Queen Elizabeth 2 personal life. The love story of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
Such an age is an achievement in itself for any person, not only for a monarch. And 90-year-old Elizabeth today not only lives out her life calmly in the palace, surrounded by servants and relatives, she, like many years in a row, performs quite labor-intensive and routine work. On the eve of her anniversary, the documentary film “Our Queen at 90” was released. “What struck me most was the Queen’s work ethic,” said the film’s director, Ashley Gething. - We filmed it at 9 am and 11 pm. Surprisingly, at 90, she still works seven days a week from dawn to dusk. And so it has been for the last 64 years! I was amazed at the intensity of the schedule of events during her official visit to Germany or when receiving a delegation from China. At the end of the day I felt exhausted, I just don’t understand how Her Majesty and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is already 95 years old, cope with such a schedule!”
The first "palace"
In 1926, when Elizabeth was born, England, as well as throughout Europe, was restless - everyone expected either war or revolution. And at eight months, the parents left the baby in the care of nannies to go on a long official visit to Australia. The princess's mother was very upset, but... duty comes first. English aristocrats tried to copy their king George V, the grandfather of little Elizabeth, who established new, modern rules for monarchs that are still relevant today: leave the palace, show yourself in public, work hard!
When George V died in 1936, his eldest son, young Elizabeth's uncle, Prince Edward, ascended the throne. But he soon abdicated the throne because of an affair with a divorced woman. And the crown passed to the girl’s father, George VI, who was not at all ready for such a burden, but nevertheless coped with his fears and doubts and showed himself to be a wise monarch. By the way, this interesting historical period formed the basis of the recent Oscar-winning film “The King’s Speech.”
Despite the palace problems of adults, Lilibet's childhood, as she was called in the family, was happy and cloudless until a certain age. When the baby was four years old, she had a sister, Margaret. On her sixth birthday, Elizabeth was given a small house in the garden of Windsor Palace; it became a place where she could play, study and take care of her pets - corgi dogs. This small cottage was made in such a way that the girl and her little guests felt comfortable - the ceilings of the house were designed for children's height, and adults had to bend almost double to enter it. With plush toys scattered everywhere, soft sofas, small tea tables and the same sets, chests of drawers and cabinets, it looked like Alice’s fairy-tale home, and Lilibet felt like a real princess in it. At the same time, the parents made sure that their daughter did not grow up white-handed: the house was equipped with a small but functional gas stove, sink and washing machine. It was here that Elizabeth received her first culinary lessons and learned to keep the house clean and tidy. Later she will maintain her palaces in the same order.
This children's house was later inherited by her children and then grandchildren. Today, Elizabeth's granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, is in charge of it, and renovated it several years ago. “The Queen spent many happy hours here, and she still likes to come here from time to time,” said Princess Margaret. - It’s wonderful when there is a place where your parents grew up and played, where you and your brothers and sisters grew up and played. We have been adults for a long time, but we still love our garden house, and it is ready to accept new little owners.”
The future queen did not go to school, the family invited teachers, and the mother selected literature for her daughter. Elizabeth's first adult books were novels by the popular British humorist Pelham Woodhouse. The father considered it his duty to share with his eldest daughter, and therefore with the future queen, his own opinion about history, politics and the modern structure of the world.
Youth under bombs
Elizabeth's period of growing up occurred during the Second World War. When Great Britain entered the war with Nazi Germany, Lilibet and her sister remained at Windsor Castle, while King George and his wife were in London - from there the monarch and Parliament led the country's defense. London was bombed regularly and intensively: in September 1940, one of the bombs hit the courtyard of Buckingham Palace - the king and queen miraculously escaped death. If they had been a few meters closer to the epicenter of the explosion, they would have died. Elizabeth recalled that parents, in conversations with their children, constantly came up with jokes about that German bomb, as if they had experienced some kind of fun adventure. In this way they tried to calm the children and teach them to face danger with dignity. In 1940, 14-year-old Lilibet, following the example of her father’s monarch, who strengthened the spirit of the British with his radio messages, conducted radio broadcasts for young Englishmen from Windsor Castle.
Elizabeth's childhood was spent among people in uniforms who were accustomed to serving and knew what a sense of duty was. When she came to the throne, these were the qualities she wanted to see in her subjects and she herself strived to live up to the high standards held by her father, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the British military.
