ElizabethII QueenoftheUnitedKingdom

British monarch who reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom for 70 years from 1952 to 2022, making her the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, and the longest-serving female head of state in world history. At the time of her death, Elizabeth was also Queen of 14 other Commonwealth realms in addition to the United Kingdom. Elizabeth became Queen at age 25 upon the death on 6 February 1952 of her father, King George VI. As a young girl, she was a happy child raised in a close, protective family. At the age of ten, on 20 January 1936, her grandfather King George V died and left the throne to her uncle, Edward VIII. Her uncle abdicated the throne on 11 December 1936, leaving the monarchy to her father King George VI. At 11, the eldest daughter of George VI became the heir to the British throne. As a modern British monarch, Elizabeth saw many changes to the British institution. Forty former British colonies, protectorates and territories were granted their independence during her reign. Elizabeth was one of the worlds wealthiest women. In 1992, she agreed to pay income tax on her personal income, the first time in the history of the monarchy. Media scrutiny of the Royal Family and the death of her former daughter-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 led to an intense re-evaluation of the role of the British monarchy near the end of the century. From the time she was two years old, Elizabeth was taught how to act as a member of the Royal Family. She was polite, responsible and well-mannered around adults. She looked after her younger, livelier and willful sister Princess Margaret. Elizabeth never attended formal school but was taught at home by her mother, the Duchess of York and a string of governesses. In childhood, she developed her love of her favourite Corgi dogs, horses, rural life and equestrian events. After her father, the Duke of York, became King of England, Elizabeth worked hard in living up to family expectations of the future monarch. At 13, she accompanied her father to Dartmouth to visit the Royal Naval College. It was here the young teen met her future husband, 18-year-old cadet Prince Philip of Greece. When World War II was declared in 1939, Prince Philip went to serve in the Royal Navy. Princess Elizabeth knitted socks and scarves for the fighting soldiers. She joined the womens unit of the British Army and worked as an ambulance driver and mechanic. In May 1945, Princess Elizabeth and her sister were given permission to roam around with the crowds outside Buckingham Palace in celebration of the end of the war. Elizabeth circulated anonymously hoping no one would recognize their future queen. After she married Prince Philip, on 20 November 1947, she lived with her husband at Clarence House in London. In 1948, after the birth of their son, Prince Charles, Philip resumed his naval career and the couple left to live in the Mediterranean country of Malta. In Malta, Princess Elizabeth was free to shop, drive her husbands car, go to parties and dances as the young wife of a naval officer. She was openly criticized by the press in the early 1950s, of abandoning her son and daughter to be raised by royal nannies in Buckingham Palace while she spent her time away with her husband and immersed in royal duties. In 1951, the couple made an official visit to the USA. While the couple were touring the British Commonwealth, on 6 February 1952 her father died of a heart attack in his sleep. On 2 June 1953, Quee Read less