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The Retail Trust , trading as retailTRUST , is a registered charity based in North London which aims to support those working and retired from the retail industry in the United Kingdom. The charity runs a helpline and several retirement estates in England and Scotland, as well as providing educational bursaries and hardship grants.

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132-514: RetailTRUST was founded in 1832 by Thomas Helps, as The Linen and Woollen Drapers, Silk Mercers, Lacemen, Haberdashers and Hosiers' Institution . Initially it was a "confederacy of good feeling" with close links to the emerging department store sector. In 1898, an estate in Mill Hill was donated to the charity, which became the first retirement estate for aged retail workers and it changed its name to The Cottage Homes Charity . Queen Elizabeth II became

264-588: A DUP councillor, was suspended from the party after making reference to "grooming" when speaking about the first meeting between the Duke and the Queen when she was 13. In May 2021, the Royal Mail honoured Philip by issuing four black and white stamps depicting him at various stages of his life. The following month, HM Treasury unveiled a new special limited-edition £5 coin bearing Philip's portrait on Armed Forces Day , with

396-529: A civil marriage , she would have been expected to renounce her right of succession . Margaret decided to abandon her plans with Townsend. In 1960, she married Antony Armstrong-Jones , who was created Earl of Snowdon the following year. They divorced in 1978; Margaret did not remarry. Despite Queen Mary's death on 24 March 1953, the coronation went ahead as planned on 2 June, as Mary had requested. The coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey

528-642: A hung parliament ; Heath's Conservatives were not the largest party but could stay in office if they formed a coalition with the Liberals . When discussions on forming a coalition foundered, Heath resigned, and Elizabeth asked the Leader of the Opposition , Labour 's Harold Wilson , to form a government. A year later, at the height of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis , the Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam ,

660-545: A military funeral conducted at St George's Chapel and burial in King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside King George VI , Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother , Princess Margaret and his wife, Queen Elizabeth II after her death. This royal ceremonial funeral is the same level of honour as those given to his former daughter in law Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 and to his mother in law Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002. The funeral of Prince Philip

792-636: A private company limited by guarantee and not having share capital, registered under the Companies Act 1985 , with exemption from use of the limited suffix. Traditionally retailTRUST's fundraising initiatives focused on high-profile gala events, such as the London Ball, the Great Northern Ball and the Grand Scottish Ball. The first London Ball was held in 1952. The annual ball has become one of

924-459: A psychiatric hospital with the intention of assassinating Charles, who was visiting the country with Diana and their son Prince William . From April to September 1982, Elizabeth's son Andrew served with British forces in the Falklands War , for which she reportedly felt anxiety and pride. On 9 July, she awoke in her bedroom at Buckingham Palace to find an intruder, Michael Fagan , in

1056-404: A 30‑second moment of silence . As a result, much of the fury among the public softened, and the protests were called off. That November, the royal couple held a reception at Banqueting House to mark their golden wedding anniversary. Elizabeth made a speech and praised Philip for his role as consort, referring to him as "my strength and stay". In 1999, as part of the process of devolution in

1188-439: A Royal Knockout in 1987 was ridiculed. In Canada, Elizabeth publicly supported politically divisive constitutional amendments , prompting criticism from opponents of the proposed changes, including Pierre Trudeau. The same year, the elected Fijian government was deposed in a military coup . As monarch of Fiji , Elizabeth supported the attempts of Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau to assert executive power and negotiate

1320-534: A divorcé 16 years Margaret's senior with two sons from his previous marriage. Elizabeth asked them to wait for a year; in the words of her private secretary , "the Queen was naturally sympathetic towards the Princess, but I think she thought—she hoped—given time, the affair would peter out." Senior politicians were against the match and the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce. If Margaret had contracted

1452-500: A draft accession declaration in case the King died while she was on tour. In early 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set out for a tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of the British colony of Kenya . On 6 February, they had just returned to their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge , after a night spent at Treetops Hotel , when word arrived of the death of Elizabeth's father. Philip broke the news to

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1584-630: A formal mechanism for electing a leader, thus relieving the Queen of her involvement. In 1957, Elizabeth made a state visit to the United States, where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the Commonwealth. On the same tour, she opened the 23rd Canadian Parliament , becoming the first monarch of Canada to open a parliamentary session. Two years later, solely in her capacity as Queen of Canada, she revisited

1716-426: A huge void in her life". The Duke's children paid tribute to him in interviews recorded for broadcast after his death. Prince Charles also made a televised short statement from Highgrove House , describing his father as a "much loved and appreciated figure" who had "given the most remarkable, devoted service to the Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth". In accordance with

1848-506: A hundred floral and card tributes were placed at the Palace gates, and thousands gathered to pay their respects. An elegy was published by Poet Laureate , Simon Armitage to mark the Duke's death. The heavy coverage of the death, particularly by the BBC, received some public criticism. On 15 April, it was announced that the BBC received 109,741 complaints about their handling of the Duke's death,

1980-550: A patron in 1948. Two more retirement estates were acquired in 1956 and 1960, in Derby and Glasgow respectively. In 1996, Cottage Homes launched its Helpline, which shifted the focus of the charity to current retail workers. In 2002, the charity adopted the present name and opened a fourth retirement home in Liverpool. A fifth retirement estate was opened in 2009 in Salford. In 2001, it became

2112-462: A pitch of public interest that the boundary between fact and fiction has been lost sight of ... it is not just that some papers don't check their facts or accept denials: they don't care if the stories are true or not." It was reported, most notably in The Sunday Times of 20 July 1986, that Elizabeth was worried that Margaret Thatcher 's economic policies fostered social divisions and

