This text is a biography of Queen Elizabeth II, tracing her life from birth to death. It details her childhood, including her family life and education, her experiences during World War II, and her ascension to the throne. The biography also explores her reign, highlighting major events, challenges, and her relationships with family members and prime ministers. Finally, it briefly considers the legacy of her reign and the future of the monarchy under King Charles III.

Elizabeth II: A Life of Duty and Change

Study Guide

Quiz

1. Who were Elizabeth II’s namesakes?
2. What was Elizabeth II’s nickname as a child and how did she get it?
3. Describe the relationship between Elizabeth and her younger sister, Margaret.
4. What were some of the reasons King George V opposed Elizabeth attending school?
5. What event significantly changed the family’s trajectory when Elizabeth was ten years old?
6. What did Elizabeth do to contribute to the war effort as a young adult?
7. How did Elizabeth’s parents feel about her relationship with Prince Philip initially?
8. What was significant about the 1953 coronation of Elizabeth II?
9. How did Elizabeth react to her sister Margaret’s relationship with Peter Townsend?
10. What were some of the major challenges faced by the royal family in the 1990s?

Answer Key

1. Elizabeth II was named for her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, her paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, and her grandmother Queen Mary. These were all women who served as consorts, rather than rulers.
2. Elizabeth’s nickname was “Lilibet.” Her grandfather, King George V, began calling her this when she was unable to pronounce her own name as a toddler.
3. Elizabeth and Margaret were close sisters, but had very different personalities. Elizabeth was reserved and dutiful, while Margaret was outgoing and mischievous. While they sometimes struggled with each other as children, they remained close throughout their lives.
4. King George V believed that there were too many public relations pitfalls involved with sending the princesses to school, such as choosing a school without offending other institutions. Additionally, he was concerned about the princesses being constantly scrutinized.
5. When Elizabeth was ten, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne. This event moved Elizabeth’s father, Bertie, to the throne and made Elizabeth the heir-presumptive.
6. As a young adult during WWII, Elizabeth organized sewing parties for the war effort, and later joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, becoming a trained driver and mechanic.
7. Elizabeth’s parents were initially reserved about Philip, particularly his temperament, his reputation with women, and his German heritage. They also believed that Elizabeth was too young to be betrothed.
8. The 1953 coronation of Elizabeth II was significant because it was the first coronation of a British sovereign to be broadcast live on television.
9. Elizabeth was sympathetic towards Margaret’s relationship with Peter Townsend and did not initially discourage or encourage the relationship. However, she understood that the Church and other officials were against the match because Townsend was divorced.
10. The 1990s were a challenging decade for the royal family due to public criticism and scrutiny, the breakdown of three of her children’s marriages, a disastrous fire at Windsor Castle, the death of Princess Diana, and the passing of her confidante, Margaret “Bobo” MacDonald.

Essay Questions

1. Analyze the ways in which Queen Elizabeth II’s upbringing shaped her approach to monarchy, considering both the traditions she upheld and the changes she embraced.
2. Evaluate the role of public perception and the media in shaping the narrative of Queen Elizabeth II’s life and reign, discussing examples of both positive and negative coverage.
3. Compare and contrast Elizabeth II’s relationships with her immediate family members, including her parents, sister, husband, and children, considering how these relationships were impacted by her role as monarch.
4. Discuss the evolution of the British monarchy during the reign of Elizabeth II, exploring its changing role in society and the relationship between the monarch and the people.
5. How did Queen Elizabeth II’s role as Head of the Commonwealth and Britain’s decolonization impact her global legacy?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Abdication: The act of formally relinquishing monarchical power.
• Accession Council: The group that formally proclaims a new monarch after the death of the previous sovereign.
• Apartheid: A system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa.
• Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS): The women’s branch of the British Army during WWII.
• Blitz: The sustained bombing campaign carried out by the Germans across Britain during WWII.
• Bluestocking: A derogatory term for an educated woman who was perceived to neglect more traditional female roles.
• Commonwealth: A political association of independent states, mostly former territories of the British Empire.
• Consort: The spouse of a reigning monarch.
• Coronation: The ceremony in which a monarch is formally crowned.
• Civil List: The annual government allowance to the monarch and royal family for their official duties.
• Decolonization: The process of dismantling colonial empires and granting independence to former colonies.
• Duchy of Lancaster: A royal estate that is one of the sources of the sovereign’s personal income.
• Equerry: A royal attendant or officer.
• Heir-Presumptive: A person who is the first in line to inherit the throne, but whose position can be overtaken by a new heir of higher claim (typically a male heir).
• Letters Patent: A legal document issued by the monarch, usually granting a title or other privilege.
• Regalia: The emblems and symbols of royalty, such as crowns, scepters, and robes.
• Regnal Name: The name a monarch uses during their reign, which can be different from their given name.
• “Soft Power”: The ability to influence others through persuasion and cultural appeal rather than force or coercion.
• Trooping of the Colour: A ceremony celebrating the official birthday of the British Sovereign.
• White Elephant Gift: A humorous or impractical gift; a “gag” gift.

Queen Elizabeth II: Duty, Reign, and Legacy

Okay, here is a detailed briefing document summarizing the key themes, ideas, and facts from the provided text about Queen Elizabeth II:

Briefing Document: Queen Elizabeth II – A Life of Duty and Transformation

I. Introduction

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the life of Queen Elizabeth II, drawing from the provided text. The analysis covers her early life, her unexpected path to the throne, her reign, and her legacy. It explores key themes such as duty, family, the changing role of the monarchy, and the challenges and triumphs she faced.

II. Early Life and Unexpected Path to the Throne

• Birth and Family: Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926, in London, to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. She was named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, after her mother, paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, and grandmother Queen Mary.
• Unlikely Heir: “Few imagined that she would grow up to do much more than marry, have children, and enjoy a life of quiet aristocratic privilege.” Her father was not the direct heir, but rather the second son of King George V. The expectation was that her uncle, Edward (David), the Prince of Wales, would marry and produce an heir.
• Idyllic Childhood: Elizabeth had a close relationship with her parents and sister Margaret, characterized by “daily quality time” and a focus on “a close, warm, and fun-filled family life.” She enjoyed the outdoors, horses, and dogs, and was affectionately nicknamed “Lilibet”. She was doted on by her grandfather, King George V, who was once found “on his hands and knees pretending to be a horse” for her.
• Differing Personalities: Elizabeth was described as “reserved, conscientious, and dutiful”, while Margaret was “openly affectionate” and “mischievous”. Despite these differences, they remained close throughout their lives.
• Education: Contrary to the progressive notion of sending young aristocratic women to school at the time, the princesses were educated at home by a governess, Marion Crawford (“Crawfie”). King George V was against the princesses attending school due to “public relations pitfalls.”
• Limited Exposure: Crawfie believed they did not see enough of the “real world”, and wanted to take them on more excursions, a notion which was considered difficult due to media attention.
• Shift in Dynastic Expectations: King George V’s death in 1936 and the subsequent abdication of King Edward VIII drastically changed the family’s trajectory. Elizabeth’s father became King George VI, making her heir presumptive. Elizabeth’s response was telling: “Yes, I suppose it does,” she said after being asked if this meant she would one day be Queen. “Poor you,” Margaret responded in commiseration.

III. Transition to Queen and the Challenges of World War II

• Unexpectedly Thrust into the Limelight: The family had to adjust to their new roles and move into Buckingham Palace. Lilibet observed upon moving in: “People here need bicycles,” a testament to the size of the palace grounds.
• Early Understanding of Duty: At age ten, she was keenly aware of the significance of her father’s coronation, “the Abbey itself seemed suspended in ‘a haze of wonder’.” However, “The service got rather boring as it was all prayers.” She had to write a detailed account of the coronation at her father’s request.
• Wartime Experience: During WWII, Elizabeth and Margaret were moved to Windsor Castle, where they experienced air raids and made efforts to contribute to the war effort, including sewing and cultivating a “victory garden.” “We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace.” (Excerpt from a radio speech at age 14.)
• Assertion of Independence: Despite her parents’ desire to keep her sheltered, Elizabeth was determined to “do her bit” for the war effort. She eventually joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), gaining experience working as a driver and a mechanic. “It was the only time I had been able to test myself against people of the same age,” she said of her time in the ATS.
• Romance and Betrothal: She had a long-standing relationship with Prince Philip, which blossomed into romance and ultimately marriage, despite some initial reservations from her parents.

IV. Reign and Transformation of the Monarchy

• Early Reign: Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. “My own name, Elizabeth, of course. What else?” she said when asked what regnal name she would choose.
• Coronation: Her coronation in 1953 was the first to be televised, marking a significant shift in the accessibility of the monarchy. “The Duke of Edinburgh, who chaired the planning committee, was strongly in favour of televising the coronation, making the monarch more accessible to the people in a modern way.”
• Core Challenge: A central theme of her reign was her struggle to compartmentalize her personal life and family with her role and duty as a monarch. “her duty as Queen had to always come first.”
• Evolving Role of the Monarchy: The text highlights the evolution of the monarchy under her reign, from the head of an empire to a figurehead within the Commonwealth. She became “Queen of the United Kingdom, the Head of the Commonwealth, and Queen of her other realms and territories.”
• Adaptability: Queen Elizabeth was taught early in her training to understand that “the secret of a successful monarchy is adaptability.”
• Public Scrutiny: The monarchy faced scrutiny regarding its cost to taxpayers, scandals within the royal family, and questions about its relevance in the modern world.
• Public Perception: The media increasingly focused on the royals, “doing a Crawfie” became a phrase referencing tell-all memoirs.
• Balancing Tradition and Modernity: The Queen adapted to changes while maintaining the traditions of the monarchy. She allowed two documentaries to be filmed about her and the royal family.
• “Soft Power”: The queen exercised immense “soft power” through gentle persuasion rather than compulsion or force.
• Commonwealth and Decolonization: The text also emphasizes the queen as a touchstone of global decolonization, with many former colonies remaining in the Commonwealth, and a “shift from oppression to self-governance”.

V. Family Life and Personal Struggles

• Marriage to Prince Philip: The text touches on the challenges Philip faced in adjusting to his role as the Queen’s consort. He found the work “extraordinarily tiresome.”
• Motherhood: The Queen’s parenting style is discussed, with some criticism about her perceived distance from her children, “her children were all rather lost.” Philip stated when asked about their parenting style: “We did our best.”
• Family Conflicts: The marriages of three of her four children fell apart in 1992, which the Queen referred to as her “Annus Horribilis.” There were also tensions with her sister Margaret, such as the difficulty Margaret had in her relationship with Peter Townsend.
• Loss and Grief: The text highlights the losses she endured: Lord Mountbatten, Princess Diana, her sister Margaret, and her mother, the Queen Mother, deeply affected her.
• Diana’s Death: The public reaction to Diana’s death, and the questions surrounding her silence, brought the royal family immense criticism and forced the queen to publicly acknowledge Diana.
• Later Life: The text notes her growing solitude after the death of her husband, Prince Philip. She was often pictured “sitting alone in mourning for her dear husband Prince Philip.”

VI. Legacy and Final Years

• Enduring Popularity: Despite challenges, the Queen remained highly popular, a testament to her devotion to duty. “She was often praised for the manner in which she approached these crises.”
• Dedication to Duty: The Queen stated that her role was a “job for life”. “It’s a question of maturing into something that one’s got used to doing and accepting the fact that it’s your fate, because I think continuity is very important.”
• Platinum Jubilee: She marked 70 years on the throne in 2022.
• Death: Elizabeth passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96.
• Succession: Her son, Prince Charles, became King Charles III.
• Character: The Queen was described as tolerant, observant, disciplined, moral, courageous, kind, strong, and humorous. Angela Kelly wrote of her “courage, kindness, strength, sense of humour and sense of fun.”
• Final Thoughts: Elizabeth “left an immense legacy both to the British people and to the wider world, guiding Britain through greater social, political, economic, and technological change than perhaps any monarch in history.”

VII. Key Quotes

• “Few imagined that she would grow up to do much more than marry, have children, and enjoy a life of quiet aristocratic privilege.”
• “The service got rather boring as it was all prayers.”
• “We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace.”
• “It was the only time I had been able to test myself against people of the same age.”
• “My own name, Elizabeth, of course. What else?”
• “The Duke of Edinburgh, who chaired the planning committee, was strongly in favour of televising the coronation, making the monarch more accessible to the people in a modern way.”
• “her duty as Queen had to always come first.”
• “The secret of a successful monarchy is adaptability.”
• “She was often praised for the manner in which she approached these crises.”
• “It’s a job for life,” she once remarked. “It’s a question of maturing into something that one’s got used to doing and accepting the fact that it’s your fate, because I think continuity is very important.”

VIII. Conclusion

The text paints a picture of Queen Elizabeth II as a woman who embodied duty, resilience, and quiet determination. Her life was marked by both personal challenges and public triumphs, and she navigated the complexities of a rapidly changing world while upholding the traditions of the monarchy. She remained committed to her position as head of state to the very end, solidifying her legacy as one of the most significant monarchs in British history.

