Elizabeth II (Elizabeth II) Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - since February 6, 1952
Coronation: June 2, 1953
Predecessor: George VI
Heir apparent: Charles, Prince of Wales
Head of the Commonwealth of Nations
Religion: Anglicanism
Birth: 21 April 1926
London, Great Britain
Genus: Windsor dynasty
Birth name: Elizabeth Alexandra Maria
Father: George VI
Mother: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Spouse: Philip Mountbatten
biography of queen elizabeth 2
Elizabeth II(English Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (English Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - Queen of Great Britain from 1952 to the present.
Elizabeth II descended from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of 25 after the death of her father, King George VI.
She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of 15 independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica. He is also head of the Anglican Church and supreme commander of the British armed forces.
Elizabeth II- the oldest British (English) monarch in history. She is currently the second longest-serving head of state in history (after Queen Victoria) and also the second longest-serving head of state in the world (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is also the oldest female head of state in the world.
For the reign Elizabeth a very wide period of British history falls out: the process of decolonization was completed, which was marked by the final collapse of the British Empire and its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations. This period also included many other events, such as the long ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Throughout her reign, the queen has been criticized more than once not only by British Republicans, but also by various British media, as well as by the general public. Nevertheless, Elizabeth II was able to maintain the prestige of the British monarchy and her popularity in the UK is at its best.
Childhood and youth of Elizabeth II
Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her grandparents are: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); by mother - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1961).
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London's Mayfair at the residence of the Earl of Strathmore at Brewton Street, house number 17. Now the area has been rebuilt, and the house no longer exists, but a memorial plaque has been erected on this site. She got her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).
At the same time, the father insisted that the first name of the daughter be like that of the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie discussed the name of the girl with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Mary. The names are all good, I told him so, but about Victoria, I absolutely agree with him. It was redundant." The christening of Princess Elizabeth took place on May 25 in the chapel of Buckingham Palace, later destroyed during the war years.
In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.
Elizabeth received a good education at home, mainly in the humanities - she studied the history of the constitution, law, religious studies, art history, and also (actually independently) French. From a young age, Elizabeth was interested in horses and was engaged in horseback riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.
At birth Elizabeth became the Duchess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VIII) and father. Since Prince Edward was young enough to be expected to marry and have children, Elizabeth was not initially considered a viable candidate for the throne. However, Edward was forced to abdicate just a few months after the death of George V in 1936. Prince Albert (George VI) became king, and 10-year-old Elizabeth became heir to the throne and moved with her parents from Kensington to Buckingham Palace. At the same time, she remained in the role of "heir presumptive" ("supposed heir") (English) Russian, and if George VI had a son, he would have inherited the throne.
World War II began when Elizabeth was 13 years old. On October 13, 1940, she made her first radio appearance, addressing children affected by the disasters of the war. In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of the Guards Grenadiers. In 1944, she became one of the five "state councilors" (persons entitled to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity). In February 1945, Elizabeth joined the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving the military rank of lieutenant.
In 1947, Elizabeth accompanied her parents on a trip to South Africa and, on her 21st birthday, went on the radio with a solemn promise to devote her life to the service of the British Empire.
In the same year, 21-year-old Elizabeth married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten, an officer in the British Navy, a member of the Greek and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. They met in 1934, and fell in love, it is believed, after Elizabeth visited the Naval College in Dartmouth, where Philip studied, in 1939. Having become the spouse of the princess, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
A year after the wedding, in 1948, the eldest son, Prince Charles, was born to Elizabeth and Philip. And on August 15, 1950, the daughter is Princess Anna.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
Coronation and beginning of the reign of Elizabeth II
King George VI, father Elizabeth, died February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who at that time was on vacation with her husband in Kenya, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.
The coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. This was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and is credited with having contributed significantly to the rise of television broadcasting.
After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, British colonies and other countries of the world. Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.
Second half of the 1950s - early 1990s
In 1957, after the resignation of Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, due to the lack of clear rules for choosing a leader in the Conservative Party, Elizabeth II had to appoint a new head of government from among the Conservatives. After consultations with prominent members of the party and former Prime Minister Churchill, 63-year-old Harold Macmillan was appointed head of government.
In the same year, Elizabeth made her first visits to the United States and Canada as Queen of Canada. In the same year, she spoke for the first time at a session of the UN General Assembly. She was present at the opening session of the Canadian Parliament (for the first time in history with the participation of the British monarch). She continued her travels in 1961 when she made visits to Cyprus, the Vatican, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran, and Ghana.
Meeting of Elizabeth II with the heads of the Commonwealth countries in 1960
In 1960, the Queen had a second son, Prince Andrew, and in 1964, a third son, Prince Edward.
In 1963, following the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan, on his advice, Elizabeth appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as prime minister.
In 1974, a political crisis began to brew after parliamentary elections, in which none of the parties received a majority of votes. Although the Conservative Party turned out to be the largest party in Parliament, Labor leader Harold Wilson was appointed Prime Minister. A year later, a political crisis also occurred in Australia (English) Russian, during which Elizabeth II refused to cancel the decision of the governor general to resign the country's prime minister.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NY4CNDGu0w
In 1976 Elizabeth II solemnly opened (as Queen of Canada) the XXI Olympic Games in Montreal.