2244-492: A planned transition to self-government. In 1965, however, the Rhodesian prime minister, Ian Smith , in opposition to moves towards majority rule , unilaterally declared independence while expressing "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth formally dismissed him, and the international community applied sanctions against Rhodesia, his regime survived for over a decade. As Britain's ties to its former empire weakened,

2376-812: A settlement. Coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka deposed Ganilau and declared Fiji a republic. In the wake of coalition victory in the Gulf War , Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress in May 1991. In November 1992, in a speech to mark the Ruby Jubilee of her accession, Elizabeth called 1992 her annus horribilis (a Latin phrase, meaning "horrible year"). Republican feeling in Britain had risen because of press estimates of Elizabeth's private wealth—contradicted by

2508-419: A son, he would have been heir apparent and above her in the line of succession, which was determined by the male-preference primogeniture in effect at the time. Elizabeth received private tuition in constitutional history from Henry Marten , Vice-Provost of Eton College , and learned French from a succession of native-speaking governesses. A Girl Guides company, the 1st Buckingham Palace Company ,

2640-504: A tide of happiness and relief." During the war, plans were drawn to quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Wales. Proposals, such as appointing her Constable of Caernarfon Castle or a patron of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League of Youth), were abandoned for several reasons, including fear of associating Elizabeth with conscientious objectors in the Urdd at

2772-697: A time when Britain was at war. Welsh politicians suggested she be made Princess of Wales on her 18th birthday. Home Secretary Herbert Morrison supported the idea, but the King rejected it because he felt such a title belonged solely to the wife of a Prince of Wales and the Prince of Wales had always been the heir apparent. In 1946, she was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales . Elizabeth went on her first overseas tour in 1947, accompanying her parents through southern Africa. During

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2904-607: A visit to the Grenadier Guards , of which she had been appointed colonel the previous year. As she approached her 18th birthday, Parliament changed the law so that she could act as one of five counsellors of state in the event of her father's incapacity or absence abroad, such as his visit to Italy in July 1944. In February 1945, she was appointed an honorary second subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service with

3036-665: Is a savings and loans co-operative launched in 2017. In 2013, retailTRUST identified mounting concerns among retailers about the number of employees reporting financial difficulties, prompting the establishment of a credit union for retail. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA. Ultimately, like the banks and building societies, members’ savings are protected against business failure by

3168-468: Is the longest of any British monarch , the second-longest of any sovereign state , and the longest of any queen regnant in history . Elizabeth was born in Mayfair , London, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V . She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother ). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon

3300-647: Is traditionally associated with seafarers, Benjamin Britten 's Jubilate in C (also commissioned by the Duke), and the Russian Kontakion of the Departed to an arrangement by Sir Walter Parratt . The music performance entailed meticulous planning of keys, built around G minor and G major; other connecting royal, historical and local themes were also included in the music for the service. The Dean of Windsor paid tribute to

3432-653: The BBC , the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, and PA Media ; protocol assumes the Lord Chamberlain consulted with the Queen prior to the press release. The plan included duties to disseminate the news across the Commonwealth of Nations . In Australia, one of the Commonwealth realms of which Elizabeth was queen, the responsibility to inform the government and public was that of Governor-General David Hurley . At

3564-540: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme . Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She had been queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days

3696-679: The Royal Medical Household , stated the cause of death as " old age ". The national plan for publicly handling the Duke's death was called Operation Forth Bridge , named after the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh , the city of his dukedom . According to the College of Arms , the original plan was amended in light of the COVID-19 pandemic . Initiated upon his death, the plan included a press release issued by Buckingham Palace simultaneously to

3828-527: The Royal Navy throughout the Second World War), and had sisters who had married German noblemen with Nazi links. Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of the King's advisors did not think him good enough for her. He was a prince without a home or kingdom. Some of the papers played long and loud tunes on the string of Philip's foreign origin." Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother had reservations about

3960-639: The Silver Jubilee of her accession. Parties and events took place throughout the Commonwealth, many coinciding with her associated national and Commonwealth tours . The celebrations re-affirmed Elizabeth's popularity, despite virtually coincident negative press coverage of Princess Margaret's separation from her husband, Lord Snowdon. In 1978, Elizabeth endured a state visit to the United Kingdom by Romania 's communist leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu , and his wife, Elena , though privately she thought they had "blood on their hands". The following year brought two blows:

4092-647: The Social Democratic Party —Thatcher's political opponents. Thatcher's biographer John Campbell claimed "the report was a piece of journalistic mischief-making". Reports of acrimony between them were exaggerated, and Elizabeth gave two honours in her personal gift—membership in the Order of Merit and the Order of the Garter —to Thatcher after her replacement as prime minister by John Major . Brian Mulroney , Canadian prime minister between 1984 and 1993, said Elizabeth

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4224-461: The Suez Canal . Lord Mountbatten said that Elizabeth was opposed to the invasion, though Eden denied it. Eden resigned two months later. The governing Conservative Party had no formal mechanism for choosing a leader, meaning that it fell to Elizabeth to decide whom to commission to form a government following Eden's resignation. Eden recommended she consult Lord Salisbury , the lord president of

4356-468: The Wanli Emperor , and remarked, "fortunately postal services have improved since 1602". Elizabeth's visit also signified the acceptance of both countries that sovereignty over Hong Kong would be transferred from the United Kingdom to China in 1997. By the end of the 1980s, Elizabeth had become the target of satire. The involvement of younger members of the royal family in the charity game show It's