This briefing document captures the key aspects of Queen Elizabeth’s life and reign, providing a solid understanding of her impact on both the British monarchy and the global stage.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Life in Service

FAQ on Queen Elizabeth II

1. What was Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood like, and was she always expected to become Queen?
2. Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood, while privileged, was relatively quiet and not initially expected to lead to her becoming Queen. Born as Princess Elizabeth of York, she was the third in line to the throne. Her early life was spent largely in the company of her nanny and governess, but she had a close relationship with her family, particularly her parents, who emphasized quality time and a warm home environment. Her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, also played significant roles in her early life, with King George V giving her the nickname “Lilibet.” Her family did not anticipate she would ascend to the throne and she received an education consistent with aristocratic girls of the era rather than specific training for a future monarch. This lack of expectation changed dramatically with the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, in 1936, making her father King George VI, and Elizabeth his heir presumptive.
3. How did the abdication of Edward VIII affect Elizabeth’s life and her family’s dynamics?
4. The abdication of Edward VIII fundamentally altered the course of Elizabeth’s life and the dynamics of her family. Her father, Prince Albert, unexpectedly became King George VI, catapulting Elizabeth from a relatively sheltered life as a Princess to the position of heir presumptive. Her family had to transition from their comfortable home to the much larger, less cozy Buckingham Palace, which came with a massive increase in royal duties and responsibilities. While the family remained close, there was now much less time for family fun. This shift also significantly increased public expectations of Elizabeth and brought her much closer to the crown, which ultimately had an enormous impact on the course of her life. The abdication also placed a strain on her father who was very reluctant to become the King and had very little training for it.
5. How did World War II impact Elizabeth and her family, and what role did she play in the war effort?
6. World War II drastically changed Elizabeth’s life. The royal family moved to Windsor Castle for safety, and Elizabeth, along with her sister Margaret, navigated the restrictions and fear of the conflict. She actively contributed to the war effort, despite being young. She gave her first public address on the BBC’s Children’s Hour, offering comfort to children displaced by the war, which made her a national figure of encouragement. She also participated in sewing projects for the military. Furthermore, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) where she trained as a driver and mechanic. Her service was symbolic and a morale booster for the British public. This experience provided her with a sense of purpose and independence.
7. What was Elizabeth’s relationship with Prince Philip like, and how did their marriage challenge traditional royal norms?
8. Elizabeth and Philip’s relationship began when they were young, developing over years of correspondence and visits while he was serving in the military during the war. Their marriage was a love match, although her parents had initial reservations. Philip was a modern, independent man with a strong personality, while Elizabeth was more reserved. He had to give up his naval career and had difficulty adjusting to being the consort of the Queen. Their marriage challenged traditional royal norms by creating a partnership that was based more on genuine affection and mutual respect than was typical of royal matches in previous generations. In time he was made a Prince of the UK.
9. What were the major challenges Queen Elizabeth II faced during her reign, and how did she approach them?
10. Queen Elizabeth II faced numerous challenges throughout her long reign, including shifting public opinion about the monarchy, scandals within her family, scrutiny of royal finances, and international conflicts. She often responded to these challenges with a consistent emphasis on her duty as head of state, which required her to often put the needs of her people ahead of her own family and personal desires. She attempted to connect with the public by embracing the media through documentaries and broadcast interviews, and by implementing innovations such as the Royal Walkabout. She prioritized stability and continuity and avoided expressing opinions that might spark political or constitutional crises. She also emphasized the importance of the Commonwealth, seeing it as a force for international cooperation and development.
11. How did Queen Elizabeth II balance her roles as a monarch and as a mother?
12. Queen Elizabeth II’s efforts to balance her roles as a monarch and as a mother often proved to be difficult and caused her great personal regret. She remained committed to her duty as sovereign, which meant that it often took precedence over her family life. While she made time for her children, she often had to delegate their care to nannies and other staff. Her children grew up in an environment much less sheltered than her own childhood, attending regular schools and being exposed to people of different backgrounds, which gave them a much more worldly perspective on life than their mother had. Some of her children had difficulty with the lack of personal attention, which caused considerable tension and personal pain during the later years of her reign. She was always a dutiful parent, if not always demonstrably affectionate, especially by the standards of modern parenthood.
13. How did Queen Elizabeth II modernize the monarchy and adapt it to changing times?
14. Queen Elizabeth II modernized the monarchy by increasing public accessibility, engaging with the media, and streamlining royal duties. She permitted documentaries about the royal family, allowed cameras to follow her, and made numerous public addresses, as well as using innovations like the Royal Walkabout. She adapted to changing social attitudes toward the monarchy by being more open to public scrutiny. While she never directly advocated for social or political issues, her actions were often interpreted as supporting human rights and social justice. Her style of leadership was designed to be accessible and modern, while still preserving the traditions and dignity of the crown. Her leadership was particularly effective during the Covid pandemic where she led by example.
15. What is the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, and how will she be remembered?
16. Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy is complex and multifaceted. She is remembered for her remarkable dedication to public service, her steadfast commitment to duty, and her ability to provide stability and continuity in times of great change. She oversaw the transition from the British Empire to the modern Commonwealth, a major step in the global decolonization process. She is seen as both a traditional figure of authority and a figure who adapted the monarchy to be more accessible and relevant in a modern world. Her impact as a head of state, an international diplomat, and a symbol of British identity has earned her a reputation as one of the most influential leaders of her time. She will long be remembered as a symbol of duty, grace, and unwavering service to the people of Britain and beyond.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Life in Time

Okay, here’s the timeline and cast of characters based on the provided text:

Timeline of Main Events:

• April 21, 1926: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is born in London to the Duke and Duchess of York (Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon).
• 1926-1930: Elizabeth, nicknamed “Lilibet,” spends her early childhood with her parents, nannies, and grandparents, enjoying a close family life, playing outdoors, and developing a love for animals, especially horses.
• 1927: The Duke and Duchess of York miss Elizabeth’s first word, “Mummy,” while on tour in Australia and New Zealand.
• Summer 1930: Princess Margaret Rose is born, Elizabeth’s younger sister.
• 1931: The Yorks are gifted the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, which becomes a weekend retreat for the family.
• 1930s: Elizabeth and Margaret’s education is managed by governess Marion “Crawfie” Crawford, and though close to her, she feels the princesses lived a somewhat isolated existence
• 1936: Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, dies. Her uncle, Edward VIII, becomes King, but abdicates later the same year. Elizabeth’s father, Prince Albert, becomes King George VI. Elizabeth becomes heir presumptive to the throne. Her family moves to Buckingham Palace.
• 1937: Elizabeth attends her parents’ coronation and begins private classes at Eton College, studying constitutional law and the history of the monarchy. Elizabeth becomes a Girl Guide in a specially formed troop at Buckingham Palace.
• Summer 1939: Elizabeth first meets Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark at the Royal Naval College.
• September 1939: World War II begins. Elizabeth and Margaret begin listening to the wireless for news and contribute to the war effort by organizing sewing parties.
• Autumn 1940: Elizabeth and Margaret are moved to Windsor Castle for the duration of the war.
• October 13, 1940: Elizabeth gives her first public speech on the radio during Children’s Hour on the BBC.
• 1942: At 16, Elizabeth signs on at the Labour Exchange for war work, but is not offered work.
• March 1945: Elizabeth joins the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), training as a driver and mechanic.
• May 8, 1945: Victory in Europe Day. Elizabeth celebrates with the royal family and joins the crowds on the streets of London.
• 1946: Elizabeth establishes her own household in Buckingham Palace and assumes more royal duties.
• Summer 1946: Philip proposes to Elizabeth at Balmoral. The engagement is not announced publicly until after her 21st birthday.
• Spring 1947: The royal family undertakes a state visit to South Africa.
• April 21, 1947: Elizabeth turns 21 and gives a speech dedicating her life to service.
• July 8, 1947: Elizabeth and Philip’s engagement is officially announced.
• November 20, 1947: Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten (Duke of Edinburgh) at Westminster Abbey.
• November 14, 1948: Prince Charles is born, Elizabeth’s first child.
• August 15, 1950: Princess Anne is born, Elizabeth’s second child.
• 1950: Marion Crawford publishes “The Little Princesses” against the wishes of the royal family, leading to a severing of ties.
• 1948-1951: Elizabeth splits her time between her royal duties in England and being with her husband in Malta.
• January 1952: King George VI dies while Elizabeth is in Kenya on a royal tour. She immediately becomes Queen Elizabeth II.
• February 1952: Queen Mary formally recognizes Elizabeth’s accession and kisses her hand.
• June 2, 1953: Elizabeth’s coronation is held at Westminster Abbey, televised live for the first time.
• 1955: Princess Margaret’s relationship with Peter Townsend becomes a media issue, ultimately leading to their separation.
• 1957: Elizabeth makes Philip a Prince of the United Kingdom. American newspapers begin to gossip about his activities.
• February 19, 1960: Prince Andrew is born, Elizabeth’s third child.
• March 10, 1964: Prince Edward is born, Elizabeth’s fourth child.
• 1960s: The monarchy faces increased scrutiny and satire.
• 1969: Prince Philip gives a controversial television interview lamenting the royal family’s financial situation.
• 1970s: The “Royal Walkabout” is introduced, increasing the public’s accessibility to the monarchy.
• 1977: Elizabeth celebrates her Silver Jubilee (25 years on the throne).
• 1979: Lord Mountbatten is killed in a bombing in Ireland.
• 1981: Marcus Sarjeant fires blank shots at the Queen during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony.
• 1982: Michael Fagan breaches security at Buckingham Palace and enters the Queen’s bedroom.
• 1982: Christopher Lewis tries to shoot the Queen during a visit to New Zealand.
• 1990s: The Queen faces a series of crises, including marital breakdowns in the royal family, a fire at Windsor Castle, and increased public scrutiny.
• 1992: The Queen dubs the year her “Annus Horribilis.” The “Elizabeth R” documentary is released.
• March 1993: The Queen’s long-term friend and dresser, Margaret “Bobo” MacDonald, passes away.
• 1997: Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in a car crash, sparking a period of public mourning and questioning of the royal family’s response.
• 2002: The Queen’s sister, Margaret, dies, followed by her mother, the Queen Mother, one month later. The Queen celebrates her Golden Jubilee (50 years on the throne).
• 2005: The Queen gives her blessing for Prince Charles to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles.
• 2012: The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) and participates in the opening of the London Olympics.
• 2017: The Paradise Papers reveal some of the Queen’s wealth is held in offshore tax havens.
• 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle give a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey.
• January 2022: The Queen strips Prince Andrew of his military titles and patronages in the wake of a sexual assault lawsuit.
• February 2022: Elizabeth celebrates her Platinum Jubilee (70 years on the throne).
• September 8, 2022: Queen Elizabeth II dies at Balmoral at the age of 96.
• September 19, 2022: The Queen’s state funeral and burial at Windsor Castle. Prince Charles succeeds her as King Charles III.
• May 6, 2023: King Charles III is crowned at Westminster Abbey with Camilla as Queen Consort

Cast of Characters:

• Elizabeth II: Born Princess Elizabeth of York, she became Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth in 1952. She is known for her sense of duty, quiet determination, and dedication to her role.
• Prince Albert (Bertie), Duke of York/King George VI: Elizabeth’s father, second son of King George V. He ascended to the throne after his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated. He is described as loving, though initially reluctant and unprepared for the role, and protective of his family.
• Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York/Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: Elizabeth’s mother, known for her warmth and devotion to family. She served as a model for her daughters and was a strong support to her husband and her family.
• Princess Margaret Rose: Elizabeth’s younger sister, known for her outgoing and charismatic personality. She often clashed with the expectations of royal life.
• King George V: Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather. He doted on her, and gave her the nickname “Lilibet”. He was opposed to the idea of the princesses attending school.
• Queen Mary: Elizabeth’s paternal grandmother. She is described as sensible, pragmatic, and similar in temperament to Elizabeth. She took her granddaughters on outings to museums and historical sites.
• Prince Edward (David), Prince of Wales/King Edward VIII: Elizabeth’s uncle, who briefly became king before abdicating to marry Wallis Simpson. His actions significantly altered Elizabeth’s life trajectory.
• Mrs. Wallis Simpson: American socialite and divorcee whose relationship with Edward VIII led to his abdication.
• Clara Knight (“Mrs. Knight” or “Alla”): Elizabeth’s nanny, who helped raise her and taught her practical skills.
• Ruby MacDonald: Elizabeth’s nurse, who worked with her and her sister as a young child.
• Margaret “Bobo” MacDonald: Elizabeth’s childhood nurse and lifelong dresser, who provided support and companionship for the better part of her life.
• Marion Crawford (“Crawfie”): Elizabeth and Margaret’s governess, who later wrote a controversial memoir about her time with the princesses. Her perspective emphasized their perceived isolation and need for more exposure to the outside world, however, she was also criticised for writing and publishing her memoir without their permission.
• Sir Henry Martin: The Vice-Provost of Eton College, who tutored Elizabeth in constitutional law and the history of the monarchy, emphasizing the importance of adaptability.
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: Elizabeth’s husband and a distant cousin. Known for his outspoken nature, he was also Elizabeth’s “strength and stay”. He was a Navy man, and struggled initially to adjust to life as the Queen’s consort.
• Louis Mountbatten (“Dickie”): Philip’s uncle, who was instrumental in encouraging Philip and Elizabeth’s relationship.
• Sir Alan Lascelles: He composed the speech that Elizabeth gave on her 21st birthday.
• Norman Hartnell: Fashion designer, who designed the Queen’s wedding dress and her coronation gown.
• Martin Chartres: Elizabeth’s private secretary at the time of her father’s death. He was the one that Elizabeth instructed to take care of correspondence and cancellation of engagements.
• Mike Parker: Royal Equerry, who relayed news of the King’s death to Philip and Elizabeth.
• Peter Townsend: Group Captain, who had an ill-fated relationship with Princess Margaret.
• Anthony Armstrong-Jones: Princess Margaret’s photographer husband, later known as Lord Snowdon, who she eventually divorced.
• Noel Coward: Celebrated British writer and performer who observed that had Princess Margaret been permitted to pursue a career in the theatre, she undoubtedly would have been an enormous success.
• Winston Churchill: Prime Minister during World War II and the early years of Elizabeth’s reign.
• Marcus Sarjeant: The young man who fired blanks at the Queen during the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
• Christopher Lewis: The young man who tried to shoot the Queen with a rifle in New Zealand.
• Michael Fagan: The man who breached the security of Buckingham Palace and was discovered in the Queen’s bedroom.
• Margaret Thatcher: Britain’s first female Prime Minister, whose relationship with Elizabeth was complex and occasionally fraught.
• Brian Mulroney: Former Canadian Prime Minister, who revealed the Queen’s behind-the-scenes role in encouraging an end to apartheid in South Africa.
• Camilla Parker Bowles/Duchess of Cornwall/Queen Consort: Prince Charles’s second wife, whom he married with the Queen’s blessing. Elizabeth expressed her desire that Camilla be known as “Queen Consort”.
• Prince Charles/King Charles III: The Queen’s eldest son, who succeeded her to the throne in 2022, and known for his championing of environmental issues.
• Princess Anne: The Queen’s only daughter.
• Prince Andrew: The Queen’s second son.
• Prince Edward: The Queen’s youngest son.
• Prince William: The Queen’s grandson and second in line to the throne.
• Prince Harry: The Queen’s grandson, who stepped down from royal duties with his wife, Meghan Markle.
• Angela Kelly: The Queen’s dresser, who served her for almost 30 years, and wrote of the Queen’s courage and kindness.
• Virginia Giuffre: Woman who sued Prince Andrew for sexual assault.
• Meghan Markle: Wife of Prince Harry, who gave a widely discussed interview to Oprah Winfrey with her husband.

This timeline and cast of characters should provide a comprehensive overview of the information presented in the provided text.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Life of Service and Reign

Queen Elizabeth II, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, was the daughter of Prince Albert of York (Bertie) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon [1]. She was named after her mother, her paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, and her grandmother Queen Mary [1]. At the time of her birth, few imagined she would become queen, as her uncle, Prince Edward, was the heir to the throne [1].

Early Life and Family

• Elizabeth was a favorite of her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, who often visited her at 17 Bruton Street, where she was born [2].
• She was nicknamed “Princess Betty” by the British media [2].
• Her parents valued family time, spending at least an hour with her every morning and evening [2].
• Elizabeth spent time with her grandparents at Sandringham and Balmoral, and with her maternal grandparents at Glamis Castle [2].
• She had a close relationship with her uncle David, who often visited and brought her gifts, and with her grandfather, King George V, whom she called “Grandpa England,” who would play with her [2, 3].
• She had an idyllic childhood, and enjoyed playing with toy ponies and gardening with her father [3].
• Her love for animals, especially horses and dogs, developed early in life. She was gifted a Shetland pony named Peggy on her fourth birthday, and began riding lessons the following year [3].
• Her family moved to 145 Piccadilly in London [3].
• She had a close relationship with her nanny, Mrs. Knight, and her nurses, Ruby and Margaret MacDonald, whom she called Bobo [3].
• In 1930, her younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose, was born [3].
• The family was close, referring to themselves as “us four,” a contrast to her father’s cold relationship with his parents [4].
• In 1931, the family was gifted Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, which became a weekend retreat [4].
• Her mother became particularly attached to Royal Lodge and it remained her primary residence for 50 years after the passing of her husband [4].
• Elizabeth was reserved, conscientious, and dutiful while Margaret was affectionate, romantic, and mischievous [4, 5].
• They had typical sibling struggles, but Elizabeth was protective of Margaret and they remained close throughout their lives [5].
• Her parents emphasized kindness, consideration, and good manners over religious devotion [5].
• The family spent summers in Scotland and Christmases and Easters at Sandringham, and the girls received a weekly allowance and saved it to buy small Christmas gifts [5].
• She made a list of all the gifts she had received and who gave them to her, and sent thank you notes and saved wrapping paper to reuse [6].

