The Royal Family

Her majesty queen Elizabeth II, in full Elizabeth

Alexandra Mary, was born on the 21st of April in 1926 in
London.
She is queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland from February 6, 1952. Her official name
is Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of
her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the
Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
Elizabeth II is now the longest-reigning British monarch
since Victoria, who occupied the throne for over 63 years.

Queen Victoria
Elizabeth was the elder daughter of Albert, duke of York,
and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. As a child, her
close family called her Lilibet. Her grandfather was King
George V. In 1936 King George V died. Elizabeth's uncle,
Edward VIII, became king, but months later he gave up
the throne. Elizabeth's father then became King George
VI, making Elizabeth the next in line for the throne. She
was only 10 years old.

The duke of Windsor George VI, her

George V, her (formerly Edward father
grandfather VIII) and his wife the Queen Mother
From that time on,
Princess Elizabeth
was trained for her
future duties. She
and her younger
sister, Margaret
Rose, were educated
at home in history,
art, music, and
horseback riding.
When Princess
Elizabeth was 13,
World War II broke
out. Because London
was heavily bombed
during the war, she
and her sister were
sent to live in the
safety of Windsor
Castle, outside the
city. In 1940 Princess
Elizabeth gave her
first radio address.
This began her life in
the public eye.
Princess Elizabeth became engaged to Lieutenant
Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Before their wedding
King George VI gave Philip the titles of duke of
Edinburgh, earl of Merioneth, and Baron
Greenwich. The marriage took place in
Westminster Abbey in London on November 20,
1947.

Prince Philip,
duke of Edinburgh
Their first child, Prince Charles, was born in 1948.
The couple later had three more children: Princess
Anne, born in 1950; Prince Andrew, born in 1960;
and Prince Edward, born in 1964. The Queen is an
affectionate wife, loving mother and grandparent.
 Prince Andrew Princess Anne
Queen, her husband and her first
son, Prince Charles

Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother

Queen’s sister Prince Edward
Even before becoming
queen, Elizabeth
represented the royal
family with visits to
various countries. In
January 1952 she and her
husband left for a tour of
Australia and New
Zealand. In the first stage
of the trip, however, King
George died in his sleep.
Princess Elizabeth
automatically became
Queen Elizabeth II. She
flew back at once to
England.
Queen Elizabeth's coronation, or crowning
ceremony, was held at Westminster Abbey on June
2, 1953. She was 25 years old.
Elizabeth II is recognized as Queen or Head of the
Commonwealth by no fewer than 51 countries. The
Commonwealth is a free association of independent states
which are former British colonies. She is Head of State of
16 countries. She makes one official visit to a
Commonwealth country at least once every year.
Throughout her reign Queen Elizabeth travelled
widely with her husband. Among the many places
she visited were India, South Africa, Australia, the
United States, and various countries in South
America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.
At home, she meets regularly with the British
prime minister to discuss the political affairs of the
country. She receives visitors from around the
world and presents honors to accomplished people.
She also makes appearances at many public events.
The Queen has no power in a political sense yet she
is an integral part of the parliamentary system.
In 2002 Queen Elizabeth reached her Golden
Jubilee, or 50 years as queen. To mark the
anniversary, celebrations were held throughout the
United Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth II
and her husband,
Prince Philip, wave
to well-wishers
during celebrations
of the queen's
Golden Jubilee
in June 2002.
Charles, prince of Wales
Charles Philip Arthur George, prince of
Wales was born on the 14th of November,
1948, in Buckingham Palace, London.
After private schooling, Charles entered
Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1967. He
took a bachelor's degree there in 1971.
He also spent a term at the University
College of Wales, learning Welsh. He
then attended the Royal Air Force
College (becoming an excellent flier) and
the Royal Naval College.
On July 29, 1981, Charles married Lady Diana
Frances Spencer, daughter of the 8th Earl Spencer; the
royal wedding was a global media event.
The couple's first child, Prince William of Wales,
became at his birth (June 21, 1982) second in line of
succession to the throne. Their second child, Prince
Henry Charles Albert David, was born on September
15, 1984.

Princess Diana and her

two sons
Marital difficulties led to a separation between Diana and
Charles in 1992. They divorced on August 28, 1996. Diana’s
great popularity as a member of the royal family, both in
Britain and throughout the world, attracted considerable
attention from the press, and she became one of the most
photographed women in the world.
A year later Diana died in an auto accident, along with her
companion, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, in an automobile
accident in Paris.
On April 9, 2005, he married
Camilla Parker Bowles (born
1947), with whom he had a
long-standing relationship.
After the wedding, Parker
Bowles took the title of
duchess of Cornwall.