4488-678: The funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales , and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon , though protocol was followed for the funeral of the Queen Mother . Prince Harry, who was then living in the United States, had planned to return to the UK for the Duke's 100th birthday in June and the unveiling of a statue of his mother in July. He instead returned six days prior to the funeral. He would have been joined by his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex , but she did not receive medical clearance from her doctor for making

4620-465: The royal house would take her husband's name, in line with the custom for married women of the time. Lord Mountbatten advocated for House of Mountbatten , and Philip suggested House of Edinburgh , after his ducal title. The British prime minister, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth's grandmother Queen Mary favoured the retention of the House of Windsor . Elizabeth issued a declaration on 9 April 1952 that

4752-730: The service number 230873. She trained as a driver and mechanic and was given the rank of honorary junior commander (female equivalent of captain at the time) five months later. At the end of the war in Europe, on Victory in Europe Day , Elizabeth and Margaret mingled incognito with the celebrating crowds in the streets of London. In 1985, Elizabeth recalled in a rare interview, "... we asked my parents if we could go out and see for ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised ... I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall , all of us just swept along on

4884-467: The 14-year-old Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast during the BBC 's Children's Hour , addressing other children who had been evacuated from the cities. She stated: "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers, and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well." In 1943, Elizabeth undertook her first solo public appearance on

5016-536: The 1981 Trooping the Colour ceremony, six weeks before the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer , six shots were fired at Elizabeth from close range as she rode down The Mall, London , on her horse, Burmese . Police later discovered the shots were blanks. The 17-year-old assailant, Marcus Sarjeant , was sentenced to five years in prison and released after three. Elizabeth's composure and skill in controlling her mount were widely praised. That October, Elizabeth

5148-577: The British government sought entry to the European Community , a goal it achieved in 1973 . In 1966, the Queen was criticised for waiting eight days before visiting the village of Aberfan , where a mining disaster killed 116 children and 28 adults. Martin Charteris said that the delay, made on his advice, was a mistake that she later regretted. Elizabeth toured Yugoslavia in October 1972, becoming

5280-746: The COVID-19 pandemic meant that the number of guests attending the funeral was limited to thirty. This limit did not include anyone working at the funeral, such as pallbearers and clergy. As a result, only members of the Royal Family and a limited number of relatives attended the ceremony inside the chapel. The Queen sat alone at the service. Per COVID-19 regulations, households were separated by two metres. All attendees were required to wear masks and not sing. The funeral departed from royal protocol with all family members attending in formal day dress rather than military uniforms, something which also occurred at

5412-614: The Canadian branch of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award , as a tribute to the Duke. A national day of mourning was proclaimed in Canada on 17 April, with a televised national ceremony taking place at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa , after the funeral concluded in the UK. It was televised and live-streamed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada . Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no guests were allowed to attend

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5544-680: The Commonwealth ; she was the most widely travelled head of state . In 1956, the British and French prime ministers, Sir Anthony Eden and Guy Mollet , discussed the possibility of France joining the Commonwealth. The proposal was never accepted, and the following year France signed the Treaty of Rome , which established the European Economic Community , the precursor to the European Union . In November 1956, Britain and France invaded Egypt in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture

5676-571: The Dean of Windsor. The second lesson, from the Gospel of John , chapter 11 , verses 21–27, was read by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Psalm 104 was sung to a setting by William Lovelady that the Duke had commissioned. During the service, Britten's setting of Psalm 100 was sung by the choir at the request of the Duke of Edinburgh himself. The music included the hymn " Eternal Father, Strong to Save ", which

5808-442: The Duke was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell. On 1 March, the Duke was transferred to St Bartholomew's Hospital and two days later, he underwent a successful procedure for his existing heart condition. On 5 March, he was transferred back to King Edward's, and on 16 March, he was discharged and returned to Windsor Castle . Three weeks after his return from hospital, his death

5940-635: The Duke's "unwavering loyalty" to the Queen and "his service to the nation and the Commonwealth" in the bidding . The Dean gave the commendation as the coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, while the pipe major of the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played the lament " The Flooers o the Forest " while walking from the North Quire Aisle to the Dean's Cloister. The service finished with

6072-408: The Duke's family travelling from abroad. His funeral took place on 17 April 2021. Representatives of nations and groups around the world sent condolences to Queen Elizabeth, the royal family , and citizens of the Commonwealth . Flowers and messages of condolence were left by the public at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, with members of the royal family publicly paying tribute to the Duke in

6204-663: The Duke's household staff (including Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell ), walked behind the coffin. They were followed by the Queen, who was travelling in the Bentley State Limousine , accompanied by Lady Susan Hussey , her lady-in-waiting. Personnel from the Royal Navy , the Royal Marines, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force lined the procession route. The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery fired minute guns throughout

6336-768: The Duke's links to units in their respective countries. The coffin was draped with his personal standard , carried his naval cap and his sword, and had a wreath of white roses and lilies placed on it with a note written by the Queen. The band of the Grenadier Guards led the procession from the Quadrangle to Horseshoe Cloister, followed by military commanders and chiefs of staff. The Duke's four children, three of his grandchildren, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge ; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex ; and Peter Phillips , his nephew by marriage David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon , and his son-in-law Timothy Laurence , as well as

6468-485: The Duke's sister Princess Theodora ), and Landgrave Donatus of Hesse (grand-nephew of the Duke's sister Princess Sophie ). The Duke had requested that members of his German family, who were prevented from attending his wedding , be allowed to attend his funeral; the group travelled to the UK on the weekend following his death and quarantined in Ascot, Berkshire . The prime minister , Boris Johnson , said he would not attend

