Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, in London, England. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during World War II, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
In her early 20s, as a young queen, she traveled extensively throughout the Commonwealth, visiting countries such as Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand. She also made her first state visit to the United States in 1957.
In 1947, Elizabeth became engaged to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark. They were married on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. The couple has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Queen Elizabeth II faced several challenges as a monarch. In 1956, her husband, Prince Philip, was involved in a severe car accident; in 1957, her mother passed away. Additionally, the Suez Crisis and the Cold War were ongoing political concerns during this time.
Despite these challenges, the Queen continued to carry out her official duties, including opening Parliament and receiving state visits from foreign leaders. She also continued to travel and represent the UK at various events and ceremonies.
In the late 1960s, Queen Elizabeth II faced further challenges with the decolonization of Africa and the rise of the republican movement in the UK. Despite this, she maintained a high profile, undertaking numerous state visits and supporting various charities and organizations.
By the end of her 30s, Queen Elizabeth II had established herself as a respected and experienced leader. She had also overseen significant changes in the Commonwealth and the monarchy’s role. Despite her youth, she had proven herself to be a capable and dedicated monarch and had laid the foundation for a long and prosperous reign.
She is the longest-reigning current monarch in the world, surpassing the previous record held by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, on September 9, 2015. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II has seen significant changes in the world and the role of the monarchy. She has undertaken numerous state visits and has represented the UK at the funerals of world leaders and the weddings of European royalty. In addition to her official duties, the Queen is known for supporting various charities and organizations.
