15 fun facts about the Queen
From inventing a new dog breed to publishing her first Instagram post, discover our favourite facts about the Queen…
On 21 April 2020, Queen Elizabeth II turned 94! From creating her own breed of dog to sending 50,000 Christmas cards, Her Majesty’s certainly been busy over the years.
Join us on a trip back through history to discover our favourite facts about the Queen.
15 facts about the Queen
1. Queen Elizabeth II was born at 2.40am on 21 April 1926
To parents the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother).
2. She was crowned Queen on 2 June 1953
Watched by a TV audience of 20 million people.
Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Queen Elizabeth II primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!
3. She is the longest reigning monarch ever in Britain
Beating even Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandma!).
4. As Queen, she has been served by 14 UK Prime Ministers
Including Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and more recently, Boris Johnson.
5. Her favourite dogs are corgis
She even invented a new breed of dog when her corgi mated with a dachshund belonging to her sister, Princess Margaret, creating the “dorgi”.
6. She’s the only person in the UK allowed to drive without a licence
And she still drives to this day!
7. The Queen has two birthdays
Her actual birthday – 21 April – and her official birthday, which is held on a Saturday in June – when the weather’s better!
8. The Queen’s birthplace is now a fancy Cantonese restaurant
Called Hakkasan, at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair – we hope she likes a takeaway!
9. The Queen first sent an email in 1976
… and published her first Instagram post in 2019!
10. She has many hobbies
Including horse riding, pigeon racing, and football – she’s an Arsenal supporter!
11. Queen Elizabeth became a homeowner at just six years old
When the people of Wales gifted her a house in the grounds of Windsor’s Royal Lodge. Named Y Bwthyn Bach, it means “little cottage”.
12. The Queen has sent around 50,000 Christmas cards
– and counting!
13. She owns an elephant, two giant turtles, a jaguar and a pair of sloths
Presents from other countries, all of which live in London Zoo.
14. Princess Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast in October 1940, during the Second World War.
15. Even the monarch can go undercover sometimes
On a recent low-key trip to Scotland, she met some American tourists while walking. When the tourists asked if she lived locally, she mentioned that she had a house nearby, and when asked if she’d ever met the Queen she simply pointed at her security and said, “No, but he has!”
Check out our cool comic about Queen Elizabeth II
… and print it out, here!
What do you think of our facts about the Queen? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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COMMENTS
Good job your smart
so lovely and amazing I loved it I say a very big thank you to national geographic and I love you guys
i think its better than jam
Extremely Interesting
COOL!!!!!!!!!!
i always wanted to know about Queen Elizabeth ll and these facts are awsome
this is very interesting
Our Queen is one very smart Lady
Hi I am a really big fan of queen Elizabeth and I wanna be a queen when I grow up. Queen Elizabeth is my idol also.
i didn't even know one of those facts! these were mind blowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The queen is nice
interesting