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An elegant, grey-haired woman with a kind look and a welcoming smile has represented the monarchy in the United Kingdom for the British people for sixty years. Almost all segments of the British population sympathize with her: the prestige of the House of Windsor, and with it the English monarchy, is unshakable.

The full title of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is “Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

Her Majesty the Queen was born on April 21, 1926 in London. The birth of the charming baby did not cause a stir at court. It never occurred to anyone that this young creature would eventually occupy the royal throne. At that time, Elizabeth's grandfather George V reigned. The eldest son Edward was considered the heir to the throne. The girl's father was Prince Albert, the king's second son. He didn’t even think that he would become a crowned person.

Everyone thought that the eldest son would soon marry, acquire heirs and, after the death of his father, take on royal responsibilities.

Lilibet, as everyone called Elizabeth in childhood, loved her grandfather very much, and he reciprocated his affection, although by nature he was a very stern and tough person. The king did not have any good feelings towards his sons.

He raised them in the Spartan style and often went too far. The result of this upbringing was the girl’s father’s stuttering, which he never got rid of until the end of his life.

But George V had the most tender feelings for the small female creature. He not only loved his granddaughter, but adored him, which proved to those around him that even in a cruel and callous soul there is always a bright corner capable of sincere and pure love.

George V passed away on January 20, 1936, at the age of 70. He reigned for 24 years and established himself as a wise politician caring for the good of the nation.

The throne rightfully passed to Edward. He became Edward VIII, but was never crowned. The man was unable to put the heavy burden of the monarch on his shoulders. He met a twice-divorced woman named Wallis Simpson (1896-1986). She married a military pilot in 1916, but he began to beat her, and in 1927 Wallace ran away from him.

She moved to London and hooked up with a businessman named Ernst Simpson. She married him in 1928. In 1931, Wallace met the heir to the throne at a party with close friends. But this couple’s love affair began only in 1934. The feeling was so strong that Simpson divorced her husband. Edward responded with no less strong love. In order not to part with Wallace, he abdicated the throne.

All these matters brought Elizabeth's father, Albert Frederick, to the English throne. He was crowned on May 12, 1937 under the name of George VI.

The newly proclaimed king had no sons. Therefore, Henry's younger brother was declared heir to the throne. But he flatly refused such an honorable role in favor of Elizabeth. Thus, at the age of 11, Elizabeth became the legal heir to the royal throne of one of the most powerful countries in the world.

In 1939, World War II began. The girl was 13 years old at that time. In 1940, on October 13, she spoke on the radio with an appeal to children who suffered during the German bombings. And at the age of 18, she received her driver’s license for an ambulance. Until the last days of the war, the future Queen of Great Britain turned the wheel, transporting sick and wounded soldiers.

As a very young girl, Elizabeth fell in love once and for the rest of her life. She met her future betrothed just before the war at the Royal Naval College. The king, along with both daughters (the youngest daughter Margaret), arrived there to communicate with the cadets.

It was within the walls of this establishment that the heiress to the English throne saw the Greek Prince Philip. He was listed as one of the cadets, and in age he was 5 years older than Elizabeth. The young people talked for only a couple of hours, but this time was enough for Elizabeth to fall in love with the young man seriously and for a long time.

Prince Philip had the most brilliant pedigree. He was the grandson of the Greek and great-grandson of the Danish king, as well as the great-great-grandson of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. But after the revolution in Greece, the prince had nothing but a title.

Throughout the war, Princess Elizabeth wrote letters to the young officer while he bravely fought on the destroyer.

Immediately after the end of hostilities, the heir to the throne proposed getting engaged to the Greek prince, defying all existing norms and conventions. On November 20, 1947, the wedding took place in Westminster Abbey.

It was a hard time, post-war. Elizabeth had to sell some jewelry to make her wedding dress. Products were sent from Australia for the wedding cake. The cake turned out luxurious, 3 meters high. They did not cut him with knives, but chopped him with sabers. The guests only got a small piece. Everything else was sent to schools and hospitals.

At the end of January 1952, a young happy couple went on vacation to Kenya. The couple lived at the Tree Tops Hotel. It was located among the branches of a huge ficus. On February 7, an entry appeared in the registration book: “For the first time in the history of human civilization, a princess climbed a tree and came down from it as a queen.”

The reason for the recording was the death of George VI. He died on the night of February 5-6. Elizabeth automatically became Queen of Great Britain. In many countries around the world, headlines in large print appeared on the front pages of newspapers: “The King is Dead, Long Live the Queen.”

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain took place in Westminster Abbey (the traditional place of coronation of British monarchs) on June 2, 1953, that is, a year and 5 months after the death of George VI. But the official day of accession to the throne is considered to be February 6, 1952.

The husband was not crowned. He was the first to swear allegiance to his queen and was forced to leave the fleet. Now his presence was required at all official ceremonies of the royal court.

Private life with Philip was not always like a fairy tale. In his youth, the husband often made various statements, which he probably learned while in military service. So in New Guinea he asked a passerby: “Listen, my dear, how come you haven’t been eaten here yet?”

In China, he made a humorous remark to an English tourist, saying, “Make sure you don’t stay here too long or your eyes will narrow.” In Paraguay, at a meeting with the bloody dictator Stroessner, Philip said: “It is amazingly pleasant to be in a country that is not governed by the people.”

There were rumors at court about Prince Philip's love affair with Elizabeth's cousin. They talked about illegitimate children from various women. The Queen of Great Britain did everything to stop such rumors. Over the years, the prince calmed down. Age and health began to make themselves felt.

All the days of the Queen of Great Britain are like twins. They wake Her Majesty at exactly 8 am. Such an important task was entrusted to the maid. She brings a tray of tea into the royal chambers. In this case, the handle of the cup is always directed to the right, the spoon on the saucer lies strictly diagonally.

Having placed the tray, the maid opens the curtains. Sunlight penetrates the bedroom, and gentle rays touch the face of the crowned lady. At the same time, the royal dogs, coming from a walk, joyfully run into the bedroom. These are corgis, now there are two of them - Willow and Holly.

According to unconfirmed information, which is most likely similar to the legend, the queen’s morning awakening ritual occurs differently. By morning, a Scottish bagpiper comes into the royal garden and stands in front of the queen's bedroom window. At exactly 8 o'clock in the morning, the bagpiper begins to play and plays until Her Majesty wakes up. After the Queen has awakened, the maid throws open the Queen's bedroom window and tells the piper that Her Majesty the Queen has awakened. After this, the bagpiper leaves the garden to the sound of bagpipes.

The Queen drinks morning tea, communicates with the dogs, and at this time the maid fills the bath. Her Majesty takes water procedures, and at 9 o'clock leaves the bedroom and heads to the dining room. Here, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has breakfast.

