This month, Queen Elizabeth II. became the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Princess Elizabeth, then only 25 years old, made a promise before the Commonwealth of Nations: "I declare before you that my life, be it long or short, will be dedicated to work for you and work for our great royal family, to which all we belong.” No one who heard these words thought that Queen Elizabeth II would be. one day overtook her great-grandmother Queen Victoria's record and stayed on the throne for 63 years, seven months and two days.
Queen Elizabeth II. (baptized as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor) was born on April 21, 1926, as the daughter of Duke and later King George IV. and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York. Although the crown was not intended for her at first (namely, her uncle Edward VIII was the successor, but he renounced the crown), Queen Elizabeth II. at 89, the oldest monarch in the world and Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Elizabeth jumped into the marital yoke with a distant cousin, Phillip Mountbatten, and four children were born to them, namely Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
During her more than six-decade-long reign, she was witnessing a complete change of the United Kingdom – both internally and externally. Its existence was never really threatened, for which the merits should be given to Queen Elizabeth II. and her decision not to reveal her political views.
Duty and patriotism were themes present every day of her life, and today the almost 90-year-old queen has a lot of experience with world and foreign affairs.
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In the gallery, we can see the story of some of her happiest and most glorious moments as well as sad ones, both from her family and professional life.
1952: The Queen in a Norman Hartnell dress - the dress was immediately copied and was available in stores within 24 hours.
1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
1954: After her coronation, the Queen embarked on a 174-day tour of the Commonwealth of Nations.
1955: The Queen during a visit to a horse race. Sama is a big fan of both racing and riding itself.
1956: The Queen accompanied by the Chairman of the Arab Horse Society at a horse show.
1957: Queen Elizabeth's first televised Christmas greeting.
1958: The Queen visits a mine in Scotland.
1959: The Queen opens a box/suitcase containing official documents sent to her in her office at Buckingham Palace.
1960: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.
1961: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, to whom their mother passed on her love of horses and hedgehogs.
1962: At a horse race with mother Elizabeta.
1963: After the Salute to the Colors event, the Queen rode back to Buckingham Palace.
1964: The Queen inspects the First and Second Battalions of the Guard.
1965: Queen Elizabeth with her family.
1966: The Queen visits the site of the tragedy, where as many as 145 people died.
1967: The Queen at a garden party for the fiftieth anniversary of women in service.
1968: The Royal Family.
1969: The Queen and her family decorate the Christmas tree.
1970: Queen Elizabeth with Prime Minister Heath, US President Nixon and his wife Pat.
1971: The Queen on the Royal Yacht Britannia during her silver wedding anniversary celebrations.
1972: The Queen in office at Balmoral. Even when she is not in London, she receives official government papers every day.
1973: Queen Elizabeth loves dogs, among other things - the Welsh Shepherd is her favorite breed.
1974: The Queen and daughter Princess Anne greet the men who came to the aid of Princess Anne's abduction threat.
1975: The Queen during a visit to Japan.
1976: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh during their summer holiday at Balmoral.
1977: The Queen at Porthsmoth.
1978: A gift to Queen Elizabeth included a Jersey cow.
1979: The Queen during a visit to the Middle East country of Oman.
1980: Queen Elizabeth became a grandmother for the first time with the birth of Peter Phillips. The five-year-old Earl of Ulster is also there.
1981: Queen Elizabeth at Royal Ascot.
1982: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit the Solomon Islands.
1983: The Queen during a visit to India. During her reign, she traveled to as many as 129 countries.
1984: The royal family was diligently recruiting new members. Prince William is in the foreground.
1985: The Queen again took part in the Salute to Colors on Horseback and saluted like this.
1986: The Queen visits New Zealand.
1987: The Queen with her grandsons - Prince William and Prince Harry.
1988: The Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
1989: The Queen met twelve US presidents. Pictured with Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy.
1990: The Queen at Royal Ascot.
1991: The Queen with Prime Minister John Major.
1992: A devastating fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle. Queen Elizabeth assesses the damage together with a firefighter.
1993: The Queen visits Hungary.
1994: The Queen at Balmoral on summer holiday.
1995: Queen in Durban, South Africa.
1996: Queen in Thailand.
1997: Following the death of Princess Diana, the Queen honored the late princess with a televised speech.
1998: The Queen visits Malaysia.
1999: The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.
2000: The Queen toasts the new millennium.
2001: The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.
2002: The Queen on the golden anniversary of the succession to the throne.
2003: The Queen at the Salute to Colors event, this time in a carriage.
2004: A Christmas card for 2004.
2005: The Queen at the wedding of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
2006: The Queen reads 80th birthday wishes.
2007: The royal couple celebrates sixty years of solid marriage.
2008: The Queen during her visit to Slovenia.
2009: The Queen at Royal Ascot.
2010: The Queen on her way to dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.
2011: The Queen on the balcony during Prince William and Duchess Kate's kiss.
2012: Prince Charles kisses his mother's hand after giving her a warm speech on her diamond anniversary.
2013: Family photo of the heirs to the throne.
2014: The Queen appoints Angelina Jolie as an Honorary Dame Commander for her fight against sexual violence.
2015: The Queen on her way to Windsor.