Towards the end of the war, the young princess, as was customary at the English court, went into service herself. She was assigned to one of the London units as a mechanic. Elizabeth learned to drive and maintain heavy army trucks. When Germany declared surrender and general rejoicing began on the streets of London, the princesses, in the company of several of their cousins, quietly slipped out of Buckingham Palace and joined the jubilant crowds of Londoners.
According to historians, it was during the war that Elizabeth truly became close to her father. She saw the burden that lay on the king’s shoulders, how much strength and health it took, and she understood that the day would come when she herself would have to do the same work. George VI was the only and best teacher. “It all depends on the training. You can do a lot if we prepare you well,” this is how the father reassured the princess, who doubted her abilities, because she knew well what would be required of her. When the crown was placed on her head at 27, she took her duties as seriously as her father. “When my grandmother ascended the throne, she was much younger than I am now. It was a time when men ruled the world. At my age, it is difficult for me to always remain serious, and it is even difficult to imagine how heavy the burden was that she had to shoulder,” William, Duke of Cambridge recently shared.
The best choice
In the summer of 1939, in preparation for the upcoming war, King George and his family visited the Royal Naval College, where Elizabeth met the Greek prince. Philip was a tall, handsome 18-year-old cadet, and his naval uniform suited him very well. For Elizabeth it was love at first sight; the future officer also liked the young English princess. True, Philip's family became impoverished and was in exile, which made the guy's chances of success very vague. But he didn’t even think of giving up. When the royal yacht left the port, the cadet was waiting for the ship at the exit of the bay in a boat to wave goodbye to the princess and her relatives. Since it was hot, Philip was shirtless, and, apparently, made an indelible impression on young Elizabeth, since from then on she did not want to hear about the English aristocrats whom her mother wanted to woo the girl.
Philip, as part of the British naval forces, took part in battles with the Germans, and the princess was worried not only about her parents, but also about her lover. After the end of the war, she showed character and convinced her father to agree to the marriage. In 1947, Elizabeth and Philip married in London's Westminster Abbey. This wedding became the first big post-war holiday and was enthusiastically received by English society. The princess was adored, and the fact that she chose as her husband not some nondescript noble aristocrat, but a poor but handsome military officer, only strengthened her popularity.
Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh. A year later, the newlyweds had their first child, Charles. At this time, the happy father served... in Malta, where his military unit was stationed. These English royal families are so incomprehensible. Duty above all is not just a beautiful phrase, but a rule of life. Following Charles, Elizabeth and Philip had a daughter, Anne, and then sons, Andrew and Edward. Charles, Prince of Wales is first in line to the throne, followed by his eldest son William, Duke of Cambridge.
Looking at the queen's long marriage, it becomes clear that Elizabeth was not mistaken when she fought for her husband with her relatives. All the time, Philip was a support for her, and, importantly, he remains so to this day at 95 years old! “My husband has been my strength all these years, and I owe him much more than he could ask,” the queen admitted.
The tradition lives on
Elizabeth was taught that the most important thing for a person is his duty, and personal life and feelings are in the background. That is why she did not allow Charles to marry the divorced Camilla Parker-Bowles, whom he loved. And the son was forced to enter into a marriage that was correct from the point of view of the court with Lady Diana. As a result, neither he nor Diana were happy; it all ended in a scandalous breakup, and then in the death of the princess.
However, in England they believe that the Queen has successfully ruled Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries for so long because she has the ability to change and learn from her mistakes. She had a hard time with Charles's breakup with Diana and the scandals that accompanied this breakup. Tabloids began to write about the intimate life of Elizabeth's heirs, and it seemed that the royal family would never again have the level of adoration and trust in society that they had after the war. But years passed, the foam settled, Prince Charles married the love of his life, Camilla, and young Prince William chose a non-royal girl, Kate Middleton, as his wife.
Today, the ratings of the royal family are higher than ever, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, can easily claim the title of the most popular royal couple on the planet. Prince Harry is not far behind his older brother - he is the most desirable bachelor in England. And above all of them still towers the small but very important figure of their grandmother, who, at 90, remains the living embodiment of the great British traditions.
Yaroslav Stepanenko
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Of all the royal families living in the modern world, the British is the most popular. The lives of Elizabeth II, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are closely followed by residents from different parts of the world. But even under such close scrutiny, some facts can slip through the cracks.
website collected answers to the most interesting questions about the Windsor family.
