Queen Elizabeth II was born in London, England on 21 April 1926. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, George and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Five weeks after her birth she was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. Her sister Princess Margaret was born four years later.

Their father was not expected to be king but with the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, in December 1936 he became King George VI.

Elizabeth and Margaret were educated at home. When Elizabeth became Heiress Presumptive to the throne she started to study constitutional history and law. She made her first radio broadcast at the age of 14 when she spoke to the children of the Commonwealth, many being evacuated due to World War II.

After the war her public engagements grew. Her first official visit overseas occurred in 1947, when she accompanied her parents and sister on a tour of South Africa.

Elizabeth married her fourth cousin Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. They had four children: Prince Charles, now HM King Charles III, born in 1948; Princess Anne, now the Princess Royal, born in 1950; Prince Andrew, now the Duke of York, born in 1960; and Prince Edward, now the Earl of Wessex, born in 1964.

During an official tour of Kenya in 1952 Princess Elizabeth was informed of the death of her father, and that she was Queen. She immediately returned to England to take up her duties and to lead the nation in mourning. Her coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.

The Queen visited Australia numerous times, including in 1954, 1973, 1992, 2006 and 2011. Her Platinum Jubliee was celebrated across the Commonwealth in 2022, marking an unprecedented 70 years on the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.

References:
http://www.tcmuseum.org/royal_events/queen_elizabeth_ii_biography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom

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