May 23, 2018

On Saturday, May 19, much of the world’s attention was focused on Windsor Castle near London, England, for the celebrated royal wedding of British Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. Markle is the first United States citizen to be officially married to a member of the British royal family. She is also the first known member of the royal family with black heritage (her mother is African American). Upon her marriage, Markle received the title, Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex. Her new husband is now the Duke of Sussex, the Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle emerge from their wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. Credit: © Ben Birchall, WPA Pool/Getty Images

A congregation of 600 invited guests attended the midday ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the wedding, and an address was given by the Most Reverend Michael Curry, the first African American bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church. Music at the wedding was performed by the Kingdom Choir, a Christian gospel group; 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason; and trumpeters from the Household Cavalry, the British Army unit that includes both Harry and his older brother, Prince William, in its roll. (William is third in line to the British throne; Harry is sixth.) Seasonal flowers and plants decorated the chapel, including branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam (also called ironwood), as well as foxgloves, peonies, and white garden roses.

Outside the chapel, 2,640 invited guests greeted the newlyweds as they climbed into an open-top horse-drawn carriage for a procession through Windsor town. The beaming couple returned to the castle for a reception at St. George’s Hall hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. The royal family, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, and guests shared a lemon elderflower cake covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. Harry’s father, Prince Charles, who escorted Meghan during the wedding ceremony, then hosted an evening reception for close family and friends at Frogmore House, a property within the Windsor estate.

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, served as Harry’s best man, returning the favor for when Harry was best man at William’s marriage to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, at Westminster Abbey in 2011. William and Kate’s older children, 3-year-old Princess Charlotte and 4-year-old Prince George, were among the bridesmaids and page boys. The couple’s youngest child, Prince Louis, will have to wait to attend his first royal wedding. Just one month old, Louis (who ranks just above Harry in line to the throne) passed the ceremony with a nanny elsewhere on the Windsor estate.

April 21, 2016

Queen Elizabeth II turns 90 today, April 21, 2016. In this image from June 2012, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary as queen) at Chelsea Pier in London. © Bethany Clarke, Getty Images

Today, April 21, is the 90th birthday of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. She is the oldest monarch in British history. Queen Elizabeth’s great-great grandmother, Victoria (1819-1901), and ancestor George III (1738-1820) came closest; both monarchs lived to be 81 years of age. On Sept. 9, 2015, Elizabeth II also became the British monarch with the longest reign. On that day, she surpassed Victoria, who was on the throne for 63 years, 216 days.

In addition to the actual day of her birth, Queen Elizabeth II has a second, official birthday during the summer. This year it will be held on June 11. The tradition of an official birthday for the monarch began with George II (1683-1760). He was born in November, but it was often too cold in the United Kingdom for his birthday ceremony known as trooping the colour. The celebration, then—and his birthday—moved to the warmer months of summer. Since George II, all British monarchs have had the option of celebrating a summertime “official” birthday in addition to their actual day of birth.

Today, thousands of well-wishers greeted the queen as she walked the streets of Windsor, the home of Windsor Castle. Elizabeth unveiled a plaque for The Queen’s Walkway, a 4-mile (6.3-kilometer) trail at the foot of Castle Hill in Windsor. The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, also toured the town in an open-top Land Rover dubbed the “Queenmobile.” Tonight, Elizabeth will ignite the first of 1,000 torches that will be lighted in her honor across the United Kingdom. She will also have a private birthday dinner with family and friends. Tomorrow, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate at a luncheon with United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

September 9, 2015

At 5:30 p.m. London time on September 9, 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth II officially became the longest serving monarch in British history. Elizabeth became queen upon the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Her record reign—63 years, 216 days, 16 hours, and 23 minutes—broke the record of her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire (presumably for 1 minute less) from 1837 to 1901. In her own right, Victoria broke King George III’s record reign of 59 years (1760 to 1820) on Sept. 23, 1896.

Queen Elizabeth II poses during her coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey in 1953. (© Cecil Beaton, Camera Press/Redux Pictures)

Elizabeth’s endurance record was celebrated in London by a flotilla of ships on the River Thames, sounding guns, horns, and cheers. Prime Minister David Cameron and members of Parliament halted business to attend the tribute to the queen, but Elizabeth was absent, choosing not to toot her own horn. She instead conducted business as usual, opening the Scottish Borders Railway in Tweedbank, Scotland. She gave a short speech, crediting the reign milestone with the simple luck of having lived a long life. Elizabeth thanked well-wishers from around the world before retiring to the royal residence at Balmoral.

So who holds the record for shortest reign? It’s disputed, but Lady Jane Grey’s brief, unhappy 9-day reign is the shortest. Lady Jane was born into turbulent times, reluctantly becoming queen upon the death of her cousin King Edward VI in 1553. Her ambitious half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth both wanted the throne for themselves, however. “Bloody Mary” (Queen Mary I) took control first, having Jane imprisoned and then executed. Mary died just five years later, to be succeeded by Elizabeth, whose 44-year reign ranks 8th in British history.

Other Links

• United Kingdom (1952-a Back in time article)
• United Kingdom (1953-a Back in time article)

March 3, 2015

At a ceremony at the National Portrait Gallery in London yesterday, a new portrait of Elizabeth II, the queen of the United Kingdom, was unveiled. The portrait will be used on the front (obverse) side of coins struck by the Royal Mint. The portrait’s artist, Jody Clark, is the first Royal Mint worker in more than 100 years to have an image, known as an effigy, selected to be struck on British coins.

