Queen Elizabeth II is known as the longest-serving monarch in British history, but many details of her life have been kept from the public, and the Associated Press has identified ten things you “need to know about the queen’s life.”
Elizabeth, who celebrated 70 years on the throne this year, is the oldest and longest-serving monarch in British history. In September 2015, her grandmother outlived Queen Victoria, who reigned 63 years and seven months.
In 2016, Elizabeth also became the world’s longest-reigning monarch with the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In 2022, he became the second monarch in world history, after the 17th-century king of France, Louis XIV, who ascended the throne at the age of 4.
Only four other monarchs in British history have reigned for 50 years or more: George III (59), Henry III (56), Edward III (50) and James VI of Scotland (58).
Like many royals of her era and before, Elizabeth never attended public school and did not mix with other students. Instead, he was home-schooled by his younger sister Margaret.
Among his teachers were his father, along with a headmaster at Eton College, several French and Belgian nannies who taught him French, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who taught him religion.
Elizabeth’s education also included horseback riding, swimming, dancing, fine arts, and music.
In February 1945, during World War II, she joined the Army in the Women’s Regional Service Unit and was registered as Elizabeth Windsor as number 230873, helping with everything from firing anti-aircraft artillery to driving vehicles and mechanics.
Elizabeth often felt taken seriously, and her “poker face” was noted by many, but those who knew her described her as having a sense of humor and a talent for parody in private.
Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, said the Queen could be “very funny” in private.
Bishop Michael Mann, the King’s local priest, once said that “the Queen’s impersonation of the Concorde landing is one of the funniest things you’ll ever see.” Northern Irish clergyman and politician Ian Paisley also noted that Elizabeth was a “great imitator” of him.
Recently, she showed her witty side at Platinum Jubilee celebrations when she starred in a comedy video alongside the animatronic Paddington Bear and talked about hiding marmalade sandwiches in her purse.
She may have been queen, but she also paid taxes — at least since 1992.
And when a fire destroyed Windsor Castle, the Queen’s weekend residence, in 1992, people rioted against the millions of pounds paid for repairs.
But he voluntarily agreed to pay his personal income tax. He said he would fund 70 percent of the restoration work and also decided to open his home at Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time to earn more money from admission fees.
Little Lilipet
Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor of York was christened in honor of her mother, paternal grandmother and great-grandmother. But when she was a child, her family knew her as Young Lilbite, and it is said that this was because she could not pronounce “Elizabeth” correctly.
In a letter to her grandmother, Queen Mary, the young princess wrote: “My dear Grandpa. Thank you so much for the lovely little shirt. We loved staying with you at Sandringham. I lost a front tooth yesterday morning.” “Love from Lilipet.”
The nickname became widely known after Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, named their daughter Lilibit Diana in 2021.
Constant romance
Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, have enjoyed an enduring relationship for more than 70 years, a bond that goes far beyond the marriage of three of her four children: Charles, Anne and Andrew.
“He has been my strength all these years,” the Queen said of Philip on their 50th wedding anniversary.
Their story began in 1939, when Prince Philip of Greece, a handsome 18-year-old naval student, was chosen to entertain 13-year-old Elizabeth for a day. Several years later, Philip was invited to join the royal family at Windsor Castle at Christmas, and soon began a secret inquiry into whether he was considered an eligible suitor.
The couple married in 1947 at Westminster Abbey. When Philip died in 2021 aged 99, Elizabeth described his death as leaving a “huge void” in her life, according to their son Andrew.
Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926, but it was sometimes confusing to know when to celebrate.
There was no universal day for his “official birthday” – it was either the first, second or third Saturday of June and the government decided.
In Australia, her birthday is celebrated on the second Monday in June, while in Canada, Queen Victoria’s birthday is celebrated on or before May 24, which is Queen Victoria’s birthday.
And only the queen and her close relatives celebrated his actual birthday in private parties.
It is widely known that Elizabeth loved corgis and Princess Diana is said to have described the dogs as the Queen’s “moving carpet” as they accompanied her everywhere.
He has owned more than 30 corgis over the years. He also had two “Durgis” – dachshund and corgi cross breeds, named Candy and Vulcan.
Elizabeth has been photographed holding a dog since 1936, aged 10, and was given a corgi named Susan on her 18th birthday. The breed was adopted by her father, King George VI, in 1933. When a dog bought a corgi and introduced it to the royal family. A male corgi from a pet shop.
As Queen, she also owned thousands of swans in British high waters, and by law from 1324 she had the right to claim all sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins.
The Queen inevitably became the subject of pop songs, and the Beatles immortalized her as “Her Majesty”, calling her “a very nice girl” although she “doesn’t have much to say”. Sung by Paul McCartney and recorded in 1969, this short song appeared at the end of the Abbey Road album.
The anti-royalist song “Lord Save the Queen”, released just before the Silver Jubilee in 1977, was banned from British television.
Source: Lebanon Debate