Education and Upbringing

• Elizabeth and Margaret were educated at home by a governess, Marion Crawford (Crawfie) [4, 7].
• Crawfie believed the princesses were isolated and should have more experiences outside of the royal sphere [6].
• However, they did interact with ordinary people, such as their nurses and governess, who came from working-class backgrounds [6].
• While they didn’t often interact with ordinary children, they did play with children from their social circle [8].
• King George V was against the idea of the princesses attending school, and her parents agreed, wanting to keep them sheltered [7].
• There was social pressure against highly educating aristocratic women at the time [7].
• Her formal academic training consisted of English literature, history, and French lessons.
• She also took piano, voice, and dance lessons [9].
• She enjoyed domestic arts, and had a miniature cottage on the grounds of Royal Lodge, where she learned to cook and keep house [9].
• She was given a child sized cottage by the people of Wales [9].

Becoming Heir to the Throne

• Her grandfather, King George V, died in January 1936, and her uncle David became King Edward VIII [9, 10].
• Edward’s conduct, including his relationship with Mrs. Wallis Simpson, a divorced American socialite, caused controversy [10].
• Edward chose to abdicate rather than end his relationship with Mrs. Simpson [10].
• Elizabeth’s father, Bertie, became King George VI, and Elizabeth became the heir presumptive [10, 11].
• The family moved to Buckingham Palace, which was large and difficult to adjust to [11].
• She and Margaret curtsied to their father for the first time after he became King [11].
• She observed that Buckingham Palace was so large that “people here need bicycles” to get from one end to the other [11].
• The family spent weekends at Royal Lodge to have time together [11].
• The food at Buckingham Palace was served cold because the kitchens were so far away from the dining room [11].
• The palace was chilly, damp, and had old furniture and a rodent infestation, causing Crawfie to note that “Life in a palace resembles camping in a museum” [12].

Growing Up in the Public Eye

• She attended her parents’ coronation in 1937 at Westminster Abbey, and wrote a detailed account of it at her father’s request [12].
• She began private classes at Eton College, studying constitutional law and the history of the monarchy [12].
• Her instructor, Sir Henry Martin, emphasized the importance of adaptability for the monarchy [12].
• She was encouraged to join the Girl Guides, which formed a special troupe for her and other aristocratic girls [13].
• In 1939, she met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark at the Royal Naval College [14].
• She found him handsome and confident [14].
• During World War II, she and Margaret were moved to Windsor Castle [15].
• They tried to live as normal as possible but had to be prepared for air raids [15].
• She gave her first public speech on the radio, offering comfort to children displaced by the war [16].
• She and Margaret organized sewing parties to produce goods for the war effort [15].
• She wanted to do her part in the war effort [17].
• She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, training as a driver and mechanic [18].
• She viewed her time in the ATS as the only time she was able to test herself against people her own age [18].
• She was determined to assert her independence and be her own person [18].

Marriage and Family

• She fell in love with Prince Philip and they maintained a correspondence and visited during his leaves [18].
• Her parents had reservations about Philip, but she was determined to marry him [19].
• Her governess was concerned about her keeping a picture of Philip in her sitting room because of gossip [19].
• She replaced the picture with one of Philip sporting an unruly beard [20].
• She celebrated Victory in Europe Day in 1945 with her family, and went out into the streets of London to join the celebrations [20].
• She walked the streets of London with her sister, cheering and singing with other Londoners who had come of age in wartime [20].
• By 1946, Elizabeth had established a more adult routine. She had her own household and chose her own clothing. She preferred a more modest and traditional look [21].
• Philip proposed to her at Balmoral in 1946, and she accepted [21].
• Her father insisted they wait until after her 21st birthday to announce their engagement [21].
• She declared her dedication to service in a speech on her 21st birthday [22].
• Elizabeth was often seen with Philip in his sports car before they were engaged [22].
• She married Philip on November 20, 1947 [23].
• The wedding was a morale booster for the country, and they received thousands of gifts and telegrams [22, 23].
• Philip renounced his German surname and his Greek and Danish titles, and became the Duke of Edinburgh [23].
• They had four children: Prince Charles (1948), Princess Anne (1950), Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964) [23, 24].
• She tended to prioritize being with her husband in Malta in the early years of their marriage, even if her children remained in England [23].
• She made sure to spend at least an hour with her children every morning and another hour between bath time and bedtime [23].
• Her approach to motherhood was similar to that of her own parents [23].

Accession to the Throne

• Her father’s health declined due to lung cancer, forcing her and Philip to take on more royal duties [25, 26].
• She was in Kenya when her father, King George VI, died in 1952 [26].
• She was informed by her husband [26].
• She remained calm and composed after receiving the news, and began writing letters of apology for the abrupt end to the tour [26].
• She chose to keep her own name as her regnal name [26].
• Her grandmother, Queen Mary, was the first to kiss her hand [27].
• She affirmed her desire to serve dutifully [27].
• She became Queen of the United Kingdom, the Head of the Commonwealth, and Queen of her other realms and territories [27].
• Her coronation in 1953 was the first to be broadcast live [27].
• She wore a gown embroidered with the floral emblems of every country in the Commonwealth [28].

Reign and Challenges

• She strived to keep her personal and public life separate, but this proved to be difficult [28].
• She had to remain diplomatic and rarely expressed her opinions, to avoid sparking a constitutional crisis [28].
• She faced challenges regarding the cost of the monarchy to taxpayers, as well as public scandals within the royal family [28].
• Her sister, Princess Margaret, was involved in a media frenzy regarding her relationship with a divorced man, which ultimately ended [28, 29].
• Rumors of Philip’s behavior also caused issues for the family [29].
• Philip eventually found his niche in royal duties, and in 1957 Elizabeth made him a “Prince” of the United Kingdom [24, 29].
• She described Philip as her “strength and stay.” [24].
• Her children attended school with ordinary young people, in contrast to her own upbringing [24].
• There was disagreement about the Queen’s performance as a mother [24].
• The monarchy faced increased criticism and satire in the 1960s [30].
• In the 1970s, she began using younger, more modern press officials, and introduced the Royal Walkabout [30].
• She celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977 [31].
• The safety of the royal family and those who served them was put at risk during several incidents, including bombings and assassination attempts [31, 32].
• She was able to recover quickly after an attempt was made on her life during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony [31].
• The security of Buckingham Palace was called into question when Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom [31, 32].
• Despite these threats to her safety, she remained accessible to the public [32].
• Her relationship with Margaret Thatcher was complex and reportedly strained due to her opposition to sanctions against South Africa to end apartheid [32].
• She was very active “behind the scenes” encouraging an end to apartheid in South Africa [33].
• She dubbed 1992 her “Annus Horribilis” due to the breakdown of the marriages of three of her children and a fire at Windsor Castle [33].
• Her former nanny, Margaret “Bobo” MacDonald, passed away in 1993, deeply saddening the Queen [33].
• The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 led to public criticism of the royal family’s initial response [33, 34].
• Public approval of the Queen reached a low point in 1997, but quickly rebounded [34].
• She was heartbroken by the deaths of her sister, Margaret, and her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, in 2002 [34].
• She celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002 [34].
• She gave her blessing for Prince Charles to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005, and later expressed her wish that Camilla be made Queen Consort [35].
• She celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and became the only British monarch besides Queen Victoria to celebrate this achievement [35].
• Her popularity peaked in 2012, with a 90% approval rating [35].
• She opened the Olympic Games in London in 2012 with a James Bond-themed performance [35].
• She faced criticism over the departure of her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, from their royal roles, as well as scrutiny of royal finances with the release of the Paradise Papers [35].
• In 2022, she stripped her son Prince Andrew of his military titles and royal duties due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the lawsuit for sexual assault against him [36].
• Despite various scandals and criticism, she remained popular, both in the UK and abroad [36].
• She was seen as a dutiful and effective head of state [36].

Character and Legacy

• She was described by her husband as tolerant, careful, observant, disciplined, and moral, but rarely judgmental [36].
• Her dresser, Angela Kelly, wrote of her courage, kindness, strength, sense of humor and fun [36].
• She was skilled at putting people at ease [37].
• She loved horses and dogs, and enjoyed riding and horse racing [37].
• She cherished time with her family, but grew increasingly solitary after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in 2021 [37].
• She put duty before her personal needs, even during the Covid-19 pandemic [37].
• She never considered abdication [37].
• She exercised “soft power” through gentle persuasion rather than force [38].
• She was a link to British history and a figure of stability and change [38].
• She was a touchstone of global decolonization [38, 39].
• She was associated with the gradual withdrawal from empire, the end of oppression, the beginning of independence, and international friendship on equal terms [39].

Final Years and Death

• Her platinum jubilee was celebrated in 2022, with the knowledge it would be her last [39].
• Her health declined following the death of Prince Philip [39].
• She died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96 [39].
• Her state funeral was held on September 19, and she was laid to rest at Windsor Castle [39].
• Her son, Prince Charles, succeeded her as King Charles III [39].
• She left an immense legacy, guiding Britain through immense social, political, economic, and technological changes [39].
• Her reign witnessed a redefinition of monarchy and empire [38].
• Her passing led to a period of mourning [39].

Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was marked by her dedication to service, her ability to adapt to changing times, and her role as a symbol of stability and continuity for Britain and the Commonwealth [38, 39].

Queen Elizabeth II: Early Life and Accession

Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in London on April 21, 1926 [1]. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth [1]. She was named after her mother, her paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, and her grandmother Queen Mary [1].

At the time of her birth, her family did not anticipate that she would become queen [1]. Her father was the second son of King George V, and his older brother, Prince Edward, was the heir to the throne [1].

• Childhood:
• She was a favorite of the British newspapers and magazines, who called her “Princess Betty,” and of the senior royals [2].
• She spent a significant amount of time with her nannies and governess, but her parents made sure to spend quality time with her every morning and evening [2].
• She also spent time with her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, and her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore [2].
• Her first word was “Mummy,” which she reportedly used on multiple people before her mother returned from a trip [2].
• King George V doted on her and nicknamed her “Lilibet”, which was how she pronounced her own name as a toddler [3].
• She had an “idyllic childhood” [3].
• She enjoyed playing with toy ponies and gardening with her father [3].
• She loved being outdoors and loved animals, especially horses and dogs [3].
• Her grandfather, George V, gave her her first pony for her fourth birthday [3].
• She loved getting dirty and once said she wanted to marry a farmer so she could be outdoors with horses and dogs [3].
• Her younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose, was born in 1930 [3].
• The family was very close, and referred to themselves as “us four” [4].
• Family Life:
• The family moved to 145 Piccadilly, and later to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park [3, 4].
• The family enjoyed their time together at Royal Lodge and they spent weekends there. [4].
• Elizabeth and Margaret began their days in their parents’ room before breakfast and spent the day playing or doing lessons with their governess, Marion Crawford [4].
• The family was seen as relatable to the British public [4].
• Elizabeth was reserved, conscientious, and dutiful, while Margaret was affectionate, romantic, and mischievous [4, 5].
• They had typical sibling rivalries, but were also very close [5].
• The family emphasized kindness, consideration, and good manners more than religious devotion [5].
• Holidays were spent with family at Sandringham or in Scotland [5].
• She was a saver, and saved her weekly allowance of one shilling to buy Christmas presents [5].
• She kept a careful list of her gifts [6].
• Education:
• Elizabeth and Margaret were educated at home by their governess, Marion Crawford [4].
• They studied English literature and history [7].
• They also received instruction in French, piano, voice, and dance [7, 8].
• King George V and his sons, David and Bertie, were opposed to the princesses attending school [9].
• They believed there were too many public relations risks involved [9].
• Bertie also wanted to keep his daughters sheltered because of his own experiences being bullied at school [9].
• They did not study for more than two or three hours per day [9].
• The Duke and Duchess of York sometimes interrupted their lessons for family fun [9].
• Queen Mary made sure the girls were exposed to museums, galleries and historic sites [8].
• The girls also learned and practiced domestic arts in their child-sized playhouse at Royal Lodge [8].
• Early Interests:
• She was not as interested in the arts as Margaret [8].
• She loved being outdoors [3].
• She was interested in the domestic arts [8].
• She loved animals, especially horses and dogs [3].
• Transition to Heir:
• Her childhood came to an end when her grandfather, King George V, died in 1936 [8].
• Her uncle David became King Edward VIII [10].
• Edward’s conduct was troubling to the royal establishment and his relationship with a divorced woman caused a scandal [10].
• Edward chose to abdicate, making her father King George VI [10].
• When her father became King, Elizabeth became the heir presumptive [11].
• She and her family moved to Buckingham Palace [11].
• Adjustments to Royal Life:
• The family had a harder time spending time together because of their new responsibilities [11].
• Buckingham Palace was difficult to adjust to because of its size, poor conditions, and lack of privacy [11, 12].
• She attended her parents’ coronation in 1937 [12].
• She was tasked by her father to write a detailed account of the coronation [12].
• She observed that the Abbey seemed suspended in “a haze of wonder” but the service was boring and she became impatient [12].
• She began to attend private classes at Eton College to prepare for her future role as Queen [12].
• She studied constitutional law and the history of the monarchy [12].
• Her instructor emphasized the importance of adaptability [12].
• She joined a Girl Guide troupe, which was formed with relatives and daughters of the aristocracy [13].
• First Meeting with Prince Philip:
• She met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark for the first time at the Royal Naval College in 1939 [14].
• He was her distant cousin [14].
• She admired his confidence and handsomeness [14].
• World War II:
• She and Margaret listened closely to the wireless for war news [14].
• They organized weekly sewing parties to help with the war effort [15].
• They followed rationing requirements [15].
• They were secretly sent to live at Windsor Castle for the duration of the war [15].
• They carried on their lessons, but also prepared for air raids [15].
• They explored the castle and played hide and seek [15].
• She gave her first public speech on the radio during Children’s Hour in 1940, offering encouragement to children displaced by the war [16].
• She began to assert her independence during the war [17].
• She wanted to contribute to the war effort like others her age [17].
• She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 and trained as a driver and mechanic [18].
• She was determined to be her own person and made the decision to marry Prince Philip without consulting her parents [18].
• She fell more and more in love with Philip each time he visited [19].

Her early life, although seemingly privileged, was also marked by significant events that shaped her into the Queen she would become, including the abdication of her uncle, the impact of World War II, and her first love.

