as a queen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and eight other small countries. During the reign of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the final disintegration of the British Empire and the exit of the colonies from under English rule came. Despite the rather impressive criticism, Elizabeth II is quite popular in her native country.

She was born on April 21, 1926 in the family, the future king, and. The girl received the name in honor of her mother, but the full name of the princess is additionally made up of the names of her grandmother and great-grandmother. The sign of the zodiac is Taurus. Elizabeth II had a sister - who was born four years after her, but died at the 72nd year of her life.

The first title in the biography of Elizabeth II appeared immediately after birth: the girl was named the Princess of York. At that time, on the way to the throne, her father and uncle Edward VIII stood in front of her, like any boy who theoretically could be born to each of the candidates for the throne. Initially, the uncle became king, who less than a year later lost this title to his brother.

Elizabeth II with her parents moves to a luxurious castle - Buckingham Palace, where she spends her childhood and youth. Elizabeth II studied at home, but received an excellent liberal arts education. She studied art, religion, law and, specifically, the British Constitution at a high level. Elizabeth II is fluent in French and is believed to have learned it on her own.

For the first time, Elizabeth II addressed her future subjects at the age of 13. During World War II, she spoke on the radio and expressed her support for the children who were affected by the bombing. At the age of 16, the girl already appears in public on her own, and a year later she becomes a state adviser and joins the women's self-defense squad. The princess learned to drive an ambulance, was trained as a mechanic and rose to the rank of lieutenant. She is the only head of state who served in real service in that war.

Governing body

On the day of her coming of age, Elizabeth II officially promised the British Empire to devote her life to serving people, although at that time her succession to the crown was still in doubt. After the death of his father, George VI, on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen. It is curious that the coronation of a girl was televised for the first time in history and many believe that this event gave a sharp impetus to the popularity of this media in Britain.

At the time of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, the ruler's possessions were much wider than they are today. Then the empire included South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later abolished British rule. Interestingly, Elizabeth II almost immediately paid a visit to each of the countries, becoming the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

By tradition, Queen Elizabeth II has virtually no influence on the government of the country. The task of a woman is to represent the country at international summits and maintain the authority of the British monarchy. Elizabeth II throughout her entire tenure on the throne maintains correct relations with all prime ministers. And although she is above political fights and does not publicly express her own political opinion, statesmen consider it important to consult with her on many issues. Appreciated the Queen's opinion, which she wrote about in her memoirs.

During the long reign of Great Britain, both praise and sharp criticism were heard against Elizabeth. But both supporters and opponents of the queen emphasize the queen's humanity. An indicative fact is the events of 1986. Elizabeth II sailed on her yacht "Britain" to one of her subordinate countries when she learned about the beginning of the civil war in Yemen. She immediately ordered a change in course and take on board the maximum possible number of ordinary people. Thanks to the direct assistance of the English Queen Elizabeth II, more than a thousand people were evacuated.

In 2015, "Canada's sexiest politician" visited Buckingham Palace. Then the Queen noted that the meeting with the Prime Minister is a unique case, because they saw each other for the last time 40 years ago: Justin was taken to an appointment with Elizabeth II by his father when the boy was 3 years old. At the meeting, the queen said: "It's nice to see you again, but under different circumstances". To which the politician retorted: "The last time we met, you were much taller".

Today, the queen is 152 cm tall and weighs 55 kg.

Personal life

The personal life of Elizabeth II changed immediately after coming of age. The princess married an officer in the British Navy, who after the marriage received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Elizabeth 2 is a descendant of Queen Victoria and the offspring of the Greek and Danish royal dynasties. They met when the future Queen Elizabeth II was eight years old, and a romantic relationship between the lovers began in 1939, when the princess visited the Naval College, where young Philip was then studying.

Wedding of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband had four children:, and Edward. The last two were born after the mother's accession to the British throne. The family tree of the British royal family continues to grow: the children have long acquired their own families and gave the reigning queen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the family of Elizabeth II was and, the first wife of Prince Charles and mother and. One of the strongest waves of criticism swept over Elizabeth II when she reacted with an obvious delay in a car accident.

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite hobbies are breeding purebred dogs and horseback riding. With age, she replaced horses with cars, and even today she drives herself. By the way, the queen does not have a driver's license. Even at an advanced age, Elizabeth II became interested in gardening. She is considered one of the world's most traveled heads of state and has already visited over 130 countries. The personality of Elizabeth II attracts attention and motivates creative people to create works of art. There are many lifetime monuments and sculptures of Elizabeth II. In honor of the queen, bridges and buildings are built, parks and alleys are laid, stamps and coins are issued, a variety of roses is even named after the monarch.

Often Elizabeth II becomes a character in movies. The queen was portrayed on the screen, and a dozen more actresses. And once Queen Elizabeth II herself starred in a promo video for the opening of the London 2012 Olympics. Together with the actor who portrayed, she flies to the Olympic Stadium by helicopter and "jumps" with a parachute. For this role, the 87-year-old Queen of Great Britain was awarded the BAFTA film award as the best performer of the role.

Royals are banned from social media accounts. However, the royal family has a person who monitors their official " Instagram" and " Twitter”, where he uploads photos and records with the permission of the highest authority.

It is known that a whole team is working on the Queen's wardrobe. Experts suggest that Elizabeth's favorite color is blue-blue. It was in clothes of this shade that a woman most often appeared in public. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the color of the eyes of Elizabeth II is blue. Designers have always noted the elegance and refined taste of the monarch.

