The Queen is the fifth longest serving British(*) monarch. (She becomes the fourth longest serving monarch on the 21st June, 2002). Only four other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. These are:
Victoria (63 years)
George III (59 years)
Henry III (56 years)
Edward III (50 years)
(*) James VI of Scotland reigned for 58 years (1567-1625). From 1603 to 1625 he also ruled Britain.
Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England.
The Young Princess
The following are some milestones in the life of Princess Elizabeth in the lead-up to her Accession to the Throne in 1952
The Pre-War Years
21-Apr-26
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is born at 17 Bruton Street, London.
The young Princess is educated by private tutors under the supervision of Marion Crawford, a graduate of Edinburgh University. Later, the Princess studied law and constitutional history under Mr. C.H.K Marten, the Vice-Provost of Eton, and studied piano under Miss Mabel Lander.
21-Dec-37
The Princess enrolls as a Girl Guide and became Patrol Leader of 1st Buckingham Palace Guide Company.
The War Years
13-Oct-40
Princess Elizabeth makes her first broadcast when she read a message on Children’s Hour to children of Britain and Commonwealth at home and overseas.
20-Apr-42
The Princess gives her first official audience when she receives Colonel Prescott of the Grenadier Guards on the eve of her 16th birthday and receives a diamond Regimental brooch as a birthday gift from the officers and men.
21-Apr-42
Princess Elizabeth makes her first official public engagement when she inspects the Grenadier Guards on her 16th birthday.
3-Feb-43
The Times announces that The King and Queen have consented to Princess Elizabeth becoming President of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
26-Feb-43
The Princess enrolls as a Sea Ranger.
13-Apr-43
Princess Elizabeth attends her first unaccompanied public engagement when she spends the day with the tank battalion of the Grenadier Guards in Southern Command.
31-May-43
The Princess accepts the Presidency of the Royal College of Music in place of the late Duke of Kent.
22-Mar-44
Princess Elizabeth begins her first official tour with her parents when she spends two days with The King and Queen on a military inspection tour in Yorkshire.
31-Mar-44
The Princess makes her first civic tour when she spends two days in South Wales with The King and Queen.
1-Aug-44
Together with the Queen, The Princess receives an Address from the House of Commons and replies on behalf of the Throne.
22-Sep-44
Princess Elizabeth makes her first official tour of Scotland with the King and Queen.
3-Oct-44
The Princess conducts her first opening ceremony when she opens the reconstructed Aberdeen Sailors Home.
1-Dec-44
Princess Elizabeth launches ‘HMS Vanguard’ at Clydebank and flies her own personal standard for the first time. This is the first time that The Princess has travelled from London without the King and Queen to take part in a ceremony of national significance.
14-Apr-45
The Princess completes her driving course and qualifies as a driver.
The Post-War Years
23-Dec-45
It is announced that The Princess is to become President of the Prince of Wales’ General Hospital, London.
18-Mar-46
Princess Elizabeth travels to Belfast in the cruiser ‘Superb’, the first naval vessel to fly The Princess’s own standard, where she launches the new aircraft carrier ‘HMS Eagle’.
30-Apr-46
The Princess launches the tanker ‘British Princess’ at Sunderland.
10-Jul-46
Princess Elizabeth is awarded an honorary degree of Bachelor of Music by her great-uncle.
23-Dec-46
The Girl Guides Association announces that The Princess has agreed to become Chief Ranger of the British Empire Rangers - senior Branch of the Girl Guides’ Association.
27-Jan-47
The Princess accepts the office of Permanent Grand Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators.
20-Apr-47
The King gives orders for the appointment of Princess Elizabeth as Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and of the 16th/5th Lancers.
21-Apr-47
Princess Elizabeth celebrates her 21st birthday in Cape Town and broadcasts an address to the Commonwealth in which she makes a ‘solemn act of dedication’.
9-Jul-47
The Princess announces her engagement to Lt Philip Mountbatten (The Duke of Edinburgh).
20-Nov-47
Princess Elizabeth is married to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
27-May-48
The Princess is granted the freedom of the City of Cardiff.
14-Nov-48
Prince Charles is born.
1-Mar-49
The Princess and The Duke of Edinburgh visit Edinburgh.
25-May-49
Princess Elizabeth visits Northern Ireland and receives the freedom of Belfast on 26th May.
21-Jun-49
The Princess and The Duke of Edinburgh visit the Channel Islands.
4-Jul-49
Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh take up residence in their new London home, Clarence House.
20-Nov-49
The Princess visits Malta.
15-Aug-50
Princess Anne is born at Clarence House.
26-May-51
Princess Elizabeth presents The King’s Colours to the RAF in Hyde Park in His Majesty’s absence.
5-Jun-51
The Princess reads the King’s Speech of welcome to the King of Norway at a State Dinner at Buckingham Palace.
27-Sep-51
The Princess is appointed a Counsellor of State during the King’s illness.
8-Oct-51
Princess Elizabeth begins a tour of Canada.
9-Oct-51
Buckingham Palace announces that the King, on the advice of his doctors, would not carry out the intended visit to Australia in 1952 and that their places would be taken by TRH Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh.
4-Dec-51
The Princess is introduced as a Member of the Privy Council.
30-Jan-52
Princess Elizabeth attends the Drury Lane Theatre with The King, The Queen, Princess Margaret and The Duke of Edinburgh on the eve of their departure on a Commonwealth tour.
31-Jan-52
The Princess and The Duke of Edinburgh depart from London on the first stage of a Commonwealth tour, arriving in Nairobi 1st February.
3-Feb-52
The Royal couple arrive at Sagana Hunting Lodge in Nyeri, in the foothills of Mt Kenya, and spend the night at Treetops Hotel.
6-Feb-52
Whilst staying at Sagana Lodge, The Princess receives the news of the death of HM King George VI.
6-Feb-52
Princess Elizabeth departs Entebbe, Uganda, by air for London, arriving 4.30pm on 7th February.
6-Feb-52
Her Majesty is proclaimed the new Sovereign at Accession Council at St James’ Palace.
8-Feb-52
The new Queen makes her Accession Declaration to members of the Privy Council at St James’ Palace. The public proclamation of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is made.