The English monarch died in 1952. Death of Her Majesty

Last Wednesday, September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II broke her great-great-grandmother Victoria's record to become the longest-reigning queen in British history. Currently, Elizabeth II has been on the throne for more than 63 years.

It should be noted that the British queen is very far from the record holder among living monarchs - King Rama IX of Thailand. And for both of them - to the absolute champion Sobuza II of Swaziland, who not only managed to sit on the throne for more than 82 years, but also became the father of numerous offspring over these years.

Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952. She has ruled the country longer than all the kings and queens in British history and any living European monarch.

Sobuza II of Swaziland

Sobhuza II, the king of the state of Swaziland in southern Africa, holds the absolute record for the longest reign: he led his people from 1899 to 1982, ascending to the throne at the age of four months. Under Sobuz, the country achieved complete independence and economic prosperity. The king was also distinguished by his extreme love: he had 70 wives, 210 children, and at the time of his death, more than 1000 grandchildren.

Bernard VII, Lord of Lippe

The Landgrave of the dwarf state of Lippe, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire, is the longest-reigning European monarch. He became Lord of Lippe shortly after he was one year old, and reigned from 1429 to 1511 - 81 years and 234 days. Moreover, he did not sit in the castle, but actively participated in disputes and feuds with his neighbors, for which he received the well-deserved nickname “Warlike”. The current king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, on one of the lines, is a descendant of the glorious Bernard.

Bhagwat Singh

Maharaja Bhagwat Singh ruled the kingdom of Gondal from 1869 to 1944 - a total of 74 years and 87 days. Formally, his possessions were independent, although in reality they were under British control. Bhagwat Singh was a typical enlightened monarch: he received a medical degree from the University of Edinburgh, reformed the system of government of the principality, built schools, engineering colleges and hospitals, made education free, established a university where men and women were admitted. A modern irrigation system, railways, telegraph and electricity were built in Gondal. Bhagwat Singh also published the first dictionary of the Gujarati language. In 1887 he was knighted.

Rama IX, King of Thailand

King Rama the Great, aka Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the longest reigning monarch alive today. He ascended the throne in 1946 and has now ruled for more than 69 years. Bhumibol was born in the American state of Massachusetts from the marriage of Prince Mahidol and a commoner and is the only monarch of the world who can claim US citizenship by birthright. The king in Thailand has a predominantly ceremonial status, so it is difficult to say how much Rama IX influences the processes taking place in the country. Bhumibol Adulyadej holds a patent for creating artificial clouds, plays the saxophone and enjoys photography. Recently, the press service of the royal court reported about the illness of the monarch - he was diagnosed with dropsy of the brain.

Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Johann ruled from 1858 to 1929 - 70 years and 91 days. Under him, Liechtenstein became an independent and neutral state. Prince Johann disbanded the army (at that time it numbered 80 people), established a parliament, a constitution and a government. But in the memory of his descendants he remained mainly as a philanthropist and philanthropist, who did a lot for the development of science in Austria-Hungary. Johann never married, passing the crown to his brother.

Louis XIV, King of France

Louis XIV of Bourbon, known as the "Sun King", was one of the most brilliant monarchs in French history. He reigned from 1643 to 1715 - 72 years and 110 days. Under him, France became the most powerful power in Europe. He centralized government, created a strong army and navy, fought numerous wars and annexed large territories. Although the French forces were mostly victorious, constant campaigns eventually exhausted the kingdom.

Franz Joseph I, head of Austria-Hungary

Franz Joseph took the Habsburg throne in 1848 when his father abdicated. He called himself "the last monarch of the old school." Under Franz Joseph, the Habsburg power became a dual monarchy, and he was simultaneously Emperor of Austria, King of the Czech Republic and King of Hungary. The emperor patronized geographical research, and science and culture flourished under him. Franz Joseph I died in 1916, not seeing the collapse of his “patchwork empire” and having reigned for 67 years and 355 days. Franz Josef Land in the Arctic Ocean, now part of Russia, is named in his honor.

Hirohito, Emperor of Japan

Hirohito ascended the throne in 1926, becoming the 124th Emperor of Japan. He chose for himself the throne name Showa, which means “Enlightened World.” Nevertheless, it was under Hirohito that Japan entered World War II, in which it suffered a crushing defeat. The winners forced the emperor to publicly declare his renunciation of his divine nature, although they did not deprive him of power. After the war, Hirohito did a lot to restore Japan's prestige and strengthen diplomatic ties. He died in 1989, having reigned for 62 years and 13 days.

Vasily II Bulgarian Slayer

Basil II was Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 960 to 1025. He waged numerous wars, defending the country's borders, carried out punitive campaigns and annexed new lands to Byzantium. For his campaigns against the Bulgarians, he received the nickname Bulgarian Slayer: after the battle of Strymon, the emperor ordered the blinding of 15 thousand Bulgarians taken prisoner. Vasily led an ascetic life and never married. It was during the time of Emperor Vasily II that the baptism of Rus' took place; his sister Anna became the wife of Prince Vladimir I Svyatoslavovich. The Bulgarian fighter died in 1025, after 65 years and 237 days of reign.

Queen Victoria

Until September 9, 2015, Victoria was the longest-reigning British monarch: she was crowned in 1837 and died in 1901, having reigned for 63 years and 216 days. Under Queen Victoria, the British Empire reached the zenith of its power, becoming the strongest state in the world. Almost continuously, the soldiers of the empire waged colonial wars, increasingly expanding the boundaries of Victoria's possessions, and by the time of her death she ruled a fourth of the land. The Queen and her husband Albert had nine children, who married into other royal families, earning Victoria the nickname “the grandmother of all Europe.” One of Victoria's granddaughters was Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II.