Despite her age, Elizabeth II prefers to do without makeup and usually only wears lipstick. The woman paints herself.

The queen has a collection of hats. There are more than 5,000 of these headdresses in Elizabeth's arsenal. Moreover, in public, the monarch appeared in each of them.

In 2016, a documentary film about Elizabeth II was released on the occasion of the Queen's 90th birthday. Director John Bridcutt was allowed to look into the personal video chronicle of the royal family.

Elizabeth II now

In January 2017, the subjects were worried about the health of the ruler. Elizabeth II became very ill: the woman was struck down by a cold. For this reason, the queen missed the Christmas and New Year services.

In June, the monarch delivered a speech from the throne in Parliament. Elizabeth II presented the government's program for the next two years.

In September, Queen Elizabeth II said she planned to wait until Russia was ruled by someone other than "Mr. Putin." According to the British monarch, he has lost touch with reality and there is nothing to talk about with him. The woman is sure that there will come a time when the Russians will again look at the British with a breath.

In December, the Queen participated in a hunting trip at the country residence of Sandringham. Sources said that when the dog brought a wounded pheasant to the feet of the monarch, Elizabeth II did not lose her head and finished off the bird with a cane.

In November 2017, it became known that Prince William's brother, Harry, was officially engaged to the actress. The lovers were appointed on May 19, 2018. However, Queen Elizabeth II did not give consent to the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for a long time, and according to the law governing the marriages of royal persons, before the triumph, the monarch must give official written permission to marry. And only a week before the wedding, Buckingham Palace published the consent of the British Queen. The public was sure that Elizabeth would not approve of Harry's union with a former actress who had previously married.

And on May 19, 2018, the whole world watched the royal celebration. 600 guests were invited to the wedding, among whom were both, with his wife and others. During the wedding, the queen did not show joyful emotions and never smiled. After the ceremony, Meghan was given the title of Duchess of Sussex.

Now the British public is waiting for Markle to announce her pregnancy and give Prince Harry an heir. The press periodically reports facts that confirm that the spouses seek to acquire offspring.

In February, the queen rented a plot in the center of Kyiv. The media were tormented by guesses why Elizabeth II needed land in Ukraine. It turned out that the embassies of Canada and Australia, members of the British Commonwealth and recognizing the authority of the British crown, are located on this site.

On June 18, Elizabeth II attended the traditional ceremony of presenting the highest knightly order of Great Britain.

On June 19, an important social event started - the royal races at Ascot. Her Majesty attended this event.

That same month, the Queen's cousin Ivar Mountbatten announced that he was going to marry boyfriend James Coyle. Two years ago, a man made a real commotion in the family when he announced his non-traditional sexual orientation. Until 2011, Ivar was married to a woman named Penelope Thomson. In this marriage, the couple had three children. Ivar's ex-wife knew about her husband's inclinations and supported him. It is Penny who will lead Ivar to the altar. The woman immediately found a common language with Mountbatten's lover. This will be the first same-sex marriage for the royal family.

On July 13, 2018, the Queen is scheduled to meet with the President of the United States. The working visit of the American leader will take place at Windsor Castle. In addition to meeting with Elizabeth, the President plans to spend several hours with the British Prime Minister.

Scandals

A loud scandal happened in the 90s, associated with Prince Charles. As you know, the man married Diana Spencer, who fell in love with the royal family and the British public, but the queen's son loved Camilla Shand all his life. However, the monarchs were against the marriage of their son to a rootless girl, so she also quickly found a gentleman. But meetings with the prince did not stop. Diana knew about her husband's infidelities. William and Harry's mother tried to save the marriage, but it didn't work out. In 1992, the recordings of a telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla were presented to the public. From the words that the lovers said to each other, the royals "withered their ears."

Diana then became furious. As a result, the marriage turned into a war that ended in divorce.

After the tragic death of Princess Diana, there were those who blamed Prince Chalza for what had happened. We went, and this happened not without the participation of Elizabeth II.

They also said that Prince Philip, the queen's husband, cheated on his wife many times. The woman did not comment on such statements.

In 2012, there was a scandal associated with the name of Prince William and. Future parents, and rested in a private villa in France. The couple thought they were alone on the beach, and calmly walked there either in bathing suits or without any clothes at all. At this moment, the paparazzi lens caught the husband and wife.

At one time, the queen's sister, Margaret, "shone" in the center of gossip columns. In her youth, the girl was not allowed to marry for love, and she often began to visit dubious institutions. It was rumored that the closest relative of the ruler was addicted to cocaine. Then she married an unloved man, whom she left after 18 years. In marriage and after, the woman did not give up pleasure walks. As a result, Margaret ended her life unhappy in a wheelchair.

The press wrote that Elizabeth II could help her sister and approve a bill that would allow her to marry her beloved. But this did not happen.

Once the queen was even buried. It happened live on the BBC channel. Then the presenter Danny Kelly announced the death of the monarch. Later, the leadership of the television and radio corporation had to make an official apology to the royal family.

In 2016, there were rumors that the Queen planned to abdicate in favor of Prince William and Kate Middleton, bypassing Prince Charles. But the rumors remained just rumors.

On January 20, 1961, he ascended to the presidency of the United States. Four months later, the man and his wife met with the Queen. The couple were invited to dinner. John came to visit Elizabeth II with a gift: a man handed his photo portrait to the monarch. Historians wonder what the newly-minted US president was trying to demonstrate with such a gesture. Elizabeth was surprised, but accepted the gift.