1977 was an important date for the Queen - the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth II's tenure on the British throne was celebrated, in honor of which many ceremonial enterprises were held in the Commonwealth countries.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a number of assassination attempts were made on the royal family. In particular, in 1979, the terrorists of the "Provisional Irish Republican Army" assassinated the uncle of Prince Philip, an influential statesman and military leader, Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Elizabeth II during a military parade in honor of the queen's "official birthday".
In 1981, the wedding of the son of Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Diana Spencer took place, which would later become a big problem for the royal family.
Elizabeth II walking near Windsor Castle with Ronald Reagan (1982)
At this time in 1982, as a result of changes in the Canadian constitution, the British Parliament lost any role in Canadian affairs, but the British Queen still remained the head of the Canadian state. In the same year, the first visit of Pope John Paul II to Great Britain in the last 450 years took place (the Queen, who is the head of the Anglican Church, received him personally).
In 1991, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the US Houses of Congress.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Queen Elizabeth II. London. 2010
Elizabeth II and the Obamas.
Early 1990s - 2000s in the life of Elizabeth II
1992 was a "terrible year", according to the definition of Elizabeth II herself. Two of the Queen's four children - Prince Andrew and Princess Anne - divorced their spouses, Prince Charles separated from Princess Diana, Windsor Castle was badly damaged by fire, the obligation for the Queen to pay income tax was introduced, and funding for the royal court was noticeably reduced.
In 1994, Elizabeth II visited Russia. This was the first visit of the head of the British royal house to the Russian state in the entire history of bilateral relations dating back to 1553.
In 1996, at the urging of the Queen, a formal divorce was signed between Prince Charles and Princess Diana. A year later, in 1997, the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris occurred, which shocked not only the royal family, but also millions of ordinary Britons. For restraint and the absence of any reaction to the death of the former daughter-in-law, critical remarks immediately rained down on the Queen.
In 2002, solemn events were held in honor of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the British throne (Golden Jubilee. But in the same year, the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, and the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.
In 2008, for the first time in history, the Anglican Church, led by Elizabeth, held a Maundy Thursday service, in which the reigning monarch traditionally participates, outside of England or Wales - in the Cathedral of St. Patrick's in Armagh in Northern Ireland.
Modernity
In 2010, she spoke for the second time at a meeting of the UN General Assembly. Introducing the Queen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called her "the anchor of our era."
In 2011, the first ever state visit by a British monarch to independent Ireland took place. In the same year, the wedding of Prince William (grandson of Elizabeth II) and Catherine Middleton took place.
In 2012, the XXX Olympic Games were held in London, inaugurated by Elizabeth II, and a new law was approved that changes the order of succession, according to which male heirs lose priority over women.
In the same year, the 60th (“diamond”) anniversary of Elizabeth II on the throne was solemnly celebrated in Great Britain and other countries. The culmination of the festive events was the weekend of June 3-4, 2012:
On June 3, a solemn water parade of more than a thousand ships and boats took place on the Thames. It is believed that this is the most grandiose river procession in history;
On June 4, 2012, a concert took place on the square in front of Buckingham Palace with the participation of such stars of British and world music as Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Grace Jones, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones and others. The evening was hosted by Take That lead singer Gary Barlow.
Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (2013)
In 2013, for the first time in 40 years, Elizabeth II refused to go to the summit of the heads of the countries of the British Commonwealth, held in Sri Lanka. Britain at the summit will be represented by Prince Charles, which indicates the gradual transfer of powers of Elizabeth to her son.
In the same year, the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II was celebrated in Great Britain, but on a smaller scale.
Role in political and public life
In accordance with the British tradition of a constitutional monarchy, Elizabeth II performs mainly representative functions, with little or no influence on the government of the country. However, during her reign, she successfully maintains the authority of the British monarchy. Her duties include visiting various countries on diplomatic visits, receiving ambassadors, meeting with high-ranking government officials (especially the Prime Minister), reading annual messages to Parliament, presenting awards, knighting, etc. The Queen also looks through the main British newspapers daily and answers with the help of servants for some letters, which are sent to her in huge quantities (200-300 pieces daily).
Throughout her time on the throne, the Queen maintained correct relations with all prime ministers. At the same time, she always remained true to the tradition of the English kings of modern times - to be above political fights.
Elizabeth II is also actively involved in charity work. She is a trustee of over 600 different public and charitable organizations.
Main article: Royal prerogatives
In addition to duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights, like a monarch (royal prerogatives), which, however, are quite formal. For example, she can dissolve the parliament, reject the candidacy of the prime minister (which seems unsuitable to her), etc.
Financial expenses
Certain funds are spent on the maintenance of the queen from the so-called civil list, which is controlled by the government.
So, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in the 2008-2009 financial year, each Briton spent $ 1.14 on the maintenance of the monarchy, which amounted to $ 68.5 million in total.
In 2010-2011, due to the government's new economic program, the Queen was forced to cut her spending to $51.7 million.
But, starting in 2012, Elizabeth's income began to grow again (at an approximate rate of 5% per year).
Such figures cause dissatisfaction among the Republican-minded part of the British population, which considers it necessary to cut them.
