Elizabeth II's 63rd on the Throne

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland celebrates her 63rd anniversary on the throne today, February 6, 2015. At 88, the Queen continues to show sign of excellent health and she might inherit the long life of her mother, also named Elizabeth, who died at the age of 101 in 2002.

However, the longest reigning British monarch was Elizabeth's great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years, seven months and 28 days. The Queen will surpass Victoria's record, if she will remain on the throne until September 7, 2015.

Trivia about the Queen:

In a surprising twist of fate, Elizabeth's moment in history significantly drew a closer resemblance to Victoria's reign. Like the reign of Victoria, Elizabeth now also has three male heirs in direct succession to the throne. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince George of Cambridge.

During Queen Victoria, her male heirs in direct succession to the throne were: Her son, Prince Bertie, the Prince of Wales, who would become Edward VII, Prince George, the Duke of York, who would become George V, and Prince David, who would become shortly as Edward VIII.

Elizabeth is also the second British monarch after King George I who was not in England at the time of accession. She was in Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, when her father, King George VI, died from coronory thrombosis, on February 6, 1952. The Queen received her ascension rite at a royal lodge in Kenya. She left England a Princess and returned as Queen.

On the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia last January 23, 2015 at the age of 90, Queen Elizabeth II, is now the world's oldest monarch and the current second longest reigning monarch in the world after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

Queen Elizabeth might be the last British monarch to wed a fellow royal (though it's hard to tell what will happen in the future royal marriages). Her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is royal by birth as the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. He is also a grandson of King George I of Greece and great great grandson of Queen Victoria of England, as with Elizabeth, Philip is related to all royals in Europe. Philip is also the last true blooded European royal who married into the British royal family as of the current time.

The Queen is also Head of State to 16 nations under the Commonwealth Realms including New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

Jubilee Portrait

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, posed for photographer, John Swannell, to mark the Queen's 60th year on the throne. The jubilee portrait represents the celebrated life of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh's enduring role in the realms as his wife's staunchest supporter and partner.

The jubilee celebration kicks of last January and will continue up to the last month of this year. This is going to be the busiest year of the British royal family as each member will be dispatched to different regions in the realms to represent Her Majesty.

The official jubilee portrait: Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo credit: John Swannell

This year, the British monarchy is not only celebrating the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne but also the 60th death anniversary of the Queen's father, King George VI, and the 10th death anniversary of the Queen's mother and her only sibling who both died in 2002.

King George VI died in his sleep on February 9, 1952 in Sandringham Estate while his eldest daughter and her husband went to Kenya, South Africa. Elizabeth was the first British monarch, aside from her ancestor, King George I, who was not on the British soil at the time of accession. She left Britain a Princess and returned a Queen.

George's widow, Queen Elizabeth, known as the Queen Mother, died 50 years later, on March 2002, only three weeks after the death of their younger daughter, the Princess Margaret.

Her Majesty just turned 86 last April 21, 2012 but her official birthday celebration is usually celebrated on the second Saturday of June during the Royal Ascot, a tradition started by her great grandfather, King Edward VII, in early 20th century.

The appearance of female royal members became the subject of media's attention due to their fashion style. See photos HERE

85th Birthday of the Queen

Today, April 21, is the 85th birthday of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The celebration is very  meaningful because it coincides with Maundy Thursday. The British royal family has this cherished tradition called Royal Maundy since the middle ages. Maundy is taken from the Latin word Mandatum means instruction. During the Last Supper, it was believed Jesus Christ left an instruction to his disciples to "love one another". This act of gift giving is the British monarch's response to Christ's instruction.

Prior to the 17th century, English Kings washed the feet of their poor subjects at the same time presenting food and clothing, but during the 18th century the tradition retained the gift-giving only. Today, Royal Maundy is celebrated with a special church service in the UK cathedral, usually at Westminster Abbey, where the sovereign, with her husband, presents silver coins to the elderly recipients. The number of recipients usually coincide with the age of the monarch, so this year, there are 85 recipients.

 Since her accession in February 1952 on the death of her father, King George VI, the Queen is already in the throne for 59 years now. She acts as the head of state (the government is headed by the Prime Minister) of the United Kingdom, the British dominions (Australia, Canada and New Zealand) and the Commonwealth Realms (composed of 15 nations mostly located in North America), she ruled but never governed because monarchs should be above politics.

Over five decades, she saw major social and development changes in her realm, she also witnessed the empire built by her ancestors reduced into merely a Kingdom, reducing colonies into commonwealth. As the current head of the House of Windsor, probably the most famous royal house in the world, Her Majesty became the figurehead of the throne's survival from the tumultuous crisis and controversies. Now the Queen is taking another milestone in her life and on the road of preparing a grand celebration for her 60th anniversary on the throne by 2012.

But did you know that she was not expected to ascend to the British throne on the day she was born?

On April 21, 1926, the world did not care so much about the birth of Princess Elizabeth because her father, Prince Albert "Bertie", the Duke of York was not the heir-apparent. She was baptized Elizabeth Alexandra Mary and only third in line of succession to the British throne. It was expected her uncle, Prince David, the Prince of Wales will get married and if he has many children and if her father, Prince Bertie, will sire a son, Princess Elizabeth would be pushed further from the throne. 

But destiny worked on her side and secured her place in the world history.

Prince David ascended the throne on the death of King George V in 1936, but months later he voluntarily abdicated in order to marry his commoner, twice divorced girlfriend, Wallis Simpson, Elizabeth's father became King George VI. Sixteen years later, in  February 1952, the King died from coronary thrombosis.

The Queen is married to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh for more than 63 years now, they have four children and eight grandchildren. Their first great-grandchild, Savannah Phillips, arrived last year, 2010. The Duke of Edinburgh was the former Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, like the Queen, he is also a great-great grandchild of Queen Victoria, he will turn 90 years old this coming June 10, 2011.

Though the Queen's birthday falls on the 21st of April, the official celebration of her birthday is held on the second saturday of June during the Royal Ascot Party, the grand celebration includes the Trooping the Colours (commonly known as the Birthday Parade) and Fly-past presentation where members of the royal family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the fly-stunts of the Royal Air Force. The Queen's actual birthday is celebrated privately by the royal family, but the British troops traditionally fired gun salutes during the day to mark the Queen's special day: 41 gun salutes in Hyde Park, 21 gun salutes in Windsor Great Park and 62 gun salutes in the Tower of London.

According to the book, "The Royal Duty" by Paul Burrell, Her Majesty's personal footman for several years before he was hired by the Prince and Princess of Wales as Butler, the Queen is very soft-spoken and never raises a voice in the household, she is mild-tempered and very considerate. She never rebuke anybody and always show concern to the people around her. The Queen personally prepare her favorite tea, Earl Grey, in a silver kettle according to Burrell. She loves dogs and horses, she is an accomplished equestrianne and a good swimmer. When Burrell was still her footman, the Queen owned nine corgis (royal family's term for dogs). She is very fluent in French and used it to her best advantage when visiting Canada.

She had an excellent  relationship with her former daughters-in-law, the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Sarah, Duchess of York (estranged wife of Prince Andrew). When Diana was still alive, she was often quoted saying "I cannot do just anything because I don't want to disappoint Her Majesty. The Prince of Wales adored and respected his mother so much that he never entertained questions and discussions about the scenario of his reign because it means the death of the Queen.

The Queen drew support from her husband and members of her family in the day-to-day running of the Kingdom. She considered family life as virtually important, so every Christmas all members of the royal family gathered at Sandringham, while Easter and New Year usually celebrated at Windsor Castle, during summer in August, the rest of the family moved to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Queen's official London residence is Buckingham Palace while Windsor Castle is her favorite weekend residence.

As a ruling sovereign, Armed forces of the United Kingdom swear allegiance not to the country but to her. The Queen had dedicated her whole life to the Kingdom, and even at 85 she is still actively performing her duties, according to the official website of the British monarchy, even if the Queen is on a vacation, she receives official papers daily and remained fully informed on matters affecting her realms. She continues to undertake ceremonial and public duties. To date, she is the most traveled monarch in British history, regularly visiting her dominions and commonwealth overseas. 