Jacqueline admitted that she was very worried before meeting with the queen, but she warmly greeted the president's wife and, so that she would calm down, showed the first lady a collection of works of art. Nine months later, Jacqueline Kennedy visited the Queen again, alone. And I was delighted with the visit. Six months later, the woman planned to host Elizabeth II, but when it turned out that the queen was pregnant, the meeting was postponed.

On April 12, 1961, a Soviet pilot-cosmonaut made the first flight into space. As a result, the young man turned into a world celebrity. Yuri Alekseevich was invited by foreign governments and organizations, including Great Britain. As a result, the queen herself wished to talk with Gagarin, calling the man for breakfast. Contrary to protocol, Elizabeth II sat the astronaut next to her and asked questions of interest. Those present noted that the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.

Queen Elizabeth II is the only person in the UK who does not have a passport.

Interestingly, no one except her husband has the right to touch the queen in public. And Elizabeth II never raises her voice and does not give interviews.

The modern Queen of England Elizabeth 2, whose biography is a description of the life of a person who has witnessed various eras, has been on the throne since 1952. Her reign is the longest in British history.

Family and childhood

On April 21, 1926, the future Queen of England, Elizabeth 2, was born. It is difficult to imagine a biography of a member of the ruling dynasty without her pedigree. The girl was the daughter of a duke and his wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The child's father was the son of King George V.

When the monarch died in 1936, the throne passed by inheritance to his eldest son, Edward VIII (Elizabeth's uncle). However, he ruled for only a few months. According to the laws of the state, he had to marry a person equal to him in belonging to an aristocratic family. However, the king preferred to tie the knot with a divorced woman from a non-royal circle - Bessie Simpson. It was the fact that she had already been married twice that angered the government, which suggested that Edward abdicate. He really gave up power, and the throne unexpectedly passed to his younger brother, who took the crown name

This castling made ten-year-old Elizabeth the heir to the world's largest British Empire. If George had had a boy, then the title would have passed to him, but this did not happen. The future Queen Elizabeth 2 in childhood was in the public eye as a representative of a new generation of the ruling Windsor dynasty.

heir to the throne

The early biography of Queen Elizabeth II of England matched her status as Princess of York. She lived with her parents in Kensington. One of her main hobbies since childhood was horseback riding. The queen was faithful to this hobby throughout her youth. At the same time, the girl was taught a full range of sciences. Widespread knowledge was a mandatory attribute for members of the Windsor dynasty, as they personified all the best that the monarchy could give to the state. Particular emphasis in the education of Elizabeth was placed on the humanities: religious studies, jurisprudence and art history. The child showed a remarkable interest in the French language, which was encouraged by teachers.

The biography of Elizabeth 2 took a sharp turn when she became the heiress of her father, the king. Together with her parents, she moved to Buckingham Palace. Three years later, the Second World War began, and a carefree life ended with the first volleys of German guns on the continent.

Great Britain supported Poland and, together with its main ally France, declared war on the Third Reich. Despite the fact that the main political decisions were made by the government and parliament, it became an important symbol of the unity of the nation in the face of the growing Nazi threat. Elizabeth 2 in her childhood faced completely unchildish dangers and impressions that all her peers had to endure.

During World War II

Despite the fact that Hitler did not dare to send ground troops to the British Isles, his aircraft carried out regular bombardments of English cities. Particularly stubborn and frequent raids were in the first years of the war, when the Wehrmacht victoriously occupied almost all of Europe. Elizabeth's father regularly visited the troops. Already in 1940, the heiress first spoke to her compatriots with a public speech addressed to the children of the country.

In such an atmosphere, the future Queen of England, Elizabeth 2, grew up. The biography of the child became an indicative cast of the era. In 1943, she visited the troops for the first time, visiting a grenadier regiment. A few months before the surrender of Germany, Elizabeth joined the army and became a driver of an auxiliary ambulance in the women's self-defense squad. The princess received the rank of lieutenant, and since she is the current monarch today, her military rank remains in force. This means that Elizabeth is the last non-military veteran of World War II in the entire world.

Wedding with Philip

With the advent of peace, the future Queen of England, Elizabeth 2, returned to her standard duties. The biography of the princess in 1947 was marked by her wedding to Philip Mountbatten.

In the first half of the 20th century, all the ruling European dynasties were closely intertwined. Philip was the grandson of the Greek King George I, as well as a member of the Danish royal family and a descendant of the British Queen Victoria. The newlyweds met in childhood in the 30s. After his marriage, Philip received the honorary title of Duke of Edinburgh. Despite the fact that he was born back in 1921, he is still in good health and regularly fulfills his dynastic duties. Interestingly, the queen's husband did not accept the title of prince consort, which was customary for his position, and remained the Duke of Edinburgh.

Philip and Elizabeth had four offspring: Charles, Anna, Andrew, and Edward. All of them today have children and grandchildren, who, in turn, make up the vast royal family of Great Britain. Charles, as the eldest son, became his mother's heir in 1952, when she took the royal throne, and remains so to this day.

Coronation

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne under unusual circumstances. In 1952, she and her husband traveled to Kenya, then a British colony, for a holiday. It was in this exotic country that the heir to the throne received the sad news of the death of her father, George V, who ruled the country for sixteen years.

It took several months to organize the coronation, which would become a symbol of the beginning of the reign of the new monarch. The solemn ceremony was held in its traditional place - Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth 2 became the new queen. When the young 25-year-old ruler ascended the throne, the eyes of the whole world in the literal sense of the word were turned in her direction, because it was then that cameras broadcasting the event were used for the first time at such an event.

First years of government

The British Queen Elizabeth II traveled a lot in her youth. She did not leave this habit from the first days of her reign. With her accession to the throne, the ruler visited the countries that were part of the Commonwealth of British Colonies. In the 50s and 60s, the process of granting independence to these states, located in all parts of the world, began. Most of them were in Africa. In addition, for the first time in history, a British monarch visited Australia and New Zealand. This person turned out to be Queen Elizabeth 2. The fascinating biography of the ruler was superimposed on her unique status, which attracted the attention of the whole world to her person.

The Queen did not forget about internal affairs at home. She met regularly with representatives of Parliament and discussed the agenda. In 1957, the first political crisis broke out in the ruling party in the era of its being on the throne. Then it was the conservatives. Prime Minister Anthony Eden has resigned. Since the party did not have well-established mechanisms for electing its leader, the queen had to take responsibility into her own hands.

In her first steps in power, Elizabeth often consulted with the legendary Winston Churchill. After consultations with a venerable politician, it was decided to propose the candidacy of Harold Macmillan, which was accepted. He became the 65th British Prime Minister from 1957 to 1964.

Relations with the Commonwealth of Nations

Even in her youth, it became clear that the further fate of Queen Elizabeth 2 would be connected only with serving her native country. She became the ruler at a time when in other countries the power of monarchs was already either swept away by revolutions, or became only a decorative appendage.

In the UK, things were different. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were several empires, somewhat similar to its state structure. For example, Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. In all these countries, the monarchical institutions of power were dismantled after bloody wars. Britain avoided this.

However, already after the Second World War it was clear that the imperial consciousness would have to be abandoned. Even under the father of Elizabeth George VI, India gained independence - the pearl of the British crown. Now the young ruler had to consistently abandon the rest of the vestiges of the past imperial era.

The most important tool for realizing this goal was British diplomacy did everything to establish friendly relations with their former colonies, while giving them a platform to talk on an equal footing. There were especially many problems in the African region, where revolutions and civil wars began after the departure of the British authorities.

Traditionally, Elizabeth devoted much of her time to her country's relations with Canada. Until 1982, the British government had a certain weight in making decisions within this country. After the reforms, such a system was left in the past, which was another step towards abandoning the previous British policy of meddling in the affairs of their former colonies. Nevertheless, Elizabeth remains the nominal queen of Canada today. In 1976, she, as a monarch, opened the Olympic Games, held in Montreal. Many years later, she will take part in the same ceremony in London. The opening of the Olympics took place in 2012.

As for the current state of the Commonwealth of Nations, Elizabeth remains the head of this system even today, although all organizational issues can be resolved without her participation, while the Queen is a symbolic figure.

The tragedy of the royal family

Over the years, the personal life of the royal family, of which Elizabeth is the head, has been overgrown with more and more unpleasant and shocking news. In 1979, Irish Republican Army terrorists killed Prince Philip's uncle Louis Mountbatten. He was not only a close relative of the queen, but also an important statesman under George VI, in particular, he was the last Viceroy of India.

Mountbatten was on his yacht when a radio-controlled bomb planted by terrorists exploded on it. Several of his relatives and an Irish boy who worked on the ship died with him. On the same day, the massacre of the radicals was supplemented by their organized attack on British soldiers, which killed 18 people.

A couple of years after this terrible tragedy, the heir to the throne, the son of Elizabeth Charles, married Diana Spencer. The Princess of Wales enjoyed great popularity among the people due to her charitable and social activities.

The couple had two children, William and Harry. The eldest son is the next contender for the royal title after his father. However, the family life of Charles and Diana still failed. They had a difficult relationship. In the early 90s, the prince began dating another woman. This state of affairs was unacceptable for Elizabeth, who believed that the couple's tangled personal life cast a shadow over the entire royal family. On her initiative, in 1996, Charles and Diana divorced. This created a huge social scandal.

Before the passions subsided, in 1997 the UK was shocked by the shocking news of Diana's death in a car accident in Paris. A few years after this event, Prince Charles married his longtime girlfriend for the second time. The wedding took place in 2005, when his children from his first marriage had already grown up and lived an independent life.

80s

Despite the scandals and tragedies that shook Buckingham Palace from time to time, Elizabeth successfully coped with her royal duties for several decades. The British monarch, by tradition, was also the head of the Anglican Church, which was formed during the Reformation in the 16th century.

In the old days, a long conflict smoldered between Catholics and Protestants. In a new era, the time has come for a historic reconciliatory meeting of the heads of the two churches - the Pope and the British Queen. John Paul arrived in London in 1982. He was met by the Queen of England herself. Photos of these people spread all over the world.

Then it broke out between Great Britain and Argentina. The Queen did not make any formal decisions related to tactics and strategy. However, this conflict could not pass her by. The youngest son of Elizabeth - Andrew - served in the British army during this conflict and was a member of the helicopter crew.

The war began because of the uncertainty of the ownership of the Falkland Islands, located off the coast of Argentina. After nearly three months of naval battles, Britain was victorious and retained the archipelago.

Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher

While Elizabeth did not make decisions related to the war, this burden fell on the shoulders of another influential British woman - Margaret Thatcher. She was the leader and prime minister of the country from 1981-1990. For her tough character and determination, the politician received the nickname "Iron Lady". Thus, in the 80s, a female tandem was formed, which was at the head of the British state.