The morning meal is very modest. Toast, buttered and a thin layer of marmalade, and a cup of tea. During breakfast, the crowned lady looks through the newspapers. These are The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sporting Life. In the latest newspaper she looks at the section on horse racing. Her Majesty loves this sport. She has an excellent understanding of horses and owns several magnificent horses herself.

At 10 o'clock the Queen of Great Britain begins her working day. She sits in her office and looks through the letters that come to her from all over the world. The information in the letters is very different. Someone asks for help, someone asks for recipes for the original dishes that were served at the royal table at the last official banquet.

Then comes the turn of state papers requiring the royal signature. This is a mandatory formality, although the Cabinet of Ministers never asks the Queen's opinion. Elizabeth II can express her point of view on some issue, but it will not be of decisive importance.

From 11 o'clock Her Majesty receives officials. These are diplomats, judges, ministers. Each of them, upon entering, kneels on one knee and takes the queen's right hand with his right hand. He touches her with his lips and then gets to his feet. This ceremony lasts at least 2 hours. All this time the queen stands. She has no way to sit down and rest.

At the end of such a physically demanding event, it is time for lunch. Queen Elizabeth II eats salmon, cucumber or chicken sandwiches. Leftover food is used the next day. They can go into a casserole or pie. Uneaten food is never given to dogs.

After lunch, short rest and official reception. Dinner starts at 20:15. The whole family gathers at the table. In the UK the evening meal is always a big one. Very rarely does Her Majesty dine alone. This is when all members of the royal family go on business trips.

After dinner, the Queen watches television and goes to bed around midnight. Elizabeth II has been living such a measured life for almost 60 years.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has four children. These are Prince Charles (born 1948), Prince Andrew (born 1960), Princess Anne (born 1950), Prince Edward (born 1964). The father was mainly involved in raising the children, since the queen always had many important government affairs.

The whole life of the royal court is a ritual. It has been practiced for hundreds of years. For example, Buckingham Palace has a dressmaker on staff. Her duties include darning socks and bed linen. This does not mean that the Queen does not have money for such trifles. A dressmaker costs much more than new socks and sets of underwear. The royal court simply pays tribute to tradition. About 500 years ago, fabric was very expensive, and crowned heads saved in this way. Times have changed, but the custom remains. He is not the only one in the royal palace.

The liveries worn by the servants were made 200 years ago. Each new employee is given an old uniform and is fitted to fit. The entire service staff numbers about 300 people. The staff includes personal pages, chambermaids, ladies-in-waiting, keepers of silverware, and royal purses. There are even front and back room pages.

During official receptions, a huge table is set. It is impossible to reach its middle. The lackeys wrap rags around their shoes and climb onto the table with their feet. During the meal, the first course is served to the queen. She immediately starts eating. After this, the footmen serve the dishes to the guests. When the crowned person's plate is empty, the servants immediately take the plates from everyone present. Many guests do not even have time to try what they are served.

However, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain abolished this not very kind custom. She declared that no one at her table should ever go hungry. But this is the only concession to ancient traditions.

As for the servants, they must walk around the palace, keeping to a narrow edge near the wall. If the queen or someone from the reigning family comes towards you, the servants must hide somewhere. This could be some kind of closet, a closet in the wall, that is, any shelter that is nearby. Upon seeing the queen, noble ladies must curtsy and men bow.

These traditions have been strictly observed for centuries. For people they are not a burden at all. On the contrary, there are many who want to serve in the royal palace. But all positions, as a rule, are inherited. From an early age, children absorb the unique atmosphere of the royal palace and jealously guard its traditions and customs. It seems that time itself freezes within the walls, which for hundreds of years have protected the reigning persons from the vicissitudes of the external, changeable and unpredictable world.

Queen Elizabeth II is very fond of animals. She breeds horses and dogs. Her favorite dog breed is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The dog of this breed, which she named Susan, was given to her by her father George VI for her birthday when she turned 18. Elizabeth had over 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis, all of them descendants of Susan.

Royal dogs live in palaces and castles, travel in chauffeured limousines, fly on private jets and helicopters, and accompany their titled mistress everywhere. The castle uses special wicker baskets as beds for dogs, raised a few centimeters above the floor to avoid drafts. Dogs are allowed to roam freely throughout the royal apartments.

After two of Elizabeth II's Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs died of cancer in early 2009, she stopped breeding puppies. Previously, puppies from royal dogs were never sold; they were given to good hands. Against the backdrop of unfortunate events, in order to improve the health of her pets, she decided to cross a miniature dachshund named Pipekin with one of her Pembroke Welsh Corgis and received a new designer breed of Dorgi.

Queen Elizabeth II currently has two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Willow and Holly; two Dorgi dogs named Candy and Vulcan. Elizabeth II also has Labradors and cocker spaniels. After the death of all four-legged pets, they are buried in the cemetery, which is located on the territory of Sandringham, the queen’s winter residence, and a small monument is erected for each with a short obituary (for example: “HEATHER / Born May 28.1961 / Died Jan. 31.1977 / For 15 Years the / Faithful Companion / of THE QUEEN./ Great Grand Daughter of Susan").

The first royal Pembroke Welsh Corgi is believed to have been Susan, who was given to his daughter by King George VI in 1933, but recent evidence suggests the royal family's love for the breed extends much further. During excavations in 2004 in Wales, where the Queen's ancestors lived in the ninth century, archaeologists discovered the bone of a Welsh Corgi dog's paw.

Interesting facts from the life of Her Majesty:

Elizabeth II continues the family's traditional hobby of homing pigeons, which dates back to 1896, when the Belgian King Leopold II presented the British royal family with several of them as a gift. In 1990, one of the royal pigeons, later nicknamed Sandringham Lightning, won a major international competition in France. As a keen fan of pigeon racing, the Queen is a trustee of a number of sporting pigeon societies, including the Royal Sporting Pigeon Association.

The Queen has an extensive collection of jewelry, most of which consists of the so-called royal regalia (crowns, sceptres). The rest of the jewelry, including the largest pink diamond in the world, was received by the queen as an inheritance or as a gift. Among the most famous pieces of royal jewelry are the diamond locust brooch, donated by the Australian government in 1954; a necklace of large aquamarines and rectangular-cut diamonds and earrings presented by the Ambassador of Brazil in the year of the coronation.

In 2005, the Queen claimed ownership of 88 young swans living on the Thames. The Swan Brander is looking after them. And the first Royal Keeper of the Swans was appointed back in the 12th century. Technically, the Queen still owns sturgeon, whales and dolphins in UK coastal waters. The law, passed in 1324 under King Edward II, states: “The King also owns... whales and sturgeons caught in the sea and other places within the realm.” This law is in force in England to this day and, according to it, sturgeons, whales and dolphins are considered “royal fish”. Therefore, if they are caught within three miles of the British coast or washed ashore, alive or dead, the Crown can claim them. As a rule, the fishermen, having returned to the port, sell the sturgeon in the usual way, and the buyer, as a sign of loyalty to the throne, asks the queen to honor him and accept his modest bribe.

