NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Her Britannic Majesty

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is (in alphabetical order) Queen of Antigua and Barbuda, Queen of Australia, Queen of The Bahamas, Queen of Barbados, Queen of Belize, Queen of Canada, Queen of Grenada, Queen of Jamaica, Queen of New Zealand, Queen of Papua New Guinea, Queen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Queen of Saint Lucia, Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Queen of the Solomon Islands, Queen of Tuvalu, and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Image File history File links Ac. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 2 June is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895â€“6 February 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... The Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Laurence, formerly Phillips, nÃ©e Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Princess Royal (born August 15, 1950), is a member of the British Royal Family. ... HRH The Duke of York His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Windsor), styled HRH The Duke of York (born February 19, 1960), is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II... HRH The Earl of Wessex His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Earl of Wessex (born March 10, 1964), is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title... The House of Windsor, previously called the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is the Royal House of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other Commonwealth Realms. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895â€“6 February 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon as Queen Elizabeth. ... April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... The House of Windsor, previously called the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is the Royal House of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other Commonwealth Realms. ... April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, in 1952 and 2002 The title Queen of Australia has existed since 1973, when the Parliament of Australia passed the Royal Style and Titles Act (1973). ... The Queens Personal Canadian Flag. ... New Zealands Head of State is currently Queen Elizabeth II, and is given the title Queen of New Zealand. ... This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ...

She became Queen of Australia, of Canada, of New Zealand and of the United Kingdom on the death of her father, King George VI on 6 February 1952. As other colonies of the British Commonwealth (now Commonwealth of Nations) attained independence from the UK during her reign she acceded to the newly created thrones as Queen of each respective realm. Thus, she became Queen of Jamaica in 1962, of Barbados in 1966, of The Bahamas and of Grenada in 1973, of Papua New Guinea in 1975, of the Solomon Islands and of Tuvalu in 1978, of Saint Lucia and of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979, of Antigua and Barbuda and of Belize in 1981, and of Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1983. By the Statute of Westminster 1931 she holds these positions equally; no one nation takes precedence over any other. George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895â€“6 February 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... The Statute of Westminster 1931 was the enactment of the United Kingdom Parliament (December 11, 1931) which established a status of legislative equality between the self-governing dominions of the British Empire and the United Kingdom. ...

In her 54 years on the throne, Elizabeth II has also seen a number of her former territories and realms attain independence and become kingdoms under a different dynasty, or republics. (See Commonwealth Realm - Former Commonwealth Realms.) A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ...

Today about 128 million people live in countries of which she is Head of State. Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State in many Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, the Bahamas and many more, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ...

She also holds the positions of Head of the Commonwealth, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and Lord of Mann. Queen Elizabeth II is recognised as Head of the Commonwealth in those members of the Commonwealth of Nations which are not Commonwealth realms and where, therefore, she is not head of state. ... The Supreme Governor of the Church of England is a title held by the British Monarchs that signifies their titular leadership over the Church of England. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... The current Lord of Mann is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ...

She is currently the second-longest-serving head of state in the world, after King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great of Thailand. Her reign of over five decades has seen ten different Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and numerous Prime Ministers in the other Commonwealth Realms of which she is or was Head of State. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Thai: à¸ à¸¹à¸¡à¸´à¸žà¸¥à¸à¸”à¸¸à¸¥à¸¢à¹€à¸”à¸Š; IPA: ) (born December 5, 1927), also known as King Rama IX and the Ninth Rama, has been King of Thailand since 9 June 1946. ... In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ...

Early life

Elizabeth was born at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. Her father was The Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), the second eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. Her mother was The Duchess of York (née Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon), the daughter of Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and his wife, the Countess of Strathmore. Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony The British Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the British monarch. ... Image File history File links UK_Royal_Coat_of_Arms. ... The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... The Duchess of Cornwall The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Parker Bowles, nÃ©e Shand) (born 17 July 1947) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), born 21 June 1982, is a member of the British Royal Family, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and first son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. ... Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) (born September 15, 1984), informally named Prince Harry by his parents, is the third in the line of succession to the British throne and the thrones of other Commonwealth Realms, behind his father, the Prince of Wales, and his elder... Prince Andrew The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor) styled HRH The Duke of York, (born February 19, 1960), is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Duke of... Princess Beatrice of York (Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor) (born August 8, 1988) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... Princess Eugenie of York (Eugenie Victoria Helena Mountbatten-Windsor; born March 23, 1990) is a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Eugenie is currently sixth in the line of succession. ... The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, (Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Earl of Wessex (born March 10, 1964), is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest child and third son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Earl of Wessex since... The Earl and Countess of Wessex on their wedding day The Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen Mountbatten-Windsor, nÃ©e Rhys-Jones), (born January 20, 1965), is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and... The Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor (born 8 November 2003) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... The Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Laurence, formerly Phillips, nÃ©e Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Princess Royal (born August 15, 1950), is a member of the British Royal Family. ... The Duke of Gloucester in Garter robes. ... Image:Birgitte Van Deurs. ... The Duke of Kent Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, (Edward George Nicholas Patrick Windsor) (born 9 October 1935), is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandchild of King George V. He has held the title of Duke of Kent since 1942. ... The Duchess of Kent, (Katharine Lucy Mary Windsor, nÃ©e Worsley) (born February 22, 1933), is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V and cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Duchess of Kent gained attention for... Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent (Michael George Charles Franklin Windsor) is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of King George V. Prince Michael of Kent does not regularly carry out royal duties on behalf of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, he manages his... Princess Michael of Kent Princess Michael of Kent, born Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, is a member of the British Royal Family. ... HRH Princess Alexandra Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel Ogilvy, nÃ©e Windsor), (born 25 December 1936), is a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of King George V. She was married to the late Sir Angus Ogilvy. ... Mayfair is an area in the City of Westminster London, named after the fortnight-long May Fair that took place there from 1686 until it was banned in that location in 1764. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895â€“6 February 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865â€“20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. ... Mary of Teck Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes) (26 May 1867 â€“ 24 March 1953), later Queen Mary, was the Queen consort of George V of the United Kingdom. ... HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (née Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon) Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Angela Marguerite) (4 August 1900 - 30 March 2002) was the Queen consort of George VI of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. ... The 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (March 14, 1855 - November 7, 1944), was the maternal grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II. Lord Strathmore was born at Lowndes Square in London, the son of the 13th Earl and his wife, the... Nina Cecilia Bowes-Lyon nÃ©e Cavendish-Bentinck, (11 September 1862â€“23 June 1938) was the mother of Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother). ...

She was baptised in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by Cosmo Lang, the then Archbishop of York and her godparents were King George and Queen Mary, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Connaught, the Earl of Strathmore and Lady Elphinstone. Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. ... Cosmo Gordon Lang, Baron Lang of Lambeth (1864-1945) was Archbishop of York (1908-1928) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1928-1942). ... Arms of the Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York, Primate of England, is the metropolitan bishop of the Province of York, and is the junior of the two archbishops of the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury. ... The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, (Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary Lascelles, nÃ©e Windsor) (25 April 1897 â€“ 28 March 1965) was a member of the British Royal Family. ... Prince Arthur as a lieutenant in The Prince Consorts Own Rifle Brigade. ... Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 14th and 1st Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (14 March 1855â€“7 November 1944) was the maternal grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II. He was born at Lowndes Square in London, the son of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and his wife, the... Mary Frances Elphinstone, Lady Elphinstone (August 30, 1883â€“February 8, 1961) was a maternal aunt and a godparent of Elizabeth II. Born Lady Mary Frances Bowes-Lyon, she was the daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and the elder sister of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later...

Elizabeth was named after her mother, while her two middle names are those of her paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra and grandmother Queen Mary respectively. As a child she was known as 'Lilibet' by her close family. This is a magazine cover. ... This is a magazine cover. ... This page is about the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom. ...

As a granddaughter of the British sovereign in the male line, she held the title of a British princess with the style Her Royal Highness. Her full style was Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York. At the time of her birth, she was third in the line of succession to the crown, behind her father and her uncle, The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). Although her birth generated public interest, no one could have predicted that she would become Queen. It was widely assumed that her uncle, the Prince of Wales, would marry and have children in due course. This is a list of British princesses from the accession of King George I in 1714. ... Royal Highness (abbreviation HRH) is a style His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor), later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 â€“ 28 May 1972), was the second British monarch of the House of Windsor. ...