6600-471: The King. And the King will never leave." The princesses stayed at Balmoral Castle , Scotland, until Christmas 1939, when they moved to Sandringham House , Norfolk. From February to May 1940, they lived at Royal Lodge, Windsor, until moving to Windsor Castle , where they lived for most of the next five years. At Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas in aid of the Queen's Wool Fund, which bought yarn to knit into military garments. In 1940,

6732-598: The Lady Scotland of Asthal also paid tribute and offered condolences, as did the Commonwealth Games Federation , of which Philip had been president. Flags were flown at half-mast across the Commonwealth. The governments of The Bahamas, Canada, and the Solomon Islands issued notices to fly the national flag at half-mast from the announcement of the death to after the funeral and burial. Notices to fly

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6864-460: The New Zealand memorial service. On the morning of 9 April, local time, the bourdon of the Peace Tower in the national capital, Ottawa , was rung 99 times, one for each year the Duke lived, and the federal Crown-in-Council ordered all properties owned by the Crown to fly flags at half-mast until the afternoon following the Duke's funeral. While the gates of the monarch's and viceroy's official residence in Ottawa, Rideau Hall , remained open,

6996-406: The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada , in light of COVID-19-related restrictions, encouraged mourners to visit a commemorative website set up by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage . A parliamentary motion was passed in the Canadian House of Commons , on 12 April, to express its condolences. The federal government announced five days later that it would donate CA$ 200,000 to

7128-729: The Palace —and reports of affairs and strained marriages among her extended family. In March, her second son, Prince Andrew, separated from his wife, Sarah ; her daughter, Princess Anne, divorced Captain Mark Phillips in April; angry demonstrators in Dresden threw eggs at Elizabeth during a state visit to Germany in October; and a large fire broke out at Windsor Castle , one of her official residences , in November. The monarchy came under increased criticism and public scrutiny. In an unusually personal speech, Elizabeth said that any institution must expect criticism, but suggested it might be done with "a touch of humour, gentleness and understanding". Two days later, John Major announced plans to reform

7260-434: The Queen ". After the service, organist Luke Bond played Johann Sebastian Bach 's Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 . The Duke's remains were temporarily in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel. Following the Queen's death , his remains were moved to the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St George's, where the couple were buried next to each other. Regulations against mass gatherings brought in because of

7392-498: The Queen's wishes, the royal family and the royal households observed two weeks of mourning starting on 9 April. The Queen's immediate family travelled to Windsor to support her, and several family members attended a memorial service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints on 11 April. As Prince Philip was the first president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts , the 74th British Academy Film Awards ceremonies on 10–11 April began with tributes to him. Prince William,

7524-432: The Redeemer . During the service, there was a reduced choir of four singers conducted by chapel director of music James Vivian ; the organist was Luke Bond . The four singers were soprano Miriam Allan and three lay clerks (Tom Liliburn, Nick Madden and Simon Whiteley). No sermons or eulogies were delivered at the service at the Duke's wish. The ceremony highlighted his links to the Royal Navy and his passion for

7656-483: The Royal Marines carried the coffin. A guard of honour was formed from members of The Rifles , while the Band and Bugles of The Rifles played the national anthem and the Royal Navy pipers piped the side at 2:53 pm, followed by a national minute's silence at 3 pm. Around 730 members of the Armed Forces were present at Windsor Castle, including four military bands. David Conner , Dean of Windsor , and Justin Welby , Archbishop of Canterbury , officiated at

7788-445: The Rutland Showground in tribute to Philip's environmental activism. Its final tree was planted by his cousin Prince Richard in November 2021 and a bas relief of Philip was unveiled on the same day. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic , members of the public were advised not to leave flowers, and a notice marking the Duke's death outside Buckingham Palace was removed to avoid crowds forming around it. Despite this, over

7920-432: The United Kingdom , Elizabeth formally opened newly established legislatures for Wales and Scotland: the National Assembly for Wales at Cardiff in May, and the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh in July. Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh On 9 April 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms , and

8052-589: The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa , Pakistan , and Ceylon (known today as Sri Lanka), as well as head of the Commonwealth . Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom , the decolonisation of Africa , and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities as well as its subsequent withdrawal . The number of her realms varied over time as territories gained independence and some realms became republics . As queen, Elizabeth

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8184-400: The United States and toured Canada. In 1961, she toured Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Nepal , and Iran . On a visit to Ghana the same year, she dismissed fears for her safety, even though her host, President Kwame Nkrumah , who had replaced her as head of state, was a target for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Queen has been absolutely determined all through ... She is impatient of

8316-455: The West Steps of St George's Chapel at 2:45 pm on a custom-built Land Rover Defender hearse in Edinburgh green that the Duke helped design. The Quadrangle, the point from which the coffin departed, was lined by the Household Cavalry , the Foot Guards , as well as military detachments from units with special links to the Duke. Defence advisors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago were also present, representing

8448-617: The abdication of his brother Edward VIII , making the ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth the heir presumptive . She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service . In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten , a former prince of Greece and Denmark . Their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in 2021 . They had four children: Charles , Anne , Andrew , and Edward . When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth, then 25 years old, became queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries:

8580-413: The attitude towards her to treat her as ... a film star ... She has indeed ' the heart and stomach of a man ' ... She loves her duty and means to be a Queen." Before her tour through parts of Quebec in 1964, the press reported that extremists within the Quebec separatist movement were plotting Elizabeth's assassination. No assassination attempt was made, but a riot did break out while she

8712-480: The council . Lord Salisbury and Lord Kilmuir , the lord chancellor , consulted the British Cabinet , Churchill, and the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee , resulting in Elizabeth appointing their recommended candidate: Harold Macmillan . The Suez crisis and the choice of Eden's successor led, in 1957, to the first major personal criticism of Elizabeth. In a magazine, which he owned and edited, Lord Altrincham accused her of being "out of touch". Altrincham

