Queen Elizabeth II

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Biography

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21st April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, London. She was born to The Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) and The Duchess of York. SHe had One younger sister, Princess Margaret, who died on 9 February 2002.
She was educated at home by her mother, the Duchess of York and governess Marion Crawford.

When World War II broke out, Elizabeth was 13 years old and she and her sister were evacuated to Windsor Castle.
In 1940 Princess Elizabeth made her first broadcast, addressing other children who had been evacuated.
She wanted to participate in the war effort and in 1945 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the ATS) : she was a driver.

She married HRH Prince Philip, (Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten) Duke of Edinburgh on 20th November 1947. They were cousins, their common great great-grandmother was Queen Victoria.
They lived at Clarence House, London.

They were visiting Kenya when they learnt the death of her father, on 6th February 1952, from lung cancer.
Elizabeth's coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953. They moved to Buckingham Palace.

They travelled a lot (Australia, New Zealand, Fidji, United States, Canada, India, Pakistan...).

In 2002 she celebrated her Golden Jubilee, marking the 50th anniversary of her accession to the Throne.

In November 2005, she visited Malta as the Head of the Commonwealth, for the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting, and in March 2006 she visited Australia to officially open the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where she continued her trip to Singapore.

They had 4 children :
Prince Charles (1948) (The Prince of Wales)
Princess Anne (1950) (The Princess Royal)
Prince Andrew (1960) (The Duke of York)
Prince Edward (1964) (The Earl of Wessex)

Her hobbies
She loves walking. She's very fond of animals, especially horses and dogs.
She has got 5 corgis called Emma, Linnet, Monty, Willow and Holly. And 4 'dorgis' (corgis crossed with a dachshund) called Cider, Berry, Vulcan and Candy. And 5 cocker spaniels called Bisto, Oxo, Flash, Spick and Span.

Birthday celebrations

Queen Elizabeth II's actual birthday is on 21st April but the monarch's official birthday has been celebrated on the second Saturday in June since Queen Victoria's reign (17th June this year).

The official name of this ceremony is "Trooping the Colours". It takes place on Horse Guard Parade in Whitehall. The Queen carries out an inspection of the Household Troops. The flag of a particular regiment is "trooped" (= carried through the ranks) where every soldier can see it. It is accompanied by military music, pipes and drums.

The firing of 41 guns in Green Park conclude the ceremony.

2006 Special events

April 19th	reception and lunch for people around the country who have the Queen's exact birthday at Buckingham Palace
April 21st	at Windsor Castle where Charles hosts a family dinner
April 23rd	Members of The Royal Family attend a special Service of Thanksgiving at St George's Chapel, Windsor
2006	travelling exhibition of 10 of the Royal Collection's finest drawings by Leonardo da Vinci travel to museums and galleries in Exeter, Aberdeen, Leeds and Cardiff
June 15th	National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral
June 21st	"Trooping the Colour"
June 25th	Children's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said : "This anniversary is not intended to be a mini-Jubilee but the Queen's 80th is a landmark personal anniversary. It's right that it should be appropriately celebrated."

Time magazine issued on April 17th 2006

Two special series of stamps to be issued on April 21st

Coin cover

Constitutional role

Since the beginning of the 18th century, the monarch has become a constitutional monarch.
The Sovereign has an important political role as Head of State, appointing prime ministers, approving certain legislation and giving honours.
The Queen also has important roles to play in other organisations, including the Armed Forces and the Church of England.
The Queen gives a speech at the annual State Opening of Parliament : she states the government's legislative agenda for the year.

She also has public duties, for example Investitures, ceremonies, receptions, charities or visits in the United Kingdom or abroad.

The British Prime Minister meets the Queen every week.

The Queen is the Queen of the United Kingdom and also Head of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 53 independent countries.

Official royal residences

Buckingham Palace tourist-information-uk.com
Windsor Castle royal-windsor.com
St James's Palace answers.com
Balmoral Castle (Scotland) royal.gov.uk
The Palace of Holyroodhouse royal.gov.uk
Kensington Palace royal.gov.uk
Sandringham House (Norfolk) sandringham-estate.co.uk

ACTIVITIES