Education

The young Princess Elizabeth was educated at home, as was her younger sister, Princess Margaret, under the supervision of her mother, then the Duchess of York. Her governess was Marion Crawford, better known as "Crawfie". She studied history with C. H. K. Marten, Provost of Eton, and also learned modern languages. She now speaks fluent French, as she has shown on several occasions, most recently during her 2004 state visit to France to commemorate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale but also on numerous visits to Canada. She was instructed in religion by the Archbishop of Canterbury and has always been a strong believer in the Church of England. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret (Margaret Rose Armstrong-Jones, née Windsor; (August 21, 1930—February 9, 2002) was a member of the British Royal Family, the second eldest daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister of the current British... A governess is a female employee from outside of the family who teaches children within the family circle. ... Marion Crawford (1900-1988) was a servant with the British Royal Family, and governess of the children of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret who gave her the nickname Crawfie. Marion was the named author of the book The Little Princesses which... The Kings College of Our Lady of Eton beside Windsor, commonly known as Eton College or just Eton, is a prestigious independent school for boys. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Entente Cordiale (French for friendly understanding) is a series of agreements signed on April 8, 1904, between the United Kingdom and France. ... Arms of the see of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior clergyman of the established Church of England and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ...

Heiress Presumptive

When her father became King in 1936 upon her uncle King Edward VIII's abdication, she became heiress presumptive and was henceforth known as Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth. There was some demand in Wales for her to be created The Princess of Wales but the King was advised that this was the title of the wife of the Prince of Wales and not a title in its own right. Some feel the King missed the opportunity to make an innovation in Royal practice. She was thirteen years old when World War II broke out. She and her younger sister Princess Margaret were evacuated to Windsor Castle, Berkshire. There was some suggestion that the princesses be sent to Canada, but their mother the Queen refused to consider this, saying, "The children could not possibly go without me, I wouldn't leave without the King, and the King won't leave under any circumstances". In 1940 Princess Elizabeth made her first broadcast, addressing other children who had been evacuated. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor), later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 â€“ 28 May 1972), was the second British monarch of the House of Windsor. ... An heir presumptive is one who is first in line to inherit a title or property, such as a monarchy, because there is not yet an heir apparent. ... Princess of Wales is a courtesy title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first English Prince of Wales in 1282. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the... HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret (Margaret Rose Armstrong-Jones, née Windsor; (August 21, 1930—February 9, 2002) was a member of the British Royal Family, the second eldest daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister of the current British... // Initial Preparations In the 1930s, aerial bombing became an ever larger spectre in the minds of the government and the public (see Trenchard, Douhet, Spain). ... Windsor Castle. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Military service

In 1945 Princess Elizabeth convinced her father that she should be allowed to contribute directly to the war effort. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the ATS) where she was known as No 230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor, and was trained as a driver. This training was the first time she had been taught together with other students. It is said that she greatly enjoyed this and that this experience led her to send her own children to school rather than have them educated at home. She was the first (and as of 2006 the only) female member of the royal family to actually serve in the military, though other royal women have been given honorary ranks. During the V-E Day celebrations in London, she and her sister dressed as ordinary subjects and slipped into the crowd secretly in order to celebrate with everyone without being recognised. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A subaltern is a military term for a junior officer. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) was May 8, 1945, the date when the Allies during the Second World War formally celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitlers Reich. ...

Elizabeth made her first official visit overseas in 1947, when she accompanied her parents to South Africa. On her 21st birthday she made a broadcast to the British Commonwealth and Empire, pledging to devote her life to the service of the people of the Commonwealth and Empire. 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... The British Empire was at one time the foremost global power and remains unsurpassed as the largest empire in history. ...

Marriage and motherhood

Elizabeth married The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947. The Duke is Queen Elizabeth's third cousin; they share Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother. They are also both descended from Christian IX of Denmark (she being a great-great granddaughter through Alexandra of Denmark, and the Duke is a great-grandson through George I of Greece). Prince Philip had renounced his claim to the Greek throne and was simply referred to as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten before being created Duke of Edinburgh before their marriage. This marriage, although not arranged as such, was eminently suitable for a female heir to the throne, as Philip had been trained for royal responsibilities. Image File history File links Source: WorldRoots File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Source: WorldRoots File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Christian IX of Denmark (April 8, 1818 â€“ January 29, 1906) was King of Denmark from November 15, 1863 to January 29, 1906. ... This page is about the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom. ... George I (December 24, 1845 â€“ March 18, 1913) was King of the Hellenes (Greece) from 1863 to 1913. ... The Duke of Edinburgh is a British dukedom. ...

After their wedding Philip and Elizabeth took up residence at Clarence House, London. On 14 November 1948 she gave birth to her first child Prince Charles of Edinburgh. Several weeks earlier letters patent had been issued so that her children would enjoy a royal and prince status they would not otherwise have been entitled to. Otherwise they would have been styled merely as children of a duke. They had four children (see below) in all. Though the Royal House is named Windsor, it was decreed via a 1960 Order-in-Council that the descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip should have the personal surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Clarence House, London Clarence House is a royal home in London, situated in The Mall. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... Letters Patent by Queen Victoria creating the office of Governor-General of Australia Letters patent are a type of legal document which is an open letter issued by a monarch or government granting a right, monopoly, title, or status to someone or some entity such as a corporation. ... The term Royal House refers to the official designation and name of a royal family instead of surname. ... The House of Windsor, previously called the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is the Royal House of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other Commonwealth Realms. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... Under an ambiguously-worded Order-in-Council issued in 1960, the name Mountbatten-Windsor is the personal surname of some of the descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ...

Children and grandchildren

The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The Lady Diana Frances Spencer (Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor, nÃ©e Spencer) (1 July 1961â€“31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... HRH The Duchess of Cornwall The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Parker Bowles, nÃ©e Shand) (born 17 July 1947) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), born 21 June 1982, is a member of the British Royal Family, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and first son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) (born September 15, 1984), informally named Prince Harry by his parents, is the third in the line of succession to the British throne and the thrones of other Commonwealth Realms, behind his father, the Prince of Wales, and his elder... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Laurence, formerly Phillips, nÃ©e Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Princess Royal (born August 15, 1950), is a member of the British Royal Family. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Rear Admiral Timothy James Hamilton Laurence, MVO was born on March 1, 1955 in Camberwell, South London, the son of Guy Stewart Laurence (a salesman for a marine-engine manufacturer) and Barbara Alison Laurence, nÃ©e Symons. ... Peter Mark Andrew Phillips Grandson of Queen Elizabeth II Peter Mark Andrew Phillips (born November 15, 1977), is the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. He is not technically a member of the Royal Family, as he is a female line descendent, and is therefore not entitled to hold a... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Zara Phillips Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (born May 15, 1981) is the daughter of Anne, the Princess Royal and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prince Andrew The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor) styled HRH The Duke of York, (born February 19, 1960), is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Duke of... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Sarah, Duchess of York (Sarah Margaret Mountbatten-Windsor, nÃ©e Ferguson) born 15 October 1959, is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Princess Beatrice of York (Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor) (born August 8, 1988) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Princess Eugenie of York (Eugenie Victoria Helena Mountbatten-Windsor; born March 23, 1990) is a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Eugenie is currently sixth in the line of succession. ... This article is about the year. ... The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, (Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Earl of Wessex (born March 10, 1964), is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest child and third son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Earl of Wessex since... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in Leap years). ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... HRH The Countess of Wessex The Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen Mountbatten-Windsor, nÃ©e Rhys-Jones), (born January 20, 1965), is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... The Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor (born 8 November 2003) is a member of the British Royal Family. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Succession

