What alcohol does Elizabeth II prefer and other little-known facts from the life of the 94-year-old Queen of Great Britain

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Queen of Great Britain has been ruling her country for 68 years. She was only 25 years old when she ascended the throne. During her reign, 13 presidents have changed in the United States, 14 prime ministers in the UK, and 7 popes in the Vatican. Despite her very advanced age (the queen turned 94 in April 2020), she continues to participate in events and runs her family with a fairly firm hand.

Two birthdays

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday twice. And the point here is not at all that she miraculously escaped from something. It's just that April 21 in the UK is still too cold for the parade, so the main festivities take place in the first month of summer. But on April 21, she has the opportunity to accept congratulations from her family and friends and contemplate a stunning birthday fireworks. This tradition was laid down by King Edward VII, who decided to organize national festivities in his honor exclusively in good weather, and not in slushy and cold November.

No school queen

Instead of attending regular educational institutions, Elizabeth, like her younger sister Margaret, received a quality education without leaving her home. The daughters were raised by the girls' mother and governess, Marion Crawford. The princess learned French with the help of governesses for whom he was native, and Henry Martin, Vice-Rector of Eton College, introduced her to constitutional law.

Sharing the fate of the country

During World War II, the mother of the future queen, the Duchess of York, categorically refused the offer to evacuate her daughters to Canada. She said that girls cannot leave the country without her, and she - without her husband, the king, who will never leave the UK during these difficult days. At the age of 14, Princess Elizabeth and her sister appeared on the radio to support the children of her country. On the eve of Christmas, the princesses began to hold paid performances in the castle, directing all the funds received to help the army.

Shortly before her 19th birthday, the princess became a member of the women's self-defense squad, where she learned not only to drive, but also became a professional mechanic. It seems that in the royal family, no one, except Elizabeth, could independently make even minor car repairs.

Only love

Elizabeth met her future husband Philip Mountbatten at a very tender age, when she was only eight years old. They had the opportunity to play together, sending trains on the children's railway, and the princess was fascinated by her 13-year-old friend from the very first minutes of their acquaintance. In 1937, the young people met again, and this time a romantic relationship began between them.

She married him at the age of 21, despite the fact that her parents were initially against her daughter's choice. In their opinion, young Philip Mountbatten was not the most suitable match for a princess. In fact, he was a prince, but he did not have a kingdom, nor did he have a decent fortune, and the marriages of his three sisters were very suspicious, because they chose German aristocrats, who at one time were in the Nazi party, as their husbands. But already at that time, Elizabeth was distinguished by her firmness of character and knew how to insist on her own.

The Queen and her husband have been going through life together for more than 72 years, they are the parents of four children, and they also have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Difficult premiere

Elizabeth II, in fact, is the face of Great Britain, without actually exerting influence on the politics and economy of the country. But for 68 years now, on a weekly Tuesday, the current prime minister has consistently reported to the Queen on the state of affairs. Elizabeth II's relations with the prime ministers were always fairly even, with the exception of a period of time when the government was headed by Margaret Thatcher, who categorically did not listen to the words of her queen. Elizabeth II herself lamented that it was very difficult with Thatcher.

The undocumented queen

Surprisingly, Elizabeth II does not have a passport. When making visits to other countries, she does well without him. In addition, she has never had a license to drive a car, and her car has no license plates. However, hardly anyone could fail to recognize the queen. And no policeman in Great Britain would stop the royal car to check the rights.

Love to the animals

It is known that the queen is very fond of dogs, while she has a particular weakness for corgi, of which she had about 30 since childhood. Some British publications even call the queen the founder of a new breed of dorgi dogs. In fact, the queen's beloved corgi were simply crossed with a dachshund, without making any special requirements for future offspring.

Elizabeth II's love for horses and horseback riding began in early childhood, when she was given a pony. Today, the queen is the owner of the best horses, which with enviable regularity become the winners of the most prestigious races.

Hunting is also on the list of royal hobbies, which in 2004 became the cause of a storm of criticism that fell on Elizabeth II. When the dog brought a wounded pheasant to the queen while hunting, the queen cold-bloodedly finished off the bird with several blows of a cane on the head.

Most unlucky year

1992 was the most difficult year of the Queen's reign. In addition to the fire that broke out in November at Windsor Castle, which lasted 15 hours, Elizabeth II witnessed the collapse of three families of her children at once. On April 23, Princess Anne divorced her first husband, Mark Phillips, in December, Prince Charles and Diana Spencer actually parted ways, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced their separation.

Astounding composure

The Queen always behaves extremely restrained. When she is furious, she always shows her most affable smile. She knows how to remain outwardly calm in the most difficult situations, even when six bullets are flying in her direction in a row, as happened in 1981 during the parade. The queen was not only able to pacify her horse Burmese, but also to restrain her own emotions, continuing to gallop further, as if nothing had happened. The police found out later that the bullets were blank.

A lover of good alcohol

According to the testimony of the Queen's cousin and friend, Margaret Rhodes, Elizabeth II is not at all a convinced teetotaler. She can afford to take a gin and dubonnet before dinner, along with a slice of lemon and a lot of ice, during lunch she enjoys good wine, and in the evening she likes to drink a glass of champagne.

There are not many women in the world who could be called absolute style icons. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, despite her very advanced age, is undoubtedly one of them. Her image is very recognizable thanks to several characteristic details in the toilet that create the outfit. There are about ten such "highlights" in the royal style, and they create that very unforgettable style of Elizabeth II.