HER MAJESTY ON FACEBOOK

The British Queen, Elizabeth II, is known for her disdain of film stars and other sort of celebrity stuff. In 1956, she declined to attend the wedding of Prince Rainier III of Monaco to Hollywood actress, Grace Kelly, because of too many film stars. In fact, she and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh never signed autograph nor held a press conference because they did not want to descend to the level of movie stars.

But lately, the Queen seems ready to embrace the call of times that she allowed the royal court to get an account in the popular social networking site, FACEBOOK, to get in touch with the public. She was reportedly convinced by her grandson, Prince William, to join Facebook to connect with her subjects in far-away realms. Though her page never allows visitors to “poke” her, everybody could click “like” and browse on royal photographs and videos.

The royal family members, just like the rest of us, are also amazed with the wonders of modern technology  that some of them joined social networking sites. Prince William has no Facebook account but he has a twitter page under an unknown alias name. His cousin, Princess Beatrice of York, also has a myspace account. The British monarchy also has an official channel in Youtube.


The first royalty to announce that she has an official twitter page in 2004 was Queen Rania of Jordan, the pretty Queen Consort of King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Queen Elizabeth II and her destiny

How the reigning British Monarch came into the throne? 

Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, the current British Monarch is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and King Christian IX of Denmark. On the day she was born, there was no curiosity generated from the public due to the fact that she was not expected to ascend the British throne. 


Her father, Prince Bertie, was then the Duke of York and only second in line to the throne after his older brother, Prince David, the Prince of Wales. It was thought possible that her uncle David would eventually marry and have children, more than that, her parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, planned a larger family and in the event of many sons, Elizabeth would be ranked below them and their children and would be placed farther from the line of succession.

But destiny worked on her side and secured her place in World history.

The future Queen was born at her maternal grandparents' (Lord and Lady Strathmore) London home at 17 Bruton Street near Berkeley square in Mayfair, London. She was delivered through a caesarian section and witnessed by a home secretary, Sir William Johnson-Hicks (this archaic law of monarchy, where a home secretary is required to witness the birth of all royal children, is to ensure the legitimacy of a child in the succession). 


Elizabeth was christened at the private chapel of Buckingham palace on May 19, 1926. She was nicknamed "Lilibet". In 1930 her only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born at the Strathmore's ancestral home in Glamis Castle, Scotland. The two little Princesses were comfortably raised at 145 Piccadilly, London, they also had a country home called Royal Lodge which is located near Windsor Great Park. As with most members of the British Royal Family, Princess Elizabeth grew up fascinated with horses, she started her riding lesson at the age of three.

Prince Bertie treasured his family whom he dubbed “Us four”. He was not fun of pomp and pageantry and just enjoyed spending most of his free time with his daughters and relying on the strength of his strong-willed wife, the youngest daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. As second in line to the throne, Prince Bertie was not expected to carry many royal engagements because those were reserved for the heir apparent, but the feckless behavior of the Prince of Wales, who at 38 is still single and enjoyed the company of sophisticated married women, became a great concern to his father, King George V. By that time, the heir apparent was intensely involved with Wallis Simpson, a commoner American woman, once divorced and whom the present husband is preoccupied elsewhere.

The King had wished to pass the throne to his second son, but the law on primogeniture succession barred the Duke of York from succeeding while the Prince of Wales is still alive. In January 1936 the King died from Pneumonia, David immediately ascended as King Edward VIII, several months later, his love affair to Mrs. Simpson became known to the press and Buckingham palace officials warned the new king that such an illicit affair could endanger the monarchy.

The conservative Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, threatened to resign if Edward will proceed in marriage with Mrs. Simpson. For a throne who revered myth and tradition, it is inconceivable for a disgraced commoner woman with two living husbands be crowned as Queen of the British Empire. Edward insisted that he will be supported by public opinion, so the Prime Minister consulted all the ministers of the Commonwealth and the result was unanimous: either abdicate or abandon Mrs. Simpson.

Edward chose his lover over duty and tradition, on the snowy morning of December 11, 1936, his booming voice echoed through out the world announcing his voluntary abdication: "It is impossible for me to carry my duty as a leader to my people without the support of the woman I love". Queen Mary was furious that she made sure Wallis won't receive a royal highness status. 