King George's health declined during 1951 and Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events. She visited Greece, Italy and Malta (where Philip was then stationed) during the year. In October she toured Canada and visited President Harry S. Truman in Washington, DC. In January 1952 Elizabeth and Philip set out for a tour of Australia and New Zealand. They had reached Kenya when word arrived of the death of her father, on 6 February 1952, from lung cancer. This work is copyrighted. ... A style of office, or honorific, is a form of address which by tradition or law precedes a reference to a person who holds a title or post, or to the office itself. ... Look up majesty in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Majesty is an English word rooting in the Latin Maiestas, meaning literally, Greatness. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... For other people named Harry Truman, see Harry Truman (disambiguation). ... Nickname: the District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Official website: http://www. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

At the moment she became aware she was now queen, she was in a treetop hotel – a unique circumstance for any such event. She was the first British monarch since the Act of Union in 1801 to be out of the country at the moment of succession, and also the first in modern times not to know the exact time of her accession (because George VI had died in his sleep at an unknown time). The Treetops Hotel, where she went up a princess and came down a queen, is now a very popular tourist retreat in Kenya. Elizabeth's coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis and especially for tourists. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Treetops Hotel is a hotel in Aberdare National Park in Kenya, 6,450 feet above sea level and in sight of Mount Kenya. ... British coronations are held in Westminster Abbey. ... The Abbeys western faÃ§ade The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... 2 June is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Life as Queen

After the Coronation, Elizabeth and Philip moved to Buckingham Palace in central London. It is believed, however, that like many of her predecessors she dislikes the Palace as a residence and considers Windsor Castle, west of London, to be her home. She also spends time at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and at Sandringham House in Norfolk. © Cecil Beaton / Camera Press. ... © Cecil Beaton / Camera Press. ... The Imperial State Crown is one of the British Crown Jewels. ... A cape is an article of clothing, and can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening about the neck of the wearer. ... Queen Elizabeth II holding the Sceptre with the Cross The Sceptre with the Cross, also known as the St Edwards Sceptre, the Sovereigns Sceptre or the Royal Sceptre, is a sceptre of the British Crown Jewels. ... Queen Elizabeth II holding the Orb The Sovereigns Orb is a type of regalia known as a globus cruciger and is one of the British Crown Jewels. ... British coronations are held in Westminster Abbey. ... 2 June is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. ... Windsor Castle. ... Balmoral Castle Balmoral Castle, painted by Queen Victoria in 1854 during its construction Balmoral Castle is currently a large mansion situated deep within the Scottish Highlands. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... Sandringham House is a country house on 8000 acres (32 kmÂ²) of land near the village of Sandringham, Norfolk, which is privately owned by the British Royal Family. ... For alternative meanings see: Norfolk (disambiguation) Norfolk (pronounced NOR-fk) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ...

Queen Elizabeth is the most widely travelled head of state in history (in front of Pope John Paul II). In 1953–54 she and Philip made a six-month round-the-world tour, becoming the first reigning monarch to circumnavigate the globe, and also the first to visit Australia, New Zealand and Fiji (which she visited again all at once during the 1977 jubilee). In October 1957 she made a state visit to the United States and toured Canada, opening the first session of the 23rd parliament. In 1959 she made a tour of Canada, as well as undertaking a state visit to the United States as Queen of Canada, hosting the return dinner for then US President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Canadian embassy in Washington. In 1961 she toured India and Pakistan for the first time. She has made state visits to most European countries and to many outside Europe. She regularly attends Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings. Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol JÃ³zef WojtyÅ‚a (May 18, 1920 â€“ April 2, 2005) reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death, making his the second-longest pontificate. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Elizabeth IIs Silver Jubilee and her domestic and international visits proved very popular with her subjects. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Queens Personal Canadian Flag. ... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 â€“ March 28, 1969) was an American soldier and politician. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

At the time of Elizabeth's accession there was much talk of a "new Elizabethan age". Elizabeth's role has been to preside over the United Kingdom as it has shared world economic and military power with a growing host of independent nations and principalities. As nations have developed economically and in literacy, Queen Elizabeth has witnessed over the past 50 years a gradual transformation of the British Empire into its modern successor, the Commonwealth. She has worked hard to maintain links with former British possessions, and in some cases, such as South Africa, she has played an important role in retaining or restoring good relations. The British Empire was at one time the foremost global power and remains unsurpassed as the largest empire in history. ...

Despite a series of controversies about the rest of the royal family, particularly the marital difficulties of her children throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Queen Elizabeth remains a remarkably uncontroversial figure and is generally well-respected by the people of her Realms. However, her public persona remains formal, though more relaxed than it once was.

Elizabeth remains a highly respected head of state. However, she and her family have come under increasing pressure from UK based newspapers. In 2002 she celebrated her Golden Jubilee, marking the 50th anniversary of her accession to the Throne. The year saw an extensive tour of the Commonwealth Realms, including numerous parades and official concerts. 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Queen Elizabeth II makes an official appearance at the CBC Headquarters as part of her Jubilee goodwill tour, October 2002. ... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ...

The Jubilee year coincided with the deaths, within a few months, of Elizabeth's mother and sister. Elizabeth's relations with her children, while still somewhat distant, have become much warmer since these deaths. She is particularly close to her daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex. She is known to have disapproved of Prince Charles's long-standing relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles, but with their recent marriage, has come to accept it. On the other hand, she is very close to her grandchildren, noticeably Prince William and Zara Phillips. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon as Queen Elizabeth. ... The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose Armstrong-Jones, nÃ©e Windsor) 21 August 1930â€“9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister of the current British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She also later held the title Countess of Snowdon by... HRH The Countess of Wessex The Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen Mountbatten-Windsor, nÃ©e Rhys-Jones), (born January 20, 1965), is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke... The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... Camilla Parker Bowles (born July 17 1947) was mistress, now girlfriend, of Charles, Prince of Wales. ... Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), born 21 June 1982, is a member of the British Royal Family, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and first son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. ... Zara Phillips Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (born May 15, 1981) is the daughter of Anne, the Princess Royal and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. ...

In late February 2003, Queen Elizabeth II's reign, then just over 51 years, surpassed the reigns of all four of her immediate predecessors (King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI) combined. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward) (9 November 1841â€“6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865â€“20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor), later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 â€“ 28 May 1972), was the second British monarch of the House of Windsor. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895â€“6 February 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from 11 December 1936 until his death. ...

In 2003 Elizabeth, who is often described as robustly healthy, underwent three operations. She had two operations by the end of the year concerning both of her knees, and also had several lesions removed from her face. This had prompted some debate in the media about whether the evolving monarchy should have monarchs abdicating as in some other nations, or even enforce a retirement age for reigning monarchs. In June 2005 she was forced to cancel several engagements after contracting what the Palace described as a bad cold. Despite these minor health problems, the Queen has been described as being in excellent health and rarely is ill. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

She has, however, begun to hand over some public duties to her children, as well as other members of the royal family. It was rumoured in 2005, that she and Prince Philip would be reducing their international travel. The subsequent, perhaps pointed, announcements that they would be visiting Canada, Malta, Australia, Singapore, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the space of the next year served to effectively deny these rumours, however. It is often made clear that she intends to do as much as she can until she is physically unable. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ...

Despite this, many historians are now claiming that we are witnessing the start of the end of the Queen's reign. The wedding of the Prince of Wales to Camilla in 2005, was seen by many as a message from the Queen that we are in the final years (perhaps decades) of her reign. By allowing Charles to marry, she is attempting to ensure that Charles' succession to the throne will go as smoothly as possible. In 2004, a copy of the Queen's newly revised funeral plans were stolen, much to the Queen's anger. And for the first time in September 2005, a mock version of the Queen's funeral march was held in the middle of the night (this was also done once a year after the late Queen Mother turned 80).

In early 2006, reports began to surface that the Queen plans to significantly reduce her official duties. It is believed that Prince Charles will start to perform many of the day-to-day duties of the Monarch, while the Queen will effectively go into retirement (but will fall short of abdicating.) It was later confirmed by the Palace that Prince Charles will begin to hold regular audiences with the Prime Minister and other Commonwealth leaders. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Buckingham Palace is considering giving the Prince more access to government papers, and is to allow him to preside over more investitures, meet more foreign dignitaries and take the place of the Queen in welcoming ambassadors at the Court of St James’s.

If the Queen lives until 2008, she will become the oldest reigning monarch in British history, surpassing King George III and Queen Victoria, both of whom died before the age of 82. 2008 (MMVIII) will a Leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 â€“ 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 â€“ 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ...

Should she still be reigning on September 9, 2015 at the age of 89, her reign will surpass that of Queen Victoria and she will become the longest reigning monarch of the British monarchy. September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 2015 (MMXV) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 â€“ 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ... The list of 5 longest-reigning British monarch: Victoria (1837â€“1901): 63 years, 7 months, and 2 days George III (1801â€“1820): 59 years, 3 months, and 4 days Henry III (1216â€“1272): 56 years, 30 days Elizabeth II (1952- current): 53 years, and 9 months (as of November 6...

Views and Perceptions

Elizabeth is a conservative in matters of religion, moral standards and family matters. She has a strong sense of religious duty and takes seriously her Coronation Oath. This is one reason why it is considered highly unlikely that she will ever abdicate. Like her mother, she blamed Edward VIII for, as she saw it, abandoning his duty and forcing her father to become King — a strain which she believed shortened his life by many years. She used the authority of her position to prevent her sister, Princess Margaret, from marrying a divorced man, Peter Townsend. For years she refused to acknowledge her son Prince Charles's relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles but since their marriage an appearance of acceptance has been established. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon as Queen Elizabeth. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), born 21 June 1982, is a member of the British Royal Family, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and first son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. ... For other people known as Charles, Prince of Wales, see Charles, Prince of Wales (disambiguation) His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales KG, KT,GCB, OM,AK,QSO, PC, ADC, M.A., B.A. (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Windsor), styled HRH The Prince Charles, Duke... HRH Prince Harry of Wales Henry Charles Albert David His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) (born September 15, 1984), nicknamed Prince Harry, is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. Harry is third in the line of... Prince Andrew The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor) styled HRH The Duke of York, (born February 19, 1960), is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Duke of... Abdication (from the Latin abdicatio disowning, renouncing, from ab, from, and dicare, to declare, to proclaim as not belonging to one), the act whereby a person in office renounces and gives up the same before the expiry of the time for which it is held. ... King Edward VIII King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, King of Ireland Emperor of India His Majesty King Edward VIII, (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David), later His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was the second British monarch of the House... The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose Armstrong-Jones, nÃ©e Windsor) 21 August 1930â€“9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister of the current British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She also later held the title Countess of Snowdon by... For other people known as Charles, Prince of Wales, see Charles, Prince of Wales (disambiguation) His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales KG, KT,GCB, OM,AK,QSO, PC, ADC, M.A., B.A. (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Windsor), styled HRH The Prince Charles, Duke... HRH The Duchess of Cornwall The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Parker Bowles, nÃ©e Shand) (born 17 July 1947) is a member of the British Royal Family. ...

Elizabeth's political views are supposed to be less clear-cut (she has never said or done anything in public to reveal what they might be). She preserves cordial relations with politicians of all parties. It is believed that her favourite Prime Ministers have been Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan and Harold Wilson. She was thought to have very good relations with her current Prime Minister, Tony Blair, during the first years of his term in office; however, there has been mounting evidence in recent months that her relationship with Blair has hardened. She reportedly feels that he does not keep her informed well enough on affairs of state. The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894â€“29 December 1986), nicknamed Supermac and Mac the Knife, was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... The Right Honourable James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 â€“ 24 May 1995) was one of the longest serving Labour Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. ... Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ...

The only public issue on which Elizabeth makes her views known are those affecting the unity of each of her Realms, including Canada and the United Kingdom. She has spoken in favour of the continued union of England and Scotland, angering some Scottish nationalists. Her statement of praise for the Northern Ireland Belfast Agreement raised some complaints among some Unionists in the Democratic Unionist Party who opposed the agreement, Ian Paisley calling her a parrot of Tony Blair. Also, while not speaking directly against Quebec Sovereignty in Canada, she has publicly praised Canada's unity and expressed her wish to see the continuation of a unified Canada. However when during a separatist referendum campaign she was tricked into speaking with a DJ pretending to be then Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien she pointedly refused to accept "Chrétien"'s advice that she intervene on the issue without first seeing a draft speech sent by him. (Her tactful handling of the call won plaudits from the DJ who made it.) A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area â€“ Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population â€“ Total (mid-2004) â€“ Total (2001 Census) â€“ Density Ranked 1st UK... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... Walter Thomas Monningtons 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the law that formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain. ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 kmÂ² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 4th 1,685... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was arguably a major step in the Northern Ireland peace process. ... The word Unionist, simply meaning one espousing a union, has a number of connotations, depending on context: Unionists are people in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales who were historically in favour of uniting their nations into a United Kingdom, or who in modern times wish their nations to remain part... The Democratic Unionist Party is a hardline unionist party in Northern Ireland led by Ian Paisley. ... The Reverend and Right Honourable Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, MP, MLA (born 6 April 1926); also known as Dr. Ian Paisley, is a prominent politician and church leader from Northern Ireland. ... Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ... Quebec The Quebec sovereignty movement is a movement calling for the attainment of sovereignty for Quebec, a province of the country of Canada. ... The Right Honourable Joseph Jacques Jean ChrÃ©tien, PC, QC, BA, LL.L, LL.D (born January 11, 1934) was the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada, serving from November 4, 1993, to December 12, 2003. ...

Her personal relationships with world leaders are warm and informal. On a BBC documentary broadcast in 2002 she was shown teasing a former Prime Minister about how he could travel to world trouble spots like Iraq because he was seen by politicians as "expendable". (He laughed at the comment.) Mary McAleese, now President of Ireland recounted how as Pro Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast she was, to her shock, invited to a lunch with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, on the basis that the Queen wished to talk to her, as a leading Northern Ireland nationalist, and hear her views on Anglo-Irish relations. The two women struck up an instant rapport, with McAleese, during the 1997 Irish presidential election, calling the Queen "a dote" (a Hiberno-English term meaning a 'really lovely person') in an Irish Independent interview. Nelson Mandela in the BBC documentary repeatedly referred to her as "my friend, Elizabeth". Image File history File links ClarksonandQueen2005. ... Image File history File links ClarksonandQueen2005. ... Governor-General (in Canada and India, Governor General) is a term used both historically and currently to designate the appointed representative of a head of state or their government for a particular territory, historically in a colonial context, but no longer necessarily in that form. ... The Right Honourable Adrienne Louise Clarkson, PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD, LL.D (born February 10, 1939) is an accomplished Canadian journalist. ... Mary Patricia McAleese (Irish name MÃ¡ire PÃ¡draigÃn Mhic Ghiolla Ãosa; born 27 June 1951) is the eighth, and current, President of Ireland. ... The President of Ireland (Irish: UachtarÃ¡n na hÃ‰ireann) is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ... Queens University, Belfast - or officially The Queens University of Belfast (QUB; in Irish, Ollscoil na BanrÃona, BÃ©al Feirste) - is a university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... The Irish general election of 1997 was held on October 30, 1997. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Irish Independents header consists of its name and a green harp The Irish Independent is Irelands best-selling broadsheet newspaper. ... Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, (born July 18, 1918), was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. ...

Queen Elizabeth has never suffered from severe public disapproval. However, in 1997 she and other members of the Royal Family were perceived as cold and unfeeling when they were seen not to participate in the public outpouring of grief at the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. This brought sharp criticism from the normally royalist tabloid press. 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony The British Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the British monarch. ... The Lady Diana Frances Spencer (Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor, nÃ©e Spencer) (1 July 1961â€“31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. ... A tabloid is a newspaper — especially in the United Kingdom — that uses the tabloid format, which is roughly 23½ by 14¾ inches per spread. ...

It is widely believed that Elizabeth held negative feelings towards Diana and thought that she had done immense damage to the monarchy. However, the sight of the entire Royal Family bowing to Diana's coffin as it passed Buckingham Palace, together with a rare live television broadcast by Queen Elizabeth, addressed the public grief. Elizabeth's change of attitude is believed to have resulted from strong advice from the Queen Mother and Tony Blair. Many biographers of both the Queen and Diana agree that there indeed was a fondness between the two women, however, the Queen did not always understand Diana's motivations. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon as Queen Elizabeth. ... Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ...

