Queen Elizabeth Turns 90: Noteworthy Moments Since 1926

Queen Elizabeth II today marks yet another milestone in her life, her ninetieth birthday. Celebrations will be somewhat low-key in Windsor today, with the main events taking place over the next two months.

But for today, let’s have a look back at moments which have been some of the most noteworthy in her nine decades.

1936 – The Abdication: In December 1936, when the Queen was ten years old, her uncle Edward VIII abdicated the throne after reigning for less than a year. This made Elizabeth’s father, Bertie, the new King and pushed Elizabeth into the position of heiress presumptive, first in line to the throne.

1939 – A Visit to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth: Though they had met twice before, it was during a visit to Darmouth’s Royal Naval College that Princess Elizabeth – aged 13 – began to fall in love with the dashing Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. They were engaged and married in 1947.

1945 – Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service: During the Second World War, the teenage Princess joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service to do her part for the war effort. She trained as a lorry driver and a mechanic.

1947 – 21st Birthday Speech: While in South Africa in 1947, Princess Elizabeth celebrated her 21st birthday and delivered a speech that was broadcast on radio across the Commonwealth in which she declared that “my whole, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of the great imperial Commonwealth to which we all belong.” This speech is used as early evidence of the Queen’s unwavering sense of duty.

1952 – Accession to the Throne: King George VI passed away on February 6, 1952 at the age of 56. His 25-year-old daughter was now the Queen, she was crowned in the only coronation much of the world’s populace has knowledge of in June 1953.

1977 – A Silver Jubilee Baby: As she celebrated her Silver Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth also celebrated a more personal milestone – she became a grandmother for the first time when Princess Anne gave birth to Peter Phillips in November (Peter and his wife Autumn gave the Queen a Diamond Jubilee baby in 2012 with the birth of their daughter Isla).

1992 – The Annus Horribilis: The worst year of her reign, self-described as an “annus horribilus”, came in 1992 which saw the War of the Wales (her son Charles and his wife Diana) reach its peak leading the Queen to demand they seperate while the marriages of two other children – Anne and Andrew – also were ended. It was capped off by a devastating fire at Windsor Castle.

2012 – Diamond Jubilee: Becoming only the second British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee – 60 years on the throne – the Queen’s celebrations in 2012 were centred around a river pageant on the Thames in June.

2015 – Longest Reigning British Monarch: On September 9 last year, Queen Elizabeth became the longest reigning British monarch in history when she overtook her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, whose reign spanned 63 years, 216 days.

Many happy returns your Majesty!

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Tagged Birthday, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

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