According to the laws and traditions, the head of government held a working meeting every week, which was attended by Elizabeth 2. The Queen of Great Britain and her dynasty maintained close relations with Thatcher. From time to time, rumors spread throughout the country that fundamental differences in domestic and foreign policy were forming between the prime minister and the monarch. These conversations were actively exaggerated by the press. Despite this, Thatcher herself and the official representatives of Elizabeth each time refuted such judgments.

At the same time, in the 1980s, British society was going through difficult times. First of all, this was due to the tense social situation. Due to the policy of austerity, privatization and monetarism, of which Thatcher was an adherent, the country wandered on the verge of an economic crisis. Such measures were necessary for state reforms. The queen, due to her status, as a rule, turned out to be on the sidelines of the wave of public criticism.

Diamond Jubilee

In 2012, the diamond jubilee of the reign (60 years) came, which was celebrated by the Queen of England. Photos of the celebrations of the country hit the front pages of newspapers around the world. Elizabeth became the second after Queen Victoria, who managed to live up to this significant date.

The apogee of the holiday was the parade of several hundred ships descending the Thames in London. According to statistics, this is the largest water procession in history. On June 4, a solemn musical concert was held at the walls of Buckingham Palace. The Queen was personally congratulated by such legendary British performers as Paul McCartney, Elton John and others.

A year before, the biography of Elizabeth 2 and the entire royal family was marked by another joyful event. The eldest grandson of the ruler and heir William married. His wife was Catherine Middleton. In 2013, Elizabeth became a great-grandmother for the third time. William had a son and heir to the throne, George.

Modern Status of the Queen

The eventful biography of Queen Elizabeth 2 of England is an example of the life of a monarch who, over the years, increasingly abandoned his former privileges and became a state figure with representative functions. Today, the ruler continues to follow the traditions of her stay on the throne. Once a year, she organizes a speech before Parliament.

The Queen also regularly meets ambassadors and diplomatic delegations. In previous years, she often traveled to various parts of the world, but with age, the intensity of travel decreased. However, more recently, in 2011, Elizabeth traveled to Ireland. It was a historic visit. Great Britain and its western neighbor have been in conflict for many centuries. In the 20th century, the struggle of the Irish for independence (including in Northern Ireland) took the form of terrorist attacks, witnessed by Elizabeth II herself. England, however, overcame this crisis and improved relations with Dublin.

Over the decades of being on the throne, the ruler has acquired her own style in dealing with parliament. As a rule, she tries to stay away from political fights between parties and supporters of different programs.

But it was the cold-blooded and impregnable Queen who had to make important decisions when crises occurred in Parliament. For example, this happened in 1957 and 1963. In both cases, the prime minister resigned, and the ruling party could not decide on a successor. Then the Queen herself chose the President of Parliament. Each time it allowed to defuse the situation in Downing Street.

Today in the UK, every resident of the country knows about everything that Queen Elizabeth II of England is connected with. Biography, full name and other facts from her life are well known to everyone. She managed, despite the volatility of the modern era, to maintain the authority of the monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II of England was born on April 21, 1926 in London. The birth of a charming baby did not cause a stir at court. No one could have imagined that this young creature would eventually occupy the royal throne. At that time, Elizabeth's grandfather George V reigned. The eldest son Edward was considered the heir to the throne. The girl's father was Prince Albert, the second son of the king. He did not even think that he would become a crowned person. Everyone thought that the eldest son would soon marry, acquire heirs and, after the death of his father, assume royal duties.

Lilibet, as everyone called Elizabeth in childhood, loved her grandfather very much, and he paid her reciprocal affection, although by nature he was a very harsh and tough person. The king had no good feelings for his sons. He brought them up in the Spartan style and often went too far. The result of such upbringing was the stuttering of the girl's father, from which he never got rid of until the end of his life.

But for the little female creature, George V had the most tender feelings. He not only loved his granddaughter, but adored him, which proved to those around him that even in a cruel and callous soul there will always be a bright corner capable of sincere and pure love.

George V left the mortal world on January 20, 1936 at the age of 70. He reigned for 24 years and proved himself to be a wise politician who cares about the good of the nation.

King George VI, his wife Elizabeth and their daughters: Elizabeth (right) and Margaret

The throne rightfully passed to Edward. He became Edward VIII, but was never crowned. The man was unable to put the heavy burden of the monarch on his shoulders. He entangled with a twice-divorced lady named Wallis Simpson (1896-1986). She married a military pilot in 1916, but he began to beat her, and in 1927 Wallace ran away from him.

She moved to London and hooked up with a businessman named Ernst Simpson. She married him in 1928. In 1931, Wallace met the heir to the throne at a party with close friends. But the love affair of this couple began only in 1934. The feeling was so strong that Simpson divorced her husband. Edward responded with no less strong love. In order not to part with Wallace, he abdicated.

All these heartfelt affairs, casting an unsightly shadow on the representatives of the Windsor dynasty, brought Elizabeth's father Albert Frederick to the English throne. He was crowned on May 12, 1937 under the name of George VI.

The new king had no sons. Therefore, Henry's younger brother was declared heir to the throne. But he flatly refused such an honorary role in favor of Elizabeth. Thus, at the age of 11, our heroine became the legitimate heir to the royal throne of one of the most powerful countries in the world.

During the Second World War, the future Queen of England worked as a simple driver in an ambulance.