When his brother announced his final farewell to his people, the Duke of York, now the newly ascended King of the United Kingdom, rushed to his mother's house (Queen Mary moved to Marlborough's house after George V’s funeral) and, according to his diary entry: "I cried in mama's lap like a baby". Nevertheless, he carried on well, he preferred to be known as George VI in honour of his father, George V.

Princess Elizabeth did not attend a proper day school but was only tutored at home. She grew up closer to her only sibling, the Princess Margaret. She never attended parties and had a limited circle of friends, mostly aristocrats and royal cousins. 


In 1939, she had a close encounter with her third cousin, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, whom she became close in later years. They eventually get married on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey. 


Prince Philip was serving the British Royal Navy as Lieutenant. He was 7^th in line to the Greek throne when the courtship period began but he was advised to renounce his Greek royal title to be more acceptable to the British people, so the dashing Prince agreed, he also switched his religion from Greek Orthodox to Anglican. 


He adopted his maternal grandfather's name Mountbatten (Mountbatten is an anglicized version of Battenberg) and became a British subject a year before the royal marriage took place. Philip was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich with HRH status. They had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were in Kenya when they received the news of King George VI’s death from coronary thrombosis on the night of February 9, 1952. Princess Elizabeth was summoned by her private secretary at her hotel room in Kenya to take an oath of accession. She was the first British monarch, after King George I in 1720, who ascended the throne outside Great Britain. She left England a Princess and returned a Queen. 


After her father's burial, she and her family moved to Buckingham Palace from Clarence House. She was officially crowned on June 1,1953 in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey attended by foreign dignitaries. It was the first British monarch’s coronation broadcasted worldwide via television.

Queen Elizabeth II is a ruling sovereign not only to the United Kingdom but to all her territories and realms belonging to the British Commonwealth of Nations, she is recognized as head of state by the countries under the Commonwealth realms, her role is purely ceremonial, she ruled but not governed, she should be above politics, but her role is formidable, she can dissolve parliaments and declare war, she can pardon offenders. The citizen of the commonwealth realms swore allegiance not to the country but to her, the royal armed forces are serving under her name.

Her Majesty announced in 1960 that unlike other women in the realms, she would not reign under her husband's name, Mountbatten, but continued to be known as family of Windsor, but she emphasized that all her descendants other than Princes and Princesses would bear and carry the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

As of 2010, the Queen has been serving the United Kingdom as ruling sovereign for 58 years and at the age of 84 is still actively gracing public engagements with her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. 


She is unlikely to abdicate, and for the next years to come, she would continue to rule Britain and its realms with dedication and her subjects would continue singing the national anthem, “God Save our Gracious Queen”. Her Majesty is currently the longest reigning monarch in Europe.

References:

Chronicles of the British Royal Family

Royal Sisters by Anne Edwards

www.royal.gov.uk (official site of the British Monarchy)

The Last Royal Couples

Prior to the 20^th century, no member of the European royalty ever married a commoner, the monarchy rule is clear: any royal who will enter a morganatic (marrying a commoner) union will automatically disinherit him or her and lose his or her place in the line of succession, so arranged marriages between royalty became the common practice. But after World War II upon the collapse of most European royal houses supply of suitable consorts diminished ceasing this royal tradition, thus, allowing commoners to join the royal fold.

In present-day Europe, only the sovereigns of Great Britain and Spain married fellow royals and they are both great great grandchildren of Queen Victoria of England.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

The former Greek Prince devoted all his life supporting his wife on various official engagements

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave HMCS St John's after the International Fleet Review on June 29, 2010 in Halifax, Canada.

Queen Elizabeth II descended from Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII while the Duke of Edinburgh descended from Queen Victoria’s second daughter, Princess Alice who married the Grand Duke of Hesse-Cassel, Prince Louis. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are also second cousin once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark, Prince Philip’s grandfather, King George I of Greece and Queen Elizabeth’s great grandmother, Queen Alexandra (wife of King Edward VII) were children of the said Danish King. The current British Queen is the eldest daughter of King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon the daughter of the 14^th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn, though this Scottish Earl was an aristocrat, his daughter did not inherit any title, thus, regarded a commoner. Queen Elizabeth II had only one sibling, Princess Margaret who died in 2002.