The British royal family has agreed to accept commoners and divorcees, but as far as the system of conferring titles is concerned, the local monarchy remains very archaic. So, despite all the wishes of fans, no one can call the Duchess of Cambridge Princess Catherine, just as they can call Miss Meghan Markle Princess when she marries Prince Harry.

On the other hand, Catherine has no reason to be upset, because along with the title of Duchess of Cambridge she received several more. We tell you more about the complex system of names and titles in the Windsor family in the gallery using the example of Her Majesty's inner circle.

Elizabeth II

For convenience, she is simply called the Queen, Elizabeth II or Her Majesty, but in fact the name and title of the monarch is much longer: Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its other kingdoms and territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Protector faith. But the future monarch was born with a more modest name: Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York.

Her Majesty's husband, as we remember, was born the Prince of Greece and Denmark, but in order to marry Lilibet, he had to become a British citizen and call himself simply Philip Mountbatten. Before the wedding, King George VI granted him the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich, but over seventy years, Philip’s list of titles has grown significantly and, taking into account knighthoods, includes a dozen additional positions.

The full name of the heir is Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor, but the prince has more than fifteen titles, given that the son of the monarch received various honors throughout his life in almost all countries of the Kingdom of the Commonwealth. The most commonly used is His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester. Interestingly, in 1948, when Charles was born, in Great Britain it was forbidden to give the title of prince to the daughters of the monarch. Charles had every chance of becoming just a marquess if Elizabeth's dad had not rewritten the law in time.

So, on April 29, 2011, Kate Middleton forever changed from just Kate to Her Royal Highness Catherine Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor, Duchess of Cambridge. However, this is not her only title. On her wedding day, the woman received several more, which relate to the lands of Scotland and Northern Ireland. So, if Kate were in Edinburgh, she would be addressed as “Countess of Strathearn”, and in Belfast she would be called Lady Carrickfergus. But if the Queen had not granted all these titles to her grandson, then Catherine would simply be called Princess William of Wales.

Actually, Kate would not have received all three of her titles if they had not been granted to Prince William on her wedding day (Miss Middleton received them as a spouse and nothing more). Thus, we should style the completely second in line heir as follows: His Royal Highness William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. And Will is a real knight. In 2008, he became a Knight of the Order of the Garter, and in 2012, a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.

George and Charlotte

The children of the Dukes of Cambridge are automatically born princes and princesses, and their parents' lands are “assigned” to them. So, the full name of the eldest son of William and Kate is George Alexander Louis, and his title is His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. The Dukes' daughter is named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, and her title is similar - Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

On April 27, Kensington Palace announced the name of the third child of the Dukes of Cambridge. The boy was named Louis, but along with the main one he received two additional names: Arthur and Charles. The principle of naming a baby is the same as for a brother and sister. The baby will be styled His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.

Performance for children 6+. Sherlock Holmes. Theater behind the Black River in London Mr. Sherlock Holmes is the best detective in the world. He can unravel any complex case and find the criminal without even leaving his famous room on Baker Street. Do you know what a detective's room looks like? It is filled with many intricate devices, magnifying glasses, microscopes and bottles of chemical reagents. And all this helps him in investigating the incredible incidents taking place in London and its environs... But now he is already on stage, which means that he has taken on another case and the incredible adventures of the noble Sherlock Holmes and his brave Doctor Watson await us.

Comedy "Angels on the Roof" The production "Angels on the Roof" is an eccentric comedy that will give viewers a story about how you should never lose hope in life. The main character couldn’t find a better remedy for her problems than going to the roof of a high-rise building. But the unexpected meeting does not allow her to make a mistake - on the contrary, it gave her a second chance. And she will overcome life’s difficulties not alone, but together with other heroes.

The English irregular verb trainer will help you remember their spelling and meaning. Fill in the empty cells. If you spelled it correctly, the word will change color from red to green. Refresh the page or click the "Start Again" button and you will see the new order of empty cells. Train again!

Modal verbs in English are a class of auxiliary verbs. Modal verbs are used to express ability, necessity, certainty, possibility or likelihood. We use modal verbs if we talk about abilities or possibilities, ask or give permission, ask, offer, etc. Modal verbs are not used independently, but only with the infinitive of the main verb as a compound predicate.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has remained for centuries parliamentary monarchy. Since February 6, 1952, the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been Queen Elizabeth II.

The system of constitutional monarchy is believed to smooth out the contradictions of multi-party politics and provide stability and continuity during periods of political and social change.

The current monarch performs two important functions - is head of state and head of nation .

As Head of State, Queen of Great Britain performs the following duties: participates in the annual opening ceremony of Parliament, meets weekly with prime ministers, receives foreign ambassadors and delegations, makes official visits to foreign countries to maintain the diplomatic and economic relations of his country with others. Many of the monarch's official powers, or "royal prerogatives", are exercised by the monarch in name only, after consultation with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who are responsible to Parliament's House of Commons. Most prerogatives are exercised in practice by UK Cabinet Ministers. The monarch formally appoints the prime minister (the “kissing hands” ceremony), but in practice he is the head of the party that wins the parliamentary elections. In the event that no party has a majority, the monarch has the right to appoint a prime minister. The current Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, took advantage of this opportunity only once - in 1974, when she appointed Labor member Harold Wilson as Prime Minister. On the advice of the Prime Minister, the monarch has the right to dismiss ministers or the entire Cabinet (a prerogative that British monarchs never exercise). All parliamentary laws are passed in the name of the monarch and come into force after his formal approval.

Formally, the monarch has the right to convene, dissolve and prolong Parliament. But in practice, according to the Parliament Act 1911, Parliament is elected for a period of 5 years and is automatically dissolved after this period.

The oath of allegiance is taken to the monarch, British passports are issued on behalf of the monarch, and the national anthem is called “God Save the Queen.” The image of the monarch appears on banknotes, coins and postage stamps. The incumbent monarch is the head of the Royal Armed Forces and has the formal prerogative to declare war and make peace, enter into international treaties and ratify agreements.

Despite their advanced age, the royal couple continues to perform official duties. In April 2014, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Vatican and met with Pope Francis.

The monarch is considered Source of justice– has the right to appoint judges.

The monarch is Source of honor(conducts investiture ceremonies) - appoints peers, awards orders, knighthoods and other honors (usually on the advice of the prime minister).

