Royal Insider Magazine: Elizabeth II a Day-to-Day Portrait - September 2022

100 Pages·2022·168.8 MB·English

ELIZABETH
II
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to

Portrait of
a young queen,
circa 1955.
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BY MARIANNE BILKEY
BORN ON APRIL 21, 1926, From her coronation to her corgis and
to the Duke and Duchess of York at her colorful dress coats in between, Queen
their home in Mayfair, a swanky Elizabeth II will be remembered as a revered
neighborhood in Central London, constant for the past seven decades—the only
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor monarch in living memory for generations
grew up surrounded by the trappings of of Brits. During that time, she has performed
a royal household. She was, after all, the countless royal duties from suburban
granddaughter of King George V, inherited ribbon-cuttings and plaque unveilings to the
the title of princess, and lived in the rarefi ed more weighty commitments of royal tours,
environs of royal courts and castles. meetings with heads of states, and weekly
catch-ups with the British prime minister of
But in spite of the stuffi ness and the day (she has met weekly with 14 of them
protocol around her, Elizabeth enjoyed over her reign). As the steady hand steering
a relatively free and easy childhood with the monarchy through extraordinary
little expectation of ascending the throne. social, technological, and political changes,
Her Uncle Edward, her father’s brother, Elizabeth has welcomed a growing family—
was next in line for the throne, and he was the mother of four is also grandmother
fully expected to produce the subsequent of eight and great-grandmother to 12—while
heir. What Elizabeth and her father, Prince weathering scandals and tragedies and, in the
Albert, had not reckoned with was the pandemic-hit twilight of her reign, mastering
unwavering dedication Edward had for the the art of the ubiquitous Zoom meeting.
love of his life, Wallis Simpson, an American
divorcée. It was a devotion that would During 2022’s platinum jubilee
ultimately rewrite Elizabeth’s destiny. celebrations, the monarch’s absences from
events due to mobility issues, as much as her
When King George V died in 1936, few appearances, gave the United Kingdom
Edward became, as was expected, the next and indeed the world pause to refl ect on
king of the United Kingdom. But when the her remarkable life. In these pages, we look
royal family, the Church of England, and back on her extraordinary reign and how
the government of the day expressed their she defi ned her role as queen—fulfi lling her
shared resistance to King Edward VIII’s duties with faith and dedication, carving
choice of bride, Edward upended the royal out her place in the history of the British
succession by becoming the fi rst British monarchy, adapting to the demands of
monarch to voluntarily give up the crown, an increasingly fast-paced world, good-
choosing love over the monarchy. heartedly establishing her pop culture cred
at the 2012 London Olympics alongside
His brother Albert stepped up to the Daniel Craig’s James Bond, and building
throne, choosing George VI as his regnal her own rainbow-colored fashion style.
name upon Edward’s abdication. It was
a move that promoted then 10-year-old A year after the death of her beloved
Princess Elizabeth into the role of heir husband, Prince Philip, Elizabeth II
presumptive. Less than 20 years later, when is preparing for the day when the crown
her father died in 1952, the 25-year-old and Sovereign’s Orb will pass on to their
mother of two became queen, setting the son Prince Charles. Until then she remains,
stage for the longest reign in U.K. history. Her Majesty, the Queen. W
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MEET THE
NEW QUEEN
Aft er her coronation on June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II and
the Duke of Edinburgh looked up at the Royal Air Force fl y-past
as the crowds outside Buckingham Palace celebrated their new
Sovereign. Seen with them on the balcony (from left ): Maids of
Honour Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, Lady Anne
Coke, Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton, and Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-
Stewart; Prince Charles; Princess Anne; and the Queen Mother.

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C
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INTRODUCTION COMMANDING
Since February 1952, the world has known THE ARMED FORCES
only Elizabeth II as the reigning monarch Although the prime minister or the
in Great Britain. During that time, she has Secretary of State for Defence usually
devoted herself to serving the U.K. and the oversees military concerns, the queen
Commonwealth. But what does that entail? is the Commander-in-Chief of the British
We look at her life through the fi lters of duty,
Armed Forces and the one they would ask
family and pop culture. As we celebrate her
to declare war if absolutely necessary.
Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years in power,
at 96, continues her remarkable legacy. 62
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CEREMONIAL HEAD OF
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
SYMBOL OF A NATION
King Henry VIII created this now
AND PATRON OF CHARITIES
ceremonial title in the 1530s, and the
The Queen upholds traditions, delivers
Queen, as sovereign, holds it, even though
messages to the nation, recognizes the
the real spiritual leader of the Church
achievements of its best citizens by conferring
is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
honors and titles, celebrates special events,
and off ers comfort in diffi cult times. She and
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the royal family are also patrons of more than
3,000 charities around the world.
CONTINUING
THE ROYAL LINE
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Through the children she had with Prince
Philip, the Queen is the matriarch of a line
CONSTITUTIONAL
of succession 24 people deep…and counting!
RESPONSIBILITIES
Beyond signing offi cial documents that
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arrive to her daily in a red box, the queen
offi cially opens Parliament each year, gives
CARETAKER
Royal assent to bills proposed by Parliament,
OF THE ARTS
and meets with an advisory board called
the Privy Council. She can also appoint The Queen is in charge of the Royal Collection
Ministers to the Crown, grant royal pardons, of art, which encompasses more than
issue passports, and dissolve Parliament. a million pieces including paintings,
sculptures, tapestries, and ceramics. Of course,
38 some of that art is about Her Majesty herself.
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HEAD OF THE STATE
AND THE COMMONWEALTH
POP CULTURE QUIRKS
As one of the U.K.’s top representatives, she
travels to other countries on offi cial visits and A rainbow of fashion choices, a pack
hosts distinguished visitors at home. While she is of corgis, a bevy of fi lm and TV portrayals,
still called Her Majesty in 14 countries, the queen and souvenirs for days— the sovereign
is also the leader of a modern association of 56 has been the center of fascination for her
independent nations called the Commonwealth. looks, interests, and screen potential.
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ELIZABETH II A DAY-TO-DAY PORTRAIT
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SYMBOL
of a
NATION
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The Queen upholds traditions, delivers messages to the nation,
recognizes the achievements of its best citizens by conferring
honors and titles, celebrates special events, and off ers comfort
in diffi cult times. She and the royal family are also patrons
of more than 3,000 charities around the world.
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ELIZABETH II A DAY-TO-DAY PORTRAIT