Family and Children
On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), the son of the Greek Prince Andrew, who received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
Four children were born in their family:
Name Date of birth Marriage Children Grandchildren
Prince Charles,
Prince of Wales 14 November 1948 Lady Diana Spencer 29 July 1981
(divorced: 28 August 1996) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Prince George of Cambridge
Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales
Camille Shand April 9, 2005
Princess Anna,
"Princess Royal" August 15, 1950 Mark Phillips November 14, 1973
(divorced: April 28, 1992) Peter Phillips Savannah Phillips
Isla Elizabeth Phillips
Zara Phillips
Timothy Lawrence December 12, 1992
Prince Andrew
Duke of York 19 February 1960 Sarah Ferguson 23 July 1986
(divorced: 30 May 1996) Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Eugenie (Eugenie) of York
Prince Edward
Earl of Wessex 10 March 1964 Sophie Rhys-Jones 19 June 1999 Lady Louise Windsor
James, Viscount Severn
Official titles, awards and coat of arms
The full title of Elizabeth II in Great Britain sounds like "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other kingdoms and territories, the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
During the reign of Elizabeth II, in all countries that recognize the British monarch as their head of state, laws were passed according to which in each of these countries the British monarch acts as head of this particular state (English) Russian, regardless of his titles in Great Britain proper or in third countries. Accordingly, in all these countries, the title of the queen sounds the same, with the name of the state replaced. In some countries, the words "defender of the faith" are excluded from the title. For example, in Australia, the title sounds like this: "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God the Queen of Australia and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth."
On the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, Elizabeth II also bears the title of Duke of Normandy, on the Isle of Man - the title of "Lord of Maine".
States whose head was or is Elizabeth II
Member countries of the Commonwealth are marked on the map (Fiji membership is suspended)
Upon accession to the throne, in 1952, Elizabeth became queen of seven states: Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon.
During her reign, some of these countries became republics. At the same time, as a result of the process of decolonization, numerous British colonies gained independence. In some of them, the Queen of Great Britain retained the status of head of state, in others she did not.
Abolition of the monarchy in the original possessions of Elizabeth II:
Pakistan - in 1956 (former Dominion of Pakistan).
South Africa - in 1961 (former South Africa).
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - in 1972 (former Dominion of Ceylon).
Blue indicates states that retain the monarchy
Newly independent states that retained the monarchy:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Grenada
Papua New Guinea
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Solomon islands
Tuvalu
Jamaica
Newly independent states that abandoned the monarchy:
Guyana
Gambia
Ghana
Kenya
Mauritius
Malawi
Malta
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Tanganyika
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Fiji
Awards
Main article: Titles and honors of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II in Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries, as well as in other states, is the head of a number of knightly orders, and also has military ranks, numerous honorary titles, academic degrees. In addition, she is a holder of various domestic British awards, as well as a number of various awards from foreign countries.
Coats of arms in different periods of time and in different countries
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944-1947)
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947-1952)
Royal coat of arms in Great Britain (except Scotland)
Royal coat of arms in Scotland
Royal coat of arms in Canada
public perception
At the moment, the majority of Britons positively assess the activities of Elizabeth II as a monarch (about 69% believe that the country would be worse without the monarchy; 60% believe that the monarchy contributes to raising the country's image abroad and only 22% were against the monarchy).
Criticism
Despite the positive attitude of most of her subjects, the queen was repeatedly criticized throughout her reign, in particular:
In 1963, when a political crisis arose in Britain, Elizabeth was criticized for having personally appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In 1997, for the lack of an immediate reaction to the death of Princess Diana, the queen fell not only with the anger of the British public, but even of many major British media (for example, The Guardian).
In 2004, after Elizabeth II beat a pheasant to death with a cane, a wave of indignation from environmental organizations swept across the country about the actions of the monarch.
Hobbies and personal life
Map of visits by Elizabeth II around the world
The Queen's interests include dog breeding (including Corgis, Spaniels and Labradors), photography, horseback riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige of the Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively in her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world (for example, in 1994 she visited Russia). She has more than 325 foreign visits to her credit (during her reign, Elizabeth visited more than 130 countries).
I have been gardening since 2009.
In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.
Memory
In culture
Films about Elizabeth II
In 2004, the film Churchill: The Hollywood Years was released - “Churchill Goes to War!”, Where the role of Elizabeth was played by Neve Campbell.
In 2006, the biopic The Queen was released. The role of the queen was played by actress Helen Mirren. The film is a BAFTA winner in the Best Film category. Actress Helen Mirren, who played the title role in the film, won the Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for Best Actress. In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture.
In 2009, the 4th channel of British television (Channel 4) filmed a 5-episode fictional mini-series "The Queen" ("The Queen", directed by Edmund Coulthard, Patrick Reams). The Queen at different periods of her life was played by 5 actresses: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick.
On July 27, 2012, the television broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London began with a video featuring James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen (cameo). At the end of the video, they both parachute from a helicopter over the arena of the Olympic Stadium. On April 5, 2013, for this role, the Queen was awarded the BAFTA Award for the best performance of the role of a James Bond girl.
In architecture
In honor of the queen, Elizabeth Avenue is named next to the espalana in Singapore.
The famous Big Ben, the symbol of London, has been officially called the “Elizabeth Tower” since September 2012.
A bridge in Duford, completed in 1991, is also named after the Queen.
On August 1, 2013, the Elizabeth II Olympic Park was opened in London.
Lifetime monuments
Lifetime monuments
Statue of Elizabeth II in Ottawa, Parliament Hill, Canada
Statue in Regina, Saskatchewan, erected in 2005
Statue in Windsor Great Park
In botany
In honor of Elizabeth II, the rose variety Rosa "Queen Elizabeth" was named.
