ELIZABETH II (r. 1952-PRESENT)

The present Queen was born in London on 21 April 1926, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York. Although when born it was unlikely that she would become Queen, events in the 1930s led to her father’s Accession and her becoming heir to the Throne.

The Accession of The Queen in 1952 was sudden, although not entirely unexpected owing to the ill-health of King George VI. The Queen’s Coronation followed on 2 June 1953.

For more than 50 years, during a period of great social change, The Queen has carried out her political duties as Head of State, the ceremonial responsibilities of the Sovereign and an unprecedented programme of visits in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and overseas.

Read the speech broadcast by Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday (pdf, 88kB)