Monarch – head of the Church of England. He has the right to appoint archbishops and bishops (on the proposal of the Prime Minister).

Since 1760, funding for the maintenance of the royal family has been carried out according to the Civil List. This means that income from the royal inheritance - the Crown Estate - goes to the UK budget, and is then allocated to the needs of the royal family.

The monarch only formally owns his estate, since it cannot be sold, but can only be transferred to the heir to the throne. Formally, the current monarch owns the county of Lancastershire, the income from which goes to replenish the “personal wallet” of the monarch and is spent on those needs that, by tradition, are not recorded in the Civil List. The County of Cornwall formally belongs to the heir to the throne of the United Kingdom.

As Head of the Nation, Queen Elizabeth II performs an equally important cultural and social function in Great Britain. It provides national identity, symbolizing the unity and pride of the nation, giving the British people a sense of stability and confidence in the future.

The Queen regularly visits different parts of the United Kingdom, her presence is mandatory at ceremonies on the occasion of Remembrance Day for those killed in wars, and at significant sporting events. Everyone remembers the appearance of the Queen in the video with James Bond at the opening of the Olympic Games in London in 2012. In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal in Canada as Canada's head of state. The Royal Office sends out thousands of messages of congratulations to citizens celebrating their centenary and sixtieth wedding anniversaries. Every year, Queen Elizabeth II addresses her subjects with a Christmas speech.

Members of the British Royal Family form the line of succession to the throne. First in line is the Queen's eldest son, Charles. The second and third are Charles's eldest son Prince William and his son George. The order of inheritance was determined by the Act of Union of 1800, which established the rule of inheritance according to primogeniture with male priority. The Act of Succession to the Throne of 1701 established the rule that only a monarch professing the Anglican faith could inherit the British throne. According to this law, not only Catholics, but also Anglicans married to Catholics cannot ascend to the British throne.

At the Commonwealth Summit in Australia in October 2011, changes were made to the succession to the throne to avoid discrimination based on gender and religion. In December 2012, this law was approved by the parliaments of the countries that are members of the commonwealth. Now the order of succession is determined by simple seniority and the ban on marriages with Catholics for future monarchs is lifted. Currently in line for succession to the throne are 55 members of the royal family– descendants of Elizabeth II, her sister Princess Margaret and grandfather George V.

Also members royal family distributed by seniority or priority. Thus, the queen's husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, is not among the heirs to the throne, but is the second eldest in the family after the queen. This order of precedence is followed at formal events. For example, during the laying of wreaths on Remembrance Day, the Queen lays the first wreath, the Duke of Edinburgh the second, Prince Charles the third, etc.

Title of Queen Elizabeth II differs for each country that is part of the Commonwealth.

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland it sounds like this:

"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."

"Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its other countries and territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926 in London at 17 Brewton Street. This house no longer exists, but a memorial plaque has been installed on the new house at this address. At baptism, the daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon received the name Elizabeth (in honor of her mother) Alexandra (in honor of her great-grandmother) Mary (in honor of her grandmother). Elizabeth II belongs to the Windsor dynasty. Elizabeth's father, Prince Albert, was second in line to the throne. After his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated the throne, he became King George VI, and Elizabeth became the “heir presumptive” (“heir presumptive”). This means that if the king later had a son, he would inherit the throne.

In 1947, Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), an officer of the British navy who belonged to the Greek and Danish royal families, the great-great-grandson of the British Queen Victoria and the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. To marry Elizabeth, Philip became a naturalized British citizen, changed Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, renounced the titles “Prince of Denmark” and “Prince of Greece”. In return, George VI granted him the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich.

When George VI died on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth and her husband were traveling in Kenya. Princess Elizabeth has already returned to Great Britain as Queen Elizabeth II. Coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II, which took place on June 2, 1953, was first broadcast on television from Westminster Abbey. The first person to take an oath of allegiance to the new queen was her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen has four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward.

Charles, Prince of Wales– born November 14, 1948. Full name Charles (Carl) Philip Arthur George (George) Mountbatten - Windsor. Heir to the throne of Great Britain, field marshal, admiral of the fleet and marshal of the Royal Air Force. Upon accession to the throne, he can choose a royal name - Charles (Charles) III by his first name, or George (George) VII by his fourth.

At birth, Charles received the title “His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh” - “His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh.” Upon ascending the throne of Elizabeth II in 1952, Prince Charles automatically received the title "Duke of Cornwall" and became known as "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall." In 1969, Elizabeth II held an investiture ceremony, placing the Prince of Wales crown on her son's head. And Charles's official title changed to "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."

On July 29, 1981, the wedding of the heir to the throne took place with Diana Spencer. Charles and Diana had two sons: Prince William (born June 21, 1982) and Prince Henry (Harry) (born September 15, 1984). On April 9, 2005, Prince Charles married for the second time, to Camilla Parker Bowles. For the first time in the history of the royal family, the ceremony was performed in a civil manner. Due to the fact that the late wife of Prince Charles, Lady Diana, is still very popular among the British, Camila was given the title not Princess of Wales, but Duchess of Cornwall.

By tradition, Charles is involved in charity work and heads more than 350 charitable societies. His interests include nature conservation and agriculture.

Princess Anne(Anna Elizaveta Alisa Louise) was born on August 15, 1950. Currently in 11th place in the line of succession to the throne. Since 1987 she has held the title of Princess Royal. From her first marriage to Mark Phillips, she had two children: Peter Phillips (1977) and Zara Phillips (1981). Princess Anne, Mark Phillips and Zara Phillips have all represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in equestrian sport. After her divorce from Mark Phillips, Princess Anne married Vice Admiral Timothy Lawrence.

Prince Andrew(Andrew Albert Christian Edward), Duke of York was born on 19 February 1960. Prince Andrew received the title of Duke of York in 1986 - on his wedding day with Sarah Ferguson. The marriage produced two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York (born 1988) and Eugenie of York (born 1990). The Duke of York is 5th in the line of succession to the British throne.

Prince Edward(Edward Anthony Richards Louis), Earl of Wessex was born on March 10, 1964. In the line of succession to the throne he is in 8th place after his older brothers and their descendants. He received the title of Earl on the day of his wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones. It was announced that after his father's death he would receive the title of Duke of Edinburgh, and his children would not receive the titles of princes and princesses, but would be treated as children of an earl. The Earl of Wessex has two children: Louisa (born 2003) - “Lady Louise Windsor” and James (born 2007) - “James, Viscount Severn”.

Second in line to the British throne is Prince William Arthur Philip Louis (born 1982) is the son of the Prince of Wales and Diana Spencer. On the day of William's wedding to Kate Middleton, he was granted the title Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergue. Kate Middleton accordingly became the Duchess of Cambridge. On July 22, 2013, the couple had a son, George (Georg) Alexander Louis. Who became third in line of succession to the throne.