On coins and in philately
Coins and postage stamps
On a Canadian stamp, 1953
On an Australian coronation stamp
On a Northern Ireland stamp, 1958
On a 1953 coin
On a South African coin, 1958
Coin with Elizabeth 1961
In geography
The name of Elizabeth II was repeatedly assigned to various territories, among them:
Princess Elizabeth Land in Antarctica
Queen Elizabeth Land in Antarctica
Queen Elizabeth Islands in Canada
Elizabeth fell in love with Philip at first sight: they met when she was 13 years old and he was 18. A well-built blond, a cadet of the Royal Naval College, right away. Correspondence began between her and Philip.
2. Elizabeth's parents were against her marriage to Philip
Philip comes from a royal family: at birth, he bore the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. However, Philip's family was expelled from Greece. Leaving his native country, his relatives settled in Paris, and Philip was sent to London, where he studied, received the rank of midshipman and went to serve in the navy during World War II. Although the young man wrote long and tender letters to the future Queen of England from the front, Elizabeth's relatives were not at all delighted with the choice of their daughter. They believed that Philip was not a couple for the princess - his family was ruined. The only inheritance that Philip received from his father was a signet ring.
3. Philip had to give up his title and religion
The wedding of Philip and Elizabeth, however, still took place. True, for her sake the young man had to sacrifice a lot. So, he ceased to be called a Greek prince, became a British subject and switched from Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. He was ready to forever remain in history as the queen's husband.
4. The wedding of Elizabeth and Philip was modest
Elizabeth and Philip got married at the end of 1947 - then the war had just ended ... The wedding was played by royal standards, rather modest, although very beautiful. The dress for the main day in her life was sewn by court fashion designer Norman Hartnell, who was inspired by Sandro Botticelli's painting "Spring". “I discovered a painting by Botticelli in the museum, which depicted a girl in ivory silk flowing along her body, strewn with jasmine flowers, asparagus and rosebuds. I recreated all this flora with the help of crystal beads and pearls,” he recalled. Elizabeth's head was adorned with her mother's precious tiara, and two pages carried a five-meter veil. The outfit was complemented by satin heeled sandals, the silver buckles of which were decorated with pearls.
5. Philip became the first to take the oath of allegiance to Elizabeth as queen.
Elizabeth and Philip after the wedding were inseparable. The girl took care of the house and was happy as a wife. Soon the couple had children - Charles and Anna. But in February 1952, the measured life of the family ended. The King of England and Elizabeth's father, George VI, died of a blood clot in his heart ... Philip was the first who, on bended knee, took an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth II as queen.
6. At first, Elizabeth forbade Philip from giving his children his last name.
After the coronation of Elizabeth, Philip had not only to leave the service in the navy, but to devote himself entirely to royal duties. He accompanied the queen on all trips, helped her in public affairs ... The man dreamed that his wife and children would bear his last name, but then the Windsors would officially cease to be rulers - and Mountbatten would become. The mere thought of this aroused indignation among all of Elizabeth's relatives. The Queen consulted with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and refused her husband's request to assign his surname to Charles and Anne. Philip was very worried and joked bitterly, calling himself the only person in the country who could not give his family name to his own children.
7. Philip and Elizabeth were on the verge of a divorce
In the mid-50s, Elizabeth was all absorbed in state affairs, and Philip suffered because he had to leave the service in the navy. The relationship of the spouses became cool and, perhaps, things even went to divorce - but the duke unexpectedly found himself in charity work. And then Elizabeth became pregnant again - and suddenly allowed her husband to give the newborn boy Andrew her last name. The fourth child of the royal couple, Edward, also received his father's surname. Thus, the couple's older children, Charles and Anna, have the surname Windsor, while the younger ones, Andrew and Edward, have Mountbatten-Windsor.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain- (Queen Elizabeth II) was born April 21, 1926 in London in the family of the Duke and Duchess of York. Queen Elizabeth usually celebrates her real birthday in the family circle, while the official birthday of the monarch in the UK ... ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II ... Wikipedia
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Books
- , Polyakova A.A. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will provide you…
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. A look at the modern British monarchy, A. A. Polyakova. Everyone has heard about the English Queen Elizabeth II, but few people know what kind of person she is, how she lives and what it means to be a queen, especially in our time. This book will provide you…
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain A look at the modern British monarchy, Polyakova A .. “My impressions of a trip to the UK during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton led to an understanding that the UK and the monarchy are inseparable. In the Middle Ages, the exclamation "In the name of ...
One of the crowned centenarians of Britain, 87-year-oldElizabeth II, Queen of Englandattracts the views of the world press and the enthusiastic sympathy of millions of inhabitants of the entire planet. Today, the person of this long-lived British royal family causes about as many responses in the press as the world's best show business stars.
In terms of popularity, Elizabeth 2 surpasses such eminent countrymen as David Beckham and Paul McCartney! Recent events associated first with the 85th anniversary of Her Majesty, and then with the 60th anniversary of her reign, were met by the British with amazing warmth and sympathy.
What caused, firstly, such a long healthy reign, and secondly, the preservation of the civic activity of this most popular figure on the shores of Foggy Albion?