As Elizabeth approaches her 80th birthday, she has made it clear that she has no intention of abdicating. Those who know her best have stated that she intends to reign as Queen until the day she dies. Abdication (from the Latin abdicatio, disowning, renouncing, from ab, from, and dicare, to declare, to proclaim as not belonging to one) is the act of renouncing and resigning from a formal office, especially from the supreme office of state. ...

Elizabeth's public image has noticeably softened in recent years, particularly since the death of the Queen Mother. Although she remains reserved in public, she has been seen laughing and smiling much more than in years past, and to the shock of many she has been seen to shed tears during emotional occasions such as at Remembrance Day services, the memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral for those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks and in Normandy, France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, where, for the first time, she addressed the Canadian troops. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon as Queen Elizabeth. ... Wreaths of artificial poppies used as a symbol of remembrance Remembrance Day or Armistice Day is a day of commemoration observed in the Commonwealth of Nations and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars. ... St Pauls Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London in London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. ... The World Trade Center on fire The September 11, 2001 attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. ... Flag of Normandy Mont Saint Michel is a historic pilgrimage site and a symbol of Normandy Normandy is a geographical region in northern France. ... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ...

Constitutional role

Role in government

Constitutionally, the Queen is an essential part of the legislative process of her Realms. The Queen-in-Parliament (the Queen, acting with the advice and consent of Parliament), in each country, is an integral part of Parliament, along with the upper and lower houses. In practice, much of the Queen's role in the legislative process is ceremonial, as her reserve powers are rarely exercised. For example, the Queen may legally grant or withhold Royal Assent to Bills, but no monarch has refused his or her assent to a Bill since 1708. The Queen, or her Governors-General in the realms outside the United Kingdom, also gives a speech at the annual State Opening of Parliament, outlining the government's legislative agenda for the year, but the speech is written by ministers. The Queen-in-Parliament (or King-in-Parliament when there is a male monarch) is a British constitutional law term for the British Crown in its legislative role, acting with the advice and consent of the House of Commons and House of Lords. ... An upper house (Frequently known as a Senate) is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. ... A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. ... The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, or the Sovereigns representative in Commonwealth Realms, completes the process of the enactment of legislation by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ... // Events March 23 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth July 1 - Tewoflos becomes Emperor of Ethiopia September 28 - Peter the Great defeats the Swedes at the Battle of Lesnaya Kandahar conquered by Mir Wais In Masuria one third of the population die during the plague J... Governor-General (or Governor General) is a term used both historically and currently to designate the appointed representative of a head of state or their government for a particular territory, historically in a colonial context, but no longer necessarily in that form. ... Sergeant-at-arms Gus Cloutier holding the ceremonial mace to open a sitting of the 38th Canadian parliament with Prime Minister Paul Martin in background (10/4/04) In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event held usually in October or November that marks the...

The Queen also has a functional role in executive government. Constitutionally she chooses her prime minister (though in reality no actual choice is required as the issue of whom to ask to form a government is clear from who controls the House of Commons, except in exceptional circumstances). She also decides the basis on which a person is asked to form a government. That is, whether a government should be formed capable of surviving in the House of Commons — the standard requirement — or capable of commanding majority support in the House of Commons — i.e., a requirement to form a coalition if no one party has a majority. This requirement was last set in 1940, when King George VI asked Winston Churchill to form a government capable of commanding a majority in parliament. This necessitated a coalition. The requirement is normally only made in emergencies or in war-time, and happened only thrice in the 20th century: with Andrew Bonar Law and David Lloyd George in 1916 (the former declined and recommended King George V ask the latter to form a government) and Churchill in 1940. To date Queen Elizabeth II has never set it. All her prime ministers have had to meet the lower requirement of simply surviving in the House of Commons. The Queen also appoints ministers and all government is carried out legally in her name. British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The Right Honourable Andrew Bonar Law (September 16, 1858 - October 30, 1923) was a Conservative British statesman and Prime Minister. ... The Right Honourable David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, OM, PC (17 January 1863 â€“ 26 March 1945) was a British statesman and the last member of the Liberal Party to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

Theoretically she stills holds a large proportion of power in international affairs the Queen, as Head of State, has the power to declare war and make peace, to recognise foreign states, to conclude treaties and to take over or give up territory.

UK Orders-in-Council are issued only when approved by her at Privy Council meetings, Canadian Orders issued only when approved by her Governor General-in-council. She has access to all government minutes and documentation from all her Realms, and has a weekly meeting with the British Prime Minister when the British parliament is in session. In the UK she also signs executive order, financial and treasury papers, with her signature required on all major financial transactions of state (countersigned by the relevant minister). The role of Commander-in-Chief is held in each realm either by the Queen or by her Governor-General as her representative. An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... The Privy Council Office as it apeared in the 1880s The Queens Privy Council for Canada is the ceremonial council of advisors to the Queen of Canada, whose members are appointed by the Governor General of Canada for life on the advice of the Prime Minister. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies

On three occasions during her reign the Queen has had to deal with constitutional problems over the formation of governments. In 1957 and again in 1963 the absence of a formal open mechanism within the Conservative Party for choosing a leader meant that following the sudden resignation of Sir Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan it fell on the Queen to decide whom to commission to form a government. In both these cases Rab Butler was passed over, in controversial circumstances. In 1957 Eden did not proffer advice and so the Queen consulted Lords Salisbury and Kilmuir for the opinion of the Cabinet and Winston Churchill, as the only living former Conservative Prime Minister (following the precedent of George V consulting Salisbury's father and Arthur Balfour upon Andrew Bonar Law's resignation in 1923). In October 1963 the outgoing Prime Minister Harold Macmillan advised the Queen to appoint the Earl of Home. 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the right-of-centre in the United Kingdom. ... The Right Honourable Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC (June 12, 1897â€“ January 14, 1977), British politician, was Foreign Secretary during World War II and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1950s. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894â€“29 December 1986), nicknamed Supermac and Mac the Knife, was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... The Right Honourable Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG, CH, PC, DL (1902â€“1982), who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British politician, one of the few to have served in all three posts of Chancellor of the... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury KG (August 27, 1893-February 23, 1972) was a grandson of the great 3rd Marquess. ... David Patrick Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir (1900-1967) was an important British politician and jurist. ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865â€“20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. ... James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury (October 23, 1861 - April 4, 1947) was the eldest son and heir of the Victorian statesman Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. ... The Right Honourable Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, (25 July 1848 â€“ 19 March 1930) was a British statesman and the thirty-third Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... The Right Honourable Andrew Bonar Law (September 16, 1858 - October 30, 1923) was a Conservative British statesman and Prime Minister. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Right Honourable Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT,1 PC (2 July 1903â€“9 October 1995), 14th Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963, was a British politician, and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a year from October 1963 to October...

On the third occasion, in February 1974, an inconclusive general election result meant that in theory outgoing prime minister Edward Heath, who had won more of the popular vote, could stay in power if he formed a coalition government with the Liberals. Rather than immediately resign as prime minister he explored the option and only resigned when the discussions floundered. (Had he chosen to, he could have stayed on until defeated in the debate on the Queen's Speech.) Only when he resigned was the Queen able to ask the Leader of the Opposition, the Labour Party's Harold Wilson, to form a government. His minority government lasted for 8 months before a new general election was held. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The Right Honourable Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG , MBE (July 9, 1916 â€“ July 17, 2005), soldier and politician, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the 1920s, and a third party of varying strength and importance up to 1988, when it merged with the Social Democratic Party (the SDP) to form a new party which would become... Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands reads her countrys Speech from the Throne Queen Elizabeth II reads Canadas Speech from the Throne in 1977 The Speech from the Throne, sometimes referred to by the shorter term Throne Speech, is an event in certain monarchies in which the monarch (or... The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. ... The Labour Party is the principal centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... The Right Honourable James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 â€“ 24 May 1995) was one of the longest serving Labour Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. ... A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed by the leading political party when it has won a plurality but not a majority of seats in the parliament. ...

In all three cases, she appears to have acted in accordance with constitutional tradition, following the advice of her senior ministers and Privy Councillors.

