Queen Elizabeth II

Elizabeth was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her father became king in 1936 after the abdication of Edward VIII, making her heir presumptive at age ten. She was educated privately and served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. In 1947 she married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark. They had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. Their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in 2021.

When her father died in 1952, Elizabeth became queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries and head of the Commonwealth. She reigned as a constitutional monarch through major changes, including the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the UK, decolonisation of Africa, and Britain's entry into and exit from the European Communities. She was served by more than 170 prime ministers across her realms. Her historic visits included state visits to China, Russia, and Ireland, and she met five popes and multiple US presidents. Significant events included her coronation in 1953 and her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees. She died at Balmoral Castle and was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III. She was a member of the House of Windsor and the mother-in-law of the late Princess Diana, and grandmother-in-law to Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.