: A lifelong enthusiast of Corgis, she owned more than 30 during her reign, most of whom were descendants of her first dog, Susan. Other Historic "Queens of England"
: As a constitutional monarch , she was the Head of State but not the Head of Government. Her role was largely symbolic, acting as a national figurehead and serving as Head of the Commonwealth, a group of 54 independent nations. Lesser-Known Personal Features
: The "Virgin Queen" who presided over the English Renaissance and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. queen of england
: She became queen at age 25 following the sudden death of her father, King George VI , on February 6, 1952. Her 1953 coronation was the first ever to be broadcast on television, reaching over 20 million viewers.
While there have been several "Queens of England," the title most commonly refers to , the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Her 70-year reign (1952–2022) spanned a period of immense global change, from the dawn of the jet age to the rise of the digital era. The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022) : A lifelong enthusiast of Corgis, she owned
: She was the only person in the UK permitted to drive without a license and did not require a passport for international travel.
: In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest-serving British monarch. By her death in 2022, she had celebrated her Platinum Jubilee , marking 70 years on the throne. Lesser-Known Personal Features : The "Virgin Queen" who
: During her reign, she worked with 15 different UK Prime Ministers, starting with Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss .