Elizabeth II: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:32, 5 October 2022

21 April 1926-8 September 2022. Full name Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. Daughter and successor of George VI, niece of Edward VIII, Queen of the United Kingdom, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Reign: 1952 - 2022.

On 20 November 1947, at the age of 21 she married Prince Philip of Greece (naval officer and son of Prince Andrew of Greece) and thus ensured the stability of the monarchy. Elizabeth gave birth to Charles in 1948, Anne in 1950, Andrew in 1960 and Edward in 1964.

First Public Intervention

In 1939 after the outbreak of war she fulfilled her first political and constitutional obligations such as launching the battleship HMS Vanguard in 1944, joining the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) in 1945. She became junior officer, Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Windsor, in March 1945.

Reign

Elizabeth II succeeded her father George VI to the throne on 6 February 1952. Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953 in Westminster Abbey. Henceforth, she was entitled: "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith" (Fraser 1975, 350). The coronation was the first to be broadcast live on TV.

Being in office, ‘the euphoria of welcoming’ the new Queen dropped and criticism was uttered as the country still suffered from post-war austerity, among others the near bankruptcy and its slow economic recovery or food rationing. Besides, debates were raised by modernizers and traditionalists on the issue of royal activities while perceiving the royal family as remote. Nevertheless, the Queen was (and still is) among the most popular Royals. The Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Platinum Jubilee and the State Funeral in 2022 demonstrated and celebrated this in public events, street parties and a return of Rolf Seelmann-Eggebert onto the TV screen.

Sources:

Cannon, John, Hargreaves Anne. The Kings and Queens of Britain. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Fraser, Antonia. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1975.

Hamilton, Willie. My Queen and I. London: Quartet Books, 1975.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Born 1926. Daughter and successor of [[George VI]], niece of [[Edward VIII]].
+April 1926-8 September 2022. Full name Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. Daughter and successor of [[George VI]], niece of [[Edward VIII]], Queen of the United Kingdom, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the [[Church of England|Faith]]. Reign: 1952 - 2022.
-Queen of the United Kingdom, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the [[Church of England|Faith]]. Reign: 1952 - present.
-[[Category:Expansion]]
+On 20 November 1947, at the age of 21 she married [[Prince Philip]] of Greece (naval officer and son of Prince Andrew of Greece) and thus ensured the stability of the monarchy. Elizabeth gave birth to [[Prince Charles|Charles]] in 1948, [[Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise|Anne]] in 1950, [[Prince Andrew|Andrew]] in 1960 and [[Prince Edward|Edward]] in 1964.
+'''First Public Intervention'''
+In 1939 after the outbreak of war she fulfilled her first political and constitutional obligations such as launching the battleship HMS Vanguard in 1944, joining the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) in 1945. She became junior officer, Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Windsor, in March 1945.
+'''Reign'''
+Elizabeth II succeeded her father [[George VI]] to the throne on 6 February 1952.
+Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953 in Westminster Abbey. Henceforth, she was entitled: "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith" (Fraser 1975, 350). The coronation was the first to be broadcast live on TV.
+Being in office, ‘the euphoria of welcoming’ the new Queen dropped and criticism was uttered as the country still suffered from post-war austerity, among others the near bankruptcy and its slow economic recovery or food rationing. Besides, debates were raised by modernizers and traditionalists on the issue of royal activities while perceiving the royal family as remote. Nevertheless, the Queen was (and still is)  among the most popular Royals. The Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Platinum Jubilee and the State Funeral in 2022 demonstrated and celebrated this in public events, street parties and a return of Rolf Seelmann-Eggebert onto the TV screen.
+Sources:
+Cannon, John, Hargreaves Anne. ''The Kings and Queens of Britain''. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
+Fraser, Antonia. ''The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1975.
+Hamilton, Willie. ''My Queen and I''. London: Quartet Books, 1975.