10. How many members are there in the British royal family?
In the literal sense of the word, 15 people belong to the royal family.
The corresponding titles are: Elizabeth II and her husband Philip, their children (Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward), their grandchildren (William, Harry, Beatrice, Eugenie, James, Louise), great-grandchildren (Prince George and Princess Charlotte), as well as The queen's sister is Margaret.
In addition, another 15 people are directly related to the queen, although they do not hold titles and do not lay claim to the throne. These are dukes, earls, lords and ladies.
9. How is Queen's Day going?
The Queen gets up at 7:30 am. At this time, she is served tea without sugar and Mary cookies with milk. Since the gastronomic tastes of the royals are not widely advertised, it is impossible to say exactly what type of tea Elizabeth likes: some sources claim that it is Earl Grey, others that it is English Breakfast.
At 8:30, Elizabeth has breakfast with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the dining room overlooking the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The table usually includes cornflakes, yogurt and toast with maple syrup or marmalade. At breakfast, the Queen reads newspapers, most often the Daily Telegraph and Racing Post.
After the morning meal, the Queen holds briefings on various issues with her aides. The mail that Elizabeth personally views is also discussed here - this is about 200-300 letters a day. Until late in the evening, the Queen is busy with official meetings and events.
And even before going to bed, Elizabeth deals exclusively with matters of national importance: she reads all the documents with the main topics of the day, which are delivered to her daily in a special red box.
8. Favorite jewelry of Elizabeth II
A three-strand pearl necklace almost always adorns the queen's neck - it is the hallmark of her style. When Elizabeth was 10 years old, she received such a necklace as a gift from her grandfather George V, and it became her favorite piece of jewelry.
Somewhat later, Queen Mary, Elizabeth's grandmother, gave her pearl earrings. To this day, they, complete with a necklace, form part of the image of a modern monarch.
7. The tradition of changing one’s name upon ascending the throne
Since ancient times, monarchs of different countries have adopted a throne name during their time in power that is different from the one given to them at birth. In Britain this tradition was also maintained. Thus, Queen Victoria was Princess Alexandrina before her coronation, and King George was named Albert. Elizabeth II chose not to change her name, because this is only permissible, but not obligatory for the monarch.
Of course, many connoisseurs of tradition still remember the queen’s choice. In 2002, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth's accession to the throne, several letters were sent to the Queen on behalf of veterans of the nationalist Scottish National Party. The letters said that it was time for the queen to take the throne name. But, as we see many years later, Elizabeth II is firm in her decision.
6. Misconceptions about titles
Elizabeth is often called the Queen of England, but this is not true. Firstly, she is the monarch of the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and England is just a part of it.
And secondly, other countries are also subject to the British monarch: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. -Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica. So Elizabeth II is the queen of 16 states.
Misconceptions about princesses are no less common. Lady Di after her wedding to Prince Charles began to be called a princess. However, she was not a princess by birth, so by all rights her title should have been “Her Royal Highness Princess Charles of Wales,” no matter how strange that may sound.
As for the chosen one of their eldest son William, Kate Middleton is not a princess either. She married the Duke of Cambridgeshire, and therefore her official title is the Duchess of Cambridge.
5. What do princes do in their free time from royal affairs?
William has worked for East Anglian Air Ambulance for the past two years. The prince's work shift lasted 9.5 hours, which is approximately 20 hours a week. The Duke transferred his entire salary to the medical service charity fund. On 27 March 2017, the Duke of Cambridge left his post as an air ambulance pilot.
William began his piloting career in 2008 when he joined the RAF Search and Rescue Service. He worked there until 2014. Now, at the age of 35, and second in line to the throne, the Duke of Cambridge intends to devote himself fully to the royal house and the future of the British monarchy.
Prince Harry also had a good military career. He graduated from Sandhurst Academy and, like his older brother, joined the cavalry regiment.
Prince Harry has been to Afghanistan twice, once as a military helicopter pilot. He was later awarded a medal for his participation in these hostilities.
He also took part in anti-terrorism exercises for the Australian Armed Forces. When the prince was recalled from the active army for security reasons, he organized sports competitions in Britain for military personnel injured during hostilities.