A 2015 £1 coin bearing the fifth definitive coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II  (Credit: The Royal Mint)

This portrait is the fifth to be created for Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 1952. The first effigy, by sculptor Mary Gillick, was struck in 1953, the year of Elizabeth’s coronation. It shows a very young queen wearing a laurel wreath. This is the only earlier portrait of the queen that is still used on coins today, as this image is used on Maundy money (money distributed by the queen on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday). The most recent portrait shows a mature queen wearing the diamond diadem (crown) she wore at her coronation and a small smile.

Other World Book articles: 

• Mint
• United Kingdom
• United Kingdom (1952-a Back in time article)
• United Kingdom (1953-a Back in time article)

June 6, 2014

Several thousand military veterans joined heads of state in Normandy, in northwestern France, today in a series of events commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the start of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II (1939-1945). D-Day marked the beginning of the biggest amphibious invasion in military history. Some 160,000 troops, mainly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, crossed the English Channel on June 6, 1944, to attack German dictator Adolf Hitler’s Fortress Europe (the areas of Europe controlled by Nazi Germany). By the end of D-Day, the Allies had a foothold in France. Within 11 months, Nazi Germany had been defeated, ending World War II in Europe. The Allied success on D-Day came at a significant cost, however. More than 10,000 Allied soldiers, sailors, and aviators were killed, were wounded, or went missing.

Speaking at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, U.S. President Barack Obama said, “America’s claim–our commitment to liberty, to equality, to freedom, to the inherent dignity of every human being–that claim is written in blood on these beaches, and it will endure for eternity.” The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach, one of the Allies’ five code-named landing sites in Normandy. United States forces also landed at Utah Beach. British forces landed at Gold and Sword beaches, while Canadian troops landed at Juno Beach. “What more powerful manifestation of America’s commitment to human freedom” could there be, asked President Obama, “than the sight of wave after wave of young men boarding those boats to liberate people they’d never met?”

Hitting the beach, Allied infantrymen swarmed ashore along the Normandy coast of northern France on D-Day—June 6, 1944. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Hitler had boasted that German defenses along the coast could resist any attack. But he was wrong. (U.S. Coast Guard)

President Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom were among world leaders and dignitaries who attended a luncheon hosted by French President Francois Hollande. Queen Elizabeth is the only living head of state who served in World War II. She worked as a mechanic and military truck driver. Russia (then the Soviet Union), which fought Hitler’s forces on the war’s eastern front, did not participate in the Normandy invasion. But the Soviet Union suffered more casualties than any other country in World War II–about 27 million troops and civilians killed and millions more wounded. Also at the luncheon were the monarchs of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway; the presidents or prime ministers of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Poland, and Slovakia; the grand duke of Luxembourg; and the governor-general of New Zealand.

Following the luncheon, world leaders, dignitaries, veterans, and spectators attended the main commemoration, held at Sword Beach. The ceremony included speeches, a re-creation of scenes from the invasion, a 21-gun salute, and a flyby of World War II aircraft. At dawn today, an international task force of ships sailing across the English Channel arrived at Normandy. The force was led by HMS Bulwar, the Royal Navy flagship.

Additional World Book articles:

• Battle of Normandy
• Sir Winston Churchill
• Dwight David Eisenhower
• Erwin Rommel

March 20, 2012

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom continued the commemoration of her diamond jubilee with a speech before a rare joint session of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. The Queen is celebrating her 60-year reign, which began in 1952 upon the death of her father, George VI. The only other British monarch to have achieved a diamond jubilee was Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother, Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901. Queen Elizabeth is the head of state of the United Kingdom as well as of 15 other countries that belong to the Commonwealth of Nations, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Elizabeth II has been the queen of the United Kingdom and head of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1952. (Courtesy of AP/Wide Wide)

During her speech, the Queen promised to “rededicate” herself  to serving the United Kingdom and its people. She also particularly thanked her husband, Prince Philip, whom she married in 1947,  for being her “constant strength and guide.” Her speech was greeted with a standing ovation by hundreds of dignitaries, including Prime Minister David Cameron and other members of the Cabinet.

In honor of the occasion, the Queen was presented with a stained glass window featuring her Royal Arms. The window, which was designed by British artist John Reyntiens, is to be installed above the north door of Westminster Hall and is a gift from members of both Houses of Parliament.

Additional World Book articles:

• Kings and queens of the United Kingdom
• Royal Family of the United Kingdom
• United Kingdom, History of (The Victorian Age–1840′s-about 1900)

Feb. 6, 2012

The diamond jubilee celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne began with gun salutes around the United Kingdom, including a 41-gun salute in London’s Hyde Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London. Elizabeth ascended to the British throne on the death of her father, George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952. Queen Elizabeth is the head of state of the United Kingdom as well as 16 other countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, wave to a joyous crowd in London during the queen's Golden Jubilee, which marked the 50th anniversary of her reign. AP/Wide World

Elizabeth will be 86 years old on April 21. Her mother, Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, lived to be 101.

Queen Elizabeth II has reined longer than any other British monarch with the exception of her great-great-grandmother, Victoria, who ruled for 63 years, from 1837 to 1901. Victoria’s diamond jubilee was officially celebrated on June 22, 1897.  At the time, the British Empire was near its zenith, covering some 13 million square miles (33.7 million square kilometers), almost a quarter of Earth’s total land area. Victoria ruled over one-fifth of the world’s population.

Victoria was queen of the United Kingdom for 63 years. During her reign, often called the Victorian Age, the United Kingdom built a huge empire and became the world's richest country. Bridgeman/Art Resource

Additional World Book articles

• Kings and queens of  the United Kingdom
• Philip, Prince
• United Kingdom, history of (The Victorian Age–1840’s-about 1900)
• The Queen Mother: Creator of the Modern Monarchy (a special report)