Prince Henry of Wales(Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) - the youngest son of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer was born on September 15, 1984. He is currently 4th in line to the British throne.

When Queen Elizabeth II working, she divides her time between London and Windsor.

Royal palaces are not owned by the queen or royal family. Officially, they are held in “trust for future generations.”

The main royal residence of the British monarch is Buckingham Palace in Westminster. Most state banquets, investitures, receptions of heads of state and foreign ambassadors and other official events are held there. In Buckingham Palace, which most people in the world associate with British royal family, 775 rooms. Including: 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. The total area of ​​the palace is 77 thousand square meters. When the queen is in the palace, the royal standard develops above it; if she is not in the palace, the state standard.

The second most important royal residence is the largest residential castle in the world - Windsor Castle, used by the royal family for weekends.

The main residence in Scotland is Holyroodhouse Castle in Edinburgh. The Queen always spends one week a year there - the so-called “Holyrood week”.

The royal family also owns Clarencehouse (Prince Charles's home) and Kensington Palace.

Her Majesty spends her holidays (August and September) at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire or Sandringhamhouse in Norfolk. They are private residences of the royal family and are not financed from the budget.

A series of scandals related to the divorces of Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, as well as the death of Princess Diana, significantly undermined the authority of the royal family in Great Britain. However, according to polls, more than 60% of Britons are in favor of maintaining the institution of monarchy in the country.

Interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II:

• At the Queen's Elizabeth II no passport. Since a British passport is issued on behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen cannot issue a passport to herself. All other members of the royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, hold British passports.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the only person in the country who is allowed to drive a car without a registration number and a driver's license. By the way, the Queen received her driver’s license back in 1945.
• – this is not a fixed date. Whether it will be the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Saturday of June is decided by the government of the country. On this day, since 1748, a royal military parade has been traditionally held - Trooping the Color.
• In Australia queen's birthday celebrated as a public holiday on the second Monday of June. In Western Australia, the monarch's birthday is celebrated at a different time - late September or early October. In New Zealand, the Queen's Birthday is also a public holiday and is celebrated on the first Monday in June. In Canada, the Queen's Birthday is celebrated as a public holiday on the Monday preceding May 24th.
• The Queen's actual birthday is April 21st. There are no special events on this day and the queen spends it with her family.
• Royal salutes are strictly regulated and
• February 6 (day of accession to the throne of Elizabeth II)
• April 21 (birthday of Elizabeth II)
• June 2 (coronation day of Elizabeth II)
• 10 June (birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh)
• Official Queen's Birthday
• Opening of Parliament by the Queen (usually November or December).
• The number of shots of the royal salute is also regulated. The main royal salute is 21 shots. In Hyde Park, another 20 shots are added to the main fireworks display. In the Tower - this is added to the main number 21 by 20 and another 21 shots.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state of 16 states and is the head of the Commonwealth, consisting of 53 countries. In 1952, at a conference of prime ministers of countries belonging to the Commonwealth, Elizabeth II was proclaimed the head of the association of countries not by right of inheritance, but by right of consent of the member states.
• U Queen Elizabeth II there are other official and unofficial titles. For example, in the Maori language it is called “kotuku” - “white heron”. In Papua New Guinea, the queen is called "Mrs Kwin" in pidgin. On the Isle of Man the Queen is called the Sovereign of Man, on the Channel Islands she is the Duchess of Normandy; in the Duchy of Lancaster - she is the Duchess of Lancaster.
• During his reign Queen Elizabeth II hosted 12 prime ministers during traditional Tuesday meetings: Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alexander Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron.
• Tony Blair became the first prime minister to be born during the reign of Elizabeth II (in May 1953).
• During the reign queens Elizabeth II There were 6 archbishops of Canterbury.
• U Queen Elizabeth II 9 thrones. One in the House of Lords, 2 in Westminster Abbey and 6 in Buckingham Palace.
• Queen should not publicly express her political views and communicates extremely correctly with all the prime ministers of the country, being above political battles. The same goes for members of the royal family, who are not allowed to speak out on political events, so the political views of the Queen and her family remain unknown.
• Queen Elizabeth II patronizes more than 620 charitable organizations.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the 40th monarch in Great Britain since William the Conqueror.
• During his reign Queen Elizabeth II has made official visits to more than 130 countries and made more than 250 trips. In October 1994, the Queen paid an official visit to Russia.
• The Queen made most of her trips on the yacht Britannia, which was built in 1954 and decommissioned in 1997. The total distance that Britain has traveled over the years is more than a million nautical miles.
• At the Queen's Elizabeth II there were more than 30 dogs of the favorite breed corgi. She received her first dog of this breed, Susan, as a gift for her eighteenth birthday. All other dogs are descendants of Susan. The Queen is even the creator of a new breed of dogs - Dorgi, which came from mixing her corgis with Princess Margaret's dachshund.
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• Queen Elizabeth II sent her first email in 1976, and the first official royal website was created in 1997.
• Legally, whales, dolphins and sturgeon in UK seas belong to the Crown. Because the country still has in force a 1324 statute, passed during the reign of Edward II, stating that the monarch owns dolphins, whales and sturgeon, living and dead, within the country's territorial waters.

“In general, no one taught me to be a queen: my father died too early and it happened so unexpectedly - I had to immediately get involved in the matter and at the same time try not to lose face in the dirt. I had to grow into the position I took. It was fate, it had to be accepted and not complained. I think continuity is very important. My job is for life."
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain

The title of Her Royal Majesty in the United Kingdom is: "Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other Dominions and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George Six. The coronation took place on June 2, 1953 in Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth was only 25 years old when she became queen, and has remained so for decades.

Every year the birthday is celebrated magnificently at Windsor Castle. It begins with a walk around the city (if this action, of course, can be called that). A 21-shot fireworks display is required, which sounds at noon.

Throughout her reign, the Queen has been repeatedly criticized not only by British Republicans, but also by various British media, as well as by the general public. Nevertheless, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy, and her popularity in Great Britain is at its highest.

Royal

Elizabeth II (English Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (English Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - Queen of Great Britain from 1952 to the present.

Elizabeth II comes from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of 25, following the death of her father, King George VI.

She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of 15 independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica. He is also the head of the Church of England and the Supreme Commander of the British Armed Forces.

Coats of arms in different periods of time and in different countries

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944–1947)

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947–1952)

Royal coat of arms in Great Britain (except Scotland)

Royal coat of arms in Scotland

Royal coat of arms of Canada

During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries that recognize the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which in each of these countries the British monarch acts as the head of that particular state, regardless of his titles in Great Britain itself or in third countries. Accordingly, in all these countries the title of queen sounds the same, with the name of the state replaced. In some countries, the words “defender of the faith” are excluded from the title. For example, in Australia the title reads as follows: “Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God Queen of Australia and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth.”

