The Royal Family
Elizabeth II's full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She
was born on April 21, 1926. She never went to school and was
taught by home tutors. In 1947 she married Prince Philip; he
was created Duke of Edinburgh. A year later she gave birth to a
son, Charles. In 1950 she gave a birth to a daughter, Anne.
Elizabeth succeeded to the throne after the death of her father
in February in 1952. Her second son, Andrew, was born in 1960
and the third, Edward, in 1964.
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke Ferguson
5. The order of succession to the British Throne1. HRH The Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (1948)
2. HRH Prince William of Wales, eldest son of The Prince Charles (1982)
3. HRH Prince Henry of Wales, younger son of The Prince Charles (1984)
4. HRH The Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, second son of HM Queen Elizabeth II (1960)
5. HRH Princess Beatrice of York, elder daughter of The Prince Andrew (1988)
6. HRH Princess Eugenie of York, younger daughter of The Prince Andrew (1990)
7. HRH The Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, youngest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II (1964)
8. James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten Windsor, Viscount Severn, son of HRH The Prince
Edward, The Earl of Wessex (2007)
9. Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten Windsor, daughter of HRH The Prince Edward,
The Earl of Wessex (2003)
10. HRH The Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, only daughter of HM Queen Elizabeth II
11. Peter Phillips, son of The Princess Anne (1977)
12. Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Anne (1981)
HM – Her (or His) Majesty
HRH – Her (or His) Royal Highness
April. She also celebrates her official birthday on either
the first or the second, and sometimes the third, Saturday
King Edward VII, who was born on 9 November, was
the first Sovereign to mark his official birthday on a
separate day to his actual birthday throughout his reign,
holding celebrations in either May or June.
7. Trooping the ColourThousands of spectators watch
as the Queen marks her official
birthday with Trooping the
Afterwards the Royal Family gathers
on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
to watch a Red Arrows fly-past.
10. The Queen's RoleHead of State
As Head of State, the Queen goes on official State visits abroad. She also
invites other world leaders to come to the United Kingdom. During their
visit, Heads of State usually stay at Buckingham Palace or sometimes at
Windsor Castle or Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Head of the Armed Forces
The Queen is also the Head of the Armed Forces. She is the only person
who can declare when the country is at war and when war is over.
Head of the Church of England
The Queen is Head of the Church of England - a position that all British
monarchs have held since it was founded by Henry VIII in the 1530s.
The Queen appoints archbishops and bishops on the advice of the Prime
Minister. The spiritual leader of the Church of England is the Archbishop of
Represents the Nation
The Queen represents the nation at times of great celebration or sorrow.
her day by looking through the newspapers. The Queen has daily meetings with
her Private Secretary who helps her to go through her paperwork, and lots of
meetings with ambassadors, new judges, and bishops.
She opens hospitals, bridges and factories. Once a week, the Queen has
a meeting with the Prime Minister and they discuss government business.
Elizabeth II has to work from early morning until late at night and people watch
her all the time.
Queen Elizabeth II is the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the
crown of England.
Tony Blair is the first Prime Minister to have been born during The Queen's reign. He
was born in early May 1953 - a month before the Coronation.
During her reign, The Queen has undertaken over 256 official overseas visits to 129
The Queen has opened 15 bridges in the United Kingdom during her reign.
The Queen has given over 91 State banquets during her reign.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have sent about 37,500 Christmas cards
during The Queen's reign.
The Queen learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Army.
In 1969 the first television film about the family life of the Royal Family was made,
and shown on the eve of the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.
In 2002, at 76 years of age, The Queen was the oldest monarch to celebrate a Golden
Jubilee. The youngest was James I (James VI of Scotland) at 51 years.
The Queen has received over 3 million items of correspondence during her
Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular Tuesday evening audiences to
10 British Prime Ministers.
The Queen sent her first email in 1976 from an Army base.
In 1997, The Queen launched Buckingham Palace's first official website.
The Queen has opened Parliament every year except 1959 and 1963, when
she was expecting Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.
The Queen was the first British Monarch to visit China when she visited in
In summer 2005, The Queen opened the first "children's trail" in the
Buckingham Palace garden for the Summer Opening.