20 Facts You Didn’t Know About Queen Elizabeth II, the World’s Second-Longest-Reigning Monarch

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, in London, but she was not initially destined to inherit the throne. At the time of her birth, she was behind her uncle, the future Edward VIII, and her father, the Duke of York, in the line of succession. Her life changed dramatically in 1936, when Edward VIII abdicated and her father became King George VI, making Elizabeth, then ten years old, the heir apparent.

Before the world came to know her as Queen Elizabeth II, her family called her “Lilibet.” This nickname is said to have come from the way she pronounced her own name when she was a child. It has remained an affectionate nickname within the family throughout her life, revealing a more personal side of a woman we often see at solemn ceremonies and in official portraits.

Elizabeth gave her first public speech on October 13, 1940, during World War II. Speaking on the BBC’s “Children’s Hour” program, she addressed children who had been evacuated from their homes because of the war. This broadcast introduced her to the public not as a future ceremonial figure, but as a teenager seeking to reassure other young people facing uncertainty.

In February 1945, Princess Elizabeth enlisted in the Territorial Auxiliary Service with the rank of Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. She underwent training in Aldershot as a driver and mechanic, where she learned the practical skills of vehicle maintenance during the final months of the war. It may be hard to imagine a future queen removing spark plugs from an engine, but that is exactly what the photographs that have survived show.

Elizabeth’s service during the war is of historical significance, as she was the first woman in the British royal family to serve as a full-time, active member of the armed forces. Her service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service allowed her to play a role in the national war effort as a whole, rather than being limited to royal engagements. This experience helped shape the public image of her sense of duty that accompanied her throughout her reign.

When Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947, Britain was still under postwar rationing. Her wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, was made from fabrics purchased with ration coupons, and she had received additional coupons from the government for the occasion. Many women also tried to send her their own ration coupons, but these gifts had to be returned because the law prohibited the transfer of ration coupons.

Elizabeth and Philip were married more than four years before she ascended to the throne. Their marriage lasted until Prince Philip’s death in 2021, making it one of the longest-lasting royal marriages in British history. During that time, he transitioned from being a naval officer and former Prince of Greece and Denmark to the challenging role of husband to a reigning queen.

Elizabeth was in Kenya with Prince Philip when King George VI died on February 6, 1952. She therefore left Great Britain as a princess and returned as queen. This sudden transition occurred when she was only 25 years old, placing her at the center of a constitutional role she would fulfill for the rest of her life.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey. This event, which was widely broadcast on television, helped make television a central part of British public life. For many viewers, this ceremony was one of the first opportunities to experience a royal event from the comfort of their own homes, rather than through newspapers, radio, or newsreels.

Elizabeth was born in April, but her official birthday was celebrated publicly in June. This public celebration was tied to “Trooping the Color,” the ceremonial parade that traditionally marks the sovereign’s official birthday. Thus, although April 21 was her actual birthday, the major national celebration usually took place later in the year.

Queen Elizabeth II is now closely associated with corgis, but this connection dates back to well before her accession to the throne. Her first corgi, Susan, was given to her as a gift for her 18th birthday, and many of her subsequent dogs were descendants of Susan. These dogs were such an integral part of her public image that they were often mentioned alongside her country residences, her official duties, and her family life.

On March 26, 1976, Queen Elizabeth II sent an email via ARPANET during a visit to the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment in Malvern. This message was part of a demonstration of networking technology, long before email became an integral part of everyday communication. She was the very first monarch to do so; her username was “HME2” — Her Majesty, Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth’s relationship with technology continued for decades after that first email. On October 24, 2014, she sent her first tweet at the opening of the “Information Age” exhibition at the London Science Museum. This moment left a lasting impression, as it placed a monarch born in 1926 at the heart of a form of communication designed for the 21st century.

As head of state, Queen Elizabeth II did not need a British driver’s license. This detail is often mentioned, as it was well known that she enjoyed driving, particularly on the royal estates. Given her training as a driver and mechanic during the war, this fact is not so much an anecdote as it is a continuation of a skill she acquired very early in life.

Since British passports are issued in the name of the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II did not need to have one to travel abroad. Other members of the royal family, on the other hand, had to obtain a passport, but the monarch held a unique constitutional position. This is one of those details that shows how the monarchy operates according to legal conventions that most people rarely give much thought to.

Elizabeth II is often remembered as the Queen of the United Kingdom, but her role extended far beyond Great Britain. During her lifetime, she was the reigning queen of 32 sovereign states, and at the time of her death, she was the sovereign of 15 realms. This shift in numbers reflects the long process of decolonization and the evolving relationships between Great Britain, its former colonies, and the Commonwealth countries.

Queen Elizabeth II opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She thus became the first head of state to open two Olympic Games in two different countries. During the London opening ceremony, she also took part in a memorable filmed segment alongside Daniel Craig as James Bond, which became one of the most talked-about moments in pop culture toward the end of her reign.

On September 9, 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch in British history, surpassing Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria had reigned for more than 63 years, a record that had long seemed almost unattainable. Elizabeth’s achievement redefined how people viewed the modern British monarchy, especially since many people had never known any other monarch.

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee, marking her 70 years on the throne. The celebrations began on February 6, the anniversary of her accession to the throne, and continued with national events later in the year. It was a historic occasion, not only because of the length of her reign, but also because it came toward the end of a reign that had already spanned generations of political and social change.

One of Queen Elizabeth II’s final constitutional duties took place on September 6, 2022, when she appointed Liz Truss as prime minister at Balmoral Castle. She passed away two days later, on September 8, at the age of 96. This final official duty reinforced the image many already had of her: that of a monarch who viewed her role as a lifelong responsibility, even in her final days.