Princess Elizabeth also studied art and music, learned to ride, and became a strong swimmer. She won the Children's Challenge Shield at London's Bath Club when she was thirteen. [5] The jubilee proved much more successful than anyone had predicted. Many streets held parties and, at a time of economic decline, high inflation, industrial unrest and national uncertainty, the celebrations had a cathartic and unifying effect. Four years later, those parties would be revived and magnified during a summer of riots and strikes with the wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. The relief that the heir to the throne had finally found a young bride after years on the quest was only tainted subsequently by the realisation that their supposed love-match had been a sham, as the marriage fell apart in a spectacularly public, long-drawn-out and acrimonious fashion.

Queen Elizabeth II - University of Cambridge Queen Elizabeth II - University of Cambridge

In the last 70 years there has also been much discussion about the environment and concern regarding climate change. In 2021 it was the Queen who welcomed scientists and world leaders to the United Nations Climate Change Conference - or COP26 - held in the UK. Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Take a look at the key moments in her life, reign and British history with our interactive timeline. Take part now The Queen, now well into late middle age, might have hoped, with three of her four children married, to have moved serenely towards the end of her reign, but the 90s were to pose the most serious challenges to the reputation of the monarchy since the abdication crisis. The marriages of the royal offspring, which had once seemed so propitious, even marginally egalitarian since Anne, Andrew and eventually Edward all married commoners, began to fall apart. coronation took place on 2nd June 1953 at Westminster Abbey and was televised. Many people bought television sets to watch the ceremony. She decided her Princess Elizabeth learning vehicle maintenance while serving with No 1 MTTC at Camberley, Surrey, in January 1945. Photograph: PA

Summary: Queen Elizabeth II was born in London on 21 April 1926. She became Queen when her father King George VI died in February 1952 and reigned for over 70 years. Earlier this year the 70th anniversary of her succession was marked with the Platinum Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK’s entry into – and withdrawal from – the European Union. Although very distant from the lives of her subjects – she never went to school and had only the most fleeting experiences of being on equal terms with anyone – she grew into a much respected figure, admired for her stoicism and diligence; one who was well aware of the condition of the country and the state of the world, more experienced in diplomacy than virtually any other world leader, because she had been at it longer than anyone else. Yet despite all the exposure, she remained largely unknown – and unknowable. It was perhaps her most remarkable feat. Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s uncle, is killed by an IRA bomb off the coast of Sligo in the west of Ireland. November 1979

Queen Elizabeth II: Biography, British Queen, Royal Family Queen Elizabeth II: Biography, British Queen, Royal Family

While maintaining her customary neutrality and rarely taking up a public position on an issue, during that visit The Queen chose to tour Newnham and Girton, both Colleges for women – perhaps a quiet signal of support. In 1948 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had been the first woman admitted to a degree in the Senate House. Princess Elizabeth heard of the death of her father while she and Philip were at Sagana Lodge, their home in Kenya (given to her by Kenyan officials as a wedding present), and so she succeeded to the title of monarch of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. I pay tribute to my mother’s memory and I honor her life of service,” the King said. “I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you and I share that sense of loss, beyond measure, with you all,” he added. Prince Charles is invested Prince of Wales. Lord Snowdon designs a new coronet for the occasion as the Duke of Windsor took the previous one with him to Paris. 1970s April 1970OpenLearn works with other organisations by providing free courses and resources that support our mission of opening up educational opportunities to more people in more places.