The Queen is already the oldest monarch to have reigned in Britain – and today she turns 91.
Birthday celebrations tend to be kept private, with only a series of gun salutes in central London. Public celebrations are reserved for her "official" birthday in June (the two-birthday tradition came about due to the unreliability of the UK's weather).
As she celebrates another milestone, we take a look at ten defining moments in the Queen's life.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
1936: Father becomes king
Unable to reconcile his duty as king with his love for American divorcee Wallis Simpson, Edward VIII becomes the first English monarch to abdicate voluntarily.
Elizabeth's father acquires the crown, becoming George VI, and Princess Elizabeth is now heir to the throne.
1940: Radio broadcast
At the height of World War II, 14-year-old Elizabeth makes her first radio broadcast on BBC's Children's Hour, reassuring listeners that "in the end, all will be well".
She goes on to drive ambulances in the women-only Auxiliary Territorial Service towards the end of the war.
1944: First corgi
To mark her 18th birthday, Elizabeth is given a Welsh corgi, Susan, the first of around 30 she will go on to have. Only two remain, Holly and Willow.
So famous have her dogs become that they appeared in a sketch for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, escorting James Bond into Buckingham Palace.
1947: Marriage to Prince Philip
The royal family announces Elizabeth's engagement to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on 9 July, in what is regarded as "a marriage of choice, not of arrangement", writes The Guardian.
They marry at Westminster Abbey on 20 November and the ceremony is broadcast around the world by the BBC.
1948: Prince Charles is born
The current heir to the throne is born at Buckingham Palace on the evening of 14 November.
He is joined two years later by his sister, Princess Anne, who is born at Clarence House.
1952: Her Majesty the Queen
George VI dies on 6 February, making Princess Elizabeth – at the age of 25 - the new Queen Elizabeth II.
Her coronation takes place a year later, after a period of mourning.
1957: Ancient powers
Following the resignation of Anthony Eden - a fallout linked to the unpopularity of the Anglo-French invasion of Suez - the Queen is called upon to exercise her royal prerogative power and choose a new prime minister.
She consults with senior Conservatives and appoints Harold Macmillan to the post.
1981: Assassination attempt
Marcus Sarjeant fires blank shots at the Queen at the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony.
His fantasy assassination' lands him in prison for three years, writes the BBC.
1992: The "annus horribilis"
A fire destroys large parts of Windsor Castle and her children Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew all see their marriages break down, causing the Queen to label 1992 "an annus horribilis" ("horrible year," in Latin).
2012: Diamond Jubilee
Celebrating 60 years since her accession to the throne, the Queen marks her Diamond Jubilee by touring the UK. An extra bank holiday is declared on 5 June and street parties are held across the UK and the Commonwealth.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
Laurence Fox suspended by GB News after 'unacceptable' Ava Evans commentsBroadcaster issues apology after actor goes on a tirade during a live interview with Dan Wootton
-
The daily business briefing: September 27, 2023
Business Briefing The FTC accuses Amazon of running an illegal online monopoly, Biden visits auto workers on picket line, and more
-
Seaham Hall review: serenity on the coast in County Durham
The Week Recommends Former haunt of Lord Byron is pure poetry when it comes to spa options in the north-east
-
What have we learned in King Charles’s first year?
Today's Big Question The monarch is ‘stamping his personality’ on the role and is definitely not a ‘caretaker’, says Palace source
-
What does the royal family actually do?
feature From official state duties to charitable pursuits, most of the royals keep themselves busy
-
Prince Harry and Meghan: ‘near catastrophic car chase’ in the spotlight
Talking Point Brush with US paparazzi has echoes of Princess Diana but some have questioned the timing
-
The highlights and lowlights from King’s coronation weekend
feature Music, mischief and Penny Mordaunt widely praised, while Met Police arresting protesters provokes criticism
-
Coronation countdown: a ‘tightrope’ for the royal family
Under the Radar Monarchy to balance celebration with awareness of the complex relationship between British subjects and their ruler
-
The ‘diplomat monarch’: will King’s coronation revitalise British soft power?
Today's Big Question Supporters say Charles is foreign relations asset but others question whether the newly crowned monarch can boost the UK’s influence
-
Buckingham Palace arrest fuels coronation security fears
Speed Read Security minister outlines massive operation amid concerns about threats, protests and potential obsessives
-
Head to toe: the history of King Charles’s coronation outfits
Under the Radar Monarch may favour ‘toned down’ dress code but traditional robes still expected to be on show