Queen of the Commonwealth of Nations, record holder
Elizabeth 2, like all other members of the ruling monarchical stratum, belongs to the glorious Windsor dynasty. She was born on April 21, 1926 in London. She received the highest royal title in 1952, and to this day, judging by the press, she is not going to part with it. The Queen ascended to the highest throne of the British state on February 6, when she was 25 years old, after the death of her father, King George VI.
Here it must be emphasized that her kingdom extends not only to Great Britain itself, as such, but also to another 15 states that are independent of England. This English part of the world includes residents of Canada and Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia, Barbados and Grenada, Tuvalu and Belize, who literally idolize their crowned person, as well as countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Solomon and Bahamas.
By status, the queen acts as the supreme commander of the armed forces of England. In addition, she holds the title of head of the Anglican Church.
However, if we talk about the duration of the reign of the heroine of our story, then here she is still inferior to the palm. Despite her record age among all representatives of the British monarchy in the history of England, Her Majesty concedes the record for the duration of the reign of Queen Victoria.
But that's in the past. And at the present time, Elizabeth 2 is in second place among the monarchs of the world. The first is held by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
And yet her era is too great and obvious not to tell about it separately. First of all, this is the completion of decolonization (the above are all states that are nevertheless members of the Commonwealth of Nations) and the final collapse of the Empire of the state, which, despite this, bears the proud name of Great Britain.
This should also include the still actively discussed in the press (and in the cinema) conflict with the Irish living in the northern part of the island. And during her reign, the queen gave her go-ahead for wars with the Falkland Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
For which she received repeated charges of criticism both from the same media and from the public, as well as, of course, the Republican Party, which maintains a fairly strong position on the shores of Foggy Albion.
King George VI, his wife Elizabeth and their daughters:
Elizabeth (right) and Margaret
Family tree and girlhood
The family tree of the royal dynasty is quite spreading. Elizabeth 2 is the eldest daughter of the Duke of York (when she was born, he was still Prince Albert), and her mother was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
The Queen can be proud of her more distant ancestors - grandfathers George V and Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore, as well as grandmothers - Queen Mary, Princess of Teck and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon.
The mistress of England herself has two more names - Alexandra and Mary (Mary). Thus, it is easy to see that she received the first name from her mother, the third from her grandmother, and the second she owes her great-grandmother. It is interesting that the future monarch, and then only the prince and father of his daughter, insisted on a different first name, and indeed in the family they wanted her to be Victoria. But then they changed their mind.
The Queen of Great Britain was born in London's house number 17 on Brewton Street, which at that time was the residence of the Strathmores. This area of the capital of England is called Mayfair, unfortunately, the house has not been preserved to this day, but there is a corresponding memorial plaque here.
The christening of the future queen took place on May 25, it was Buckingham Chapel, then destroyed by the Nazis. Her only sister was Margaret, born in 1930.
Elizabeth 2, according to the received rather good education, was rather a humanist, versed in the history of the constitution, jurisprudence, religious studies and art history. The future British queen learned French on her own. As a girl, her interests also included horses in general and riding in particular. Since then, it has become her hobby for many decades to come.
Mayfair District - Queen Elizabeth II was born in this area in 1926
On the way to the crown
It is interesting that initially the future ruler of England was not considered at all as the heir to the throne. As soon as she was born, she was immediately given the title Duchess of York, and she automatically fell into the third line in terms of the probability of ascending the royal throne. Looming ahead of her were her uncle Edward, the Prince of Wales, and her father.
But who soon became Edward VIII, his uncle refused the coveted possession of the British throne, and the father of the heroine of our story turned out to be the king. Thus, after him, the queen was to ascend the throne, and then only Princess Elizabeth, but only if the pope did not leave behind an heir besides her. From the 40s, the public life of the future royal person began.
She dedicated her first radio address to the population of England to the children who suffered from the outbreak of the Second World War. Officially, in 1943, she appeared in public, paying a visit to the Guards grenadiers. A year later, she was included in the list of five persons who could perform royal functions if something happened to her father. And in the year of the Great Victory, a working specialty appeared in her working biography - a driver of a Red Cross car. And the military rank of lieutenant.
During the Second World War, the future Queen of England
worked as a simple driver in an ambulance
21 years old, Elizabeth 2 linked her future fate with 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten. This is the great-great-grandson of the same Queen Victoria, he came from the royal families of Greece and Denmark, and in those years he was an officer in the British Navy. Having married the princess, Victoria's great-great-grandson became the owner of the ducal title, and was now called Philip of Edinburgh.
Newsreel of the royal wedding:
A year later, the future mistress of England gave birth to Charles, and two years later, Anna. Then her father George VI, who received the long-awaited highest title, died, the queen was then with her husband in Kenya, where she was proclaimed the first person of the British state. The ceremony, however, took place the following year, in Westminster, that is, according to all the canons.
Family of Elizabeth II. 1972
From left to right Anna, Charles, Edward, Andrew, Elizabeth, Philip
Since that time, the formation of a very powerful positive image began, which Elizabeth 2 has retained to this day. The fact is that the ceremony was broadcast on TV, which, in turn, thanks to such a powerful PR move, itself gained worldwide popularity.
Her Majesty the Queen
For a whole six months after that, the queen spent an almost world tour of the states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. She was the first of the British royals to visit such remote corners of the Empire as Australia and New Zealand. In 1957, she made an official visit to the other side of the Atlantic, to the USA and Canada, and she is still the last queen.
