5 lesser-known facts about Queen Elizabeth II
Today, on 21st April 2022, Britain’s longest-living and longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 96th birthday. According to various sources, the Queen will be celebrating a quiet birthday with family and friends in her Norfolk estate in Sandringham, England. As the queen celebrates her birthday, here are some fascinating, yet lesser-known facts about her.
Commemorates her birthday twice a year
Although 21st April happens to be the Queen’s actual birthday, she also celebrates her birthday in June. This is because, while the April affair is kept private, the June birthday is reserved for public celebration. This additional public birthday of the British monarch has been there since the time of her great grandfather King Edward VII. This was done to accommodate a larger crowd of well-wishers and hold an official birthday parade during the soothing summer time.
Queen Elizabeth was an accidental heir to the throne
When Elizabeth was a princess, she wasn’t expected to become the Queen so early in her life. However, as fate would have it, her father and predecessor King George VI suddenly fell ill and succumbed overnight. This forced Elizabeth to assume the role of the monarch in 1952, at the young age of 25. Since then, she has dedicated her life to the throne of Britain for almost 70 years. Several historians believe that Queen Elizabeth II was greatly influenced by her mother who had taught her the value of ‘le devoir’ or ‘the duty you owe yourself and the world around you.’
She never went to school
As a young girl, Queen Elizabeth II never went to any school. She was home schooled. Being tutored at home was the tradition in the royal family back then. However, she was well-prepared for her role as a future monarch and was taught extensively about constitutional history by Henry Marten, the Vice-Provost of the then Eton College. The Queen learned about religion from the Archbishop of Canterbury and became fluent in both French and Belgian, thanks to her governesses. She is also a trained swimmer and horse rider.
Queen Elizabeth II was part of Girl Guide and Sea Ranger
From her girlhood, Queen Elizabeth II was a person who was greatly interested in outdoor activities. As a result, when she was 11 years old, her mother enrolled her as a Girl Guide (girl’s scouts) to nurture her survival skills. In fact, a special division called the 1st Buckingham Palace Company was established so that Princess Elizabeth could train alongside her peers. As a teenager, Elizabeth had also joined the Sea Rangers, an organisation dedicated to training young girls in sailing and other water activities.
She served in World War II
During the Second World War, Princess Elizabeth had joined the Auxiliary Territorial Services, a military service reserved for royals to help raise morale on the war-field. As a trained Girl Guide and Sea Ranger, Elizabeth could perform her duties efficiently. In fact, as soon as she turned 18, Elizabeth voluntarily joined the army and even worked as a mechanic and a driver. She was also the first ever woman from the British royal family to have served in a war.