1926 - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is born
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 02:40 on 21 April 1926 to Prince Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth, Duchess of York. Her grandfather was King George V. Her birth generated public interest but, as third in line to the throne, she was not expected to become queen.
1936- George V dies and Edward VIII abdicates
Elizabeth's uncle Edward took to the throne in 1936 after the death of her grandfather. Later that year Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorcee Wallis Simpson caused a constitutional crisis. As a result, Elizabeth's father (King George VI) took the position and Elizabeth became heir presumptive.
1939 - Britain enters the Second World War
In September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret, spent their time in Windsor castle. In 1940, the 14-year-old Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour, addressing other children who had been evacuated from the cities. Later on in the war she joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service.
1945 - Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret mingle with VE day crowds
On Victory in Europe Day, Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret mingled anonymously with the crowds in London. She later said, "We asked my parents if we could go out and see for ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised ... I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief."
1947 - Elizabeth marries Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark
Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and they married in 1947 at Westminster Abbey. Due to criticism on the fact Prince Philip was foreign, before the marriage, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles and converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. Their first child, Prince Charles, was born on 14 November 1948. Their second child, Princess Anne, was born in 1950.
1953 - Elizabeth becomes Queen
On 6 February 1952, the Queen received news that her father King George VI had died. As she was on tour in Kenya at the time, the Royal family flew back to the UK immediately and moved into Buckingham Palace.
The Queen's 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 regnal name should remain Elizabeth.
1965 - The British Empire Declines
The Queen's reign saw the decline of the British Empire. In 1965 the Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith declared unilateral independence from Britain while still extending "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth. While not as hasty, other countries gradually became independent and the 1960s and 1970s saw the decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean from the British Empire. As a result, the UK looked to Europe for stronger trade ties.
1977 - The Queen celebrates her Silver Jubilee
In 1977, Elizabeth marked the Silver Jubilee of her accession to the throne. The Commonwealth celebrated with street parties, concerts and other events, these went hand-in-hand with her national and Commonwealth tours.
1981 - The Queen's eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales marries Lady Diana Spencer
The 'fairytale' wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. All of the Queen's governors-general, as well as Europe's crowned heads, attended the ceremony. It was expected that Princess Diana would eventually become Queen and millions across the globe watched the event.
1992 - The Queen has her annus horribilis
Queen Elizabeth refers to 1992 as her annus horribilis (horrible year). In March, her second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and his wife, Sarah (Fergie), separated. Then in April, her daughter, Princess Anne, divorced Captain Mark Phillips. She had eggs thrown at her on a trip to Germany and then there was a large fire at Windsor Castle. The Prime Minister, John Major, announced reforms to the royal finances, the Queen had to start paying income tax from 1993 onwards. The big blow happened in December when Prince Charles and his wife Diana formally separated.
1997 - The Queen's popularity nosedives following Diana's death
On 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash in Paris, France. The Queen kept her grandsons, William and Harry, at Balmoral where they could grieve for their mother in private. However, the public were outraged with the Royal family and the failure to fly a flag at half-mast over Buckingham Palace. The Queen returned to London to do a live television broadcast the day before Diana's funeral to express admiration for the late Diana and alleviate public feelings of hostility.
2002 - The Queen marks her Golden Jubilee
2002 saw 50 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. A million people attended each day of the three-day main Jubilee celebration in London and enthusiasm for the Queen was at a high. The public and media were initially unsure if the Queen would want to celebrate given that her sister and mother died in February and March of that year respectively. However, the celebrations were huge and the Queen undertook another extensive tour of her realms, starting in Jamaica.
2015 - The Queen becomes the longest reigning monarch
The Queen excelled her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-lived British monarch in December 2007, and the longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015. In 2012 she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee.
2020 - The Queen addresses the nation during lockdown
On 5 April 2020, in a televised broadcast watched by an estimated 24 million viewers in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queen asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again”. In April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died, after 73 years of marriage. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Queen sat alone at her husband's funeral service.
2022- Queen Elizabeth II dies
On 8 September 2022, Buckingham Palace released a statement "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral." Her four children, along with her daughters-in-law and Prince William and Prince Harry, travelled to be with her.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death was announced that evening. She was 96 years old and had celebrated her Platinum Jubilee only a few months earlier.
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