Since then, Elizabeth 2 very prudently devotes a lot of time to all sorts of official ceremonies. This testifies to the active work of the first person of the state in terms of establishing interaction with all the heads of the largest world powers, and such communication experience helped her repeatedly make the right decisions at key times in British history.
She courageously endured a series of assassination attempts on the royal family by Irish terrorists and other worldly ups and downs. And remains, in spite of everything, the active and smiling First Lady of Britain.
June 12, 2012, 19:41Family and ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Victoria(English Victoria, baptismal names Alexandrina Victoria - English Alexandrina Victoria) (May 24, 1819 - January 22, 1901) - Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837, Empress of India from May 1, 1876 (proclamation in India - January 1 1877), the last representative of the Hanoverian dynasty on the throne of Great Britain. Victoria has been on the throne for over 63 years - more than any other British monarch. Victoria's father was Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George III, the mother of the future queen was Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg, Dowager Princess of Leiningen (1786 - March 16, 1861), who already had two children from her first marriage. Victoria's father, the Duke of Kent, died when her daughter was eight months old. She was brought up under the guidance of the Duchess of Northumberland; Received a good knowledge of botany and music. Victoria was married from February 10, 1840 to her cousin, Duke Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (August 26, 1819 - December 14, 1861), whom she gave in 1857 the title of Prince Consort. Victoria and Albert had 9 children, through her children and grandchildren Victoria became the "Grandmother of Europe", her descendants - Windsors, the kings of Great Britain, as well as the Hohenzollerns (Kaiser Wilhelm II her grandson), the Spanish Bourbons and the Romanovs. One of 9 children of Queen Victoria Alice Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine(25 April 1843 – 14 December 1878), married Prince (later Grand Duke) Ludwig of Hesse Mother of Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II. In July 1862, Princess Alice married Prince Ludwig of Hesse (September 12, 1837 – March 13, 1892), who later became Duke of Hesse and by Rhine. The family, in which 7 children were born, lived in the capital of the duchy, the city of Darmstadt. One of 7 children of Alice Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine, Victoria(5 April 1863 – 24 September 1950) married Ludwig Battenberg (Mountbatten), grandmother of Philip of Edinburgh, husband of Elizabeth II; Victoria was born at Windsor Palace in the presence of her grandmother Queen Victoria. She was the first child of Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ludwig IV of Hesse. At one of the family meetings, Victoria met her distant relative, the German prince Ludwig Battenberg (1854-1921), son of Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt. The couple lived in different parts of Europe, depending on the place of service of Ludwig. One of 4 Victoria's children Princess Alice of Battenberg(1885-1969), married to Andrei, Prince of Greece; from this marriage was born Prince Philip of Greece, who in 1947 married the future Queen Elizabeth II and during this marriage took his mother's surname (Mountbatten). Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Maria Battenberg, mother of Prince Philip and mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II of England, was born in Berkshire, England on February 25, 1885, in the family of Prince Ludwig Alexander of Battenberg and his wife, Princess Victoria of Hesse-Darmstadt. Her mother was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England and the sister of the last Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Alice met her future husband at the coronation of King Edward VII. Her chosen one was the Greek Prince Andrew, the son of King George I of Greece and Queen Olga of Greece, nee Grand Duchess. Andrei was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark and the great-grandson of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. They were married on October 6, 1903. The wedding was attended by many descendants of Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark. Five children were born in the family: Margarita (1905-1981) - the first great-great-granddaughter Queen Victoria, married to Gottfried, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Theodora (1906-1969) - wife of the Baden prince Berthold. Cecilia (1911-1937) - married the Crown Prince of Hesse and the Rhine Geogra Donaus, died with her husband and children. Sophia (1914-2001) - in her first marriage to Christopher of Hesse, in the second to George Wilhelm of Hanover. Philip (1921) - husband of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Prince Consort. 
Prince Philip was the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew, son of King George I of Greece and brother of the then reigning King Constantine, and at birth had the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. Prince Andrew belonged to the Danish house of Glücksburg that reigned in Greece, his wife and mother Philippa, Princess Alice, belonged to the Battenberg family. Philip is the great-grandson of the Danish King Christian IX, the great-great-grandson of the English Queen Victoria and the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. Mary of Teck- wife of the British king George V, mother of Edward VIII and George VI. Queen Mary was also Empress of India and Queen of Ireland. Maria was born and raised in England. Her father was a prince from the morganatic branch of the Württemberg House of the Dukes of Teck, her mother was a member of the British royal family, the granddaughter of King George III. On July 6, 1893, Princess Mary of Teck married the Prince George V.