In 1939 the Second World War began. The girls at that time were 13 years old. In 1940, on October 13, she spoke on the radio with an appeal to the children who suffered during the German bombing. And at the age of 18 she received the rights of an ambulance driver. Until the last days of the war, the future Queen of England turned the steering wheel, transporting sick and wounded soldiers.

As a very young girl, Elizabeth fell in love once and for the rest of her life. She met her future betrothed just before the war at the Royal Naval Academy. The king, along with both daughters (the youngest daughter Margaret), arrived in it to talk with the cadets.

It was within the walls of this institution that the heir to the English throne saw the Greek Prince Philip. He was listed as one of the cadets, and was 5 years older than Elizabeth. The young people talked for only a couple of hours, but this time was enough for Elizabeth to fall in love with the young man seriously and for a long time.

Prince Philip had the most brilliant pedigree. He was the grandson of the Greek and great-grandson of the Danish king, as well as the great-great-grandson of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. But after the revolution in Greece, the prince had nothing but a title. His mother ended her days in a psychiatric hospital, and his father fell ill with gambling. England sheltered a poor child and placed him at the Royal Naval College so that the boy would receive a decent profession and be able to earn his daily bread.

It can be seen from the above that Philip was not a match for Elizabeth. At least that's what the royal court thought. But the girl showed amazing perseverance and perseverance. Throughout the war, she wrote letters to the young officer, while he fought bravely on the destroyer.

Immediately after the end of hostilities, the heir to the throne offered the Greek prince to get engaged, trampling all existing norms and conventions. On November 20, 1947, the wedding took place at Westminster Abbey.

It was a difficult time after the war. Elizabeth had to sell some jewelry to make herself a wedding dress. Products from Australia were sent for the wedding cake. The cake turned out luxurious, 3 meters high. He was not cut with knives, but chopped with sabers. Guests got only a small piece. Everything else was sent to schools and hospitals.

At the end of January 1952, the happy young couple went on vacation to Kenya. The couple lived at the Tree Tops Hotel. It was located among the branches of a huge ficus. On February 7, an entry appeared in the registration book: "For the first time in the history of human civilization, a princess climbed a tree, and descended from it as a queen."

The reason for the recording was the death of George VI. He died on the night of 5/6 February. Elizabeth automatically became Queen of England. In many countries around the world, headlines in large print appeared on the front pages of newspapers: "The King is Dead, Long Live the Queen."

Queen Elizabeth II of England walks around the guard of honor after taking the throne

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England took place in Westminster Abbey (the traditional place for the coronation of British monarchs) on June 2, 1953, that is, a year and 5 months after the death of George VI. But the official day of accession to the throne is February 6, 1952.

The husband was not crowned. He was the first to swear allegiance to his queen and was forced to leave the fleet. Now his presence was required at all official ceremonies of the royal court.

Private life with Philip did not turn out to be like a fairy tale. In his youth, the husband often made various politically incorrect and rather tactless statements. So in New Guinea, he asked a passerby: “Listen, my dear, how have you not been eaten here yet?”

In China, he casually remarked to an English tourist, "Look, don't stay here too long or your eyes will narrow." In Paraguay, at a meeting with the bloody dictator Stroessner, Philip said: "It's amazingly nice to be in a country that is not ruled by the people."

There was gossip at court about Prince Philip's love affair with Elizabeth's cousin. They talked about illegitimate children from various women. The Queen of England did everything to stop such rumors. Over the years, the prince calmed down. Age and health began to make themselves felt.

Queen Elizabeth II of England and her daily routine

All the days of the Queen of England look alike like twins. Her Majesty wakes up at exactly 8 am. Such an important task is entrusted to the maid. She brings a tray of tea into the royal chambers. In this case, the handle of the cup is always directed to the right, the spoon on the saucer lies strictly diagonally.

After placing the tray, the maid opens the curtains. Sunlight penetrates the bedroom, and gentle rays touch the face of the crowned person. At the same time, the royal dogs, who came from a walk, joyfully run into the bedroom. This is a corgi. There are four of them: Linnet, Willow, Holly and Monty.

Queen Elizabeth II of England with her beloved dogs

The queen drinks morning tea, communicates with dogs, and at this time the maid fills the bath. Her Majesty takes water procedures, and at 9 o'clock leaves the bedroom and heads to the dining room. Here the Queen of England Elizabeth II has breakfast.

The morning meal is very modest. Toast, spread with butter and the thinnest layer of marmalade, and a cup of tea. During breakfast, the crowned lady looks through the newspapers. These are The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sporting Life. In the latest newspaper, she looks at the section on horse racing. Her Majesty loves this sport. She is well versed in horses and owns several magnificent horses herself.

At 10 o'clock the Queen of England begins her working day. She sits in her office and looks through the letters that come to her from all over the world. The information in the letters is very different. Someone asks for help, someone asks for recipes for original dishes that were served at the royal table at the last official banquet.

Then comes the turn of state papers requiring the royal signature. This is a mandatory formality, although the Queen's opinion is never asked by the Cabinet of Ministers. Elizabeth II can express her point of view on some issue, but it will not be decisive.

From 11 o'clock Her Majesty receives officials. These are diplomats, judges, ministers. Each of them, entering, kneels on one knee and takes the right hand of the queen with his right hand. Touches her lips and then gets to his feet. Such a ceremony lasts at least 2 hours. All this time the queen stands. There is no way for her to sit down and rest.

At the end of such a physically demanding event, it's time for lunch. Queen Elizabeth II of England eats sandwiches with salmon, cucumbers or chicken. Leftover food is used the next day. They can go for casserole or pie. Half-eaten foods are never given to dogs.