On the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, Elizabeth II also bears the title of Duke of Normandy, and on the Isle of Man - the title of “Lord of Man”.

Story

Elizabeth II is the oldest British (English) monarch in history. She is currently the second longest-serving British throne in history (after Queen Victoria) and also the second-longest serving head of state in the world (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is also the oldest female sitting head of state in the world, and the oldest sitting head of state in Europe.

He is the oldest sitting monarch in the world since January 24, 2015, after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

The reign of Elizabeth II covers a very broad period of British history: the process of decolonization was completed, which was marked by the final collapse of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. This period also included many other events, such as the long-term ethnopolitical conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1970

At the moment, the majority of British people have a positive assessment of Elizabeth II’s activities as a monarch (about 69% believe that the country would be worse off without the monarchy; 60% believe that the monarchy helps improve the country’s image abroad and only 22% were against the monarchy).

Despite the positive attitude of the majority of her subjects, the queen was repeatedly criticized during her reign, in particular:

In 1963, when a political crisis arose in Britain, Elizabeth was criticized for personally appointing Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In 1997, for the lack of an immediate reaction to the death of Princess Diana, the queen was attacked not only by the wrath of the British public, but also even by many major British media (for example, The Guardian).
In 2004, after Elizabeth II beat a pheasant to death with a cane while hunting, a wave of outrage from environmental organizations over the monarch's actions swept across the country.

Elizabeth II is the last representative of the so-called “old school” of monarchs: she strictly adheres to age-old traditions and ceremonies and never deviates from the rules of established etiquette. Her Majesty never gives interviews or makes statements in the press. She is in everyone's sight, but at the same time she is the most private celebrity on the planet.

Childhood

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London's Mayfair at the Earl of Strathmore's residence at No. 17 Brewton Street. The area has now been rebuilt and the house no longer exists, but there is a memorial plaque on the site. She received her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).

Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895–1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900–2002). Her grandparents: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); on the mother's side - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1938).

At the same time, the father insisted that his daughter’s first name be like the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie was discussing the girl's name with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Maria. The names are all good, that’s what I told him, but about Victoria I absolutely agree with him. It was unnecessary." Princess Elizabeth's christening took place on May 25 in the chapel at Buckingham Palace, which was later destroyed during the war.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1930

The future queen received a good education at home, mainly in the humanities. Since childhood, she loved horses and equestrian sports. And also from childhood, unlike her more eccentric sister Margaret, she had a truly royal character. In the book biography of Elizabeth II by Sarah Bradford, it is mentioned that the future queen was a very serious child from childhood, who even then had a certain understanding of the responsibilities that fell on her as the heir to the throne, and a sense of duty. Since childhood, Elizabeth loved order; for example, when she went to bed, she always put her slippers next to the bed, never allowing herself to scatter things around the room, as is typical for many children. And already as a queen, she always made sure that no unnecessary lights were on in the palace, personally turning off the lights in empty rooms.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1926

Photo from 1929, Elizabeth is 3 years old here

Princess Elizabeth in 1933

King George VI (1895-1952) and Elizabeth Angela, Duchess of York (1900-2002), with their daughter, the future Queen, Princess Elizabeth, 1929

The Queen with her daughters, October 1942

World War II began when Elizabeth was 13 years old. On October 13, 1940, she spoke on the radio for the first time - with an appeal to children affected by the disasters of war. In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of the five "councilors of state" (persons authorized to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity). In February 1945, Elizaveta joined the “Auxiliary Territorial Service” - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving the military rank of lieutenant. Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last not yet retired participant in the Second World War (the second to last was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).

Princess Elizabeth (left, in military uniform) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (from left to right) her mother Queen Elizabeth, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret, May 8, 1945

On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married her distant relative, who, like her, is the great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria - Prince Philip Mountbatten, the son of the Greek Prince Andrew, who was then an officer in the British Navy. She met him at the age of 13, when Philip was still a cadet at the Dortmouth Naval Academy. Having become her husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.

In November 2007, the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their Diamond Wedding - sixty years of marriage. For the sake of this occasion, the queen allowed herself a little liberty - for one day she and her husband retired for romantic memories in Malta, where Prince Philip once served, and the young Princess Elizabeth visited him.

Four children were born into their family: the heir to the throne is the eldest son, Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales (born 1948); Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise (born 1950); Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York (born 1960), Edward Anthony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (born 1964).

On December 29, 2010, Elizabeth II became a great-grandmother for the first time. On this day, her eldest grandson - Princess Anne's eldest son Peter Phillips - and his Canadian wife Autumn Kelly had a daughter. The girl became 12th in the British line of succession to the throne.

With newborn Prince Charles, December 1948

King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who was on holiday in Kenya at the time with her husband, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.

The coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and the event is credited with significantly boosting the popularity of television broadcasting.

After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth states, British colonies and other countries of the world. Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

Elizabeth II after her coronation in 1953

The Queen with her six ladies-in-waiting
From left to right:
Lady Moira Hamilton (now Lady Moyra Campbell), Lady Anne Cox (now the Right Honorable Lady Glenconner), Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir), Lady Mary Bailey-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell), Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond- Willoughby (now Baroness de Willoughby de Eresby), Lady Jane Van-Tempest-Stewart (now the Right Honorable Lady Rayne)

The Queen began her political activities, which included the opening of Parliament and the reception of prime ministers. In the fifties of the twentieth century, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made many visits to the territory of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries.

In the sixties, the Queen of England made her historic visit to West Berlin at the height of the Cold War, and also invited Japanese Emperor Hirohito for an official visit to Britain. Despite the turbulent social and political situation, she celebrated her silver jubilee in 1977. The celebrations were a success, with thousands of people celebrating Elizabeth II's jubilee across the country.

The mature years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Five years later, Britain was involved in the war against the Falkland Islands, during which Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot. In the 1980s, the Queen's first grandchildren were born - Peter and Zara Phillips, the son and daughter of Anne, Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips.

In 1992, a disaster occurred in which fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. That same year, the marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne were dissolved. The Queen called 1992 a "terrible year". In 1996, the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was dissolved. Tragedy followed in 1997 when Diana died in a car accident.

2002 was a sad year for Queen Elizabeth II of England as her sister Princess Margaret died.

Reign of Queen Elizabeth II

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II of England, many changes were made in Great Britain. The Queen successfully carries out her political duties as head of state, head of the Commonwealth of Nations, ceremonial duties, as well as visiting responsibilities within the UK and abroad.