8844-465: The current president, pulled out from public engagements due to his grandfather's death. Philip's grandchildren William, Harry, and Eugenie and grandson-in-law Mike Tindall released statements in which they paid tribute to him. The following day, Prince Edward also remarked that messages from the public were "uplifting" and said that the Duke's "spirit and ethos lives on through his Award , through each and every life touched." On 21 April 2021, on

8976-401: The day of the funeral. Gun salutes were fired across the UK, in Gibraltar , and on warships, including HMS  Diamond and HMS  Montrose , at sea. Sporting bodies modified their programmes as a mark of respect. On 11 April, a service of remembrance was held at Canterbury Cathedral by Archbishop Justin Welby. Similar services were held across the UK. Alderman Bill Keery,

9108-560: The days after his death. A thanksgiving service attended by politicians and foreign royalty was held at Westminster Abbey on 29 March 2022, which included elements that could not be implemented in the funeral ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh had several hospital stays in the years leading up to his death. In 2012, he was admitted to hospital with a bladder infection. He had exploratory surgery on his abdomen in June 2013, and he underwent hip replacement surgery in April 2018. On 16 February 2021,

9240-402: The design approved by the Duke back in 2008. The exhibition "Prince Philip: A Celebration" at Windsor Castle and a complementary exhibition at the Palace of Holyroodhouse went on display in June and July respectively to mark what would have been Philip's 100th birthday. Following the Duke's death, the Rutland Lieutenancy announced plans for creating the Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Orchard at

9372-430: The devastation of the war. In post-war Britain , it was not acceptable for Philip's German relations, including his three surviving sisters, to be invited to the wedding. Neither was an invitation extended to the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII. Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles , in November 1948. One month earlier, the King had issued letters patent allowing her children to use

9504-521: The dismay of the royal family . The book describes Elizabeth's love of horses and dogs, her orderliness, and her attitude of responsibility. Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as "a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant." Her cousin Margaret Rhodes described her as "a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved". Elizabeth's early life

9636-404: The failure to fly a flag at half-mast over Buckingham Palace, caused public dismay. Pressured by the hostile reaction, Elizabeth agreed to return to London and address the nation in a live television broadcast on 5 September, the day before Diana's funeral . In the broadcast, she expressed admiration for Diana and her feelings "as a grandmother" for the two princes. As a result, much of

9768-523: The first British monarch to visit a communist country . She was received at the airport by President Josip Broz Tito , and a crowd of thousands greeted her in Belgrade . In February 1974, British prime minister Edward Heath advised Elizabeth to call a general election in the middle of her tour of the Austronesian Pacific Rim , requiring her to fly back to Britain. The election resulted in

9900-400: The first reigning British monarch to set foot on Russian soil. In October 1995, she was tricked into a hoax call by Montreal radio host Pierre Brassard impersonating Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien . Elizabeth, who believed that she was speaking to Chrétien, said she supported Canadian unity and would try to influence Quebec's referendum on proposals to break away from Canada. In

10032-509: The first royal transatlantic telephone call on 18 May. In September 1939, Britain entered the Second World War . Lord Hailsham suggested that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret should be evacuated to Canada to avoid the frequent aerial bombings of London by the Luftwaffe . This was rejected by their mother, who declared, "The children won't go without me. I won't leave without

10164-565: The funeral service. The Duke's insignia was displayed on cushions on the altar in St George's Chapel, including honours and decorations bestowed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, as well as other member-states of the Commonwealth ; his field marshal 's baton and Royal Air Force wings ; and insignia of the Danish Order of the Elephant and Greek Order of

10296-477: The funeral so as to allow as many members of the Duke's family as possible to attend. Thames Valley Police started deploying officers on 13 April to search Windsor ahead of the funeral service. Security measures in the area were heightened, as police presence in the area also increased, with police forces checking vehicles around the town using the ANPR system. In private, the Queen said her husband's death had "left

10428-481: The island were being flown at half-mast. Members of Tynwald paid their tributes on 15 April. In Jersey flags were flown at half-mast. The chief minister of Jersey , the bailiff of Jersey , and the lieutenant governor of Jersey all paid tribute. Representatives of Guernsey also remembered the Duke warmly, and on 10 April a 41-gun salute was sounded from Castle Cornet . Representatives of Alderney paid their tributes on 14 April. Gun salutes were sounded in

10560-501: The line of succession. When her grandfather died in 1936 and her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second in line to the throne, after her father. Later that year, Edward abdicated , after his proposed marriage to divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional crisis . Consequently, Elizabeth's father became king, taking the regnal name George VI. Since Elizabeth had no brothers, she became heir presumptive . If her parents had subsequently had

10692-470: The longest-serving royal consort in history, died of old age at Windsor Castle at the age of 99. The death of the Duke set in motion Operation Forth Bridge , a plan detailing procedures including the dissemination of information, national mourning , and his funeral. The Duke had indicated wishes for a smaller funeral, though amendments were still made to the plan to bring his service in line with COVID-19 regulations , including quarantine for members of

10824-469: The majority of which was reported to be criticism that the coverage was excessive. As a result, the BBC's coverage of the Duke's death has been the most widely complained-about piece of programming in its history. The lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man , Sir Richard Gozney , sent condolences to the Queen, and tribute was made by the island's chief minister , Howard Quayle . Flags on all public buildings on