Relations with ministers

British Prime Ministers take their weekly meetings with the Queen very seriously. One Prime Minister said he took them more seriously than Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, because she would be better briefed and more constructive than anything he would face at the dispatch box. Elizabeth also has regular meetings with her individual British ministers, and occasional meetings with ministers from her other Realms. Even ministers known to have republican views speak highly of her and value these meetings. Prime Ministers Questions is a Parliamentary practice in the United Kingdom where every Wednesday when the House of Commons is sitting, the Prime Minister spends half an hour answering questions from MPs. ... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ...

As with her British Prime Ministers, some Canadian Prime Ministers have commented on the Queen's knowledge of Canadian and international affairs. Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau stated: "I was always impressed not only by the grace she displayed in public at all times, but by the wisdom she showed in private conversation." (Memoirs, Pierre E. Trudeau) Paul Martin is the current Prime Minister of Canada. ... The Right Honourable Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau PC, CC, CH, QC, MA, LL.D, FRSC (October 18, 1919 â€“ September 28, 2000) was the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 3, 1979, and from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984. ...

The Queen also meets the Scottish First Minister. The royal palace in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, once home to Scottish kings and queens like Mary, Queen of Scots, is now regularly used again, with at least one member of the Royal Family (often the Prince of Wales or Princess Royal) in residence. She also receives reports from the new Welsh Assembly, and is continually kept abreast of goings on with her other governments. The term First Minister refers to the leader of a cabinet United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, the term First Minister was once used interchangeably with Prime Minister, as in Winston Churchills famous line: I did not become Her Majestys First Minister so that I might oversee the... Edinburgh (pronounced ), DÃ¹n Ãˆideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace, originally founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 15th century. ... Mary I of Scotland (Mary Stuart) (December 8, 1542 â€“ February 8, 1587), better known as Mary, Queen of Scots, was Queen of Scots, monarch of the Kingdom of Scotland, from December 14, 1542 â€“ July 24, 1567; and Queen Consort of France from July 10, 1559 â€“ December 5, 1560. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following a 1997 referendum in which a small majority of voters (but not the electorate) voted in favour of the Labour Governments plans for devolution. ...

Though bound by convention not to intervene directly in politics, her length of service, the fact that she has been a confidante of every prime minister since Winston Churchill in the United Kingdom, Louis St. Laurent in Canada, Alexander Bustamante in Jamaica, Sidney Holland in New Zealand, and many others, combined with her knowledge of world leaders, means that when she does express an opinion, however cautiously, her words are taken seriously. In her memoirs, Margaret Thatcher offered this description of her weekly meetings with Elizabeth: File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Sidney George Holland (1893-1961) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1949 to 1957. ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... Sir Robert Gordon Menzies (20 December 1894 â€“ 14 May 1978), Australian politician, was the twelfth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia, serving a total of eighteen and a half years in office from 1939 to 1941 and from 1949 to 1966. ... The Right Honourable Louis Stephen St. ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... The Right Honourable Louis Stephen St. ... Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante (February 24, 1884 - August 6, 1977) was a conservative Jamaican politician and labor leader. ... Sidney George Holland (1893-1961) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1949 to 1957. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925), is a British politician. ...

"Anyone who imagines that they are a mere formality or confined to social niceties is quite wrong; they are quietly businesslike and Her Majesty brings to bear a formidable grasp of current issues and breadth of experience."

During an argument within the Commonwealth over sanctions on South Africa, Elizabeth made a pointed reference to her role as Head of the Commonwealth which was interpreted at the time as a disagreement with Thatcher's policy of opposing sanctions. The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ...

Constitutional controversies

The Queen has been involved in some political controversies during her reign, in some of which her actions appear to have stated her political views.

Rhodesia

On 18 November 1965, the Governor of Rhodesia (Sir Humphrey Vicary Gibbs) was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, an honour in the personal gift of the Queen, a week after Ian Smith had made his Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Gibbs was intensely loyal to Rhodesia and although he had refused to accept UDI, the award was criticised by some as badly timed. Others praised it as indicating support for her Rhodesian representative in the face of an illegal action by her Rhodesian prime minister. November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... National motto: Sit Nomine Digna (Latin: May she be worthy of the name} Official language English Capital Salisbury Political system Parliamentary system Form of government Republic - Last President John Wrathall - Prime Minister Ian Smith Area - Total - % water 390 580 kmÂ² 1% Population - 1978 est. ... The Honourable Humphrey Vicary Gibbs was born on 22 November, 1902. ... I have broken it!! ... Ian Smith on the cover of a 1965 TIME Magazine. ... The Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was signed on November 11, 1965 by the white minority regime of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed rushed moves by the United Kingdom towards black majority rule in the then British colony. ...

The United Kingdom

In her speech to Parliament at the Silver Jubilee in 1977, Elizabeth stated "I cannot forget that I was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". This reference came at a time when the Labour government was attempting to introduce a controversial devolution scheme to Scotland and Wales, and was interpreted as opposition to devolution. However, in the late 1990s after referenda approved a devolution scheme, Elizabeth sent her best wishes to the new Scottish Parliament, the first session of which she opened in person. Her reference in the Silver Jubilee speech is also believed by some to refer to the disturbances in Northern Ireland at that time. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... It has been suggested that Devolved government be merged into this article or section. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ...

Relations with world leaders

Elizabeth has developed friendships with many foreign leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson and George H. W. Bush, whose son, George W. Bush, was the first American president in more than 80 years to stay at Buckingham Palace. On occasion such contacts have proved highly beneficial for the United Kingdom. For example, John Major as prime minister once had difficulty working with a particular Commonwealth leader. The Queen informed Major that he and the leader shared a mutual sporting interest (John Howard, Australian Prime Minister is like John Major, a cricket fan). Major then used that information to establish a personal relationship, which ultimately benefited both countries. Similarly she took the initiative when Irish President Mary Robinson began visiting Great Britain, by suggesting that she invite Robinson to visit her at the Palace. The Irish Government enthusiastically supported the idea. The result was the first ever visit by an Irish President to meet the British monarch. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, (born July 18, 1918), was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. ... Mary Robinson (Irish name MÃ¡ire Bhean Mhic RÃ³ibÃn; born 21 May 1944) was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States (1989â€“1993). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... The Right Honourable Sir John Major, KG, CH (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer before succeeding Thatcher as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the countrys 25th Prime Minister. ... Mary Robinson (Irish name MÃ¡ire Bhean Mhic RÃ³ibÃn; born 21 May 1944) was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. ...

Elizabeth's reign has also seen an increase in a republican movement in Commonwealth realms. The percentage support for republicanism in the United Kingdom, however, has remained relatively static, with an average of between 15% and 20% according to long term tracker polls.

Religious role

The Queen is the Sovereign "by Grace of God" and is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. As with her predecessors, the coronation itself took place within the context of a church service (at Westminster Abbey) imbued with theological as well as constitutional meaning. The Queen retains the ancient title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) - a title first granted in 1521 by Pope Leo X to King Henry VIII prior to the Reformation. The Church of England remains the established church in England; archbishops and bishops are formally appointed by the Crown. The Queen takes a keen personal interest in the Church, but in practice delegates authority in the Church of England to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Queen regularly worships at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle or at St Mary Magdalene Church when staying at Sandringham House, Norfolk. Certain churches have royal patronage and are outside the normal diocesan administrative structures; these are known as Royal Peculiars. God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being ascribed by monotheistic religions to be the creator, ruler and/or the sum total of, existence. ... The Sovereign of the United Kingdom is Supreme Governor of the Church of England. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... A coronation is a ceremony marking the investment of a monarch with regal power through, amongst other symbolic acts, the placement of a crown upon his or her head. ... The Abbeys western faÃ§ade The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... Fidei defensor (Latin for Defender of the Faith) has been one of the titles of the English (and later British) monarch since it was granted on October 17, 1521 by Pope Leo X to King Henry VIII of England. ... Henry VIII King of England and Ireland by Hans Holbein the Younger His Grace King Henry VIII (28 June 1491–28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... In English history, the Established Church is the Church of England, the church which is established by the Government, supported by it, and of which the monarch is the titular head; until 1920 it also held the same position in Wales. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... Arms of the see of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior clergyman of the established Church of England and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... St. ... Windsor Castle. ... Sandringham House is a country house on 8000 acres (32 kmÂ²) of land near the village of Sandringham, Norfolk, which is privately owned by the British Royal Family. ... Norfolk (pronounced NOR-fk) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ... A Royal Peculiar is a place of worship that falls directly under the jurisdiction of the British monarch, rather than a diocese. ...

