The Queen: Her reign

HM THe Queen in Londonderry in 2009. Photo: Charlers McQuillan/Pacemaker/Pool

Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II when she was 25 upon the death of her father King George VI, who died in the early hours of 6 February 1952.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as monarch took place at Westminster Abbey on June 1, 1953.

Just for fun, we thought we’ed put together a few fun and interesting facts about The Queen and her reign.

The Queen is the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England and is Queen of 16 of the 53 member states in the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as Head of the Commonwealth and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Of current monarchs around the world, only Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) of Thailand has had a longer reign (69 years).

The Queen was born at 17 Bruton Street, London W1 on April 21, 1926.

She was christened on May 29, 1926 in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace and was confirmed on March 28, 1942 in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle.

1,333 diamonds and 169 pearls adorn the George IV State Diadem, which the Queen wore on her way to the Coronation ceremony.

In 1943 and 1944, the Queen won first prize at the Royal Windsor Horse Show for driving a utility vehicle harnessed to her black fell pony.

To date, the Queen has owned more than 30 corgis and currently has two: Willow and Holly. Alongside them are Candy and Vulcan, two of a unique breed known as ‘dorgis’, which the Queen originally created by crossing one of her corgis with Princess Margaret’s dachshund, Pipkin.

Her tally of success stands at more than 20 wins at Royal Ascot and thoroughbreds owned by the Queen have also won four out of the five flat racing classics, the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger, with only the Derby eluding her.

Unusual live gifts given to The Queen on foreign tours include the following: Two tortoises in the Seychelles in 1972; a seven-year-old bull elephant called ‘Jumbo’ which was presented to her by the President of Cameroon in 1972, and two black beavers given after a Royal visit to Canada.