The history of Queen Elizabeth II
On 8th September 2022, it was announced that Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II had died at the age of 96.
The Queen was a strong supporter of opportunities for children and young people during her lifetime.
We pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen by delving into her life and work in relation to children, education and more. As well as what she achieved during her remarkable 70-year reign.
Read about the history of the Queen, the major events that happened during her life, before and after she was crowned.
When was Queen Elizabeth II born?
Queen Elizabeth II was born at 17 Bruton Street in London on the 21 April 1926. When she was born, Princess Elizabeth was not expected ever to become queen. Her father, Albert, was the Duke of York and it was his older brother, Edward VIII, who was king. However, when Edward abdicated (gave up) the throne in 1936, Elizabeth’s father became King George VI. Princess Elizabeth then became heir to the throne.
Was Queen Elizabeth II married?
Princess Elizabeth was married to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on 20th November 1947. They were married in Westminster Abbey in London. Upon their marriage, they became the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Elizabeth and Philip had a long relationship, celebrating their Platinum wedding anniversary (70 years) in 2017 before Prince Philip sadly passed away in 2021.
When was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II?
Sadly, King George VI, passed away on 6th February 1952 and Elizabeth immediately became Queen. She was crowned on the 2nd of June 1953 when she was 25 years old. Her coronation happened at Westminster Abbey and was the first coronation to be televised.
During her early reign, Queen Elizabeth and her husband travelled around the world to different Commonwealth countries and territories. Throughout her reign, she has undertaken many tours around the world, making her one of the most well-travelled heads of state.
Where did Queen Elizabeth II live?
Throughout most of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II lived in Buckingham Palace in London. During WW2, Elizabeth and her sister were sent away to avoid the bombings on London. They stayed at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Sandringham House in Norfolk, and Windsor Castle. The Queen and her family enjoyed weekends and Easter at Windsor Castle which has been a royal residence for 900 years and is the largest occupied castle in the world!
What happens at a Jubilee?
A jubilee is a special anniversary of the current reigning monarch’s ascension to the throne. Queen Elizabeth II is the first British monarch ever to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. In 2022, there was an extra bank holiday, as well as a bank holiday that was moved from the end of May to create a special four-day weekend from 2nd-5th of June. This allowed for many special celebrations to take place. To know more about the Queen’s Jubilee, then read our blog on ‘What is the meaning of the Queen’s Jubilee?’
Here are five facts about the Queen:
- During WW2, when she was 19 years old, Princess Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service where she was trained as a driver and mechanic
- Because Britain was still recovering from WW2, Elizabeth had to collect ration coupons to buy material for her wedding gown.
- The Queen owned over 30 corgis.
- Balmoral Castle was purchased by Queen Victoria and was one of Queen Elizabeth’s favourite places to spend the summer.
- There have been 15 Prime Ministers running the government during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
Activity for your class
As an activity to get the children thinking and celebrating the Queen’s life, ask the children to choose a stage of the Queen’s life (e.g. childhood, during WWII, her coronation as a young adult, her marriage, etc.) and design a poster with some facts from this time.
These could be used for a class display or timeline of her life. Pupils could use the resource as a starting point for their own research about the Queen, creating their own comic strip showing events in the Queen’s life.
A legacy
From her childhood to her death, The Queen demonstrated abilities that we should admire and strive to emulate. Her charity, resilience, excellent communication, and desire to do the best for others are qualities that teachers all over the world strive to instil in their students.