10956-410: The most prestigious events in the retail calendar. It is regularly attended by retail giants, such as Sir Stuart Rose and Sir Philip Green as well as celebrities e.g. Caprice The Ball has been hosted by several household names, including Ruby Wax and Jimmy Carr . retailTRUST also launched a talent competition in 2009 called Search for a Star. Retail Credit Union Limited, trading as retailCURe,

11088-470: The mourning period. However, the Royal Standard continued to be flown at full-mast at Windsor Castle, as it represents the presence of the living monarch. Members of Parliament (MPs) wore black ties when in the House of Commons , and also wore black armbands on their left arm, traditional symbols of mourning. No laws were passed during the eight-day mourning period. At 6 pm on 9 April,

11220-404: The national flag at half-mast on specific days during the mourning period were also issued by the governments of Australia, Belize, New Zealand, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. In Antigua and Barbuda, the flag of the governor-general was flown at half-mast until the day of the funeral. Gun salutes were also fired across the Commonwealth. Physical books of condolences were also opened to

11352-516: The new queen. She chose to retain Elizabeth as her regnal name, and was therefore called Elizabeth II. The numeral offended some Scots, as she was the first Elizabeth to rule in Scotland. She was proclaimed queen throughout her realms, and the royal party hastily returned to the United Kingdom. Elizabeth and Philip moved into Buckingham Palace. With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed possible that

11484-438: The occasion of her 95th birthday, the Queen expressed gratitude for the warm wishes she received, and also added that the royal family, while in mourning, had been comforted to see and to hear "the tributes paid to [Prince Philip], from people within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world". She added she was deeply touched and thanked the public for their "support and kindness shown to us in recent days". Philip

11616-645: The opinions and private lives of the royal family during the 1980s led to a series of sensational stories in the press, pioneered by The Sun tabloid. As Kelvin MacKenzie , editor of The Sun , told his staff: "Give me a Sunday for Monday splash on the Royals. Don't worry if it's not true—so long as there's not too much of a fuss about it afterwards." Newspaper editor Donald Trelford wrote in The Observer of 21 September 1986: "The royal soap opera has now reached such

11748-476: The popular press and by later biographers with raising his spirits and aiding his recovery. Elizabeth's only sibling, Princess Margaret , was born in 1930. The two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess , Marion Crawford . Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature, and music. Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth and Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to

11880-501: The private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 29 May, and she was named Elizabeth after her mother; Alexandra after her paternal great-grandmother , who had died six months earlier ; and Mary after her paternal grandmother. She was called "Lilibet" by her close family, based on what she called herself at first. She was cherished by her grandfather George V, whom she affectionately called "Grandpa England", and her regular visits during his serious illness in 1929 were credited in

12012-519: The procession. The Duke's favourite driving carriage, accompanied by some of his grooms and pulled by his two black Fell ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, stood in the Quadrangle as the procession passed by. On the driver's seat of the carriage were laid the Duke's cap, whip and driving gloves. At the West Steps of the chapel, which were lined by the Household Cavalry, eight pallbearers from

12144-699: The proclamation of the Duke's styles and titles by Thomas Woodcock , Garter Principal King of Arms , and the bugle calls " Last Post " (sounded by the Buglers of the Royal Marines ), " Reveille " (sounded by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry ) and " Action Stations " (sounded by the Buglers of the Royal Marines). The Archbishop of Canterbury pronounced the blessing, which was followed by " God Save

12276-480: The public hostility evaporated. In October 1997, Elizabeth and Philip made a state visit to India, which included a controversial visit to the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to pay her respects. Protesters chanted "Killer Queen, go back", and there were demands for her to apologise for the action of British troops 78 years earlier. At the memorial in the park, she and Philip laid a wreath and stood for

12408-654: The public in some Commonwealth realms; including Government House in Antigua and Barbuda, the Beehive and Tūranga in New Zealand, and Government House in the Solomon Islands. However, physical books of condolences were not opened in Australia, Canada, and Jamaica due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister, former prime ministers, the leader of the opposition , and the first ministers expressed condolences. The House of Commons

12540-452: The removal of various Canadian royal symbols during his term of office. In 1980, Canadian politicians sent to London to discuss the patriation of the Canadian constitution found Elizabeth "better informed ... than any of the British politicians or bureaucrats". She was particularly interested after the failure of Bill C-60, which would have affected her role as head of state. During

12672-403: The room with her. In a serious lapse of security, assistance only arrived after two calls to the Palace police switchboard. After hosting US president Ronald Reagan at Windsor Castle in 1982 and visiting his California ranch in 1983, Elizabeth was angered when his administration ordered the invasion of Grenada , one of her Caribbean realms, without informing her. Intense media interest in

12804-406: The royal finances, drawn up the previous year, including Elizabeth paying income tax from 1993 onwards, and a reduction in the civil list . In December, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, formally separated. At the end of the year, Elizabeth sued The Sun newspaper for breach of copyright when it published the text of her annual Christmas message two days before it was broadcast. The newspaper

12936-403: The royal house would continue to be Windsor . Philip complained, "I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children." In 1960, the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was adopted for Philip and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do not carry royal titles. Amid preparations for the coronation, Princess Margaret told her sister she wished to marry Peter Townsend ,

13068-520: The sea. The Royal Family confirmed that for the memorial, the Duke had handpicked all the music himself. His choices were "imbued with his long, proud legacy with the Royal Navy, and a deep love of Britain's musical heritage." The funeral started with the choir singing the Funeral Sentences , composed by William Croft . The first lesson, from Ecclesiasticus , chapter 43, verses 11–26, was read by

13200-583: The service, with tributes provided virtually, including ones from David Johnston , a former governor general of Canada , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , and Algonquin Spiritual Advisor Albert Dumont. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was courteous, down-to-earth loyal and enthusiastic in all aspects of his life. He was driven by a certainty that people could be inspired to rise to their potential if guided and supported. He