4. What is the common way of addressing Elizabeth among members of the royal family?
According to officials, different family members have their own privileges in addressing the queen. So, the husband of Elizabeth II calls her Lilibet. The future queen herself called herself this name when she was very little and could not pronounce “Elizabeth.”
The remaining adult family members are required to say “Your Majesty” when meeting. Even Charles's own son must comply with this formality before calling the Queen with the informal word Mommy.
The limits for great-grandchildren are less strict. Prince George has his own address to Elizabeth II - Gan-Gan. This is how he pronounces the word “Great-Grandmother”.
3. The Queen is an example of thriftiness
Elizabeth II is very economical and serves as an excellent example of this for her subjects. So, it is known that she always turns off the light when leaving the room, and demands this from all the inhabitants of the palace. The Queen wears the same dresses for a long time.
Queen Elizabeth II of England 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.
King George VI, his wife Elizabeth and their daughters: Elizabeth (right) and Margaret
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 became involved with a twice-divorced lady 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 affairs of the heart, casting an unsightly shadow on the representatives of the Windsor dynasty, 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-made 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, our heroine became the legitimate heir to the royal throne of one of the most powerful countries in the world.
During the Second World War, the future Queen of England worked as a simple driver on an ambulance.
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 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 England 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. His mother ended her days in a psychiatric hospital, and his father became a gambling addict. England sheltered a poor child and enrolled him in the Royal Naval School, so that the boy would receive a decent profession and be able to earn his daily bread.
From the above it is clear that Philip was not a match for Elizabeth. At least that's what the royal court thought. But the girl showed amazing tenacity and perseverance. Throughout the war, she 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 England. 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.”
Queen Elizabeth II of England walks the guard of honor after her accession to the throne
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England 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 did not turn out to be like a fairy tale. In his youth, my husband often made various politically incorrect and rather tactless statements. So in New Guinea he asked a passerby: “Listen, my dear, how come you haven’t been eaten here yet?”
In China, he casually remarked to an English tourist: “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 England did everything to suppress such rumors. Over the years, the prince calmed down. Age and health began to make themselves felt.
Queen Elizabeth II of England and her daily routine
All the days of the Queen of England 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. This is a corgi. There are four of them: Linnet, Willow, Holly and Monty.
Queen Elizabeth II of England with her beloved dogs
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 England 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 England 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’s time for lunch. Queen Elizabeth II of England 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 there is a short rest and an official reception. Dinner starts at 20:15. The whole family gathers at the table. In England, the evening meal is always hearty. 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.
Scandals in the royal family
Queen Elizabeth II of England 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.
Family of Elizabeth II, 1972. From left to right: Anna, Charles, Edward, Andrew, Elizabeth, Philip
The eldest son Charles caused the greatest trouble. In 1970, he unwisely fell in love with a lady named Camilla. The girl was of noble blood, but despised the conventions of high society. She swore, smoked, drank whiskey and changed lovers from time to time. All this was considered the height of indecency. But poor Charles, having a soft and romantic nature, fell under the influence of this cynical, strong-willed and arrogant person.
The poor guy even proposed marriage, but was turned away. Camilla married officer Andrew Parker-Bowles. But after 6 years of family life, discord began to appear between the spouses. Camilla again began to favorably accept Charles's advances. This did not escape the attention of the royal court. 
Elizabeth II in the center, sister Margaret on the left, the Queen Mother on the right
The queen and her husband, seeing that their son was being brazenly and shamelessly scammed, began to urgently look for a wife for him. Diana Spencer (1961-1997) turned up very opportunely. A girl of noble blood and with an excellent pedigree. She was a virgin, which was a prerequisite for the bride of the heir to the throne. The wedding took place on July 29, 1981. In 1982 and 1984, Princess Diana gave birth to two sons.
The marriage was very successful for Charles. His wife was passionately loved not only by England, but by the whole world. Diana had amazing charm, purity and spontaneity. But male stupidity knows no bounds. The heir to the throne continued to meet with Camilla. Soon the wife found out about this connection. The couple divorced in 1996, but have lived separately since 1992.
Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II of England is seated on the left. Princess Diana sits in the center with her son William, the queen mother is on the right. Prince Charles and Philip standing
This divorce dealt a serious blow to the prestige of the royal family. England was on the side of the deceived Diana. The situation was aggravated by the tragic death of this amazing woman in 1997. It was rumored that Prince Charles was involved in the death. Allegedly, on his orders, the attackers cut the brake hoses of the car in which the princess was riding. But the official investigation completely dismissed such rumors.