George V the second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) was born June 3, 1865 at Marlborough House (London). At baptism he received the name Georg Friedrich Ernst Albert. His father is Edward VII, his mother is Alexandra of Denmark. She is the sister of Maria Feodorovna - the wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander III and the mother of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. George V was outwardly very similar to Nicholas II, his maternal cousin: the mother of George Alexander and the mother of Nicholas Dagmar were the daughters of King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Louise, nee Princess of Hesse-Kassel. On January 14, 1892, during a flu epidemic, his elder brother Albert Victor died suddenly. The death of his brother made George second in the line of succession. In May 1892, Queen Victoria conferred on her grandson the title of Duke of York. In July 1893 he married Princess Victoria Maria of Teck of Baden-Württemberg, who had previously been engaged to his older brother. After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the couple received the title of Prince of Wales. In 1910, Mary's husband became king and she received the title of Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India. At the end of the First World War on July 17, 1917, George V renounced all German titles and titles, as well as his family name, for himself and his family, adopting the surname "Windsor" after the name of Windsor Castle. After George's death in 1936, their eldest son Edward became king. But less than ten months later, he abdicated in order to marry American Wallis Simpson. Mary's second son became king George VI. Queen Mary strongly supported her son, who suffered from a stutter until his death in 1952. Mary died the following year, at the beginning of the reign of her granddaughter Elizabeth II. George VI- King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia and South Africa from December 11, 1936. From the Windsor dynasty. Second son of King George V and his wife, Queen Mary. Albert had four brothers: the future King Edward VIII (1894-1972), Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), George, Duke of Kent (1902-1942), Prince John (1905-1919), who suffered from epilepsy and autism, and sister Mary (1897-1965), married Countess Harwood. By nature, Albert was a modest and shy person, moreover, he suffered from severe stuttering. In June 1920 he became the Duke of York, on April 26, 1923 he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (eng. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon; August 4, 1900 - March 30, 2002) - wife of King George VI and queen consort of the United Kingdom in 1936-1952 as Queen Elizabeth (eng. Queen Elizabeth), the last Empress of India (1936-1950), Lord Keeper of the Five Harbors (1978-2002). Mother of the current Queen Elizabeth II. George VI met her back in 1905 (5-year-old Elizabeth treated 10-year-old Albert with candied cherries from a cake). Prince Albert, Duke of York (in the family - "Bertie") for the first time he proposed to Elizabeth to marry him in 1921, but she refused, "fearing that she would never again be able to think, speak and act freely, not like I feel like I should." When he announced that he would not marry anyone else, his mother, Queen Mary, visited Glamis and made sure that Elizabeth was "the only girl who could make Bertie happy", but did not interfere. At that time, James Stewart, Albert's equerry, was also courting Elizabeth until he left for America. In February 1922, Elizabeth was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Albert's sister, Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles. The following month, Albert again proposed marriage and was again refused. Finally, in January 1923, Elizabeth agreed to marry despite misgivings about a life in the royal family. They married on 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey. Two children were born in the family - April 21, 1926 Princess Elisabeth Alexandra (future Queen Elizabeth II),and August 21, 1930 - Princess Margaret Rose.
Elizabeth II(Eng. Elisabeth II, full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, Elisabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926, London) - the reigning queen of Great Britain. Comes from the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. He is the oldest British (English) monarch in history. It is currently the second longest-serving British throne in history (after Queen Victoria). Queen Elizabeth II has four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In 1930, the only sister of Elizabeth was born - princess margaret.
Princess Margaret She was born on August 21, 1930 at Glamis Castle, Scotland. She was the youngest daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. On May 6, 1960, she married Anthony Armstrong-Jones, a photographer, a descendant of a small Welsh noble family, who received the title of Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley. Two children are born from this marriage: David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, born November 3, 1961, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, born May 1, 1964. In 1978, the Earl and Countess of Snowdon divorced, but in 2002 Margaret died of apoplexy. While in college, Prince Philip met his fourth cousins, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, who attended college with King George VI. After that, a correspondence began between Philip and Elizabeth, and in 1946 Philip asked the king for permission to marry the heir to the throne. In 1947, 21-year-old Elizabeth married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten, an officer in the British Navy, a member of the Greek and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. Philip and Elizabeth have four children: Charles, Prince of Wales (b.1948), Princess Anne (b.1950), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b.1960) and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b.1964). Charles, Prince of Wales(Eng. Charles, Prince of Wales), or simply Prince Charles, is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, heir to the British throne. It is known that in the 1970s, Charles courted many girls. In 1979, he proposed to his second cousin Amanda Natchbull, the granddaughter of the legendary commander, the last Viceroy of India, Louis Mountbatten, but Amanda did not give her consent to the marriage. In 1980, Charles met Lady Sarah Spencer, daughter of the aristocrat John Spencer, Viscount Althorp and future 8th Earl Spencer, a branch of the same Spencer-Churchill family as the Duke of Marlborough, and Winston Churchill. Charles met her younger sister Diana, whom he eventually married on July 29, 1981. Her paternal ancestors were of royal blood through the illegitimate sons of King Charles II and the illegitimate daughter of his brother and successor, King James II. Earls Spencers have long lived in the very center of London, in Spencer House. 
However, the marriage was unsuccessful. Relations between the spouses soon deteriorated, and since 1992 they officially lived separately, and in 1996 they divorced. Significant public attention was drawn to the scandal, and it did not have the best effect on the reputation of the Prince of Wales. Diana died in a car accident in Paris in 1997. Charles and Diana had two sons: Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge (b. 21 June 1982) and Prince Harry(Henry) (b. September 15, 1984). Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge (Eng. Prince William of the United Kingdom, Duke of Cambridge, born William Arthur Philip Louis; born June 21, 1982) - Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, eldest son of the Prince of Wales Charles and his first wife, Princess Diana, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. As a member of the royal family, he has his own coat of arms, based on the state coat of arms of Great Britain. November 16, 2010 Clarence House announced the engagement of Prince William and his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton. The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place on April 29, 2011 at the London Collegiate Church of St. Peter's in Westminster Abbey. Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales(Eng. Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales, full name Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor, the youngest son of the Prince of Wales Charles and his first wife, the late Princess Diana, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. 
