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Royal FamilyQueen Elizabeth II: reign, family, children and biography
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom for more than 70 years, from 6 February 1952 until her death on 8 September 2022. Born on 21 April 1926 in London, she died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
A major figure in modern British history, she remains the longest-reigning British monarch. Her reign spanned seven decades of political, social and international change, from the post-war period to the early 2020s.
Elizabeth II at a glance: full name: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born: 21 April 1926 in London; accession to the throne: 6 February 1952; coronation: 2 June 1953; husband: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; children: Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward; length of reign: 70 years, 7 months and 2 days; died: 8 September 2022 at Balmoral, aged 96.
Who was Queen Elizabeth II?
Elizabeth II was the eldest daughter of King George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21 April 1926 in London.
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She became Queen at the age of 25 following the death of her father on 6 February 1952. She remained on the throne until her death in 2022, for just over 70 years.
Although she is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of England” in everyday language and online searches, her title was not limited to England: Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and sovereign of several other Commonwealth realms during her reign.
When and where was Elizabeth II born?
Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926 in London. At the time of her birth, she was not certain to become Queen: her father was then the Duke of York, while her uncle, the future Edward VIII, was heir to the throne.
The situation changed dramatically in 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated. Elizabeth's father then became King George VI. At the age of 10, Elizabeth became heir presumptive to the Crown.
How did Elizabeth II become Queen?
The abdication of Edward VIII and the accession of George VI
Elizabeth's destiny changed with the abdication crisis of 1936. Her uncle, Edward VIII, gave up the throne and her father became King George VI.
Elizabeth then became first in the line of succession. She was described as heir presumptive because, under the succession rules in force at the time, the birth of a son to George VI would have placed him ahead of her.
The Second World War
During the Second World War, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret remained mainly in the United Kingdom. In 1940, at the age of 14, the future Queen made one of her first radio broadcasts.
In 1945, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women's branch of the British Army at the time, where she trained as a driver and mechanic.
Accession to the throne in 1952
On 6 February 1952, King George VI died while Elizabeth was in Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip. She immediately became Queen at the age of 25.
Her accession to the throne was immediate: under the British monarchy, the new sovereign succeeds their predecessor at the moment of the previous monarch's death. The coronation is a separate ceremony held at a later date.
When was Elizabeth II crowned?
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London, more than a year after her accession to the throne.
The ceremony marked a major moment in the history of British television. It was the first British coronation to be televised, allowing millions of people to watch the ceremony.
Accession and coronation are not the same event. Elizabeth II became Queen on 6 February 1952, following the death of George VI, but she was not crowned until 2 June 1953.
Westminster Abbey can be visited today and is one of the places most closely associated with royal coronations in Britain.
How long did Elizabeth II reign?
Elizabeth II reigned for exactly 70 years, 7 months and 2 days, from 6 February 1952 to 8 September 2022.
On 9 September 2015, she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, and became the longest-reigning British monarch.
In 2022, the United Kingdom celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since her accession to the throne. No British monarch before her had reached this milestone.
With a reign of more than 70 years, Elizabeth II holds the second-longest officially documented reign of any monarch, behind Louis XIV of France, who reigned for more than 72 years.
What was Queen Elizabeth II's role?
As sovereign of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II was the country's head of state. As the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, her role was separate from that of the government and she was expected to remain politically neutral.
Her duties included formally opening sessions of Parliament, appointing the Prime Minister, receiving heads of state and carrying out numerous official and diplomatic engagements.
During her reign, she worked with 15 British Prime Ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.
Elizabeth II also played a central role in the Commonwealth. When she came to the throne in 1952, she was sovereign of the United Kingdom and several other independent states. Over the course of her reign, some of these countries became republics, while others continued to recognise the British monarch as their head of state.
Queen Elizabeth II's family
Who was Queen Elizabeth II's husband?
Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. He later became Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Their marriage lasted for more than 73 years, until Prince Philip's death on 9 April 2021 at the age of 99.
How many children did Queen Elizabeth II have?
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had four children:
- Charles III, born on 14 November 1948 (77 years old), the couple's eldest son and the current King of the United Kingdom;
- Anne, Princess Royal, born on 15 August 1950 (76 years old);
- Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, born on 19 February 1960 (66 years old);
- Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, born on 10 March 1964 (62 years old).
Following the death of Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, her eldest son Charles immediately succeeded her and became King Charles III.
How many grandchildren did Elizabeth II have?
Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had eight grandchildren:
- Prince William, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales;
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, younger son of Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales;
- Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne;
- Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne;
- Princess Beatrice, elder daughter of Andrew;
- Princess Eugenie, younger daughter of Andrew;
- Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh;
- James, Earl of Wessex, son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
How many great-grandchildren did Elizabeth II have?
At the time of her death in September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II had 12 great-grandchildren:
- Savannah Phillips, daughter of Peter Phillips;
- Isla Phillips, daughter of Peter Phillips;
- Prince George of Wales, eldest son of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales;
- Mia Tindall, daughter of Zara Tindall;
- Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales;
- Prince Louis of Wales, younger son of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales;
- Lena Tindall, daughter of Zara Tindall;
- Prince Archie of Sussex, son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle;
- August Brooksbank, son of Princess Eugenie;
- Lucas Tindall, son of Zara Tindall;
- Sienna Mapelli Mozzi, daughter of Princess Beatrice;
- Princess Lilibet of Sussex, daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
A common source of confusion: Elizabeth II's family continued to grow after her death. The figure above refers to the great-grandchildren she had at the time of her death in September 2022, not the current number of descendants in this generation.
When and how did Queen Elizabeth II die?
Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle, her Scottish residence, at the age of 96.
Her death certificate listed the cause of death as old age.
Her eldest son Charles became King immediately after her death, taking the name Charles III.
Where was Queen Elizabeth II's funeral held?
The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II took place on 19 September 2022 at Westminster Abbey in London.
After the ceremony in London, the coffin was taken to Windsor, where a service was held at St George's Chapel.
Westminster Abbey therefore holds a particularly important place in the life of Elizabeth II: she married Prince Philip there in 1947, was crowned there in 1953 and her State Funeral was held there in 2022.
Where is Queen Elizabeth II buried?
Queen Elizabeth II is buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, located within St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
She is buried there alongside her husband, Prince Philip, as well as her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel are therefore particularly important places for understanding the history of Elizabeth II and the British monarchy.
Which places are associated with Queen Elizabeth II?
Several landmarks and royal residences are closely connected with the major events of Elizabeth II's life and reign.
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- Westminster Abbey: the site of her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947, her coronation in 1953 and her State Funeral in 2022;
- Windsor Castle: a royal residence closely associated with the Queen and the site of her burial;
- Buckingham Palace: the principal London setting for much of her official work during her reign;
- Balmoral Castle: the Royal Family's private residence in Scotland, where the Queen died on 8 September 2022.
For visitors to London or Windsor, these places provide an opportunity to discover the British monarchy through some of the most important moments in the life of Elizabeth II.
FAQ about Queen Elizabeth II
How old was Queen Elizabeth II when she died?
Elizabeth II was 96 years old when she died on 8 September 2022. She was born on 21 April 1926.
How long did Queen Elizabeth II reign?
Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years, 7 months and 2 days, from 6 February 1952 to 8 September 2022. It was the longest reign in the history of the British monarchy.
How old was Elizabeth II when she became Queen?
Elizabeth II became Queen at the age of 25 on 6 February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.
When was Elizabeth II crowned?
Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London.
Who was Queen Elizabeth II's husband?
Her husband was Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. They married on 20 November 1947 and remained married until Philip's death in April 2021.
How many children did Elizabeth II have?
Elizabeth II had four children with Prince Philip: Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.
How many grandchildren did Elizabeth II have?
The Queen had eight grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry.
How many great-grandchildren did Elizabeth II have?
At the time of her death in September 2022, Elizabeth II had 12 great-grandchildren.
Why did Elizabeth II become Queen?
Elizabeth became heir presumptive when her father, George VI, came to the throne in 1936 following the abdication of Edward VIII. When George VI died in 1952, she automatically succeeded him.
Who succeeded Queen Elizabeth II?
Her eldest son, Charles III, succeeded her immediately after her death on 8 September 2022.
Where is Queen Elizabeth II buried?
Elizabeth II is buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, inside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
What is the difference between Queen of England and Queen of the United Kingdom?
The expression “Queen of England” is commonly used to refer to Elizabeth II, but it was not her official title. England is part of the United Kingdom: Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and, during her reign, sovereign of several other Commonwealth realms.
Summary
Queen Elizabeth II, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21 April 1926 in London, came to the British throne on 6 February 1952 at the age of 25. She was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.
Her reign of 70 years, 7 months and 2 days is the longest in the history of the British monarchy. Married to Prince Philip for more than 73 years, she had four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren at the time of her death.
Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. Following her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, she was buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle. Her eldest son succeeded her as King Charles III.
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