In 1992, Anna and Andrew's marriages broke up. True, there were no loud scandals surrounding these 2 events. Everything went quietly and unnoticed, but left an unpleasant aftertaste in the souls of the British. Still, the royal family should be an example in all respects. For several years, her subjects greeted Elizabeth II with cold silence. She pretended not to notice anything. Although it is not difficult to imagine what was going on in her soul.
Charles with Camilla and Elizabeth II
Gradually, the English moved away and fell in love with their queen again. Even the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla in 2005 could no longer undermine the authority of the Queen of England. After all, many years have passed since the death of Princess Diana, and people’s memory is very short.
Currently, Kate Middleton, the wife of William, the eldest son from the marriage of Princess Diana and Charles, is very popular among the British. Elizabeth II herself treats the girl warmly. Rumor has it that the queen wants to change the rules of succession to the throne and appoint William as her heir. After all, the British do not like Prince Charles, and Camilla will never be recognized as their queen.
Customs of the Royal Court
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 adjusted to fit his body. 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 England 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.
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain
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- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. A look at the modern British monarchy, A. A. Polyakova. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to her to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will provide you with... Buy for 225 UAH (Ukraine only)
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain A look at the modern British monarchy, Polyakova A.. “My impressions of a trip to Great Britain during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton led to the understanding that Great Britain and the monarchy are inseparable. In the Middle Ages, the exclamation “In the name of...
Today, the most famous woman on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II of England, celebrates her birthday. Despite her venerable age, the Queen continues to delight us with her appearances, is the constant heroine of our “Stylish Monarchs” column, and gives valuable instructions to her heirs, Prince Charles and William, as well as her young daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton. HELLO.RU congratulates Elizabeth II on her birthday and recalls 15 interesting facts about this legendary person.
Elizabeth II
1. Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926. At the time of her birth, she was third in line to the throne; then they could not even think about her future elevation to the throne. Her father, George VI, began to rule after the unexpected abdication of his elder brother, King Edward, and thus Elizabeth came closer to power.
Queen Elizabeth II with her mother Elizabeth I and father George VI
On the day of her father's death, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, approached 25-year-old Elizabeth and said: Does this mean you will become queen? Poor thing!
2. Elizabeth's education was personally handled by her father, King George VI. Her teachers also included the Vice-Rector of Eton and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
From an early age, Lilibet, as she was called at home, was an enthusiastic and active person. She really enjoyed learning languages. Thanks to foreign governesses, she became fluent in French as a child. At age 11, while still a princess, Elizabeth became a scout and then a sea ranger.
Elizabeth II in scout uniform, 19423.
Since childhood, the queen has been very fond of animals. She is the breeder of many thoroughbred horses, and often comes to watch equestrian competitions, as well as the races in which her horses participate.
Elizabeth II has been riding a horse almost since birth
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip at the Hippodrome Elizabeth II also loves dogs. Her favorite breed is the Welsh Corgi. Her father gave her her first puppy for her birthday, and since then she has had more than 30 corgis, each of which is a descendant of her firstborn, Susie. The dogs live with the Queen in the castle, travel in limousines and live in hotels.
Queen Elizabeth II with her dog
4. The Queen met her husband, Prince Philip, at the age of 8. The son of a Greek prince was forced to flee his native country to England at the age of 1 in an orange box. Naturally, King George VI of Great Britain did not welcome his daughter’s union with the “impoverished prince.” According to rumors, Elizabeth herself achieved the favor of Philip, with whom she was in love from an early age, and then proposed marriage to him.
Elizabeth and Philip at their engagement party, 1947
5. The couple announced their engagement in 1947. The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten took place on November 20, 1947. 2000 invited guests attended the celebration. The wedding dress was made by designer Norman Hartnell, and the bride's head was decorated with a diamond tiara, which Queen Mary gave her as a child.
Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
After his marriage to the princess, Philip was not anointed king. When his wife ascended the throne, he was the first to take the oath to her with the words:
I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will become your vassal in sickness and in health, and will serve you faithfully, with honor and respect, until my death. May God help me.