The role of the Sovereign differs considerably in the other three countries of the United Kingdom. In Scotland the Church of Scotland (with a Presbyterian system of church government) is recognised in law as the "national church" in which the Queen is an ordinary member. The Royal Family regularly attend services at Crathie Kirk when holidaying at Balmoral Castle and attend at the Kirk of the Canongate when in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The Queen has attended the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on several occasions, most recently in 1977 and 2002, although in most years she appoints a Lord High Commissioner to represent her. Unusually for the Church of Scotland, Glasgow Cathedral and Dunblane Cathedral are both owned by the Crown. Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... The Church of Scotland (C of S, also known informally as The Kirk; until the 17th century officially the Kirk of Scotland) is the Christian national church of Scotland. ... Crathie Kirk Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the Scottish village of Crathie, best known for being the regular place of worship of the British Royal Family when they are holidaying at nearby Balmoral Castle. ... Balmoral Castle Balmoral Castle, painted by Queen Victoria in 1854 during its construction Balmoral Castle is currently a large mansion situated deep within the Scottish Highlands. ... The Kirk of the Canongate serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburghs Old Town. ... Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace, originally founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 15th century. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), DÃ¹n Ãˆideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... The Church of Scotland (C of S, also known informally as The Kirk; until the 17th century officially the Kirk of Scotland) is the Christian national church of Scotland. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... As the Sovereigns personal representative Lord High Commissioners were appointed to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland between 1603 and 1707. ... Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral is a Church of Scotland cathedral in Glasgow. ... Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two parish churches serving Dunblane in Scotland. ...

In Wales, Northern Ireland and the other Realms, there is no official religion established by law. The Church in Wales and the Church of Ireland have both been disestablished. For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 kmÂ² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 4th 1,685... Flag of the Church in Wales The Church in Wales (Welsh: Yr Eglwys Yng Nghymru) is a member Church of the Anglican Communion, consisting of six dioceses in Wales. ... The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ...

The Queen made particular reference to her Christian convictions in her Christmas Day television broadcast in 2000, in which she spoke about the theological significance of the Millennium as the marking the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. "To many of us our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ's words and example." Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

The United Kingdom has become an increasingly multiethnic society with considerable diversity in religious practice. The Queen often meets with leaders from a wide range of religions. She is Patron of the Council of Christians & Jews (CCJ) in the UK. CCJ external link

Ancestry

Main articles: Descent of Elizabeth II and Ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II This table shows the descent of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from Egbert, traditionally regarded as first King of England, and before that from Cerdic, founder of the House of Wessex. ... This table sets out (in a format known as an ahnentafel) the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II for five generations. ...

Queen Elizabeth is the male-line great-grandaughter of Edward VII, who inherited the crown from his mother, Victoria. His father, Victoria's consort, was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; hence Queen Elizabeth is a patrilineal descendant, through him, of the German princely house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha). Other notable members of the princely house are Albert II of Belgium and Simeon II of Bulgaria. Through Victoria (as well as several other of her great-great-grandparents), she is descended from many English monarchs extending back to the House of Wessex in the 7th century, and from the Scottish royal house, the House of Stuart, which can be traced back to the 9th century. As a great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she is related to the heads of most other ruling European royal houses and the former Hohenzollern royal houses of Germany and Romania. Through her great-grandmother Queen Alexandra she is descended from the Danish royal house Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a line of the North German house of Oldenburg, one of the oldest in Europe. Other members are the Duke of Edinburgh, Margrethe II of Denmark, Harald V of Norway, Queen Sofia of Spain, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Constantine II of Greece, who are also all descended from Queen Victoria. She is also a cousin of Albert II of Belgium. She is related to all ruling monarchs of Europe. Edward VII (Albert Edward) (9 November 1841â€“6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 â€“ 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ... Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (26 August 1819 â€“ 14 December 1861) was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Saxe-Coburg-Gotha or Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (German: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) was once the name given to the two German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha in Germany, in the present states of Bavaria and Thuringia, which were in personal union between 1826 and 1918. ... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie de Belgique), (born June 6, 1934), is a European constitutional monarch and the current King of the Belgians. ... Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as Prime Minister of Bulgaria Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria (born June 16, 1937) was the last Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946, and was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 until August 2005. ... The House of Wessex refers to the family that ruled a kingdom in southwest England known as Wessex. ... The Coat of Arms of Queen Anne, the last British monarch of the House of Stuart The House of Stuart or Stewart was Scotlands, and then Great Britains, royal house, of Breton origin. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 â€“ 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ... Birds-eye view of the castle, Hohenzollern, Germany. ... This page is about the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom. ... Oldenburg (Low Saxon: Ollnborg) is an Independent City in Lower Saxony, Germany. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... The Duke of Edinburgh is a British dukedom. ... Queen Margrethe II (Margrethe Alexandrine ÃžÃ³rhildur Ingrid) (born 16 April 1940) is the Queen regnant and head of state of Denmark and is styled HM The Queen. ... Harald V, styled His Majesty The King (born February 21, 1937), acceded to the throne as Norwegian Monarch upon his fathers death January 17, 1991. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus) (born April 30, 1946), styled HM The King, is the King of Sweden. ... Constantine II, King of the Hellenes (in Greek Konstantinos II, Vasileus ton Ellinon or ÎšÏ‰Î½ÏƒÏ„Î±Î½Ï„Î¯Î½Î¿Ï‚ Î’, Î’Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»ÎµÏÏ‚ Ï„Ï‰Î½ Î•Î»Î»Î®Î½Ï‰Î½) (born June 2, 1940) was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. ... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie de Belgique), (born June 6, 1934), is a European constitutional monarch and the current King of the Belgians. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ...

Titles

In the United Kingdom, her official title is Elizabeth the Second, 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. In common practice Queen Elizabeth II is referred to simply as "The Queen", "Her Majesty" or, when addressed directly in conversation, as "Ma'am". This is a list of awards, decorations, honours, orders and titles belonging to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... // Definition and linguistics The original phrase common wealth or the common weal is a calque translation of the Latin term res publica (public matters), from which the word republic comes, which was itself used as a synonym for the Greek politeia as well as for the republican (i. ... Fidei defensor (Latin for Defender of the Faith) has been one of the titles of the English (and later British) monarch since it was granted on October 17, 1521 by Pope Leo X to King Henry VIII of England. ...

At the moment of her succession, Elizabeth II also became the Queen of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa, in addition to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In the years that followed, many British colonies and territories gained independence; some opted to join the symmetrical relationship of nations under the Crown, known as the Commonwealth Realms, and recognise Elizabeth II distinctly as Sovereign of the newly independent nation. Traditionally, Elizabeth II's titles as Queen Regnant are listed by the order of accession as follows: Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis (all of which listed after the existing four Realms). National motto: Ex Unitate Vires (Latin: From Unity, strength} Official languages Afrikaans, English. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ...

However in Scotland, the title Elizabeth II caused some controversy, where there has never been an Elizabeth I. In a rare act of sabotage in Scotland, new Royal Mail post boxes bearing the initials E. II R. were blown up. As a result, post boxes in Scotland now bear only a crown and no royal initials. A legal case, MacCormick v. Lord Advocate (1953 SC 396), was taken to contest the right of the Queen to style herself Elizabeth II within Scotland, arguing that to do so would be a breach of the Act of Union (1707). The case was lost on the grounds that the pursuers had no title to sue the Crown, and also that the numbering of monarchs was part of the royal prerogative and not governed by the Act of Union. There are also two other matters of controversy, which are much less publicised. Firstly, the argument that the monarch was addressed as Your Grace, rather than Majesty, in pre-Union Scotland and secondly, that the preferred title had been King/Queen of Scots rather than of Scotland (although this was by no means unknown). Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... Royal Mail is the national postal service in the United Kingdom. ... MacCormick v. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal March 26 - The Act of Union becomes law, making the separate Kingdoms of England and Scotland into one country, the Kingdom of Great Britain. ... // The Royal Prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognised in common law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy as belonging to the Crown alone. ...