After lunch, a short rest and an official reception. Dinner starts at 20:15. The whole family gathers at the table. In England, the evening meal is always heavy. It is very rare for Her Majesty to have dinner alone. This is when all members of the royal family leave on business trips.

After dinner, the queen watches TV shows, and goes to bed closer to midnight. Elizabeth II has been living such a measured life for almost 60 years.

Scandals in the royal family

Queen Elizabeth II of England has four children. These are Prince Charles (born 1948), Prince Andrew (born 1960), Princess Anne (born 1950), Prince Edward (born 1964). The upbringing of children was mainly done by the father, since the queen always had many important state affairs.

Family of Elizabeth II, 1972. From left to right Anna, Charles, Edward, Andrew, Elizabeth, Philip

The biggest trouble brought the eldest son Charles. In 1970, he imprudently fell in love with a lady named Camilla. The girl was of noble blood, but despised the conventions of high society. She swore, smoked, drank whiskey, and changed lovers from time to time. All this was considered the height of indecency. But poor Charles, having a soft and romantic nature, fell under the influence of this cynical, strong-willed and impudent person.

The poor fellow even made a marriage proposal, but got a turn from the gate. Camilla married officer Andrew Parker-Bowles. But after 6 years of family life, there was a discord in relation to the spouses. Camilla again began to favorably accept Charles' advances. This did not escape the attention of the royal court.

Elizabeth II in the center, Sister Margaret on the left, Queen Mother on the right

The queen and her husband, seeing that their son was being impudently and shamelessly seduced, began to urgently look for a wife for him. Very opportunely turned up Diana Spencer (1961-1997). A girl of noble blood and with an excellent pedigree. She was a virgin, which was a prerequisite for the bride of the heir to the throne. The wedding was played on July 29, 1981. In 1982 and 1984, Princess Diana gave birth to two sons.

The marriage for Charles was very successful. His wife was passionately loved not only by England, but by the whole world. Diana possessed amazing charm, purity and spontaneity. But male stupidity knows no bounds. The heir to the throne continued to meet with Camilla. Soon the wife found out about this connection. The couple divorced in 1996, but have been separated since 1992.

Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II of England is seated to the left. In the center sits Princess Diana with her son William, on the right is the queen mother. Prince Charles and Philip are standing

This divorce dealt a serious blow to the prestige of the royal family. England was on the side of the deceived Diana. The situation was aggravated by the tragic death of this amazing woman in 1997. It was rumored that Prince Charles was involved in the death. Allegedly, on his orders, the attackers cut the brake hoses of the car in which the princess was traveling. But the official investigation completely dismissed such rumors.

In 1992, the marriages of Anna and Andrew broke up. True, there were no high-profile scandals around these 2 events. Everything went quietly and imperceptibly, but left an unpleasant aftertaste in the souls of the British. Still, the royal family should be a model in every respect. For several years, subjects met Elizabeth II with cold silence. She pretended not to notice anything. Although it is not difficult to imagine what was going on in her soul.

Charles with Camilla and Elizabeth II

Gradually, the British withdrew in spirit and fell in love with their queen again. Even the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla in 2005 could no longer undermine the authority of the Queen of England. Still, after the death of Princess Diana, many years have passed, and people have a very short memory.

Currently, Kate Middleton, the wife of William, is very popular with the British: the eldest son from the marriage of Princess Diana and Charles. Elizabeth II herself warmly treats the girl. Rumor has it that the queen wants to change the rules of succession and appoint William as her heir. After all, the British do not like Prince Charles, and Camilla will never be recognized as their queen.

The customs of the royal court

The whole life of the royal court is a ritual. It has been practiced for hundreds of years. For example, Buckingham Palace has a dressmaker on staff. Her duties include darning socks and bedding. This does not mean at all that the queen does not have money for such trifles. A dressmaker costs much more than new socks and sets of underwear. It's just that the royal court pays tribute to tradition. About 500 years ago, fabric was very expensive, and crowned persons saved in a similar way. Times have changed, but the tradition remains. He is not the only one in the royal palace.

The liveries worn by the servants were made 200 years ago. Each new employee is given an old uniform and adjusted to fit. The entire service staff consists of about 300 people. The staff includes personal pages, maids, ladies-in-waiting, keepers of silverware, royal purses. There are even pages of front and rear rooms.

During official receptions, a huge table is set. It is impossible to reach its middle. The lackeys wrap their boots in rags and climb onto the table with their feet. During the meal, the first course is served to the Queen. She immediately starts eating. After that, the footmen serve the dishes to the guests. When the plate of the crowned person is empty, the servants immediately take away the plates from all those present. Many guests do not even have time to try what they were served.

However, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, canceled this not very kind custom. She declared that at her table no one should ever go hungry. But this is the only concession to ancient traditions.

As for the servants, they must walk around the palace, keeping to a narrow edge near the wall. If the queen or someone from the royal family comes towards you, the servants must hide somewhere. It can be some kind of closet, a closet in the wall, that is, any shelter that is nearby. Seeing the queen, noble ladies should squat, and men bow.

These traditions have been strictly observed for centuries. For people, they are not at all a burden. On the contrary, there are many who want to serve at the royal palace. But all positions, as a rule, are inherited. From an early age, children absorb the unique atmosphere of the royal palace and jealously protect its traditions and customs. It seems that time itself freezes within the walls, which for hundreds of years have been protecting the reigning persons from the vicissitudes of the external, changeable and so unpredictable world.

Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thanks for that
for discovering this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and goosebumps.
Join us at Facebook and In contact with

Of all the royal families living in the modern world, the British are the most popular. The lives of Elizabeth II, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are closely watched by residents of different parts of the world. But even under such close scrutiny, some facts may elude.

website collected answers to the most interesting questions about the Windsor family.

10. How many members are there in the British Royal Family?

In the literal sense of the word, 15 people belong to the royal family.

The corresponding titles are held by: Elizabeth II and her husband Philip, their children (Charles, Anna, Andrew, Edward), their grandchildren (William, Harry, Beatrice, Eugenie, James, Louise), great-grandchildren (Prince George and Princess Charlotte), as well as the queen's sister is Margaret.

In addition, another 15 people are directly related to the queen, although they do not wear titles and do not claim the throne. These are dukes, earls, lords and ladies.

9. How is the queen's day?

The Queen gets up at 7:30 in the morning. At this time, she is served tea without sugar and Mary's cookies with milk. Since the gastronomic tastes of the royals are not widely advertised, it is impossible to say exactly what kind of tea Elizabeth likes: some sources claim that it is Earl Grey, others that it is English Breakfast.

At 8:30 a.m., Elizabeth has breakfast with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the dining room overlooking the gardens of Buckingham Palace. On the table are usually cornflakes, yogurt and toast with maple syrup or marmalade. At breakfast, the Queen reads newspapers, most often the Daily Telegraph and the Racing Post.

After the morning meal, the Queen holds briefings on various issues with her assistants. The mail that Elizabeth looks at personally is also discussed here - this is about 200-300 letters a day. Until late in the evening, the queen is busy with official meetings and events.

And even before going to bed, Elizabeth is exclusively engaged in matters of national importance: she reads all the documents with the main topics of the day, which are delivered to her daily in a special red box.

8. Favorite jewelry of Elizabeth II

A three-strand pearl necklace almost always adorns the queen's neck - this is the calling card of her style. When Elizabeth was 10 years old, she received such a necklace as a gift from her grandfather George V, and it became her favorite piece of jewelry.

Somewhat later, Queen Mary, Elizabeth's grandmother, gave her pearl earrings. And to this day, they, complete with a necklace, form part of the image of a modern monarch.

7. The tradition of changing the name when ascending the throne

Since ancient times, the monarchs of different countries have adopted a throne name for the time they are in power, different from what was given to them at birth. In Britain, this tradition was also maintained. So, Queen Victoria before the coronation was Princess Alexandrina, and King George bore the name Albert. Elizabeth II chose not to change her name, because this is only acceptable, but not mandatory for the monarch.

Of course, many connoisseurs of traditions still remember this choice of the queen. In 2002, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, several letters were sent to the Queen on behalf of veterans of the nationalist Scottish National Party. The letters talked about the fact that it would be time for the queen to take the throne name. But, as we see many years later, Elizabeth II is firm in her decision.

6. Misconceptions about titles

Elizabeth is often referred to as the Queen of England, but this is incorrect. Firstly, she is the monarch of the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and England is just a part of it.

And secondly, other countries are also subject to the British monarch: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, 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. So Elizabeth II is the queen of 16 states.

Misconceptions about princesses are no less common. Lady Di after her marriage to Prince Charles began to be called a princess. However, she was not a princess by birth, so by all rights, her title should have been "Her Royal Highness The Princess Charles of Wales", however strange it may sound.

As for the chosen one of their eldest son William, Kate Middleton is not a princess either. She married the Duke of Cambridgeshire, and therefore her official title is the Duchess of Cambridge.

5. What do princes do in their free time from royal affairs?

William has worked for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for the past two years. The prince's work shift lasted 9.5 hours, which is about 20 hours a week. The duke transferred the entire salary to the charitable foundation of the medical service. On March 27, 2017, the Duke of Cambridge left his post as an ambulance pilot.

William began his career as a pilot in 2008 when he joined the RAF's search and rescue service. He worked there until 2014. Now, at the age of 35, and second in line to the throne, the Duke of Cambridge intends to devote himself fully to the royal house and the future of the British monarchy.

Prince Harry also had a good military career. He graduated from the academy at Sandhurst and, like his older brother, joined the cavalry regiment.

Prince Harry has been to Afghanistan twice, once as a military helicopter pilot. He was later awarded a medal for his participation in these hostilities.

He also took part in the anti-terrorism exercises of the armed forces of Australia. When, for security reasons, the prince was recalled from the army, he organized sports competitions in Britain for soldiers who were injured during the hostilities.

4. What is the usual way of addressing Elizabeth among members of the royal family?

According to the official, different members of the family have their own privileges in addressing the queen. So, the husband of Elizabeth II calls her Lilibet. The future queen herself called herself this name when she was very small, and could not pronounce "Elizabeth".

The rest of the adult family members are required to say "Your Majesty" when they meet. Even his own son, Charles, must comply with this formality before calling the queen with the informal word Mommy (“mommy”).

The limits for great-grandchildren are less strict. Prince George has his own address to Elizabeth II - Gan-Gan. So he pronounces the word "great-grandmother" (Great-Grandmother).

3. The Queen is an example of housekeeping

Elizabeth II is very frugal and sets an excellent example in this for her subjects. So, it is known that she always turns off the light when leaving the room, and requires this from all the inhabitants of the palace. The queen wears the same dresses for a long time.