When her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 over his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson, Elizabethβs father was declared King George VI, moving the then 10-year-old princess into the direct line of succession. bit.ly
In 1947 Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. They had four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. bit.ly
On Feb. 6, 1952, King George VI died suddenly at the age of 56 from a coronary thrombosis. Princess Elizabeth acceded to the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth II. Her coronation in Westminster Abbey was the first in British history to be televised. bit.ly
The Queen became a cultural staple during her long and eventful reign. She was the most photographed woman in history and was depicted on the big screen, the small screen, the stage, in music, and in art. bit.ly
She is the main subject of the Netflix original series #TheCrown. Over the showβs six seasons, she has been portrayed by Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton, who will play the queen during the fifth and sixth seasons. bit.ly
βWhile I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all,β she said in a letter to the British public in 2022. βI remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.β bit.ly