4. Queen Elizabeth IIQueen Elizabeth II
BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
The Queen was born in LondonThe Queen was born in London
on 21 April 1926, the first childon 21 April 1926, the first child
of The Duke and Duchess ofof The Duke and Duchess of
York. Five weeks later she wasYork. Five weeks later she was
christened Elizabeth Alexandrachristened Elizabeth Alexandra
Mary in the chapel atMary in the chapel at
Buckingham Palace.Buckingham Palace.
The Princess's early years wereThe Princess's early years were
spent at 145 Piccadilly, at Whitespent at 145 Piccadilly, at White
Lodge in Richmond Park; and atLodge in Richmond Park; and at
the country homes of herthe country homes of her
grandparents. When she was sixgrandparents. When she was six
years old, her parents took overyears old, her parents took over
Royal Lodge in Windsor GreatRoyal Lodge in Windsor Great
Park as their own country home.Park as their own country home.
5. EDUCATIONEDUCATION
Princess Elizabeth wasPrincess Elizabeth was
educated at home witheducated at home with
Princess Margaret, herPrincess Margaret, her
younger sister. After heryounger sister. After her
father succeeded to thefather succeeded to the
throne in 1936 and shethrone in 1936 and she
became heir presumptive, shebecame heir presumptive, she
started to study constitutionalstarted to study constitutional
history and law.history and law.
She also studied art andShe also studied art and
music, learned to ride (shemusic, learned to ride (she
has been a keen horsewomanhas been a keen horsewoman
since early childhood), andsince early childhood), and
enjoyed amateur theatricalsenjoyed amateur theatricals
and swimming. She won theand swimming. She won the
Children's Challenge Shield atChildren's Challenge Shield at
London's Bath Club when sheLondon's Bath Club when she
was thirteen. She enrolled aswas thirteen. She enrolled as
a Girl Guide when she wasa Girl Guide when she was
eleven, and later became aeleven, and later became a
Sea Ranger.Sea Ranger.
6. EARLY PUBLIC LIFEEARLY PUBLIC LIFE
As the Princess grew older sheAs the Princess grew older she
began to take part in public life.began to take part in public life.
She broadcast for the first time inShe broadcast for the first time in
October 1940, when she was 14;October 1940, when she was 14;
she sent a message during theshe sent a message during the
BBC's children's programme to allBBC's children's programme to all
the children of Britain and thethe children of Britain and the
Commonwealth.Commonwealth.
Shortly after her eighteenth birthdayShortly after her eighteenth birthday
in 1944, Princess Elizabeth wasin 1944, Princess Elizabeth was
appointed a Counsellor of Stateappointed a Counsellor of State
during the King's absence on a tourduring the King's absence on a tour
of the Italian battlefields and, forof the Italian battlefields and, for
the first time, carried out some ofthe first time, carried out some of
the duties of Head of State.the duties of Head of State.
In September 1944, the PrincessIn September 1944, the Princess
carried out her first official tour ofcarried out her first official tour of
Scotland with her parents.Scotland with her parents.
Her first official overseas visit tookHer first official overseas visit took
place in 1947, when sheplace in 1947, when she
accompanied her parents and sisteraccompanied her parents and sister
on a tour of South Africa.on a tour of South Africa.
7. MARRIAGE AND FAMILYMARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Shortly after the Royal FamilyShortly after the Royal Family
returned from South Africa, thereturned from South Africa, the
Princess's engagement toPrincess's engagement to
Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten wasLieutenant Philip Mountbatten was
announced. The couple, who hadannounced. The couple, who had
known each other for many years,known each other for many years,
were married in Westminsterwere married in Westminster
Abbey on 20 November 1947.Abbey on 20 November 1947.
They have four children, and sevenThey have four children, and seven
grandchildren.grandchildren.
Prince Charles, now The Prince ofPrince Charles, now The Prince of
Wales was born in 1948, and hisWales was born in 1948, and his
sister, Princess Anne, now Thesister, Princess Anne, now The
Princess Royal, two years later.Princess Royal, two years later.
After Princess Elizabeth becameAfter Princess Elizabeth became
Queen, their third child, PrinceQueen, their third child, Prince
Andrew, arrived in 1960 and theAndrew, arrived in 1960 and the
fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964.fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964.
Prince Andrew and Prince EdwardPrince Andrew and Prince Edward
were the first children to be born towere the first children to be born to
a reigning monarch since Queena reigning monarch since Queen
Victoria had her family.Victoria had her family.
8. As Head of State, The QueenAs Head of State, The Queen
maintains close contact with themaintains close contact with the
Prime Minister with whom she has aPrime Minister with whom she has a
weekly audience when she is inweekly audience when she is in
London, and with other Ministers ofLondon, and with other Ministers of
the Crown.the Crown.
Her Majesty also gives regularHer Majesty also gives regular
receptions and lunches for peoplereceptions and lunches for people
who have made a contribution inwho have made a contribution in
different areas of national anddifferent areas of national and
international life.international life.
She also appears on many publicShe also appears on many public
occasions such as the services ofoccasions such as the services of
the Orders of the Garter and thethe Orders of the Garter and the
Thistle; Trooping the Colour; theThistle; Trooping the Colour; the
Remembrance Day ceremony; andRemembrance Day ceremony; and
national services at St Paul'snational services at St Paul's
Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
