The British Royal Family

The

Royal Family

Table of Contents

FAMILY BACKGROUND

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
DURING QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN

Impacts and contributions to the British society

How many jubilees did the Queen have?

What is a jubilee?

Silver jubilee

Golden jubilee

Diamond jubilee

Platinum jubilee

GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

The Commonwealth

Origins of the Commonwealth

FAMILY LIFE

Marriage to Prince Philip

Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

PRINCE CHARLES - The Inheritor

Charles' early years

Education and hobby

Career

Love life

Charles - the King, not the Prince

THE GOSSIP COLUMN

Sources

About the Author

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"I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

Queen Elizabeth II

FAMILY BACKGROUND

The Queen was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. As the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York - who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, she was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary at Buckingham Palace on 29 May that year.
Elisabeth stood third in the line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and her father, The Duke of York.

Princess Elizabeth was living a quiet family life until 1936, when her grandfather, King George V, died. His eldest son came to the throne as King Edward VIII, but soon he decided to give up the throne in order to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson.

Upon King Edward VIII's abdication, Princess Elizabeth's father acceded to the throne as King George VI. In May 1937 the two Princesses attended their parents' Coronation in Westminster Abbey.
From now on, Princess Elizabeth was the first in line to the throne.

In 1952, King George VI was not really healthy.
Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, took his place.
While she was visiting Kenya, the first country of the Commonwealth tour, she received the news of her father's death and her own accession to the throne. That happened on February 6, 1952.
In an instant, she ceased to be Princess Elizabeth and became Queen Elizabeth II.
Following the news, the tour was abandoned, and the young Princess flew back to Britain as Queen.
She was greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other officials at the airport before returning to Clarence House, where the Royal Standard flag was flown for the first time in her reign.

"Therefore I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendor that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen."

Queen Elizabeth II

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS DURING
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN

Coronation:
On June 2, 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey. The Queen's coronation ceremony was watched by millions of people around the world, and it was a symbol of the continuity and stability of the British monarchy.

Commonwealth:
During her reign, Elizabeth II experienced the transformation of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations, in which independent nations that were once part of the empire voluntarily cooperate. The establishment of the modern Commonwealth occurred officially in 1949, when the London Declaration was signed.

Suez Crisis:
In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt in an attempt to regain control of the Suez Canal, which had been nationalized by Egypt. The crisis marked the end of Britain's status as a superpower.

Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war as the United States and the USSR were directly confronted during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Vietnam War: While Elizabeth II did not play a direct role in this conflict, the Vietnam War in the 1960s was a significant international conflict that
influenced the whole world.

Moon Landing: In 1969, NASA astronauts landed on the moon, which was a historic event that inspired humanity.

Northern Ireland Conflict: The conflict in Northern Ireland between Unionists and Nationalists, which escalated in the late 20th century, was a significant conflict during Elizabeth II's reign.

Thatcher Era: In the 1980s, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher implemented a series of controversial reforms that greatly changed British society and the economy.

Falklands War: In 1982, there was a conflict between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands, which became known as the Falklands War.

Tschernobyl Nuclear Disaster: In 1986, a disaster occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, resulting in one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

Impacts and contributions to the British society

Modernization:
Elizabeth II was instrumental in modernizing the monarchy, making it more
accessible to the public and adapting it to changing times. She was the first
monarch to make a Christmas broadcast on television, and she was also the first to use a computer to send a message.

Charitable work: Queen Elizabeth II has been involved in various charitable causes throughout her reign, including supporting medical research, cultural organizations, and education initiatives. She has also been an advocate for animal welfare and conservation.

Diplomacy and international relations:
The queen has played a key role in promoting Britain's relationships with other countries. She has visited more than 120 countries and met with numerous heads of state, using her position as a symbol of continuity and stability to help foster good relations.

Crisis management: Queen Elizabeth II has demonstrated her strength and leadership during times of crisis, such as the Aberfan disaster in 1966, when a coal waste landslide killed 144 people, mostly children. She visited the town and provided comfort to the grieving families.