Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State of the United Kingdom, Head of the Commonwealth and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Her reign began on the 6th February 1952.

Top 10 facts

The Queen was the elder daughter of Prince Albert, the Duke of York and his wife (Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon). She had a younger sister called Margaret Rose.

Following the death of her grandfather King George V in January 1936, Elizabeth’s uncle David became the new King Edward VIII

The Queen married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

The Queen heard of the death of her father while she was on tour in Kenya. Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on the 2 June 1953.

She has four children – Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Andrew, Duke of York and Edward, Earl of Wessex. She also has eight grandchildren.

1992 was a difficult year for the Queen. Windsor Castle caught fire and the marriages of her three eldest children foundered.

In June 2012 the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee – 60 years on the throne.

The Queen is the constitutional monarch.

There have been 12 Prime Ministers during her reign. The first of these was Sir Winston Churchill.

As Head of State the Queen formally opens each new parliamentary session.