SIXTY YEARS A QUEEN
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE OF QUEEN
ELIZABETH II
Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State of the UK
and 15 other Commonwealth realms. The
elder daughter of King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth, she was born in 1926 and became
Queen at the age of 25, and has reigned
through more than five decades of enormous
social change and development. The Queen is
married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh
celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on
20 November 2011. The couple, who had
known each other for many years, were
married in Westminster Abbey on 20
November 1947. The event was fairly simple,
as Britain was still recovering from the war.
Lieutenant Mountbatten, now His Royal
Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of
Edinburgh, is a great-great-grandson of
Queen Victoria.
They have four children, eight grandchildren
and one great-grandchild. Prince Charles,
now The Prince of Wales, heir apparent to
the throne, was born in 1948.
Accession: Princess Elizabeth’s father, King
George VI, died on 6 February 1952 at the
age of 56.
Princess Elizabeth was only 25 years old at
the time of her father’s death. The Princess
was on tour in Kenya when she heard the
news of her father’s death. She returned to
England in mourning, awaiting accession to
the throne.
Although
Elizabeth
was
proclaimed Queen immediately on her
father’s death, it took more than a year before
The Queen’s Coronation took place in June
1953.
Coronation: Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2 June 1953 in a solemn ceremony at
Westminster Abbey, London. The ceremony was attended by an estimated 8,000
guests, including Prime Ministers from Commonwealth countries and Head of States.
The event was, for the first time in history, broadcast on television.
The British Sovereign is both Head of State and Head of the Nation. As Head of State, Queen
Elizabeth II is responsible for constitutional acts, including the opening of Parliament, signing of
Acts of Parliament and weekly meetings with the Prime Minister.
The Queen represents Britain on overseas State visits as well as receiving foreign ambassadors
and visiting Heads of State. A main responsibility of The Queen is to give honours to people who
have made outstanding contributions to the country. The Queen’s Birthday Honours List is
announced at the time of the Queen’s official birthday in June. One of The Queen’s most active
roles is to meet people from all parts of the nation. She holds an annual garden party at
Buckingham Palace for guests from across the nation.
THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
THE QUEEN AND PRESIDENT OBAMA
Zadok the Priest (George Friderik Handel) – British Coronation Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcfR4utkASo
Zadok the Priest (George Friderik Handel) – British Coronation Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9Uudkx42g&feature=related
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGLN1kREJ2Q
The British National Anthem (God Save The Queen):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnuoGOo3Bew