13332-516: The style and title of a royal prince or princess, to which they otherwise would not have been entitled as their father was no longer a royal prince. A second child, Princess Anne , was born in August 1950. Following their wedding, the couple leased Windlesham Moor , near Windsor Castle, until July 1949, when they took up residence at Clarence House in London. At various times between 1949 and 1951, Philip

13464-488: The tenor bell of Westminster Abbey began ringing, and was tolled once every minute for 99 minutes, to reflect the Duke's lifespan, the custom known as the death knell . The majority of military rehearsals for the funeral procession took place at Pirbright Camp and a full dress rehearsal took place at Windsor Castle on 15 April. The Duke's funeral took place on 17 April 2021 in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle . The Duke

13596-502: The territories of Anguilla , Bermuda , British Virgin Islands , Cayman Islands , Falkland Islands , Gibraltar , Montserrat , and Turks and Caicos Islands . The flag at Rothera Research Station , British Antarctic Territory , was lowered to half-mast. Philip Rushbrook , Governor of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha , gave a eulogy during a remembrance service. The Governor of Pitcairn , Laura Clarke , attended

13728-525: The third time at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth—though only 13 years old—said she fell in love with Philip, who was 18, and they began to exchange letters. She was 21 when their engagement was officially announced on 9 July 1947. The engagement attracted some controversy. Philip had no financial standing, was foreign-born (though a British subject who had served in

13860-476: The time of the release, flags were lowered to half-mast , where they remained for a period of national mourning lasting until 8 am on the day following the Duke's funeral. All Union Flags and national flags were lowered, and government guidance suggested that other flags on governmental buildings – for example, flags of the Armed Forces or Pride flags – be replaced with a Union Flag at half-mast for

13992-864: The tour, in a broadcast to the British Commonwealth on her 21st birthday, she made the following pledge: I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it. Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark , in 1934 and again in 1937. They were second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark and third cousins through Queen Victoria . After meeting for

14124-473: The trip due to her pregnancy. To comply with COVID-19 regulations for travel into the UK, Prince Harry had to quarantine for at least five days upon his arrival in the UK; there is an existing exemption in law which allows for mourners from abroad to temporarily leave quarantine to attend a funeral. Other attendees included Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (grandson of the Duke's sister Princess Margarita ), Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden (grandson of

14256-456: The union initially and teased Philip as " the Hun ". In later life, however, she told the biographer Tim Heald that Philip was "an English gentleman". Before the marriage, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles, officially converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism , and adopted the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten , taking the surname of his mother's British family . Shortly before

14388-762: The unmasking of Anthony Blunt , former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures , as a communist spy and the assassination of Lord Mountbatten by the Provisional Irish Republican Army . According to Paul Martin Sr. , by the end of the 1970s, Elizabeth was worried the Crown "had little meaning for" Pierre Trudeau , the Canadian prime minister. Tony Benn said Elizabeth found Trudeau "rather disappointing". Trudeau's supposed republicanism seemed to be confirmed by his antics, such as sliding down banisters at Buckingham Palace and pirouetting behind Elizabeth's back in 1977, and

14520-400: The wedding, he was created Duke of Edinburgh and granted the style His Royal Highness . Elizabeth and Philip were married on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey . They received 2,500 wedding gifts from around the world. Elizabeth required ration coupons to buy the material for her gown (which was designed by Norman Hartnell ) because Britain had not yet completely recovered from

14652-469: The year that followed, public revelations on the state of Charles and Diana's marriage continued. In consultation with her husband and John Major, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury ( George Carey ) and her private secretary ( Robert Fellowes ), Elizabeth wrote to Charles and Diana at the end of December 1995, suggesting that a divorce would be advisable. In August 1997, a year after the divorce, Diana

14784-615: Was recalled a day early after its Easter break, on 12 April, to allow MPs to pay tribute. The House of Lords was already due to sit on that day. The Scottish Parliament , the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly members also paid their tributes at meetings on the same day. Local election campaigns were also suspended. They resumed after the House of Commons members paid their tributes before pausing again on

14916-652: Was a "behind the scenes force" in ending apartheid. In 1986, Elizabeth paid a six-day state visit to the People's Republic of China, becoming the first British monarch to visit the country. The tour included the Forbidden City , the Great Wall of China , and the Terracotta Warriors . At a state banquet , Elizabeth joked about the first British emissary to China being lost at sea with Queen Elizabeth I 's letter to

15048-462: Was a prominent figure in the Commonwealth of Nations and, particularly, the Commonwealth realms . Representatives of the governments and official oppositions of many of those countries shared messages of condolence to Queen Elizabeth II and in mourning him for their people. Many noted Philip's support and patronage of organisations throughout the Commonwealth, most prominently for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme. Commonwealth Secretary-General

15180-491: Was alarmed by high unemployment, a series of riots , the violence of a miners' strike , and Thatcher's refusal to apply sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. The sources of the rumours included royal aide Michael Shea and Commonwealth secretary-general Shridath Ramphal , but Shea claimed his remarks were taken out of context and embellished by speculation. Thatcher reputedly said Elizabeth would vote for

15312-506: Was already established. In 1953, Elizabeth and Philip embarked on a seven-month round-the-world tour, visiting 13 countries and covering more than 40,000 miles (64,000 km) by land, sea and air. She became the first reigning monarch of Australia and New Zealand to visit those nations. During the tour, crowds were immense; three-quarters of the population of Australia were estimated to have seen her. Throughout her reign, she made hundreds of state visits to other countries and tours of