Princess Elizabeth’s Path to the Throne

During her early life, Elizabeth’s royal duties were limited but increased as she grew older, and especially after her father became King [1, 2]. Here’s a breakdown of her royal duties:

• Early Exposure to Royal Life:
• As a young princess, Elizabeth was involved in some royal duties and functions, though her parents tried to ensure that she had a relatively normal childhood [3].
• She would often accompany her parents to royal events, which exposed her to the expectations of royal life from a young age [2, 3].
• Her family was seen by the British public as having a “bourgeois domestic contentment” that they admired, and they could relate to, which would become important later when her father became King [4].
• Education and Preparation:
• After her father became King, Elizabeth’s education began to shift to prepare her for her future role as Queen [5].
• She began attending private classes at Eton College, where she studied constitutional law and the history of the monarchy [5].
• Her instructor emphasized the importance of adaptability for the monarchy to remain successful [5].
• Increased Responsibilities:
• As she grew older, Elizabeth began to take on more royal duties, such as giving speeches at public functions and serving in charitable organizations [6].
• She was made a councilor of state [6].
• Her father tasked her with writing a detailed account of his coronation, which showed the growing responsibility she had [5].
• World War II:
• During World War II, Elizabeth felt a strong desire to contribute to the war effort, like other young people of her generation [6].
• She and her sister organized sewing parties to produce goods for the war effort [7].
• She gave her first public speech on the radio in 1940, offering encouragement to children displaced by the war, marking her move into a public role [8].
• She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945 and trained as a driver and mechanic [9]. Her service in the ATS was viewed as effective propaganda and a morale booster for the British [9].
• Post-War Duties:
• After the war, she established her own independent household in Buckingham Palace and began to take on more royal duties, including attending to correspondence and obligations to various charities [10].
• She attended royal council meetings [10].
• She now had her own receiving rooms for palace business, ladies-in-waiting, a footman, and a housemaid [10].
• Travel and Representation:
• She accompanied her parents on a state visit to South Africa in 1947 and was warmly received [10].
• On her 21st birthday she gave a speech broadcast all over the empire declaring her life would be devoted to their service [11].
• Marriage and Family:
• She continued with her royal duties after her marriage to Prince Philip, but also prioritized being with him when he was stationed in Malta. [12].
• She made efforts to spend quality time with her children, though some criticized her for prioritizing her royal duties. [12, 13].
• Transition to Queen:
• When her father’s health declined, Elizabeth had to take on far more royal duties [14].
• She embarked on a royal tour of the United States and Canada on his behalf, and another major tour in January of 1952 with the first stop in Kenya [14, 15].
• Her father died while she was in Kenya, and she immediately became Queen [15]. She demonstrated her calm and dutiful character by apologizing to her staff for the abrupt end to the tour and then focusing on cancelling engagements [15].
• Accession and Coronation:
• Upon her return to London, she was met by her grandmother who acknowledged Elizabeth’s new position as Queen [16].
• She addressed the accession council, affirming her desire to serve dutifully [16].
• She was crowned Queen in 1952 [16]. The broadcast of her coronation was a break from tradition and marked the beginning of a more modern monarchy [16].
• Her coronation gown included floral emblems from every country in the Commonwealth, which highlighted her role as head of the Commonwealth [17].

Overall, Elizabeth’s early royal duties began with exposure to royal life, followed by education and training, increasing responsibilities, and ultimately leading to her role as Queen. Even during her childhood and adolescence, she displayed a dedication to duty that would define her long reign.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Family Portrait

Queen Elizabeth II’s family life was a central aspect of her personal life, and it also had a significant impact on her public image and role as Queen. Here’s a breakdown of her family life, drawing from the provided sources:

• Parents and Early Childhood:
• Elizabeth was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth [1].
• Her family was close and referred to themselves as “us four” [2]. This was in contrast to her father’s distant relationship with his own parents, and Elizabeth was raised in a more modern manner than previous monarchs [2].
• Her parents placed great importance on family life and spent at least an hour with her every morning and evening [3].
• Siblings:
• Elizabeth had one younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose, who was born in 1930 [4].
• Elizabeth was delighted with her baby sister and initially thought she was a “wonderful dolly” [2].
• They had a close relationship but also experienced typical sibling rivalries [2, 5].
• Elizabeth was very protective of Margaret, trying to shield her from upsetting news and ensuring that she was included [5].
• Margaret was more outgoing, affectionate, and mischievous, while Elizabeth was more reserved, conscientious and dutiful [5]. Their personalities differed greatly which sometimes led to conflict, but they remained close and loving confidantes throughout their lives [2, 5].
• Their relationship was eventually strained by the family’s proximity to the crown [5].
• Grandparents:
• Elizabeth was a favorite of her paternal grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary [3].
• King George V doted on her, called her “Lilibet” and would play with her [3, 4].
• Queen Mary shared a special kinship with Elizabeth, as they had similar personalities [6].
• She also spent time with her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore [3].
• Childhood Environment:
• Elizabeth spent a significant amount of time with her nannies and governess, but her parents made sure to spend quality time with her every day [3].
• The family moved to 145 Piccadilly, and later to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where they spent weekends [2, 4].
• The family had some of their happiest times together at Royal Lodge [2].
• Her family was viewed by the public as loving, stable and relatable [2].
• Her parents emphasized kindness, consideration, and good manners rather than religious devotion [5].
• Holidays were spent with family at Sandringham or in Scotland [5].
• Relationship with her Parents:
• The Duke and Duchess of York were openly overjoyed at being reunited with their daughter after a royal tour in 1927, although a little dismayed at how much she had grown [3].
• Elizabeth’s father, Bertie, was eager to give his daughters an easier, more carefree childhood than he had [7].
• After Bertie became King George VI, the family found it more difficult to spend time together, due to increased responsibilities [8].
• The family tried to compensate by spending weekends at Royal Lodge, though the King’s work never really stopped [8].
• Elizabeth inherited her mother’s “stiff upper lip” [9].
• Marriage to Prince Philip:
• Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947 [10].
• Her parents initially had reservations about Philip but Elizabeth was determined to marry him [11].
• The King insisted they wait until after Elizabeth’s 21st birthday to announce the engagement [12].
• The couple received many gifts and congratulatory messages from all over the world after their wedding [10].
• She accepted Philip’s proposal during a visit to Balmoral in 1946 [12].
• They had a close relationship, though they were very different personalities [11].
• After their marriage, Elizabeth prioritized being by her husband’s side while he was stationed in Malta, even though her children remained in England [10].
• Children:
• Elizabeth and Philip had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward [10, 13].
• She tried to spend at least an hour with her children every morning and evening [10].
• Some biographers have disagreed about the Queen’s performance as a mother [13].
• Prince Philip insisted that their children go to senior school with other young people [13].
• Later Life:
• Elizabeth experienced many personal losses in her later life, including the deaths of her sister Margaret and her mother [14].
• She was deeply saddened by these deaths, as well as the death of her husband Prince Philip [15].
• She was also deeply saddened by the death of her former nanny and friend Bobo MacDonald [16].
• Throughout her life she valued the importance of family [5].
• Her family continued to grow following her passing to eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren [15].
• She spent an increasingly solitary time towards the end of her life, especially after the death of her husband [15].

In summary, Queen Elizabeth II’s family life was a mix of close relationships, traditional royal expectations, and personal challenges. Her upbringing emphasized family bonds and duty. Despite the unique pressures of her position, she was a mother, sister, and wife.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Reign of Duty and Change

Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was marked by significant changes in the world and in the role of the monarchy itself. Here’s a discussion of her reign and legacy:

• Accession and Early Reign:
• Elizabeth became Queen upon the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952, while she was in Kenya [1]. Her immediate reaction was one of calm and duty, and she focused on cancelling engagements and making travel arrangements to return to London [1].
• Her grandmother, Queen Mary, immediately paid her respects to the new Queen, demonstrating the transition of power and the reverence for the monarchy [2].
• She affirmed her desire to serve dutifully at the accession council [2].
• Her coronation in 1953 was a significant event, being the first to be broadcast live [2]. This was a major break with tradition and marked a move towards a more accessible monarchy [2]. The broadcast of the coronation was a huge event, with many people purchasing or renting televisions just to watch the ceremony [3].
• Her coronation gown was intricately embroidered with the floral emblems of every country in the Commonwealth, highlighting her role as head of the Commonwealth [3].
• Challenges Faced During Her Reign:
• One of the biggest challenges she faced was balancing her personal and family life with her duties as Queen [3]. This proved difficult and caused her great pain and regret [3].
• She had to remain diplomatic at all times to avoid causing a constitutional crisis [3].
• The monarchy faced scrutiny regarding its cost to taxpayers and its relevance in the modern world [3].
• Public fascination with royal scandals threatened to undermine the legitimacy of the monarchy [3].
• She was criticized for her approach to her family’s personal struggles [3].
• She had to navigate the challenges of a changing world, including decolonization and the rise of new technologies [4].
• Adaptations and Modernization:
• Queen Elizabeth’s reign saw a redefinition of both monarchy and empire [5]. The monarchy became in many ways more influential as its actual power declined [5].
• She embraced broadcasting as a way to connect with the public [6]. Her coronation was broadcast live, which was a major step towards public accessibility [2, 3].
• She permitted the creation of family documentaries and biographies [7].
• The “Royal Walkabout” was introduced, allowing her to meet and interact with the public directly [8].
• She and Prince Philip decided their children should attend school with other children rather than being sheltered at home [9].
• In the 1990s she and Prince Philip announced that they would begin paying taxes on their personal income [8].
• She was willing to adapt and change to meet the needs of her people [5].
• Personal Qualities and Public Image:
• Queen Elizabeth was known for her tolerance, discipline, and high moral standards [10].
• She had a talent for putting people at ease [10].
• She was a fashion icon and grew to appreciate beautiful clothes but was always most comfortable in riding clothes and headscarves [11].
• She was most animated and happy when spending time with her dogs and horses, riding, or watching horse racing [11].
• She was a deeply religious woman and took her position as the head of the Church very seriously [12].
• She was praised for her grace under pressure, such as when she was shot at by a teenager during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony [13].
• She led by example during the Covid pandemic, placing duty above her personal needs [11].
• She was highly regarded for her devotion to duty [10].
• Relationships with Prime Ministers:
• Queen Elizabeth worked with fourteen Prime Ministers during her reign [14].
• Her relationship with Margaret Thatcher was particularly interesting because they were the same age, but there was speculation that they did not always agree on issues [14]. The Queen’s views on sanctions against South Africa to encourage the end of apartheid may have differed from Thatcher’s [14, 15].
• Family Life:
• Her children grew up in a less sheltered environment than she did [9].
• There has been disagreement among observers regarding her performance as a mother [9]. Prince Charles described her as sometimes cold and distant, while other biographers state that she spent more time with her children than many aristocratic women [9].
• She faced numerous family challenges and scandals in her later years [15, 16].
• She suffered many personal losses including the death of her sister, mother and husband [11, 17].
• Key Events:
• She had a difficult year in 1992, which she famously dubbed her “Annus Horribilis,” due to the separation of three of her children and a disastrous fire at Windsor Castle [15].
• The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 prompted public criticism of the royal family’s perceived lack of emotion, highlighting a disconnect between public and royal expectations of mourning [15, 17].
• She celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 [16, 17].
• She opened the Olympic Games in London in 2012 in a memorable James Bond-themed performance [16].
• In the last years of her life, she passed along the bulk of her royal duties to other members of her family but still cherished her position as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth [11].
• Legacy:
• She is regarded by many as one of Britain’s most dutiful, respected, and revered monarchs [18].
• Her reign was characterized by adaptability, continuity, and a focus on service [11].
• She was a symbol of stability and continuity in a rapidly changing world [5].
• She played a significant role in the decolonization process and the transition of the British Empire to the Commonwealth [4, 5].
• She provided a link to British history in the modern world [5].
• She exercised “soft power” through gentle persuasion rather than force [5].
• She left an immense legacy of leadership, comfort, perspective, and stability [5].
• She guided Britain through significant social, political, economic, and technological change [5].
• She remained highly popular even at the lowest point of her popularity, with a 70-75% approval rating in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada [10].
• She died at the age of 96 in 2022, after a reign of 70 years, and was buried at Windsor Castle next to her parents and husband [4].
• Her son, Prince Charles, succeeded her as King Charles III [4].

In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was a remarkable period of change and adaptation for the British monarchy. Her legacy is one of duty, service, and stability. Her ability to navigate the complex challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries while maintaining the respect of her people and the world is a testament to her leadership.

