The Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, Elizabeth II, who, during her lifetime, united the whole world owing to her wisdom, humanity, and the scale of her personality, died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
While the world mourns the loss of the longest-reigning monarch, who inherited the throne 70 years ago, Kyiv Post let’s take a look at some of brightest moments of her life.
Queen Elizabeth II traveled more than any other British monarch, visiting over 100 countries during her reign, including making 22 visits to Canada and 13 to France.
The Queen has owned (solely or partially) fourteen retail parks and three shopping centers. Gallagher Retail Park in Cheltenham is located in one of them, and one can enjoy some genuinely royal cakes there.
Although the Queen rarely needed cash, she had an ATM in the basement of Buckingham Palace. By the decision of Coutts Bank, this ATM is used only by members of the Royal Family.
The Queen volunteered during World War II. Before inheriting the throne after her father’s death, Elizabeth, Princess at that time, became a truck driver and mechanic and the first female member of the royal family to serve in the army. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she trained to be a driver and was known as Lieutenant Elizabeth Windsor (personal number 230873).
After the Second World War, due to post-war austerity measures in Great Britain, then-Princess Elizabeth had to collect coupons for the fabric to make her wedding dress. According to British Heritage, the government provided her with 200 additional coupons for this purchase.
Even though Elizabeth II had the status of the wealthiest Queen in the world, she allegedly washed the dishes herself. Royal expert and writer Harry Mount, during a conversation with The Telegraph, recalled how a former royal courtier once told him: “I was at a dinner once. At the end of the dinner, I heard someone saying, ‘I’ll do the dishes.’ I turned and saw the Queen wearing yellow dishwashing gloves.”
As the Head of the British Monarchy, the Queen sent greeting cards to people celebrating their 100th birthday and more than 900,000 messages to couples celebrating their diamond (60th) wedding anniversary.
Elizabeth II had more than 30 corgi dogs. It is no secret that the Queen loved them a lot. Most of Her Majesty’s corgis are descended from Her first corgi, Susan, given to the Queen on Her eighteenth birthday in 1944.
The Queen posed for more than 200 official portraits, both painted and photographed. The first official portrait of Elizabeth was ordered in 1933 when she was only seven years old.
Elizabeth once even sent a message to the Moon. A pre-written message from Her Majesty was placed in the metal container to congratulate the Apollo 11 astronauts on their first lunar landing (July 21, 1969).
Quotes from The Queen
“I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice. But I can do something else. I can give you my heart and devotion to these old islands and all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
“I sincerely pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart, I shall strive to be worthy of your trust,” – said Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, Elizabeth II, and fulfilled her promise to serve her people with dignity.
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