15444-456: Was announced by the royal family at noon BST on 9 April 2021, with the release of a statement saying he had "died peacefully" that morning at Windsor Castle. The Duke's daughter-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar , described his death as "...so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went." The Queen was at her husband's bedside when he died. The death certificate , certified by Sir Huw Thomas , head of

15576-602: Was born on 21 April 1926, the first child of Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), and his wife, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Her father was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary , and her mother was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne . She was delivered at 02:40 ( GMT ) by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfather's London home, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair . The Anglican Archbishop of York , Cosmo Gordon Lang , baptised her in

15708-469: Was denounced by public figures and slapped by a member of the public appalled by his comments. Six years later, in 1963, Macmillan resigned and advised Elizabeth to appoint Alec Douglas-Home as the prime minister, advice she followed. Elizabeth again came under criticism for appointing the prime minister on the advice of a small number of ministers or a single minister. In 1965, the Conservatives adopted

15840-611: Was dismissed from his post by Governor-General Sir John Kerr , after the Opposition-controlled Senate rejected Whitlam's budget proposals. As Whitlam had a majority in the House of Representatives , Speaker Gordon Scholes appealed to Elizabeth to reverse Kerr's decision. She declined, saying she would not interfere in decisions reserved by the Constitution of Australia for the governor-general . The crisis fuelled Australian republicanism . In 1977, Elizabeth marked

15972-510: Was forced to pay her legal fees and donated £200,000 to charity. Elizabeth's solicitors had taken successful action against The Sun five years earlier for breach of copyright after it published a photograph of her daughter-in-law the Duchess of York and her granddaughter Princess Beatrice . In January 1994, Elizabeth broke the scaphoid bone in her left wrist as the horse she was riding at Sandringham tripped and fell. In October 1994, she became

16104-452: Was formed specifically so she could socialise with girls her age. Later, she was enrolled as a Sea Ranger . In 1939, Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and the United States. As in 1927, when they had toured Australia and New Zealand , Elizabeth remained in Britain since her father thought she was too young to undertake public tours. She "looked tearful" as her parents departed. They corresponded regularly, and she and her parents made

16236-463: Was given a royal ceremonial funeral, not a state funeral , which is usually reserved for monarchs. He had indicated a wish for minimal "fuss"; as such, he did not lie in state , though he did "lie at rest" in the private chapel at Windsor Castle. Prior to the service, the coffin was moved from this chapel to the Inner Hall of the castle, where prayers were said. The Duke's wishes were said to be for

16368-654: Was in Montreal ; her "calmness and courage in the face of the violence" was noted. Elizabeth gave birth to her third child, Prince Andrew , in February 1960; this was the first birth to a reigning British monarch since 1857. Her fourth child, Prince Edward , was born in March 1964. The 1960s and 1970s saw an acceleration in the decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean. More than 20 countries gained independence from Britain as part of

16500-484: Was killed in a car crash in Paris. Elizabeth was on holiday with her extended family at Balmoral. Diana's two sons, Princes William and Harry , wanted to attend church, so Elizabeth and Philip took them that morning. Afterwards, for five days, the royal couple shielded their grandsons from the intense press interest by keeping them at Balmoral where they could grieve in private, but the royal family's silence and seclusion, and

16632-445: Was occasional republican sentiment and media criticism of her family—particularly after the breakdowns of her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in 1992, and the death in 1997 of her former daughter-in-law Diana —support for the monarchy and her personal popularity in the United Kingdom remained consistently high. Elizabeth died aged 96 at Balmoral Castle , and was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III. Elizabeth

16764-471: Was served by more than 170 prime ministers across her realms. Her many historic visits and meetings included state visits to China in 1986, to Russia in 1994, and to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, and meetings with five popes and fourteen US presidents. Significant events included her coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver , Golden , Diamond , and Platinum jubilees . Although there

16896-629: Was spent primarily at the Yorks' residences at 145 Piccadilly (their town house in London) and Royal Lodge in Windsor. During her grandfather's reign, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the British throne , behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales , and her father. Although her birth generated public interest, she was not expected to become queen, as Edward was still young and likely to marry and have children of his own, who would precede Elizabeth in

17028-717: Was stationed in the British Crown Colony of Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived intermittently in Malta for several months at a time in the hamlet of Gwardamanġa , at Villa Guardamangia , the rented home of Philip's uncle Lord Mountbatten . Their two children remained in Britain. As George VI's health declined during 1951, Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events. When she visited Canada and Harry S. Truman in Washington, DC, in October 1951, her private secretary Martin Charteris carried

17160-473: Was televised for the first time, with the exception of the anointing and communion . On Elizabeth's instruction, her coronation gown was embroidered with the floral emblems of Commonwealth countries. From Elizabeth's birth onwards, the British Empire continued its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations . By the time of her accession in 1952, her role as head of multiple independent states

17292-503: Was televised. Before the service, bands from the armed services were marched onto the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. They performed music including " Jerusalem ", " I Vow to Thee, My Country ", " Supreme Sacrifice ", "Isle of Beauty" and " Nimrod ". Plans for the funeral, which occurred on 17 April, a Saturday, included the Duke's coffin being carried by the Grenadier Guards to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle before being taken to

17424-455: Was the subject of another attack while on a visit to Dunedin , New Zealand. Christopher John Lewis , who was 17 years old, fired a shot with a .22 rifle from the fifth floor of a building overlooking the parade but missed. Lewis was arrested, but instead of being charged with attempted murder or treason was sentenced to three years in jail for unlawful possession and discharge of a firearm. Two years into his sentence, he attempted to escape

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