The Original Text

The woman known to history as Elizabeth Windsor, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was born in London on the 21st of April, 1926. Her father was Prince Albert of York, known to his family and close friends as “Bertie”. Her mother was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon for whom Elizabeth was the first born child. She was given the name of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, but despite the fact that her regnal name was “Elizabeth II,” she was not named for the iconic Queen Elizabeth I. Instead she was named for her mother, for her paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, and for her grandmother Queen Mary. Elizabeth II was named for women who were consorts rather than those in whom authority was vested, and few imagined that she would grow up to do much more than marry, have children, and enjoy a life of quiet aristocratic privilege. The first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, Elizabeth’s birth was happily welcomed, but the family had little expectation of the grand status which would one day be hers. Her father, Prince Albert of York, was not the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne of Britain, but rather was the second son of King George V, who had been King of Britain and Emperor of India since 1910. Bertie’s older brother, Prince Edward, who was called “David” within the family, was next in line to inherit the throne. David was not yet married, but he was just thirty-two, only eighteen months older than Bertie. He had not married by the time Elizabeth was born, but most people were of the opinion that the Prince of Wales still had plenty of time to marry, have children and secure the royal line in this way. Thus, few people would have imagined when she was born in the spring of 1926 that Princess Elizabeth of York would one day be Queen. Even though she was the third grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary, Elizabeth’s birth was accompanied by great excitement, as she was theoretically the third in line to the throne. For most of the day, a crowd of reporters and well-wishers stood outside the house at 17 Bruton Street, where the Duchess of York had given birth, hoping for a glimpse of the members of the royal family coming and going to meet the newborn princess. King George V and Queen Mary were among the first to pay a visit to 17 Bruton Street that very day, eager to meet their first granddaughter. The queen pronounced her a, quote, “little darling with a lovely complexion and pretty, fair hair,” while the King was equally taken with his newest grandchild. Elizabeth became a great favourite, not only with the British newspapers and magazines who christened her, “Princess Betty,” but also with the senior members of the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of York were periodically busy with royal duties and functions and Elizabeth therefore spent a sizeable proportion of her childhood being cared for by her nannies and governess, a typical scenario for royal children in times gone by. However, her parents also placed great importance on their family life and made sure that they had daily quality time with their daughter for at least an hour every morning, and every evening between tea-time and bedtime. Neither did Elizabeth lack any family for company when her parents were away. She either stayed with the King and Queen at Sandringham or Balmoral, or with her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, at Glamis Castle in Scotland, or at their London house at 17 Bruton St. where she had been born. While Bertie and Elizabeth were away on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1927, they missed their daughter’s first word. The princess’ nanny, Clara Knight, reportedly helped her learn to pronounce the word “Mummy,” although amusingly, Elizabeth used the title on multiple individuals before her mother’s return. The Duke and Duchess of York were openly overjoyed at being reunited with their daughter, if not a little dismayed at how much she had grown and changed in the months that they had been away. Still, they knew she was well-cared for in their absence, and it was generally not the practice for small children to accompany royals during extended travel. Elizabeth’s uncle David also showed her much affection. He visited her often during her childhood, bringing her gifts and chatting amusedly with his little niece. King George V doted on her and would willingly play any part in her games. On one occasion, one of the King’s equerries or attendants was shocked to find the King on his hands and knees pretending to be a horse, and allowing the two-year-old Princess to lead him around by his beard! Elizabeth called him “Grandpa England,” which amused him greatly, as did his granddaughter’s inability to pronounce her own name as a toddler. “Lilibet” was the best she could do, and the King made sure that the nickname stuck. Lilibet had what many observers and historians characterize as an idyllic childhood. Soon after her birth, the Duke and Duchess of York moved into a house at 145 Piccadilly in London. Elizabeth spent most of her days with her nanny, Mrs. Knight, and her nurses, Ruby MacDonald, and her sister Margaret MacDonald, whom Elizabeth called “Bobo.” She enjoyed regular and daily quality time with her parents, who believed in the importance of a close, warm, and fun-filled family life. Elizabeth’s favourite activities were playing with her toy ponies and working in the garden with her father. Her love of the outdoors became apparent very early on, while she also shared a love of animals with other members of the family, particularly horses and dogs. Bertie had no less than eight pet dogs during Elizabeth’s childhood, including three Corgis, which famously became the queen’s favourite breed, ones she kept several of down to her last years. Elizabeth’s grandfather, George V, shared her love of horses, and gifted her with her first pony for her fourth birthday, a Shetland named Peggy. Elizabeth began taking riding lessons the following year, eventually proving to be an impressively adept equestrienne and as incurably horse-mad as most of the royal family. Lilibet, who loved to be outdoors getting dirty, once remarked that she hoped she might marry a farmer, so that she might spend every day outdoors with horses and dogs. During the summer of 1930, Elizabeth, Duchess of York, gave birth to her second daughter and last child at her family’s ancestral home at Glamis Castle in Scotland. She and Bertie named the infant princess Margaret Rose. Lilibet was delighted with her baby sister. She wrote to a relative that at first, she thought that Margaret was some kind of “wonderful dolly,” only to discover that she was alive! The next few years were relaxed and happy ones for the family. Bertie and Elizabeth referred to their family affectionately as “us four”, a surprisingly close relationship for a royal family unit. Bertie’s relationship with his own parents, by way of contrast, had been comparatively cold and distant and Elizabeth might be said to have been the first monarch raised in a relatively modern manner. In 1931, the King gifted the Yorks with Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. After extensive renovation and redecoration, the family used the house as a weekend retreat. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon became particularly attached to the Royal Lodge, and it remained her primary residence for fifty years following her husband’s passing in 1952. The Yorks had some of their happiest times together as a family at Royal Lodge in the early-to-mid 1930s. For Elizabeth and Margaret, the days usually began with chatter and hijinks in their parents’ bedroom before breakfast. The girls would spend the bulk of the day either playing outdoors or in the nursery with Ruby, Bobo, and Mrs. Knight, whom they called “Alla,” or attending to their lessons with their governess, Marion Crawford, whom they called “Crawfie.” There would usually be more family fun time in the late afternoon or early evening, between teatime and bedtime. Bertie, Elizabeth, and their daughters became beloved by the British press and the public quite early on. They seemed to project an almost bourgeois domestic contentment that ordinary people admired, and with which they could identify. This national perception of their family’s character as loving, stable, and relatable would come to be exceptionally important later on, when Bertie was called upon to ascend to the throne. Like so many siblings who are close in age, Elizabeth and Margaret developed very different personalities. Elizabeth was reserved, conscientious, and dutiful. Adults who met her were impressed by her quiet dignity and composure from a young age. She was efficient and tidy, carefully arranging her shoes outside the nursery door and lining up all of her toy ponies in a neat row each night before bed. That being said, she also had a sense of humor and fun that were no doubt enhanced by having her sister Margaret as a nursery companion. Whereas Elizabeth was reserved, Margaret was openly affectionate. While her sister was practical and dutiful, Margaret was romantic, imaginative, and often mischievous. There were the inevitable struggles between them as young children. Margaret had a tendency to bite when she was incensed with Elizabeth, who, equally incensed, would hit her back. Elizabeth expressed annoyance that Margaret seemed always to want whatever she wanted. Margaret was also given to teasing, which aggravated Elizabeth, who had a short temper when they were children. But at the same time, she was enormously protective of her younger sister, conscientious about keeping talk of unpleasant or frightening things to a minimum in front of her, and mindful to include Margaret as much as possible. Their relationship would eventually be complicated and strained by the family’s proximity to the crown, but nonetheless, throughout their lives, the two sisters remained close and loving confidantes. Compared to the royal court, where the monarch was head of the Church, the York household was a much more secular space. For most of her life, Queen Elizabeth II cherished a deep religious faith and took her position as the head of the Church very seriously. But during her childhood, her parents placed far more emphasis on kindness, consideration, order, and good manners than on religious devotion. Holidays meant large family gatherings and Elizabeth and Margaret enjoyed summers in Scotland, and Christmases and Easters at Sandringham, in Norfolk. They received a weekly allowance of one shilling each and Elizabeth saved most of hers throughout the year to buy Christmas presents for her family. Small gifts rather than extravagant ones were preferred and the royal family still observes this tradition of simple gift-giving today even after Elizabeth’s passing. Even in her later years the Queen enjoyed the “white elephant” or “gag” gifts most of all. A recent biography noted a bit of whimsy that sat on a corner of the Queen’s bathtub – a crowned rubber duck, a gift from one of her grandchildren. During childhood Christmases at Sandringham, Elizabeth and Margaret often received books, dolls, toy horses, and sweets. Elizabeth kept a careful list of gifts she had received and who had given them to her, making sure to send a thank-you note to each one. She also carefully smoothed out and saved the wrapping paper to be re-used later, as wrapping paper was something of a luxury item in 1930s Britain. Marion Crawford, or Crawfie as she was known, Elizabeth and Margaret’s governess, seemed to think that the two girls lived isolated and lonely lives. She later wrote of her concern that the princesses did not have the opportunity to see or experience nearly enough of the real world. She wanted to take them on many more excursions than were permitted: to ride “the tube,” or the London subway, to play in a public park, to meet and mix with ordinary children. However, such excursions were difficult to undertake due to the media attention that might ensue. The York princesses were simply too recognizable to the London public. It is interesting that Crawfie did not reflect on the fact that Elizabeth and Margaret actually did spend time with quote-unquote, “ordinary” people all the time. In fact, they spent the bulk of their time with Ruby, Bobo, Mrs. Knight, and Crawfie herself, all of whom came from working-class backgrounds. In light of this, it seems doubtful that the girls could have failed to absorb something of their sensibilities, values, and beliefs. It had been Mrs. Knight who had taught Elizabeth to save her used wrapping paper, to be conscious of waste and ostentation. It was to Bobo and Crawfie that Elizabeth would constantly turn, either to share her joys or her worries. Some observers and historians disagree with Marion Crawford’s perception of the princesses as lonely and isolated. While they concede that the girls generally did not get many opportunities to meet ordinary children, they point out that they were permitted to play with plenty of children from “their own set.” This included the children of extended family members and children of the aristocracy. And while Crawfie’s descriptions of the princesses portrayed them as mostly down-to-earth, other writers have emphasized that Elizabeth and Margaret were ultimately never in doubt of their status. They were, after all, curtsied to by almost everyone after their father became King. And, as many children do when they believe they can get away with it, they sometimes did not hesitate to remind their playmates of their right to get their own way. As close-knit as the family was, their social dynamics could be as complex as those of any other family. Margaret’s outgoing and affectionate nature resulted in a close relationship with her parents that Elizabeth might have envied. Additionally, as the elder daughter, the expectations of Elizabeth were higher, and became increasingly so as the family’s proximity to the throne shifted in the ensuing years. On the other hand, Elizabeth had a stronger affinity with other members of the royal family as a child, including her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, than Margaret did. The sensible and pragmatic Queen Mary felt a special kinship to her eldest granddaughter, whose personality and outlook on life strongly resembled her own. Members of the family were often impatient with Margaret, seeing her as having a “difficult character,” distrusting her conspicuous high-spiritedness, her frankness, and her passion. Reserved, neat, practical, and dignified, Elizabeth had more in common with her grandparents. Despite the difficult dynamics that seemed to afflict all families, Elizabeth and Margaret had a relatively happy childhood, and a surprisingly quiet, slow, and predictable one considering their status as royals. The fact that Elizabeth, nor those around here, ever expected her to be the Queen of Britain is evident from the approach to her education. With Crawfie, she and Margaret studied English literature and history. In subsequent years, they received regular lessons from a French instructor, but this was largely the extent of their formal academic training in their earlier years. King George V was opposed to the idea of the princesses attending school and his sons David and Bertie agreed. They believed there were too many public relations pitfalls involved. For example, which school should they choose and how could they avoid offending other educational institutions? How could the princesses pursue a normal education while being constantly singled out and scrutinized? Additionally, Bertie remembered his own awkward and painful experiences of being bullied at school, of being pressured to succeed, and he was eager to give his daughters an easier, more carefree childhood and to keep them sheltered as long as possible. Although one can readily understand his protective impulse, Bertie almost certainly underestimated his daughters. Even as young girls, they were far more confident and self-possessed than Bertie had been at their age, and both might have benefitted greatly from being able to attend school and receive a more varied and challenging education. There was at the time, however, a significant amount of social pressure not to educate aristocratic women to be scholars or intellectuals. One did not want to be labeled a “bluestocking,” a derogatory term for an educated woman who ought to prefer a more traditional female role. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was initially in favour of sending the girls to school, but ultimately came to agree with the other senior royals. After all, she herself had also been educated at home by a governess. Throughout each week, the princesses attended to their lessons daily but usually did not study for more than two or three hours. Additionally, the Duke and Duchess of York often thought little of interrupting schoolroom activities in favour of family fun time, a habit that worried the princesses’ governess. Crawfie privately believed that Elizabeth and Margaret should have a more rigorous education, but her position in service to the royal family did not permit her to criticize Bertie and Elizabeth’s approach to educating their children. Crawfie managed to discreetly bring the matter to the attention of Queen Mary, who heartily agreed that her granddaughters should have the most varied education possible, even if under informal circumstances. Queen Mary began to take the girls on regular outings herself to museums, galleries, and historic sites. In addition to their studies in the schoolroom, Elizabeth and Margaret received piano, voice, and dance lessons. The naturally charismatic Margaret proved to be especially talented in the performative arts. She was a natural mimic with a facility for accents, had a lovely singing voice, and a hilarious knack for comic timing. Famed writer and performer Noel Coward once observed that had Princess Margaret been permitted to pursue a career in the theatre, she undoubtedly would have been an enormous success. Elizabeth could play piano decently enough, but she was far less interested in the arts than Margaret. Interestingly, the sisters also got the chance to learn and practice domestic arts. They had a child-sized cottage playhouse on the grounds of their weekend retreat at Royal Lodge, a gift to the princesses from the people of Wales. Everything was in miniature, but the little house was stocked with every convenience including hot running water and modern appliances, and even a wireless set. The girls loved their cottage, and the British public was charmed by descriptions of the York princesses learning to cook and keep house, a down-to-earth and inspiring image of royalty in Depression-era Britain. In January 1936, when Elizabeth was nine years old, her seemingly idyllic and carefree childhood came to an end when her grandfather King George V died. Elizabeth was deeply saddened by his loss, but, as Crawfie later wrote admiringly, “she seemed determined to go through it all without making any fuss.” On the day of George V’s funeral, while watching the King’s body being loaded onto a train at Paddington Station, Elizabeth stood silently while dozens in the crowd openly wept. The year following the King’s death was a strange one for Elizabeth and Margaret and for their parents. There had been fewer and fewer visits from Uncle David in the last few years, and now they stopped altogether, now that he had automatically ascended to the throne as King Edward VIII. Edward’s conduct, both before and after he became King, was troubling to most members of the royal and parliamentary establishment. Such matters were almost certainly never discussed in front of Elizabeth, but she could probably sense the tension within her own family. Most of the new king’s romantic entanglements in recent years tended to be with married or divorced women, which complicated his new status as head of the Church of England. Divorce was largely forbidden by the Church, except in very select cases of neglect, abuse, or infidelity. Even in these cases, couples were still encouraged to try to “work it out,” or “come to some arrangement.” Because Edward was destined to become the head of the Church, which frowned to such an extent on divorce, his relationships in the past had been controversial. But Edward’s most recent relationship and the one which he was still involved in when he became king in January 1936, with Mrs. Wallis Simpson, an American socialite and divorcee who was still married to her second husband while having an affair with Edward, was scandalous by the standards of the time. Nevertheless, Edward was determined to marry her, but most members of the British political establishment were overwhelmingly opposed. Ultimately, Edward VIII would choose to abdicate rather than give up his relationship with Mrs. Simpson. On the 7th of December 1936, the king summoned Bertie to his house at Fort Belvedere and delivered the news that he had decided to abdicate the throne. Although Albert was aware that this was a possibility for some time, he was still devastated by the news. “I’m quite unprepared for it,” he later confided to his wife. “David’s been trained all his life. I’m only a naval officer, it’s the only thing I know about.” Though she was deeply worried for her husband and family, Elizabeth tried to comfort him. “We must take what is coming to us and make the best of it” she said. It is eminently clear that her eldest daughter inherited her legendarily “stiff upper lip” from her family. Less than a week after the abdication, when Bertie returned home from the Accession Council, Elizabeth and Margaret curtsied to their father for the first time. Their darling “Papa” was now the King. Margaret asked her older sister: “Does this mean that you will be the Queen one day?” Elizabeth replied gravely and quietly: “Yes, I suppose it does.” “Poor you,” Margaret said in commiseration. Elizabeth was now her father’s heir-presumptive. The family had to leave their home at 145 Piccadilly, though admittedly they were moving into the plusher surroundings of Buckingham Palace, the main royal palace in London. Bertie’s transition to being King George VI, the regnal name he adopted to establish continuity from his father, George V’s reign, was stressful for the whole family. Bertie and Elizabeth now had far greater responsibilities and worries, and it became much more difficult for the family to find time to be together. Part of the problem was simply the sheer size of Buckingham Palace. “People here need bicycles,” ten-year-old Lilibet observed when they first moved in of those who had to travel between different parts of the palace grounds. Indeed, it was a substantially long walk from one end of the palace to the other, and the new King and Queen, with their dramatically increased duties, had far less time to spend with their daughters in the nursery. They tried to compensate by spending as many full weekends and holidays as possible at Royal Lodge, where they could play games, picnic, and ride horses together as a family. But now that he was King, Bertie’s work never really stopped. Even on the weekends, he only had a few hours to spend with his family before he inevitably had to get back to his daily “red box” of state papers. The immensity of Buckingham Palace made adjusting to their new home difficult in other ways as well. The kitchens were about a half hour’s walk from the rooms where the royal family actually dined, so the food was constantly served cold. Many rooms were chilly and damp, some with cracked walls. Some pieces of furniture were a hundred years old or more and the palace had an aggravatingly persistent rodent infestation. Crawfie was distinctly underwhelmed, not only by the condition of the palace but also its lack of warmth. “Life in a palace resembles camping in a museum,” she later wrote. There was also now a good deal less privacy for the family, who were shadowed constantly by detectives and bodyguards. Such is the lot of being a member of the royal family, no matter how attractive a prospect it might look from the outside. On the 12th of May 1937, Elizabeth attended her parents’ coronation at Westminster Abbey and received her first intimation of what lay in store for her as Queen one day. She sat with her sister Margaret and her grandmother Queen Mary and watched the proceedings, at first, with fascination. Mindful of her position as his heir presumptive, Bertie tasked his eldest daughter with writing a detailed account of the coronation, which today rests in the royal archives. Elizabeth was impressed by the beauty, majesty, and seeming magic of the service, and she observed that the Abbey itself seemed suspended in “a haze of wonder.” As the coronation ritual stretched on and on, however, she became impatient. “The service got rather boring as it was all prayers,” she later wrote. Anxious to know when it would be over, she quietly flipped through her program. She then discreetly nudged Queen Mary and pointed out the word “finis”, meaning ‘the end’ in Latin, on the last page of her program, and she and her grandmother smiled conspiratorially at one another. The following year, Elizabeth began to attend private classes at Eton College with the Vice-Provost, Sir Henry Martin. In order to prepare her for her future role as Queen, she studied constitutional law and the history of the monarchy. Martin emphasized strongly that the secret of a successful monarchy is adaptability. He pointed to the ongoing collapse of ancient royal houses, and asserted that the British monarchy had largely forestalled a similar fate by drawing back the curtain of mystery, allowing themselves to become more accessible to the public, and by being receptive to public opinion. This contrasted with France where an aloof and largely uncaring royal establishment in the eighteenth century had been brought to a shuddering and ultimately bloody end with the French Revolution. By way of contrast Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, cognizant of the anti-German sentiment among the people during the First World War years, changed the royal family’s name by proclamation in 1917, from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. While this did nothing to erase the King’s heritage, or make people forget the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm was, in fact, his first cousin, it was a powerful statement of King George V’s identity as a British king, a leader and defender of his people. Another key aspect of Sir Henry Martin’s instruction was his emphasis on the importance of broadcasting, which, since the reign of George V, has remained one of the primary means the royal family uses to connect with the public, from radio in George’s time to television speeches, interviews and in-depth documentary films in more recent decades. When their father ascended the throne, Elizabeth and Margaret were still very young, and because of their dramatic status change, they were now destined to live their lives in an even more rarified atmosphere than the one into which they had been born. There was concern within the family that, in consequence, the girls might become even more isolated. Bertie’s younger sister Princess Mary, who was honorary president of the Girl Guides, suggested they might like to join a guide troupe. There were, of course, major issues with this proposal, similar to the ones that had prevented the princesses from attending school. How could their security be ensured without restricting their experience? Would they be accepted in a cooperative, egalitarian group like the Girl Guides, in light of who they were? Would any accommodations to the princesses be viewed as preferential treatment? Finally, it was decided that a special troupe would be formed consisting of relatives and the daughters of the aristocracy. Margaret, who was not yet old enough for the Girl Guides, was admitted to the troupe as a “Brownie.” Twenty girls roughly Elizabeth’s age met regularly at Buckingham Palace beginning in 1937. They went on treks and explorations within the palace’s extensive grounds, earned merit badges, and cooked sausages over an open fire. In later years Elizabeth would speak warmly and nostalgically of her experience as a Girl Guide and she continued to support the organization and its values throughout her long reign. During the summer of 1939, the King and Queen, accompanied by their daughters, paid a visit to the Royal Naval College. It was there that Elizabeth met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark for the first time. Philip was her distant cousin and also a descendant of Queen Victoria. He had been named “Best Cadet” during his first year at Dartmouth. He was outgoing, funny, and already rather sophisticated at eighteen years old. He received the King and Queen warmly and played with Elizabeth and Margaret during their visit. Elizabeth admired his confidence and handsomeness a great deal, but she was just thirteen and still had her braces on. It would be quite a few years before Philip would come to see her as a young woman rather than a child. Philip’s uncle and closest male mentor, Louis Mountbatten, Bertie’s cousin, was especially eager to encourage ongoing interactions between his nephew and the future Queen, seemingly anxious to have some influence over the next generation of royals. Throughout 1938 and 1939, London began to transform in anticipation of a potential war with Germany as the Nazis became ever more aggressive in their pursuit of land in Central Europe, annexing Austria first, then the Sudetenland and finally Czechoslovakia. Anti-aircraft batteries were installed, bomb shelters were constructed, and gas masks were issued to tense and dismayed citizens. When war was finally declared in September 1939, Elizabeth and Margaret began to listen as closely to the wireless as the rest of the British public, hoping for good news. Crawfie read them the newspapers daily, but she made efforts to edit out whatever she believed to be too shocking. Elizabeth, in turn, tried to shield Margaret from news and information about the war that she thought would upset her. Elizabeth was encouraged to try to continue as normal, but she was as eager to contribute to the war effort and “do her bit” in the unfolding crisis as were many young people of her generation. She and Margaret organized weekly sewing parties in their schoolroom during the fall of 1939 and the spring of 1940 to produce goods for the war effort. The King and Queen insisted that they and their daughters should follow the rationing requirements, although they still enjoyed the privileges of having game from their own estate and fresh produce from the gardens. During the autumn of 1940, the princesses were secretly sent to live at Windsor Castle for the duration of the war, since it was the most well-defended royal residence. This was in keeping with government policy which saw London emptied of the vast majority of its children and elderly people during the Blitz, the bombing campaign by the Germans between the autumn of 1940 and the early summer of 1941. Bertie and Elizabeth made an effort to spend as many weekends as possible at Windsor, but because they remained at Buckingham Palace for most of the week, it was a worrisome and confining adjustment for two young girls. There were blackout curtains at every window, lights were kept as low as possible, and a small group of carefully-chosen soldiers stood guard, ready to take the princesses to an undisclosed safe house should an attack occur. The British media, as anxious as the government to protect the princesses, made no effort to uncover or expose their whereabouts. Newspapers reported only that they were safe and staying at an undisclosed location “somewhere in the country.” For five years, Elizabeth and Margaret tried to carry on as normal, attending to their lessons daily, but there were now all kinds of new and frightening realities to confront, including preparation for air raids. They tried to distract themselves by exploring the castle and playing hide and seek. The staff tried to keep them as occupied as possible and treated them kindly. They invited the princesses to tea parties with cakes and biscuits baked by the mothers and sisters of the guards, and the King’s librarian took them down to the underground vaults of Windsor Castle to see the Crown Jewels. Knowing the Nazis’ reputation for plundering cities like Vienna and Paris that they had conquered, these historic treasures had been hidden from potential invaders along with innumerable other important artifacts and pieces of art from British museums and galleries. The British newspapers praised the fortitude of the princesses in their isolated life, noting that they obeyed rationing, kept their gas masks clean and near at hand, and planted a “victory garden” in which they grew fresh vegetables for themselves. The Blitz began across southern England during the summer of 1940. Like the rest of the people of London who found it near impossible to sleep during the bombings, Elizabeth and Margaret tried to stay calm during air raids. They would hurry down into the dungeons of Windsor Castle and try to distract themselves by reading, singing, or telling stories. By the end of the war, the Germans had dropped no less than three hundred bombs around the great park of Windsor Castle, just a small fraction of the tens of thousands of bombs which rained down across England during the conflict. On the thirteenth of October 1940, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth gave her first public speech on the wireless during Children’s Hour on the BBC, in which she offered comfort and encouragement to all of the children displaced by the War. The future queen stated, “We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place. My sister is by my side and we are both going to say goodnight to you. Come on, Margaret.” Then came Margaret’s higher and unmistakable younger tone: “Goodnight children.” The broadcast was an international sensation, particularly in North America where many British evacuees were sheltering. Hundreds of schools and churches throughout the United States and Canada installed wireless technology just to hear the Princess’ speech, and the BBC received numerous requests to repeat the broadcast. London may have been devastated by the Blitz, but Hitler had utterly failed to weaken British morale, and he then foolishly began to turn his attention to Russia believing that Britain would soon decide to negotiate peace terms with the Nazis. He was wrong. It was during the last few years of World War II that Elizabeth came of age and began to assert her independence. This assertion was more subtle in Elizabeth than in other young women. She was, overall, dutiful and eager to please her parents, but she nonetheless had her own convictions and a will of her own. Bertie and Elizabeth were not keen to see their daughter grow up too quickly. Above all, they wanted to forestall the moment when their family, “us four,” would be separated. From a public relations standpoint, both the royal establishment and the media continued to treat and portray Elizabeth as a child. Even at aged 16 or 17, Elizabeth might still be dressed in an outfit that matched Margaret’s, who was over four years younger. Elizabeth also continued to live in the nursery wing and complete her lessons daily with Crawfie. It was not until her eighteenth birthday that she was finally given her own suite of rooms outside of the nursery. In anticipation of her future role as Queen, she was also made a councilor of state. Her parents began to give her more royal duties, including giving speeches at public functions and serving in charitable organizations. However, for Elizabeth, this was not enough. Having come of age in the midst of a calamitous war, she was, like many members of her generation, highly practical. She and Margaret had covertly and longingly watched debutante balls as children, but much as she had looked forward to a more traditional entry to adulthood, the current crisis was so much more important. Like others who grew up during the war, she was a strong believer in fairness and collective responsibility and she yearned to play a greater part in the War effort. “I ought to do as other girls of my age do,” she said. Many of her young aristocratic cousins were already doing their bit for the country, fighting in the field, caring for the sick and wounded in hospitals, and working in transportation or logistics for the war effort. Elizabeth wanted to play her part also. So, when she turned 16 in April 1942, she promptly signed on at the Labour Exchange, but was not offered work. It is unclear why. Her status may well have been seen as a potentially problematic distraction, but the King’s influence may also have played a part. Finally, a month before her nineteenth birthday, Elizabeth was permitted to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army. Elizabeth’s service in the ATS was viewed by many as highly effective propaganda and a morale booster for the British, but the princess’ experience of service was very different. “It was the only time I had been able to test myself against people of the same age,” she said later. In March of 1945, Elizabeth began training as a driver and a mechanic. She worked hard and eventually became adept at the job, able to disassemble and reassemble an engine quickly and successfully. And yet, like her Girl Guide troupe, a certain amount of authentic experience remained out of her reach. Quote-unquote “normal” interactions were made extraordinarily difficult simply because of who she was. Moreover, Bertie only finally allowed his daughter to enlist, when he knew that the war would be over in mere weeks, with victory assured when the German campaign in the east against the Soviet Union had failed and new fronts were opened in southern and western Europe. Elizabeth was not the sort to confront or fight, but she had a quiet determination to assert her independence and to be her own person. This is most apparent in her choice to marry Prince Philip, which was probably the first decision she ever made without consulting her parents. While Elizabeth remained at Windsor Castle throughout the war, Philip’s naval service took him to the Mediterranean and the Pacific. He continued to write to Elizabeth and visited the royal family several times throughout the duration of the war, when he was on leave. Elizabeth seemed to fall more and more in love with him each time he visited. While Philip was flattered by the young princess’ attention, he still mostly saw her as a child. Yet, he was very fond of her, as he was fond of her whole family. Bertie, Elizabeth and their daughters had a closeness that was very attractive to Philip, who had spent much of his childhood lonely and separated from his own family. He was invited to spend Christmas with the Windsors in 1943 and Elizabeth bustled excitedly around the nursery. “You know who’s coming this Christmas, don’t you Crawfie?” she asked happily. After another stay at the palace during the summer of 1944, Philip appeared to change his mind about Elizabeth. The two were very different people, but that was perhaps, part of the attraction. He was sophisticated, opinionated, and often painfully irreverent, whereas she was innocent and demure. But she was also unfailingly faithful, dependable, and honest as few people in his life had been. And Elizabeth may have found Philip’s tendency towards plain-speaking refreshing. He certainly said and did things that Elizabeth could not, but perhaps sometimes wished to. Following Philip’s visit, his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, known affectionately to the royal family as “Dickie,” promptly broached the subject of Philip’s marriage to Elizabeth with the King and Queen. Bertie and Elizabeth initially had numerous reservations about Philip, particularly regarding his temperament, his reputed way with women, his rebelliousness, and his family’s partial German heritage. Additionally, they believed that Elizabeth, at eighteen, was still too young to be betrothed. Lord Mountbatten subsequently approached other courtiers and politicians to advocate for his nephew’s suit. Elizabeth did not display any outward resentment that her parents were lukewarm about her relationship with Philip, but neither did she hide her feelings from her family or household. Crawfie later wrote that the princess kept a picture of Prince Philip displayed in her sitting room. When Crawfie inquired whether it was wise to do so, as anyone who saw it might begin to gossip and speculate, Elizabeth realized her governess was right and put the picture away, replacing it instead with a photograph of the Prince with a thick and unruly beard. “There!” she said satisfied. “I defy anyone to recognize who that is!” Victory in Europe Day on the 8th of May 1945 saw greater crowds in the streets of London than anyone had ever seen before. Multitudes stood outside Buckingham Palace cheering and calling for the royal family to emerge onto the balcony. “We want the King!” they chanted. Elizabeth stood with her parents, Margaret, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, proudly wearing her ATS uniform and waving to the cheering crowds. That evening, in a burst of high spirits, the royal family went out on to the streets of London to join the dancing and celebrating that seemed to be going on everywhere. Elizabeth and Margaret repeated their outing together the next night as well. “We walked for simply miles,” Elizabeth wrote in her diary, “through Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Pall Mall.” The two sisters, who had grown up so sheltered, joined their fellows before the gates of Buckingham Palace after midnight, to cheer for their parents the King and Queen, who waved from the balcony. The evidence everywhere in London of the ravages of war was as heartbreaking to Elizabeth and Margaret as to the rest of the city. And yet, they walked, cheered, sang, and danced with other young Londoners who, like the princesses, had shed their childhood in a time of war. Such was the sense of unification among the Second World War generation when what seemed then like the greatest struggle in history, came to an end. By 1946, with the war over and England returning to some form of normality, Elizabeth had established a more adult routine. Each morning she was awakened by Bobo, now the Princess’ dresser rather than her nanny, who helped her get ready for the day. She attended to her correspondence and her obligations to her various charities, and attended royal council meetings. She now had her own independent household in Buckingham Palace, including her own receiving rooms for palace business, two ladies-in-waiting, a footman, and a housemaid. She was also finally permitted to choose her own clothes and decided what fashions she preferred. The Depression and the War had had their impact on fashion. Rationing meant that each person was limited to one outfit per year. And the struggles of the times made ostentatious dress seem vulgar and disrespectful. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon had taken care to dress her daughters respectably, but simply, and the public admired that she often “made over” some of her own garments to clothe the girls. Therefore, when Lilibet came of age, she unsurprisingly showed little interest in high fashion, and seemed to prefer an elegant, but modest and traditional look. Besides, she was a countrywoman at heart, and was much more comfortable in clothes that were functional. It is therefore ironic that, as Queen, she would ultimately prove to be an international fashion icon. The unique outfits created by her personal staff were designed to be as distinctive and memorable as possible. Throughout her tenure as Queen, she grew to appreciate the art and artistry of fashion and loved the bright colours and occasionally avant-garde ensembles that were chosen for her. These amazing outfits certainly made it difficult to lose the Queen in a crowd! During a visit to Balmoral during the summer of 1946, Philip proposed to Elizabeth and she accepted. Her father, the King, however, insisted they wait until after Elizabeth’s twenty-first birthday, the following spring, to announce the engagement. Some historians speculate that this may have been a strategy to try and keep them apart long enough for one or both of them to lose interest. Perhaps Bertie was simply reluctant to let his beloved Lilibet go just yet. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took their daughters with them on a state visit to South Africa in the spring of 1947. During this Elizabeth was warmly and enthusiastically received by the crowds who came out to greet the royal family. The 21st of April 1947 was Elizabeth’s twenty-first birthday. It was declared a national holiday and a great ball was held in her honour at Capetown. Earlier that afternoon, she gave an historic speech which was broadcast all over the empire, composed by Sir Alan Lascelles. When Elizabeth first read it, tears reportedly filled her eyes: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. But I shall not have the strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.” The royal family returned to London early in the summer of 1947. Elizabeth and Philip’s several months of separation had seemingly had no impact on their determination to marry. In the weeks following her return, she was often seen out and about with Philip, in the passenger seat of his black MG sports car. On the 8th of July, they announced their engagement. The prospect of having a full-blown and public royal wedding was something of a public relations gamble during the immediate post-war period. On the one hand, it might bolster British morale at a time when rationing was still in force and the economy was still recovering from the long war effort. But conversely, the expense of a royal wedding could be perceived as totally out of touch with the difficult economic situation confronting the country. In the end, the British public seemed excited at the prospect of a royal wedding. Numerous ordinary citizens and well-wishers donated their clothing ration coupons to help produce the bride’s wedding dress, which was designed by Norman Hartnell in ivory satin with a fifteen-foot train, with the white roses of York painstakingly stitched in pearls. Prior to their wedding, Philip renounced his German surname and his Greek and Danish titles, becoming simply Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. King George VI then admitted Philip into the Order of the Garter, reserved for the closest and most trusted companions to the sovereign, and conferred on him the title of “His Royal Highness, Duke of Edinburgh.” On the 20th of November 1947, Elizabeth and Philip were finally married with great celebration at Westminster Abbey. From all over the world, the couple received over ten thousand congratulatory telegrams and nearly three thousand wedding gifts. Two thousand people attended a public reception just to see the couple’s wedding gifts displayed. The next few years were happy and contented ones for Elizabeth and Philip. The King gifted them with the royal residence of Clarence House next to St. James’ Palace, and the newlyweds spent time renovating and improving it for themselves and their growing family. On the fourteenth of November 1948, just six days before their first wedding anniversary, Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles. The following year, on the fifteenth of August, she and Philip were blessed again, this time with a daughter, Princess Anne. Beginning in 1948, Philip was stationed in Malta, and despite the birth of two children and her royal duties and responsibilities, Elizabeth tended to give priority to being at her husband’s side during the early years of her marriage, even if her children remained in England. Charles took his first steps without either of his parents there to witness the milestone, just as Elizabeth had spoken her first word with only Mrs. Knight, Bobo, and Ruby to tell the tale. Elizabeth made efforts to spend at least an hour with her children every morning and at least another hour between bath time and bedtime. When they did not accompany their parents abroad, Charles and Anne were left in the care of their nannies at Clarence House, or stayed with their grandparents, the King and Queen, when they went to Sandringham. While some have criticized Queen Elizabeth for this approach to motherhood, it is worth noting that her own mother and father had parented Elizabeth and Margaret in much the same way, and still considered themselves a close family. In 1950, Marion Crawford published The Little Princesses to the shock and dismay of the entire royal family. Crawfie had remained one of Lilibet’s closest confidantes, even after her retirement as governess in 1947. Ms. Crawford had approached Queen Elizabeth for permission to publish the memoir, and the Queen had refused, horrified by the notion. The publication went ahead regardless and became an immediate best-seller, netting over £75,000. The Windsors felt utterly betrayed. They severed all ties with Ms. Crawford and never communicated with her again. From then on, the royal family would refer to anyone who wrote a royal memoir as “doing a Crawfie.” By the standards of the modern “tell-all” memoir, The Little Princesses is an overwhelmingly idealized, sentimental, and flattering portrait of two children Marion Crawford obviously loved dearly following her long years working with them. But in 1950, it seemed to be a gross and vulgar violation of the royal family’s privacy and a betrayal of the trust they had placed in their children’s beloved governess. Since then, the royal family has had many more people who have worked closely with them “do a Crawfie,” and sharing human and relatable details about the royal family has become increasingly less objectionable over time. The royal family themselves have done so several times since the 1970s. Queen Elizabeth permitted the creation of two family documentaries, allowing camera crews and production staff into royal residences. Several biographies of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were published during their lifetimes, particularly so from the 1990s onwards. By 1951, it became clear that Elizabeth and Philip’s rather carefree days as a married couple would be coming to an end sooner than expected. The health of King George VI was precarious. He had contracted lung cancer after years of chronic smoking, forcing his doctors to remove one of his lungs and he suffered from various associated ailments. Elizabeth and Philip had to take on far more royal duties during the king’s illness, and finally, Philip was forced to give up his naval career. In October, they departed for a royal tour of the United States and Canada on the King’s behalf. And in January of 1952, they undertook another major tour, the first stop on which was Kenya. Bertie saw his daughter and son-in-law off at the airport. It was the last time he would see Elizabeth. King George VI, known to his family as Bertie, died quietly in his sleep a week later. It was dawn in Nyeri, Kenya, and Elizabeth was up early, watching the sunrise at a lookout point at the famed Treetops Hotel. Speaking years later to a biographer, former royal Equerry Mike Parker described a moment of peace and wonder that morning when a magnificent eagle appeared and hovered above them. “I never thought about it until later,” he said, “but that was roughly the time when the king died.” Elizabeth’s private secretary, Martin Chartres, heard the news about the King’s death at a local hotel. He quickly telephoned Mike Parker at Sagana Lodge where Elizabeth and Philip were staying, and asked him to inform the new Queen of what had happened. Parker, who couldn’t bear to tell her, asked Philip to speak to her instead. Philip took his wife into the garden to give her the terrible news. Elizabeth appeared to pace up and down the garden agitatedly, but when she came back inside, she was calm. She apologized to her staff for the lack of notice but said they would have to leave as soon as possible. By the time Chartres arrived, her face was flushed but she was otherwise composed, writing letters of apology for the abrupt end to the tour and the necessity of cancelling multiple engagements. Before they departed, Chartres asked her what regnal name she would choose. Sovereigns often choose a name that shows continuity with the past or reverence for a certain line of rulers. Elizabeth preferred to keep things simpler. When asked what her regnal name would be, she replied: “My own name, Elizabeth, of course. What else?” It was a fitting beginning to the straight-forward, no nonsense reign of Queen Elizabeth II. When Elizabeth returned to London in February 1952, her grandmother, Queen Mary, promptly paid her a visit at Clarence House, insisting that she, “her old granny and subject, must be the first to kiss her hand.” Elizabeth was shocked and deeply affected by the reverence and it brought home the reality of her new position to her even more forcefully. The next morning, she addressed the accession council at St. James’ Palace, affirming in her speech her desire to serve dutifully. When her father had been crowned King, he had been hailed as both King and Emperor, but in the light of the ongoing collapse of Britain’s colonial empire, his daughter was styled “Queen of the United Kingdom, the Head of the Commonwealth, and Queen of her other realms and territories.” This distinction is not necessarily immediately apparent, but it was an important one, signifying that the British monarch was no longer the ruler of an empire, but an honorary Queen of individual dominions which would each have the right to decide their own degree of affiliation and commitment to the Commonwealth. A little over a year later, on the 2nd of June 1952, Elizabeth’s coronation was held in Westminster Abbey. In a notable break with precedent, it was the first time that a coronation for a British sovereign had ever been broadcast live. Officials had reacted with horror in previous decades to the notion of allowing full public consumption of such momentous events in Westminster Abbey. A live broadcast had been suggested for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, but the Archbishop of Canterbury had hotly rejected the proposition, claiming that ordinary people could not be trusted to show the proper reverence. The Archbishop was particularly disturbed at the idea that people might be able listen to the sacred service while drinking in their local pub – and with their hats on! The Duke of Edinburgh, who chaired the planning committee, was strongly in favour of televising the coronation, making the monarch more accessible to the people in a modern way. The committee finally agreed, but insisted that the camera pan away from the ceremony during the anointing and communion. Elizabeth wore an exquisite ivory satin gown, which, according to her instructions, was minutely embroidered with the floral emblems of every country in the Commonwealth. After taking the coronation oath, she was anointed, invested with regalia, and crowned to cheers of “God save the Queen!” The crowds outside the abbey erupted in celebration and millions of people across Britain who were watching the event on television cheered along with them. Thousands of households and businesses had purchased or rented television sets just to see the coronation. From the point that she ascended the throne in 1952, the central challenge of Queen Elizabeth’s life was to keep personal and family life firmly compartmentalized from her life and duty as the monarch. Unfortunately, this proved to be an immensely difficult goal to achieve and was no doubt the cause of great pain and regret to her over the years, because her duty as Queen had to always come first. Because of her unique position, she could rarely express her opinions, for fear of potentially sparking a constitutional crisis. She had to be endlessly diplomatic. During the decades following her accession, the monarchy faced successive challenges including public interrogations of its cost to taxpayers and questions about its real utility in the modern world. In addition, public fascination with scandals within the personal lives of the royal family threatened to undermine their legitimacy. The late Queen was often praised for the manner in which she approached these crises, with her first priority being her position as Head of State, of the Church, and the Commonwealth. Others criticized her approach to her family’s personal struggles, and asserted that she could have been a better mother to her children, or a better sister to Margaret, even if that meant potentially compromising her duty as Queen. After her sister’s coronation, Princess Margaret was waiting for her carriage in front of the Abbey when a photographer noticed her picking a piece of lint off a man’s jacket, that of her father’s equerry, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Before long, speculation about their relationship developed into a media frenzy. Elizabeth was reportedly sympathetic to her sister’s situation, and wished for her to be happy. She had never liked taking sides, so she did not initially encourage or discourage Margaret in her relationship with Townsend. Unfortunately, Townsend was divorced and his wife was still living, and therefore, the Anglican Church would not consent to marry them. Margaret moreover, was third in line to the throne, and the shadow of the abdication still loomed large in the early post-war period. The royal family and those who worked most closely with them asked the couple to delay a formal engagement, perhaps hoping that their feelings for one another would wane. Sadly, they did not, and rather than forfeit her title, her income, or be forced to live abroad, Margaret and Peter mutually called off their engagement. Several years later, Princess Margaret married the photographer, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, with whom she had two children, Sarah and David. The couple divorced in 1976. Things were chilly not only between the Queen and her sister in the early years of her reign, but seemingly between herself and her husband also. Philip had not adjusted well to being the husband of the Queen of England. Having to give up his naval career had been a bitter disappointment and he found the endless round of royal duties – of ribbon-cutting, handshaking, and speechmaking – extraordinarily tiresome. He was accustomed to a much more active life and it was difficult for him to adjust to being a supporting act for the Queen. By 1957, American newspapers began to gossip about Philip and the supposedly questionable company he kept at the Thursday Club, a men’s lunch club featuring a who’s who of politics, finance, and the arts in Soho. Rumours of indiscreet behaviour by Philip and those accompanying him on the 1957 royal tour began to spread also. The palace denied the rumours. Eventually Philip did manage to carve out a niche for himself and settle into his royal duties. An endlessly curious and adventurous man, he remained particularly interested in being a patron for science, technology, sports, and education initiatives. In 1957, Elizabeth made him a “Prince” of the United Kingdom through letters patent, to thank him for his service to the Crown and the Commonwealth. He was not given the title of King Consort or Prince Consort due to overwhelming political opposition. Elizabeth’s position as a female monarch was by no means unprecedented but it was still a delicate one, especially in light of her wedding vows to “love, honour, and obey” her husband, which was the still the conventional wording in the middle of the twentieth century. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip eventually developed into a cohesive and effective team, and she described him on multiple occasions during their lifetimes as her “strength and stay.” The decades they faced together certainly did call for both strength and stability. The royal couple welcomed two more children in the next few years: Prince Andrew was born on the 19th of February 1960 and Prince Edward, four years later on the 10th of March 1964. Prince Philip was firm in his insistence that their children be permitted to go to senior school with ordinary young people. Charles, Andrew and Edward attended their father’s alma mater, Gordonstoun in Scotland, and Anne attended Benenden School in Kent. They grew up nowhere near as sheltered as their mother had, and as a result, grew into more worldly young adults than Elizabeth had been when she first entered her adult years. There has been a great deal of disagreement among observers and biographers about the Queen’s performance as a mother. Charles collaborated in a biographical publication during the early 1990s which sometimes painted Elizabeth as cold and distant, and at other times affectionate, but not enough inclined to interfere when she should. The impression was given that, as a result, her children were all rather lost. Some biographers disagree with this perspective, pointing out that Elizabeth, despite the rigors of her position, spent as much, if not more time with her children than most of the aristocratic women of her acquaintance. Speaking to a royal biographer in the early 2000s, all that Prince Philip would say for the record was: “We did our best.” The 1960s saw the beginning of an unprecedented increase in criticism and satire directed at the monarchy. Only a few years earlier, making fun of members of parliament or the royal family in public would have been viewed as shamefully disrespectful. But by the 60s, British comedians regularly began to poke fun at their political elites, especially comedians with republican or progressive leanings, and British newspapers were far less reticent about publishing items injurious to their authority figures. In 1969, Prince Philip gave an interview on American television lamenting the financial situation of the royal family. His references to the exorbitantly expensive upkeep of palaces and yachts fell flat and were perceived as totally out of touch in a Britain which still had not achieved a full economic recovery from the Second World War. Commentators began to look much more closely at the royal family’s income from the Civil List payments, and the cost to the taxpayer. There was increased scrutiny of the fact that the Queen paid no estate or income tax, and was not required to disclose any details about her private fortune or finances. At the time, the Queen’s personal fortune was probably not more than £12,000,000. Her personal fortune however grew much greater. She inherited approximately £70,000,000 from the Queen Mother’s estate in 2002, but what her total net worth was is difficult to calculate because many royal resources such as residences, artifacts, and regalia, actually belong to the nation. In the early 1990s, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip announced that they would begin paying taxes on their personal income. In the 1970s, the royal family began to work with younger and more modern press officials, and new innovations were introduced to increase public accessibility to the monarchy. The Royal Walkabout was first introduced in the course of a royal visit to Australia, during which the Queen undertook