At the royal opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, the presiding officer David Steel refered to her as "not only the Queen of the United Kingdom but seated as you are among us in the historic and constitutionally correct manner as Queen of Scots". For the national legislative body adjourned in 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ...

Future British monarchs are now to be numbered according to either that of their English or Scottish predecessors, whichever number is higher. Applying this policy retroactively to monarchs since the Act of Union yields the same numbering. See List of regnal numerals of future British monarchs. This is a list of the regnal numerals which may in time be used by future British monarchs. ...

Following a decision by Commonwealth Prime Ministers at the Commonwealth conference of 1953, Queen Elizabeth uses different styles and titles in each of her realms. In each state she acts as the monarch of that state regardless of her other roles. The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister A prime minister is a politician who serves as the head of the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Properly styled as "Her Majesty The Queen" (and when the distinction is necessary e.g. "Her Britannic Majesty" or "Her Canadian Majesty"), her previous styles were:

Though now the postnominal letters "LG" are used by Ladies of the Garter, a Lady of the Garter was not a full member of the Order back then. Thus, the postnominal letters "LG" were not used, so "KG" was used by Princess Elizabeth. April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... (Redirected from 11 November) November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Personality and image

Elizabeth has never given press interviews, and her views on political issues are largely unknown except to those few heads of government who have private conversations with her. She is also regarded privately as an excellent mimic. Rather conservative in dress, she is well-known for her solid-colour overcoats and decorative hats, which allow her to be seen easily in a crowd. Although she attends many cultural events as part of her public role, in her private life Elizabeth is said to have little interest in culture or the arts. Her main leisure interests include horse racing, photography, and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Culture The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... A precise definition of the arts can be contentious, but the following areas of activity are usually included: Art / Visual arts Architecture Crafts Dance Drawing Film Literature Music Painting Photography Pottery Sculpture Theater Unlike art, design focuses less on the aesthetics of a thing and more on the functionality of... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ... Photography is the process of making pictures by means of the action of light. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris (Linnaeus, 1758) The dog is a canine mammal of the Order Carnivora. ... The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (IPA: ) is one of two dog breeds known as Welsh Corgis that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. ...

Elizabeth has given an annual Christmas Message to the Commonwealth every year apart from 1969 since she became Queen. Image File history File links FOUREFFIGIES.jpg http://www. ... Image File history File links FOUREFFIGIES.jpg http://www. ... The Royal Christmas Message (currently coined The Queens Christmas Message) is broadcast by the British Sovereign to the Commonwealth at Christmas. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ...

In diplomatic situations Elizabeth is extremely formal, and royal protocol is generally very strict. Though some of the traditional rules for dealing with the Monarch have been relaxed during her reign (bowing is no longer required, for example) other forms of close personal interaction, such as touching, are still discouraged by officials. At least two people are known to have broken this rule, the first being Paul Keating, Prime Minister of Australia, when he was photographed with his arm around the Queen in 1992 (and was afterwards dubbed the "Lizard of Oz" by the British media). The second was Louis Garneau, who did the same ten years later. [1] However the Queen took no offence at their actions, and Keating stayed as the Queen's guest in her private Balmoral home. In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state. ... Bowing is the act of lowering the head, or sometimes the entire upper body from the waist, as a social gesture. ... Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944), Australian politician and 24th Prime Minister of Australia, came to prominence first as the reforming Treasurer in the Hawke government, then as the Prime Minister who pulled off an upset victory in the unwinnable election of 1993. ... The office of Prime Minister is in practice the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Louis Garneau with his arm around the Queen in 2002. ...

Her former prime ministers speak highly of her. Since becoming Queen, she spends an average of three hours every day "doing the boxes" — reading state papers sent to her from her various departments, embassies, and government offices.^[2] Having done so since 1952, she has seen more of public affairs from the inside than any other person, and is thus able to offer advice to Tony Blair based on things said to her by John Major, Harold Wilson, Margaret Thatcher, Harold Macmillan, Edward Heath, Winston Churchill and many other senior leaders. She takes her responsibilities in this regard seriously, once mentioning an "interesting telegram" from the Foreign Office to then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, only to find that her prime minister had not bothered to read it when it came in his box. 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ... The Right Honourable Sir John Major, KG, CH (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer before succeeding Thatcher as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United... The Right Honourable James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 â€“ 24 May 1995) was one of the longest serving Labour Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925), is a British politician. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894â€“29 December 1986), nicknamed Supermac and Mac the Knife, was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... The Right Honourable Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG , MBE (July 9, 1916 â€“ July 17, 2005), soldier and politician, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ...

Always a popular figure in the United Kingdom, not to mention other countries, opinion polls have almost always shown that she has an excellent approval rating, often higher than that of her elected Prime Ministers. An approval rating is a ranking based on the percent of favorable responses to a question posed in a opinion poll. ...

Coat of arms

The Queen's coat of arms are known as the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. These arms have been used by every British monarch since the reign of Queen Victoria. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three lions passant guardant of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. The crest is a lion statant guardant wearing the imperial crown, itself on another representation of that crown. The sinister supporter is a likewise crowned lion, symbolizing England; the dexter, a unicorn, symbolizing Scotland. The coat features both the motto of British monarchs Dieu et mon droit (God and my right) and the motto of the Order of the Garter, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shamed be he who thinks ill of it) on a representation of the Garter behind the shield. Image File history File links UK_Royal_Coat_of_Arms. ... Image File history File links UK_Royal_Coat_of_Arms. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for general purpose. ... Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for general purpose. ... Statue showing a Gallic shield with a butterfly boss. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area â€“ Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population â€“ Total (mid-2004) â€“ Total (2001 Census) â€“ Density Ranked 1st UK... Fleurs-de-lis on the flag of QuÃ©bec Fleurs-de-lis on the tape de bouche of the Jeanne dArc. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... The harp is a chordophone which has its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. ... In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ... In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area â€“ Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population â€“ Total (mid-2004) â€“ Total (2001 Census) â€“ Density Ranked 1st UK... The gentle and pensive virgin has the power to tame the unicorn, in this fresco in Palazzo Farnese, Rome, probably by Domenichino, ca 1602 The unicorn is a legendary creature embodied like a horse, but slender and with a single â€” usually spiral â€” horn growing out of its forehead (whence its... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... A motto is a phrase or a short list of words meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. ... Dieu et mon droit (French for God and my [birth] right) has generally been used as the motto of the British monarch since it was adopted by Henry V (1413-22). ... A garter is one of the Orders most recognisable insignia. ...

A separate coat of arms exists for use in Scotland, which gives priority to the Scottish elements. The Scottish arms feature the Order of the Thistle and its motto Nemo me impune lacessit (No one provokes me with impunity). It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ...

The Royal Standard is the Queen's flag and is a banner of the Royal Arms. In some the Commonwealth Realms, the Queen has an offical standard for use when acting as Queen of that realm. Australia, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand each have their own Royal Standard which is a defaced banner of the country's coat of arms, including the Queen's personal badge of a crowned letter E inside a circle of roses on a blue disc. Several countries use the term Royal Standard to describe the flag used by the monarch and members of the royal family. ...

Footnotes

Contents

Early life

Education

Heiress Presumptive

Military service

Marriage and motherhood

Children and grandchildren

Succession

Life as Queen

Views and Perceptions

Constitutional role

Role in government

Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies

Relations with ministers

Constitutional controversies

Rhodesia

The United Kingdom

Relations with world leaders

Religious role

Ancestry

Titles

Personality and image

Coat of arms

Footnotes

See also

External links

Contents

Early life var ACE_AR = {Site: '756743', Size: '300250'};

Education

Heiress Presumptive

Military service

Marriage and motherhood

Children and grandchildren

Succession

Life as Queen

Views and Perceptions

Constitutional role

Role in government

Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies

Relations with ministers

Constitutional controversies

Rhodesia

The United Kingdom

Relations with world leaders

Religious role

Ancestry

Titles

Personality and image

Coat of arms

Footnotes

See also

External links

Early life