The Duke of Edinburgh was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark and was sixth in line of succession to the Greek throne. Both her parents descended from royalty. Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was born in Windsor Castle in 1885 as an eldest child of Princess Victoria and Prince Louis of Battenberg who lived at the grace-and-favor apartment at Kensington Palace. In 1930 when the marriage of Prince Philip’s parents fell apart, he moved to England to live with his grandmother. Philip’s father was Prince Andrew, the fourth son of King George I of Greece and Queen Olga (granddaughter of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia). Most of his relatives married into the European royalty. His maternal aunt, Louise, married the King of Sweden, Adolf VI, his paternal aunt, Princess Elisabeth, married the King of Romania, Carol II, his first cousin Princess Alexandra married King Peter I of Yoguslavia while another cousin, Princess Marina married Prince George, the Duke of Kent (paternal uncle of Queen Elizabeth II). All Philip’s four elder sisters married German Princes.

Prince Philip was advised to renounce his place in the Greek throne to become a British subject, the Prince obliged and took the name Philip Mountbatten (his grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg was forced to relinquish his Princely title in 1917 because of the anti-German sentiments in England, so his cousin King George V made him a British Marquess and anglicized his surname from Battenberg to Mountbatten). By the time he and Princess Elizabeth married in November 20, 1947, Philip rose to rank of a Lieutenant in the British Royal Navy. A night before their marriage, his father-in-law, King George VI, created him a British duke with titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Marioneth and Baron Greenwhich, the King also made him Noble Order of the Garter, the highest accolade of chivalry in Great Britain. Philip and Elizabeth have five children: Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex (his father's successor as Duke of Edinburgh). With the exception of the Earl of Wessex, all marriages of the three siblings ended in divorce.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia

His Majesty, King Juan Carlos and Her Majesty, Queen Sofia of Spain

The King and Queen of Spain, both great great grandchildren of Queen Victoria of England

With the heir-apparent, Prince Felipe, his wife Princess Letizia and children Infantas Eleanor and Sofia

King Juan Carlos descended from Queen Victoria’s youngest child, Princess Beatrice who married Prince Henry of Battenberg, the younger brother of Prince Philip’s grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg, while Queen Sofia descended from Queen Victoria’s eldest child, Princess Vicky who married the German Emperor, Frederick III.  Vicky’s daughter, Princess Sophia, married King Constantine I of Greece (paternal uncle of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh). Both the King and Queen Sofia had a distinguished royal heritage. Juan Carlos’ parents were Prince Juan, the fourth son of King Alfonso XIII (the last Spanish King before Francisco Franco governed Spain) and Queen Eugenie (Princess Beatrice’s daughter). Prince Juan married Princess Maria of the two Sicilies, a direct descendant of the Bourbon Kings of France.

Queen Sofia is the eldest child of King Paul of Greece (son of Princess Sophia and King Constantine) and Queen Frederica, also a granddaughter of Emperor William II of Germany (Princess Sophia’s brother). The Queen has two siblings, the deposed King of Greece, Constantine II (his wife is Princess Anna Marie, youngest sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark) and Princess Irene who was once considered a possible wife of King Harald V of Norway, but the Norwegian King chose to marry Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner Norwegian college graduate, disappointing all his royal relatives. King Harald V is the great grandson of Queen Maud, youngest child of King Edward VII of England, Maud’s husband, King Haakon VII, was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. Princess Irene (born 1938) however did not marry and lived in Zarzuela Palace in Spain.

King Juan Carlos had never expected to ascend the Spanish throne. After the deposition of his grandfather, Alfonso XIII during the Spanish Civil War, the country was put under the dictator government of Francisco Franco. The royal family was exiled in Italy, and Alfonso’s children, most of them were suffering from Hemophilia, a blood disease started in the line of Queen Victoria, were disinterested to press their claim on the lost crown. But Alfonso’s fourth son, Prince Juan, determined to secure the crown to his family, started negotiating with Franco, eventually the latter yielded declaring to restore the monarchy after his death and naming Prince Juan as the next King of Spain, but the Prince declined giving the throne to his only son, Juan Carlos. In 1972 after the death of Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos ascended the Spanish throne and moved with his family to Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. By then he was married to Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark and had three children: Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina and Infante Felipe who would become the Prince of Asturias on his father’s accession.