a street visit that was not on the official itinerary to meet people, shake hands with them, and chat a little. The public responded warmly and positively to the practice, and it became a permanent and regular event during royal visits all over the world. In 1977, Queen Elizabeth marked twenty-five years on the throne with her Silver Jubilee celebrations. The city of London hosted more than six thousand street parties. The Queen’s popularity had remained consistently high despite greater expectations of accountability from the public. The Queen made a very successful visit to Northern Ireland, which was encouraging considering the region had been embroiled in sectarian conflict since the late 1960s. But the Northern Ireland Troubles struck much closer to home during the next few years, and was the first in a fairly rapid succession of dangerous incidents that put the safety of the royal family and those who served them at risk. In 1979, Lord Mountbatten and his grandson were killed in a bombing in Ireland for which the IRA, the Irish Republican Army, claimed responsibility. Similarly deadly attacks were carried out on several of the Queen’s household cavalry and military musicians at Hyde Park in London, in 1982. At the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony celebrating the Queen’s birthday in 1981, seventeen-year-old Marcus Sarjeant fired six shots at the Queen, which thankfully, turned out to be blanks. Mounted sidesaddle on her horse Burmese, Elizabeth was startled, but she recovered quickly enough to effectively soothe her horse and the public admired her grace under pressure. Only months later, on a visit to Dunedin, New Zealand, seventeen-year-old Christopher Lewis tried to shoot the Queen with a rifle from the fifth floor of a building overlooking a parade in her honour. Thankfully, he missed. Both of these would-be assassins faced charges and jail time. The security of Buckingham Palace itself was called into question in July of 1982 when it was revealed that a man named Michael Fagan had somehow managed, without any sort of special equipment or ability, to breach the palace’s defenses, travel through the corridors unseen and then walk right into the Queen’s bedroom. Multiple and differing accounts of this event exist, so exactly what happened is still somewhat unclear. But apparently, Fagan simply walked in and opened the Queen’s curtains. Startled by the intruder, she reportedly pressed the button next to her bed to summon her staff, but the bell was either broken or simply went unheard. It seems she managed to slip out of the bedroom while Fagan was looking around for a cigarette lighter. There was fascinated speculation that the two might have even had a conversation, as some believed that Fagan had been in the Queen’s bedroom for as long as ten minutes. Fagan however, speaking to several newspapers years later, denied that they discussed anything, stating that the Queen had simply run out of the room at the first opportunity. Such threats to her safety was a reality that Queen Elizabeth had to face quite frequently throughout her life, but commendably, it did not curb her willingness to remain accessible to the public. She continued to perform her royal duties very much in the open. Protecting the Queen during her walkabouts, for example, was ultimately very difficult, but Elizabeth refused to be intimidated. She was also determined to preserve a sphere of privacy and comfort for herself and her family, and traditionally opposed measures that threatened to violate it. Queen Elizabeth worked with no fewer than fourteen Prime Ministers, but the Thatcher years were particularly interesting for her from a political standpoint. Margaret Thatcher was not just Britain’s first female Prime Minister, but she was also the first Elizabeth had worked with who was her own age. One might imagine that this political relationship would have been among the Queen’s most harmonious and successful, but multiple biographers and historians believe that it was not. The Queen was far too devoted to constitutional norms ever to break the confidentiality of her weekly meetings with Britain’s top elected official, or to criticize a Prime Minister openly, which she never did. Historians speculate that the strongest division between the two women may have emerged over Thatcher’s reluctance to approve the recommendation of sanctions against South Africa to encourage abolition of apartheid, to which the Queen was deeply committed. According to former Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, Queen Elizabeth was highly active “behind the scenes” in encouraging international support for an end to the oppressive apartheid government in South Africa. Despite the numerous challenges she had hitherto faced as both a mother and a Queen, these challenges reached something of a crescendo during the 1990s. A new decade had brought increased criticism of the younger members of the royal family and the Queen was increasingly satirized in television programs. True to form, she attempted to fight fire with fire by making another documentary film, “Elizabeth R,” for which she allowed cameras to follow her about for nearly a year while she provided the commentary. The film premiered in 1992, the same year which the Queen once dubbed in a famous speech at London’s Guildhall, her Annus Horribilis or Horrible Year. The reasons for her lamenting 1992 are all too well known. The marriages of three out of four of her children fell apart in 1992 and a disastrous fire at Windsor Castle caused £60,000,000 in damages to her childhood home. In March of the following year, the Queen’s former nanny Margaret “Bobo” MacDonald, her confidante and closest friend, passed away at the age of eighty-nine. She had been by Elizabeth’s side for sixty-seven years, continuing to serve as her dresser when the young princess moved out of her nursery. Elizabeth was deeply saddened by Bobo’s passing. Yet another terrible blow struck the royal family in 1997, when Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris. At the time of the accident, Elizabeth and Philip were at Balmoral with Charles’ and Diana’s sons, William and Harry, to whom they now had to explain the terrible reality of their mother’s death. The nation, and many more people around the world, mourned Diana’s passing. She had been widely popular and much beloved for her philanthropy and empathetic kindness, and an impromptu shrine consisting of thousands of cards, flowers, and tokens of sympathy accumulated in front of Buckingham Palace in the following days. The newspapers began to question why there was no flag flying at half-mast over Buckingham Palace, why the Queen had not addressed the nation, and why the royal family did not seem to be mourning Diana’s death with any visibility. There was a fundamental disconnect at work here. What the public wanted was a show of emotion. What the Queen wanted was to protect her devastated grandsons and allow them and the rest of the family to mourn privately. But because Diana’s separation from the royal family had been so acrimonious, the Queen understood that something more was required to validate the very genuine public mourning. Elizabeth acquiesced, returning to London and giving a live broadcast the day before Diana’s funeral, expressing her admiration for her daughter-in-law and the family’s grief at her passing. Public approval of the Queen reached its lowest point in 1997, but soon rebounded significantly. Elizabeth confronted two more terrible losses in 2002. In February, her sister Margaret passed away at the age of seventy-one, and the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, died just one month later, at the impressive age of 101. Elizabeth was broken-hearted. As a family, she and Margaret and their mother had lost Bertie far too soon, but the three women had remained an exceptionally close family unit for half a century thereafter, one upon which the Queen had always relied for advice and comfort during her many decades as sovereign. During the same year, the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee and fifty years on the throne. Even as she mourned her mother and sister, she re-affirmed the vow of service she had made half a century before: “I am driven by my resolve to continue with the support of my family to serve the people of this great nation of ours to the best of my ability, through the changing times ahead.” Indeed, times were certainly changing with regard to what was acceptable within the royal family. In 2005, she gave her blessing for Prince Charles to marry his longtime love, Camilla Parker-Bowles, who was subsequently made Duchess of Cornwall. Because both Charles and Camilla were divorced, the couple were married in a civil service and the Queen and Prince Philip did not attend the ceremony, but they happily attended the reception. As sovereign, Elizabeth was mindful of her position as head of the Church, but she understood that times truly had changed considerably during her reign. Few people now expect that members of the royal family should marry anyone other than whom they choose. In a move that speaks even more strongly about letting go of the past, before she died, the Queen expressed her wish that the Duchess be given the title of “Queen Consort” at Prince Charles’ coronation. This represents a major departure from the traditional approach to marriage and divorce within the royal family, especially in light of their longtime affair, and Camilla’s involvement in the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage. In 2012, the Queen reached the zenith of her popularity, with incredible approval ratings approaching 90%. That year, she became the only British monarch besides Queen Victoria to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. And to a riotous reception, she opened the Olympic Games in London with a very special James Bond-themed performance with Daniel Craig, during which she hilariously appeared to parachute out of a plane into the Olympic Stadium. The royal family has seen a re-emergence of criticism and scrutiny during the last decade, some of it surrounding the departure of Elizabeth’s grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Megan Markle, from their royal roles, their seeming estrangement from the royal family, and the much-discussed exclusive interview they gave to Oprah Winfrey in March of 2021. Public attention was also drawn to the royal finances with the release of the Paradise Papers. In 2017, it was reported that a sizeable proportion of the Queen’s wealth from the Duchy of Lancaster rests in offshore tax havens. Different estimates exist of what Her Majesty’s net worth was, but it was generally reckoned to be between £500,000,000 and £600,000,000. Perhaps most troubling of all to royal supporters and critics alike in more recent years are Prince Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and the lawsuit for sexual assault launched against him by Virginia Giuffre, which he settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. In January 2022, just months before her death, the Queen stripped her son Prince Andrew of his military titles, as well as all royal duties and patronages, none of which will be returned. In the announcement, it was added that Andrew would face the lawsuit as a “private citizen,” without the support of his family. Despite the reoccurrence of scandal and criticism for members of the royal family, which grieved the Queen in the last years of her life, she remained highly popular both in the United Kingdom and abroad. People all over the world often wrote to her to express their admiration, and to express sympathy for her various family dramas, an example of public understanding which she appreciated. Even at the lowest point of her popularity in 1997, she still had a 70-75% approval rating in the UK, as well as in the “Old Dominions” of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. These are polling results that must be the envy of elected politicians everywhere, and are quite impressive considering the length of her tenure as Queen. In 2002, opinion was fairly unanimous among the people of the UK and Britain’s old Dominions: they strongly agreed that the Queen had done a good job as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth, but a small majority did not believe that the monarchy would long outlast her. That opinion has not changed much in the last two decades, with many people remaining skeptical about the potential success or stability of a monarch other than Queen Elizabeth. Inevitably, the most basic question most people have about the Queen is simply: “What was she really like?” Philip said that his wife’s greatest virtue was her tolerance. He described her as careful, observant, disciplined, and highly moral, but rarely judgmental. Her Majesty’s dresser for nearly thirty years, Angela Kelly, wrote of the Queen’s courage, kindness, strength, sense of humour and sense of fun. She apparently had a notable talent for putting people at ease, and was a master at helping those who were a little over-awed in her presence to relax with a little pleasant small-talk. Being the fashion icon that she was, the Queen grew to appreciate beautiful clothes as much as anyone, but she was always most comfortable in riding clothes, practical outdoor shoes or boots, and one of her signature headscarves. The photographs and footage in which Elizabeth appeared to be the most excited, animated, and happy, were when she was spending time with her dogs and horses, riding, or watching horse-racing. From the late 1960s onwards, Elizabeth enjoyed pursuing a career breeding and racing horses. She also loved spending time with her family, which has continued to grow following her passing to eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, but she experienced an increasingly solitary time towards the end of her life, following the death of her husband Prince Philip in 2021, indeed one of the most poignant images of the Queen in the last years of her reign was her sitting alone in mourning for her dear husband Prince Philip, due to Covid restrictions that were in force at the time, in the pews at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Even though that was arguably the very worst moment of her life, considering the esteem and affection she had for him, the Queen always placed duty above her personal needs and unlike many of Britain’s politicians, she led by example during the Covid pandemic. While in the last few years of her life, she passed along the bulk of her royal duties to Charles, Camilla, her grandson William, and his wife Catherine Middleton, Queen Elizabeth still cherished her position and duty as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth. She would never have abdicated. “It’s a job for life,” she once remarked. “It’s a question of maturing into something that one’s got used to doing and accepting the fact that it’s your fate, because I think continuity is very important.” Some political commentators today are quick to dismiss the monarchy as outdated, needlessly sentimental, and a waste of resources. But others have argued that few if any elected politicians could ever hope to exercise the level of “soft power” that was at the core of the Queen’s influence. “Soft power” refers to the ability to produce desired outcomes using gentle persuasion rather than compulsion or force. Elizabeth embodied British history. She provided a concrete link to her nation’s past in the modern world. Further, the Commonwealth continues to play an important role for those countries that choose to belong to it. The association provides access to numerous resources for the further development and betterment of all member nations, and it is through these international partnerships that the Queen was able to concentrate some of her “soft power.” Commonwealth countries not only share resources and strategies for development, but also cultural, political, and judicial sensibilities. The Commonwealth is one type of tool for preserving international cooperation and friendship, and for the continued promotion of the rule of law, democratic institutions, and both civil and human rights. Elizabeth’s reign witnessed a complete redefinition of both monarchy and empire, and in a fascinating paradox, the monarchy became in many ways more influential the more its actual power declined. The most popular members of the royal family in the twenty-first century function as “super-ambassadors.” Politicians and diplomats who might refuse to deal with elected British officials invariably jumped at the chance to meet the Queen, who was called upon many times to encourage political accord by holding a royal event or visit. She left an immense legacy both to the British people and to the wider world, guiding Britain through greater social, political, economic, and technological change than perhaps any monarch in history. She also provided leadership, comfort, perspective, stability and a willingness to make change – whatever her people required of her within constitutional limits. But beyond this, Elizabeth was also a touchstone of global decolonization. Countries and peoples with a painful history of British occupation and colonization came to associate her with the gradual withdrawal from empire, the end of oppression, the beginning of independence and self-governance, and the beginning of international friendship on equal terms. It is worth noting that more than half of Britain’s former colonies remain members of the Commonwealth today, and most of those who chose to withdraw still maintain good relations with the UK and have largely favourable approval ratings for the monarchy. All good things come to an end. When Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee was celebrated in February 2022 it was done so with the awareness that it would almost certainly be the last major anniversary of the queen’s accession all the way back in 1952, as by the time the event was held in 2022 she was 95 years of age. As a result, Elizabeth was largely confined to balcony appearances at Buckingham Palace during the event. In the months that followed her health declined precipitously, not least perhaps because of the loss of her soul mate and much loved husband Prince Philip, at this time Prince Charles and other working royals were increasingly called upon to fill in for her at events. As such, it was perhaps not surprising when the news was released in early September 2022 that the queen was very ill at her favourite residence, Balmoral in Scotland. In the end she died faster than many had expected, though Charles and Anne were by her side when she passed on the afternoon of the 8th of September at 96 years of age. Her state funeral was particularly long to accommodate the long lines of people who wished to file by her body as it lay in state at Westminster Abbey throughout mid-September. Finally, on the 19th of September, after a private family ceremony, Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle next to her parents and husband. As is the custom with royal succession, Prince Charles succeeded his mother immediately upon her death, becoming King Charles III. He was 73 when he succeeded to the throne in September 2022, making him the oldest person to become monarch of Britain. In line with his mother’s wishes Charles’ second wife, Camilla, became his queen consort at his coronation at Westminster Abbey on the 6th of May 2023. It was a remarkable occasion in the history of modern Britain, as it was the first royal coronation in over seventy years and only the sixth coronation in the last 200 years. So what kind of monarch will Charles be? His task is not as arduous as it once would have been. If Elizabeth had only lived into her seventies and Charles had become king in the late 1990s or early 2000s it would have been problematic, given that he was, somewhat unfairly, depicted in many circles as the villain in the demise of his marriage to Princess Diana and public opinion towards the Prince of Wales was very low following Diana’s death in 1997. However, with the passage of time people have warmed again to Charles and his coronation was warmly greeted. His style of kingship will be different to that of his mother. He believes in a slimmed down monarchy and will reduce the size of the royal establishment, while he will also try to champion causes which are closer to his heart to a greater extent that Elizabeth did, notably his life-long advocacy of environmentalism. Charles has been concerned with climate change for decades and as such he ascended the throne at just the right moment to be able to champion this cause. Whatever kind of king he is, it will be different to his late mother. It will be a tough act to follow. What do you think of Queen Elizabeth II? Will she go down in history as one of Britain’s most dutiful, respected and revered monarchs or was she a ‘silent’ Queen who was too reluctant to voice her opinions on important affairs? Please let us know in the comment section and in the meantime thank you very much for watching!

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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