Queen Elizabeth II: how Britain has changed during her record reign

 

 

13 FACTS ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH II

1. The Queen is the second longest serving monarch. Only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. They are:
•Victoria (63 years)
•George III (59 years)
•Henry III (56 years)
•Edward III (50 years)
•James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years)
2. She speaks fluent French and often uses the language for audiences and state visits. She does not require an interpreter.
3. Elizabeth has visited Australia 16 times, Canada 22 times, Jamaica 6 times and New Zealand 10 Times.
4. Her real birthday is April 21, but it is celebrated officially in June.
5. Since 1952, The Queen has conferred over 404,500 honours and awards.
6. During their visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1970, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh initiated a new practice – the ‘walkabout’ – to allow them to meet as many people as possible.
7. The Queen has sat for 129 portraits during her reign.
8. The Queen learnt to drive in 1945.
9. In 60 years, The Queen has undertaken 261 official overseas visits, including 96 State Visits, to 116 different countries.
10. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have sent approximately 45,000 Christmas cards during The Queen’s reign.
11. The Queen launched the British Monarchy’s official website in 1997. In 2007 the official British Monarchy YouTube channel was unveiled, swiftly followed by a Royal Twitter site (2009), Flickr page (2010) and Facebook page (also 2010).
12. In an average year, The Queen will host more than 50,000 people at banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace. The Queen also hosts more than 8,000 people each year at garden parties and investitures at Holyroodhouse, during Holyrood Week.
13. The Queen made an historic visit to the Republic of Ireland in May 2011, the first visit by a British Monarch since Irish independence (King George V’s had visited in 1911).



source of information: http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/09/63-facts-about-queen-elizabeth-ii-the-uk-s-longest-reigning-monarch/

QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN THE EIGHTIES

THE EIGHTIES: In 1981 the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana would become "The Wedding of the Century". Victory in Falklands was followed by further national celebration with the birth of Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. The indomitable Margaret Thatcher won a third term and survived the Brighton bombing. The decade ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall and,through celebration and turmoil, our Queen reigned supreme.

source of information: http://www.hungamahub.com/video/59F05V9yau8/the-queen-elizabeth-ii-part-3-4-the-seventies-the-eighties.html

QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN THE SEVENTIES

THE SEVENTIES: The 1970s were a mix of gloom and glitter. The queen and Prince Philip celebrated 25 years of marriage and Princess Anne wed Mark Phillips. The long,hot summer of 1976 was burned into our memory - both for the heatwave and civil unrest. But in 1977 the Queen's Silver Jubilee revived the nation. After Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister.the two most important positions in Britain were now occupied by women



source of information: http://www.hungamahub.com/video/59F05V9yau8/the-queen-elizabeth-ii-part-3-4-the-seventies-the-eighties.html

Can UK royals win battle against paparazzi?

I have been reading an awesome article on CNN website and I want to show it on my blog.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/14/opinions/arbiter-royal-photos/

Citing the serious issue of security, the statement also drew attention to the perverse way in which such photos are obtained. Many would argue that all children, not just those who are royal, should be allowed to play free from the prying eye of a photographer intent on financial gain, sequestered in the boot of his car and equipped with a long lens.

But George is not just any child. There have been photos of him playing with his mother at a park close to the family's Norfolk home, images of him on the beach with his grandmother, Carole Middleton, and others of him out and about with his nanny in London. The list goes on.

Paparazzi pictures have plagued the British royals for decades. More than 30 years ago, images of Princess Diana frolicking in the surf were splashed across every British front page.

 And who could forget the startling images of Sarah Ferguson having her toes sucked. When Prince William and Prince Harry were children, stepladders were regularly propped against school walls in the hope of gaining surreptitious photos.

But the royals are not alone in their fight for the privacy of their children. The British press now blurs the faces of famous offspring, but around the rest of the world, there doesn't appear to be any strict regulation. No doubt, one day, Suri Cruise, Harper Beckham and Shiloh Pitt will have plenty to say on the topic.

The question is, how do you mandate a global press? Given George and Charlotte's positions as potential monarchs, is it unreasonable of William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, to demand privacy for their children?

 

All the best for Queen Elizabeth II!

To celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II I wish Her Majesty a lot of health, satisfaction of being a queen and a lot of luck. #QueenElizabethII