Elizabeth II introduced many reforms to the monarchy. In 1992, she proposed taxes on profits and capital gains. She opened official royal residences to the public, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, to finance the upkeep of the royal family.

She supported the abolition of male primogeniture and unity of inheritance, which means that the eldest child can now inherit the throne, regardless of gender.

In 2012, the Queen of England celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of her reign, celebrations were held throughout the country, which once again demonstrated the love of the British.

The style of the English queen can be roughly divided into two periods: the style of the young queen - a conservative and elegant style, and the style of the elderly queen, I would call it the “cheerful grandmother” style or even the “rainbow style”, because of the incredible number of changing colors in her suits and hats . However, the Queen of England always loved colorful flowers.

Throughout her life, the main elements of Queen Elizabeth II's wardrobe were: dresses or suits of medium length, always covering the knee, coats and raincoats of a trapeze cut, plus floor-length dresses for special occasions, as well as hats, always matching the suit, gloves, closed shoes , a brooch on a jacket and a string of pearls. The Queen of England also always preferred short hair. Favorite colors are pink, lilac and indigo.

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Odeon Cinema, October 31, 1955. (Photo: Monty Fresco/Getty Images)

Since the 1970s, Ian Thomas, a former assistant to Norman Hartnell and now the owner of his own salon, has been sewing for the Queen. Its distinctive feature was the flowing chiffon dresses that appeared in the queen’s wardrobe. After his death and until the late 1980s, Queen Elizabeth was sewn by Maureen Rose from the design house of Ian Thomas.

From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, the Queen of England's wardrobe was replenished with outfits from John Anderson, because after his death his partner Karl Ludwig Rese became the queen's court designer.

Since 2000, Stuart Parvin, the youngest of Her Majesty's court designers, a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art, has been sewing for Elizabeth II. In 2002, Angela Kelly became his assistant.

The Queen of England is 86 years old. But she still steadily fulfills all the duties assigned to her and appears in public, always following her style.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with their children, Prince Andrew (center), Princess Anne (left) and Charles, Prince of Wales near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Queen Victoria's husband purchased Balmoral Castle in 1846. Queen Victoria visited Scotland frequently with her family, especially after the death of her husband in 1861, and Balmoral is still a favorite holiday destination for the royal family. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). September 9, 1960.

The Queen's interests include breeding dogs (including corgis, spaniels and Labradors), photography, horse riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige as Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively throughout her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world (for example, in 1994 she visited Russia). She has made more than 325 foreign visits (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries). I started gardening in 2009. In addition to English, he is also fluent in French

Interesting Facts

Elizabeth II does not give interviews. Nevertheless, interesting facts about this extraordinary woman periodically appear in the press, which allow us to look at the most famous reigning person of our time from an unexpected side; we have selected the most striking, in our opinion, moments.

The celebration of the royal birthday in 1981 was overshadowed by an unpleasant event: shots rang out near the horse on which Elizabeth was sitting, taking part in the parade, causing everyone around to flinch. The Queen, to the delight of the public, did not even raise an eyebrow and managed to stay in the saddle.

Self-control came in handy a year later, when, while waiting for the police, she had to conduct a conversation for several minutes with a madman who managed to get into the chambers.

In 1945, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the future Queen of England, served as a mechanic in a reserve battalion of the British Army with the rank of junior officer. Obviously, the example of the “combat” grandmother inspired the young princes William and Harry, who also did not shy away from military service.

Family values ​​for Elizabeth The second is not an empty phrase. For the sake of her son’s happiness, she crossed strict rules and blessed the second marriage of Prince Charles of Wales with socialite Camilla Parker Bowles, despite the uproar about it.

On April 17, 2013, the Queen attended the funeral of a British politician for the second time in the history of her reign: she said goodbye to Margaret Thatcher.

Despite her solid image, the queen is no stranger to female coquetry and small weaknesses. Slick paparazzi more than once caught the moment when she publicly adjusted her makeup at social events, not embarrassed by the crowd or her high position. Etiquette is etiquette, but a real queen should look chic!

The Queen's passion is horses and corgi dogs. In her youth, Elizabeth rode horses very well, but now she pays more attention to the charming red dogs, which thanks to her have become one of the symbols of the British monarchy.

Elizabeth II is the oldest English monarch in history and the second longest-serving British monarch. She is also the oldest female current head of state.

The rose variety Rosa "Queen Elizabeth" was named in honor of Elizabeth II.

Films about Elizabeth II

In 2004, the film Churchill: The Hollywood Years was released, where Neve Campbell played the role of Elizabeth.

In 2006, the biographical film “The Queen” was released. The role of the queen was played by actress Helen Mirren. The film is a BAFTA Award winner in the Best Film category. Actress Helen Mirren, who played the main role in the film, received Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA awards, as well as the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best Actress. In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.

In 2009, Channel 4 of British television produced a 5-part feature mini-series “The Queen”, directed by Edmund Coulthard and Patrick Reams. The Queen was played by 5 actresses at different periods of her life: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick.

On July 27, 2012, the television broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London began with a video featuring James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen (cameo). At the end of the video, they both jump with parachutes from a helicopter over the arena of the Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, for this role, the queen was awarded a BAFTA award for best performance as a James Bond girl.

In architecture

The Queen Elizabeth Walk in Esplanade Park in Singapore is named after the queen.
The famous Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the “Elizabeth Tower” since September 2012.
The Duford Bridge, built in 1991, is also named after the Queen.
On August 1, 2013, the Elizabeth II Olympic Park was opened in London.

Lifetime monuments

The most famous cannibals of our time.

Sometimes you just feel uneasy when you find out, for example, that a surgeon works in one of the clinics, and in a nursery there is a teacher with some, so to speak, deviations... Meanwhile, a generation of potential maniacs is growing up in Russia - the famous investigator Amurkhan Yandiev is convinced of this , who became famous for the capture of six Rostov serial killers, including Chikatilo... “After perestroika, the mental state of people was brought to the extreme and in the near future not only will the number of serial murders increase hundreds of times, but they will become the norm of life...”

Issei Sagawa is now a restaurant critic whose reviews are happily published by the Tokyo press, and in the past he was a famous Japanese cannibal...

In 1981, Sagawa, who was studying English literature at the Sorbonne, killed and ate his girlfriend at the academy. He was arrested by the French police, declared insane and deported to Japan.

After a year and a half spent in a mental hospital, he was released... Sagawa lives in Tokyo, now he is sixty years old.

In Japan he is a celebrity... He is sometimes invited to various meetings as a guest or asked to comment on this or that event....

As is called by duty, Issei Sagawa knows a lot about good cuisine. He says that thoughts of eating someone still visit him, but “this will never happen again”...

