Monday, April 21, 2025

Queen Elizabeth II Birth Anniversary


 

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), born on 21 April 1926, in Mayfair, London, was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She had been queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch, the second-longest of any sovereign state, and the longest of any queen regnant in history.

The eldest daughter of George VI, she became the heiress presumptive when her father acceded the throne following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. During World War II, she began to undertake public duties and worked in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. After the death of her father she acceded the throne in 1952.

Her reign has seen immense constitutional changes in Britain. This includes devolution to the regional governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Canadian patriation, African decolonization and the continuing evolution of the Commonwealth, of which she is the head. Personal tribulations have included the collapse of her children's marriages, a fire at Windsor Castle in 1992, the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the deaths of her mother and sister in 2002.

In 2017 she became the first British monarch to reach her Sapphire Jubilee.

No comments:

Post a Comment

St. John Paul II Birth Anniversary

St. John Paul II, born on 18 June 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, was beautified on 1 May 2011; canonized 27 April 2014: and has his feast day on...