As a member of the royal family, on his eighteenth birthday he was granted a personal coat of arms based on the coat of arms of the monarch of the United Kingdom, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2008), the Diamond Medal Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II (2012). One of the most enviable bachelors of the planet. On April 9, 2005, Prince Charles married for the second time - to his longtime girlfriend, with whom he maintained relations both before marriage and during it - Camille Parker Bowles from a noble family, daughter of Bruce Shand, mother - nee Cubitt. The marriage ceremony was performed in a civil, not a church order - for the first time in the history of the British royal family. Through her marriage to Charles, Camilla received all of his titles, but chooses not to use her title of Princess of Wales as a mark of respect for the late Princess Diana. Instead, she uses the title of Duchess of Cornwall. Princess Anna- a member of the British royal family, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. 
The princess is known for her philanthropic work and as the only member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympics. She lived with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips (born 1948), for 18.5 years. 
From this marriage there are two children: Peter Phillips(1977) and Zara Phillips(1981). After her divorce from Phillips, she entered into a second marriage - with Commander (now Vice Admiral) Timothy Lawrence. As a member of the royal family, he has a personal coat of arms based on the British coat of arms. Zara Anna Elizabeth Phillips(Eng. Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips; born May 15, 1981, Paddington, London) is a member of the British royal family, the second child and only daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and thirteenth in the line of succession to the throne. She is married to England rugby captain Mike Tindall but retains her maiden name. Zara graduated from a privileged private school in Gordonston, Scotland. During her studies, she represented her school in hockey, track and field and gymnastics competitions. She later graduated from the University of Exeter as an equine physiotherapist. Peter married a 31-year-old Canadian Autumn Kelly. On December 29, 2010, her first granddaughter was born - Savannah Phillips, daughter of Peter Phillips, and, accordingly, the first great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. 
Prince Andrew, Duke of York- British Prince, Rear Admiral. Third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The title of Duke of York was granted to him on July 23, 1986 - the day of his marriage to Sarah, Duchess of York. The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York (from whom he has been divorced since May 30, 1996) have two children: Princess Beatrice of York(b. August 8, 1988) and princess Evgeniya(Eugenia) York (born March 23, 1990). Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York(born Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York; born August 8, 1988) is a member of the British Royal Family. Eldest daughter of Andrew, Duke of York, second son of the current Queen Elizabeth II, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She received her primary education at Upton House School in Windsor, after which Beatrice, like her younger sister, Princess Eugenie of York, studied at Coworth Park School. At the age of 19, the British princess took a job as a saleswoman at the famous Selfridges department store in London. Her responsibilities included servicing VIP clients. For a month, Beatrice worked five days a week from nine in the morning until five in the evening. The Queen's granddaughter did not receive money for her work - this became her work experience, which is supposed to be acquired by all members of the royal family. In 2007, the extravagant princess starred in Martin Scorsese's The Young Victoria, a historical melodrama about Queen Victoria. And although Beatrice is a direct descendant of Victoria, her role in the film turned out to be quite insignificant, she did not even have to say a couple of words in the frame, playing one of the ladies-in-waiting. Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena of York(born Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena of York, born March 23, 1990) is a member of the British Royal Family. She is the youngest daughter of Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is also the sixth and second woman in the line of succession to the throne of the sixteen Commonwealth states, after her older sister, Beatrice. 
She and her sister are the only granddaughters of the Queen to be elevated to the title of Princess and Her Royal Highness. Prince Edward (Edward), Earl of Wessex- a member of the British royal family, the third son and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is 7th in the line of succession to the British throne, after his older brothers and their children. On June 19, 1999, Prince Edward married an employee of his firm. Sophie Rhys-Jones. In a departure from tradition, their wedding took place not in Westminster Abbey, but in the chapel of St. George in Windsor Castle. On their wedding day, Prince Edward was granted the title of Earl of Wessex. His wife became Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex. 
At the wedding, Buckingham Palace also announced that the children of Prince Edward would be treated as children of an earl, would not be given the title of prince/princess, and would not be called Royal Highnesses. In the family of Edward and Sophie, two children were born: a daughter Louise(Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary, b. November 8, 2003) - "Lady Louise Windsor" (Windsor is the surname of descendants of members of the royal family who do not have personal titles) and son James(James Alexander Philip Theo, b. December 17, 2007) - "James, Viscount Severn" (Viscount Severn is an "additional title" of the Earl of Wessex; by tradition, the eldest son of the holder of the main title uses the additional title). Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor(b. November 8, 2003, Frimley, Surrey) is the daughter of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophia, Countess of Wessex, the eldest of two children. Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, ninth in line to the British throne. Prior to the birth of her younger brother James on December 17, 2007, she was ranked eighth. In April 2011, 7-year-old Lady Louise attended as bridesmaid Catherine Middleton (bridesmaid) at the wedding of her cousin, the Duke of Cambridge. James Windsor, Viscount Severn- the second child and only son of the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophia Rhys-Jones. He is eighth in the line of succession to the British throne. 
On April 19, 2008, Viscount Severn was baptized at Windsor Castle House Church. James' baptismal shirt was copied from the shirt of Empress Victoria of Germany. Like his elder sister Lady Louise Windsor, James does not actually hold the titles of Prince and Royal Highness to which he is entitled under the 1917 law.