Recently, the Russian media hinted that they want to release the Novokuznetsk cannibal Alexander Spesivtsev from the psychiatric hospital... The head physician is conducting an experiment that is not approved by everyone and is relying on creativity for treatment. He writes out those who have especially distinguished themselves - poets, mass entertainers... Spesivtsev is very obedient and takes an active part in creative evenings...

In 1999, closed hearings were held in the Central District Court of Novokuznetsk on charges of failure to perform official duties, causing significant harm, against the investigator of the district prosecutor's office, Raisa Rozhkova. Rozhkova was accused of letting Alexander Spesivtsev go in 1991. At that moment, he was detained for bullying his friend, 16-year-old Evgenia Guselnikova, but the investigator did not find sufficient evidence to send the case to court, and Spesivtsev was released. He managed to avoid trial altogether with the help of a certificate from a psychiatric clinic, and subsequently killed at least 20 people. Raisa Rozhkova did not admit her guilt and was not punished in court.

Andrei Chikatilo was actually a school teacher. Husband, father of two children, member of the CPSU... and the most terrible Russian maniac killer, sadist, ripper, cannibal. He has 53 proven murders, which he committed in forest belts adjacent to the cities of Shakhty, Novoshakhtinsk, Novocherkassk, as well as in Rostov-on-Don, Moscow, Leningrad, Tashkent and other cities of the USSR, where he went on business trips.

In July and August 1984 alone, Chikatilo killed 8 women and children. The future victims gave Chikatilo the impression of being offended by fate, unhappy, among them were many alcoholic and mentally retarded women, whom he lured into the forest belt under the pretext of drinking. He lured children with promises of showing him a VCR, a computer, puppies, rare stamps...

Chikatilo mutilated the bodies of his victims - he cut off and bit off tongues, nipples, genitals, noses, fingers, opened the abdominal cavity, bit and gnawed internal organs. Many of the victims were still alive at this time. Almost all the victims had their eyes gouged out - Chikatilo explained this with a superstitious fear that his image might remain on their retinas, but most likely, he simply could not stand the look of his victims...

Chikatilo took the severed parts of the bodies with him, but they were not found later. Most likely, Chikatilo consumed them as food. Chikatilo rarely had direct sexual contact with his victims, as he was impotent. He achieved sexual satisfaction at the moment of murder, touching the corpse with his penis. After each murder, he received such a release that he slept for about a day...

Jeffrey Dahmer, a famous American serial killer and cannibal who killed and raped 17 boys and young men between 1978 and 1991, was an ordinary worker at a candy factory...

In 1988, Dahmer was detained for indecent assault on a thirteen-year-old boy. While under investigation, he killed a 24-year-old representative of sexual minorities, African-American Sears, who himself invited him to have sex... For this, in 1989, Dahmer was sentenced to a year of correctional labor! The punishment was that he was obliged to spend the night in prison, and was free during the day. In March 1990, Dahmer was released for good behavior... And here a whole series of murders begins...

As a rule, its victims were representatives of sexual minorities. Dahmer wanted his lovers to be as obedient to him as zombies. For this purpose, he experimented on them - he performed a primitive lobotomy, drilling holes in the skull with an electric drill and acid. Many of his victims continued to live for about a day with a hole in their skull. For his 15th victim, Dahmer poured boiling water, not acid, into the hole in the skull. Thanks to this, the victim lived for two days. Among other things, Dahmer ate body parts of his victims and practiced necrophilia...

On May 27, 1991, a 14-year-old managed to escape from Dahmer's apartment. However, Dahmer managed to convince the police that this was his lover, who was simply in a state of severe intoxication, and the police returned the teenager to Dahmer. That same night, Dahmer killed him and made a souvenir from his skull. In 2005, one of the officers who brought the teenager back to Dahmer was elected president of the Milwaukee Police Association.

During the summer of 1991, Dahmer killed one person every week until he was finally arrested in July. Police found the remains of 11 people in Dahmer's apartment. During the court hearings, increased security measures were taken: the use of metal detectors, sniffer dogs to search for explosives, and Dahmer was behind bulletproof glass. However, he was still overtaken by punishment - in 1994, Dahmer was mortally wounded by one of the prison inmates - black Christopher Scarver, who struck him several times with a piece of metal pipe... On the way to the hospital, Jeffrey Dahmer died. His body was kept in a refrigerator for about a year and then cremated...

Armin Meiwes is a German homosexual and cannibal who ate his lover Bernd Brandes in 2001.

In 2001, Meiwes posted an ad on the Internet looking for a person who would agree to be eaten. 43-year-old homosexual Bernd Brandes responded to the ad. As follows from the video recorded by the lovers, Meiwes, after another sex session, cut off Brandes’s private part, which they then ate together.

After Brandes took a large dose of alcohol and painkillers, Meiwes killed him. He kept his lover's meat in the freezer and ate it for several months; before his arrest in December 2002, he managed to eat about 20 kg of meat. Meiwes was sentenced by the court to 8.5 years in prison. At the same time, the cannibal’s lawyers considered the punishment excessively cruel, since Meiwes’s lover agreed to be eaten voluntarily...

And this is what Nikolai Dzhumagaliev looks like, a cannibal killer whose name terrifies not only because of what he has already accomplished, but also because he is free. Although Dzhumagaliev has repeatedly claimed that he has “given up” with murder and cannibalism, how much can one trust him, a mentally ill maniac?

All that remains is to wait until he reasserts himself with a new atrocity. Or maybe not... Dzhumagaliev committed his last crime in such a way that it seemed that he himself wanted to help law enforcement agencies catch himself. In a house crowded with his friends, in the next room from the people walking, he had sexual intercourse with the future victim, and when she fell asleep, he stabbed her in the chest. Substituting a basin, he collected the flowing blood there. Drank. Cut a piece of meat from the victim's corpse. His friends found him in this form, who, of course, contacted the police.

Due to insanity, in 1981 the court sentenced him to compulsory treatment in a psychiatric hospital in Tashkent. For eight years, heavy doses of drugs were used to knock out the tendency towards cannibalism from him... As a result of the next examination, Dzhumagaliev was recognized as almost cured and was sent to a regular psychiatric hospital at his place of residence. For the escort of the famous serial killer, the law enforcement system allocated two people - an orderly and a nurse... As a result, as one would expect, Dzhumagaliev “abandoned” the escorts...

Wanting to hide from justice, he “gets caught” stealing in the Fergana Valley, and posing as a Chinese refugee, he tries to get a short sentence by disappearing from sight for a while. However, he again ends up in the Tashkent psychiatric hospital. And in 1994, the cannibal was discharged from the mental hospital as recovering... At present, Dzhumagaliev’s whereabouts are unknown. In the area where he lived, mutilated corpses are still being found... Long live the humane attitude towards criminals in general, and serial killers in particular!

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