Queen Elizabeth's Life Journey

by Myra Johnson Garavi Gujarat Online Newspaper UK

The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor in Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. Few expected that she would ever become queen. But when her uncle Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman, Queen Elizabeth's father became king and became known as George VI. As a result, the Maharani, known as Lilibet, became the heir to the throne at the age of 10. Within three years, as Britain went to war with Nazi Germany, Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, had to spend much of the war at Windsor Castle. Prior to that, his parents rejected suggestions to move him to Canada. After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service learning basic motor mechanics and driving skills. It was then that he began to understand the esprit de corps that thrives in times of adversity. During the war he exchanged letters with his third cousin, Prince Philip of Greece, who served in the Royal Navy. It was there that their romance blossomed and on 20 November 1947 the couple were married at Westminster Abbey and Prince Philip was given the title of Duke of Edinburgh. When the Duke died in 2021, aged 99, the Queen described him as "my strength and companion through 74 years of marriage". Their first son, Charles, was born in 1948. Then Princess Anne was born in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964. who gave his parents eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya in 1952 representing the ailing King (father) and immediately returned to London as the new Queen upon receiving news that her father had died. Queen Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, aged 27, in the presence of a then-record TV audience, estimated at over 20 million. The same period saw the end of the British Empire abroad and the 60s saw major changes in social norms in the country. Queen Elizabeth reformed the monarchy and increased engagement with the public by attending royal visits and public events. His commitment to the Commonwealth remained constant and he visited every Commonwealth country at least once. But the queen's life was not always happy. In 1992, a fire broke out at Windsor Castle, a palace used for the Queen's private residence and work. On the other hand, the marriage of his three children was broken. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car accident in Paris in 1997, the Queen was criticized for her reluctance to respond publicly. As a 21-year-old princess, Elizabeth vowed to devote her life to service. Decades later, he celebrated his Silver Jubilee in 1977 and his Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The milestone was celebrated with colorful festivities, as well as live street parties. Her marriage to Prince Philip lasted 73 years. The Queen died in April 2021, 16 months after the death of Prince Philip. The Queen had four children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.