Queen Elizabeth II in thirteen fun facts: from corgis to intruders

At 96, she is not only the longest-living monarch but also the longest on the throne: 70, no less. Last June she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. He is, of course, one of the most fascinating characters of the 21st century and his life, full of historical events and milestones, has been portrayed in many formats: biographies, documentaries, interviews, reports… However, there are details and curiosities not so well known.

Read also – Elizabeth II, a life in images: great historical moments that marked her 70-year reign

– He was named after his mother, Queen Elizabeth; her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and her paternal grandmother, Queen Mary.

– His grandfather, King George V, gave him his first pony when he was 4 years old. She called him Peggy.

– Her official title since March 26, 1953 is Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Queen of her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations and Defender of Faith.

– When World War II started she was a girl guide in the Scouts and received the same training that all other girl guides received at her age. She was also a lifeguard, mechanic, and driver at age 17.

– She was the sixth woman to ascend the British throne and the longest-reigning monarch. In September 2015, she broke the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, after 63 years and 216 days on the throne. Queen Victoria (1837-1901) reigned for 63 years and seven months.

– Elizabeth II was the first born Windsor. Her uncle eliminated by decree her real surnames, which were actually Saxe Coburg Gotha. George V changed his surname to the name of the castle, Windsor.

– He was a great lover of dogs and, specifically, of the corgi breed. The first was Susan, a present for her 18th birthday. Since then, she has had up to 30 offspring. In 2018 she lost her last, 14-year-old Willow, who was euthanized after a battle with cancer.

– Throughout his life he posed for 139 official portraits and a hologram. One of the portraits of him, intervened, was the cover of the album God Save the Queenof the Sex Pistols.

– During her reign she visited 116 countries, but she never used a passport: she does not need it because she was the one who endorsed them. Her benefit does not extend to her family.

– I did not have or need a driving license. He also did not use a license plate on his official vehicle. She was the only person in the UK who could disregard traffic laws without being fined.

– He sent more than a hundred thousand telegrams to people who turned 100 in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

– On June 13, 1981, a teenager (Marcus Simon Sarjeant) shot the queen six times while she was participating in a cavalcade in London. He was arrested and charged with treason.

– She had her own Barbie doll, a gift for her Platinum Jubilee. She is sculpted in detail to the measurements of the queen and dressed in one of the models she used for one of the last official portraits of her.