61 years have passed since then, and Philip is still always and everywhere next to his queen.
6. Elizabeth II is the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. She herself conducts all important meetings with the heads of the Commonwealth, and also visits military installations during her visits to other countries. She is preparing her son, Prince Charles, and grandchildren, William and Harry, for political affairs, but does not yet trust them to make decisions.
Queen Elizabeth II with her first child, Prince Charles
7. Despite her steely character and talent for government, the queen does not forget about femininity. The bright colors of dresses and suits, which she has preferred since a very young age, reveal her creative and mischievous nature.
A recognizable style, the main elements of which are a monochrome suit of rich color, a matching hat, black shoes and a handbag, was formed at the very beginning of her reign. Now, despite her advanced age, the queen is not at all afraid of bright colors and still does not change her habits. As Karl Lagerfeld said, in order to become a recognizable person, you need to dress in such a way that it is easy to copy a caricature of you. Queen Elizabeth II inspired the creativity of both famous creators and animators.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1986
8. Order surrounds the Queen in everything, so it is not surprising that in Elizabeth II’s dressing room all things have a serial number. The place and time at which the outfit was worn is also indicated. Given the Queen’s busy work schedule, this is the only way she can avoid “fashion repetitions.”
9. The Queen's working day is scheduled minute by minute. At 7:30, a tray containing a silver teapot, a jug of water and milk is brought to her bed. She starts her duties at 10:00 and finishes work around 23:00. First thing in the morning she looks through the British daily newspapers and the racing magazine The Racing Post.
Elizabeth II, 2013
After this, from the hundreds of letters from her subjects that arrived during the day, she selects a few, which she reads, and then dictates to her assistant the answers to each of them. In the first half of the day, the queen schedules several meetings - with ambassadors, bishops, and judges. Each takes no more than 15 minutes. In the evening, Elizabeth II meets with the Prime Minister and gets acquainted with official papers. At the end of the day, she attends exhibitions, concerts and other events.
10. Queen Elizabeth II has a very large family: four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. When she is not busy with business, she loves to be at home with her loved ones.
Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, three sons and daughter
She spends several weeks in August and September alone. These days, the doors of Buckingham Palace open to everyone, and the Queen goes on vacation to the Scottish castle of Balmoral. There she enjoys reading novels, doing crossword puzzles and taking a bath. By the way, Elizabeth has a funny habit associated with her latest pastime - the queen never takes a bath without her rubber duck.
Another favorite pastime of the Queen on weekends is “fussing” with dogs. Rumor has it that Elizabeth loves to comb their fur herself and even look for fleas on them.
11. The Queen is the only resident of Great Britain who does not have a passport or license. However, this does not stop her from actively traveling and driving. By the way, she first got behind the wheel at the age of 19. With 67 years of driving experience behind her, the Queen was spotted behind the wheel by paparazzi in 2012. In an unaccompanied car, Elizabeth II was returning from her Scottish residence, where she was hunting hazel grouse.
Queen Elizabeth II driving12
.During travel, the weight of the queen's luggage can reach several tons. A record figure was recorded during Elizabeth II's trip to a meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1953 - the queen carried 12 tons of clothing with her. Considering the number of her dogs that travel with her everywhere, she has also accumulated several tons of grooming supplies.
Elizabeth II
13. Elizabeth II has a number of secret signs. For example, if during official events she places her handbag on the table, then it becomes clear to those accompanying her that the Queen wishes to leave the meeting after 5 minutes. When she begins to twirl a ring on her finger or shift her bag from one hand to another, this means that she is bored with communication with her interlocutor.
Queen Elizabeth II
14.
The most difficult times in the queen's life were 1992 and 2002. In the early 90s, the reputation of the monarchy was under attack due to the divorce of the Queen's heir, Prince Charles, from Princess Diana. And in 2002, the queen lost two loved ones at once - her sister Margaret and her mother Elizabeth I.
Queen Elizabeth II with Princess Diana
15. Despite the fact that the Queen turns 88 today, this event will be celebrated on a national scale only in the summer. According to a tradition that has developed over the years, the birthday of the reigning monarch of Great Britain is celebrated twice: directly on the day of the celebration with loved ones and on one of the weekends in June. It is in the summer that lavish festivities take place, people take to the streets to celebrate another year in the life and reign of the most popular monarch in the world.