Kangxi, Emperor of China

Emperor Xuanye of the Qing Dynasty ascended the throne in 1661, when he was six years old, choosing Kangxi ("Prosperity and Radiance") as his motto. He sat on the throne for 61 years and 316 days - a record length in Chinese history. The time of his reign is considered the golden age of the Chinese Empire: Kangxi strengthened the power of the emperor, annexed new lands to the Celestial Empire, and patronized the sciences and art. Under him, Confucianism flourished in the empire, and many books were published in which the history of the country was presented in a light favorable to the ruling dynasty.

Pedro II of Brazil

Pedro became Emperor of Brazil in 1831 at the age of five and held the throne until 1889. He reigned for 58 years and 222 days and gained fame as a patron of the arts and sciences. Under him, Brazil fought three successful wars with its neighbors. Despite his popularity among the people, Pedro was a soft and indecisive person: for example, he himself was an opponent of slavery, but never decided to abolish it. This was done only in 1888, when the emperor sailed to Europe for treatment, and his daughter-regent signed a corresponding decree. Pedro was eventually overthrown by Republican officers supported by wealthy planters, abdicated the throne, and spent the rest of his life in exile.

George III, King of Great Britain

George III, the first British-born Hanoverian king, took the throne in 1760 and reigned until 1820, making him the third longest-reigning British monarch for 59 years and 96 days. Under him, Great Britain lost its American colonies, but won the Napoleonic Wars. But the king never found out about this: in 1811 he became completely blind and went crazy, and his son, the regent, ruled the country. George died in 1820, being considered a legitimate monarch until the very end. He entered British history as the most numerous king: he had nine sons and six daughters.

Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, King of Malaysia

The history of the reign of Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah is extremely complicated, which is associated with the peculiar political system in Malaysia: the king here is elected for five years. In 1958, Abdul became the Sultan of one of the Malaysian sultanates - Kedah, in 1965 - the Viceroy of Malaysia, in 1970 - the King, in 1975 he lost this post, in 2006 he again became the Viceroy, and since 2011 year is again the king of all Malaysia. Be that as it may, he has occupied the throne of his ancestors for more than 57 years and is the third longest reigning monarch living today. He loves golf, football, jazz and is a big fan of Frank Sinatra.

Ivan IV the Terrible

Ivan Vasilyevich, who became the Grand Duke of All Rus' in 1533 and died as a tsar in 1584, reigned for a total of 50 years and 116 days. Although he ranks a modest 182nd on the list of longest-reigning monarchs, Ivan the Terrible sat on the Russian throne longer than any other ruler. He gained fame as one of the most controversial rulers in all of Russian history: under him, the first Zemsky Sobor was convened, military and administrative reforms were carried out, the borders of the Russian state were significantly expanded, Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberia were conquered. At the same time, he established the oprichnina, destroyed Novgorod and organized mass executions.

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British monarch or Sovereign- Head of State of the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories. The current British monarchy can trace its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon period. In the 9th century, Wessex came to dominate, and in the 10th century England was united into a single kingdom. Most British monarchs during the Middle Ages ruled as absolute monarchs. Often their power was limited to the nobles and later the House of Commons. The monarch's powers, known as the royal prerogatives, are still extensive. Most prerogatives are exercised in practice by ministers, such as the power to regulate the civil service and the power to issue passports. Some prerogatives are exercised by the monarch nominally, on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, according to the constitutional convention. An example of a power is the power to dissolve parliament. According to the parliamentary report, "the Crown cannot introduce new prerogatives."

Scottish monarchy

In Scotland, as in England, monarchs appeared after the departure of the Romans. The aborigines at that time were the Picts and Britons, and after the Romans came the Scots from Ireland.

The early Scottish monarchs did not inherit the crown, but were chosen by a custom called a chanting. Over time, the tanning degenerated into a system of selecting monarchs from two branches of the House of Alpine, and then ceased after the accession of Malcolm II to the throne in 1005.

At the end of the Wars of Independence, in 1371, Robert II (King of Scotland) from the Stuart family became King of Scotland. From this family came James VI.

After the unification of the Crowns

James I (in England) and James VI (in Scotland) were the first monarch to rule England, Scotland and Ireland together.

The death of Elizabeth I in 1603 ended the reign of the House of Tudor; it was inherited by James VI, who called himself James I of England. Although England and Scotland were in a personal union, they remained separate kingdoms. James belonged to the Stuarts, who then often clashed with parliament, introduced taxes that were not approved by it, ruled without parliament for 11 years (from 1629 to 1640) and pursued religious policies alien to the Scots (they were Presbyterians) and the English (Puritans). Around 1642 the conflict reached its peak in the form of the English Civil War. In it, the king was executed, the monarchy was abolished and a republic (Commonwealth of England) was established. In 1653, Oliver Cromwell seized power and declared himself Lord Protector (became a military dictator). After his death, his son was not interested in ruling, and, at the request of the people, the monarchy was restored. The Restoration occurred around 1660, when Charles I's son, Charles II (King of England) was crowned king. The establishment of a protectorate was declared illegal.

In 1705, the Scottish Parliament was angered by the uncoordinated actions of the English Parliament in support of Queen Anne's claims and threatened to break the union. The English Parliament responded by passing the Aliens Act 1705, threatening to destroy Scotland's economy by undermining free trade. As a result, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union (1707), which united Scotland and England into one kingdom of Great Britain.

After the death of the last of the reigning Stuarts, Queen Anne, George I of the House of Hanover (a branch of the ancient Germanic Welf family) became king. The Germans found themselves on the British throne thanks to the Act of Succession, which cut off the path to the British crown for all the numerous Catholics related to the Stuarts. The first of these did not even speak English and was not an active ruler, preferring to delve into the affairs of the closer German states, and placed power in the hands of ministers, the leading of whom, Robert Walpole, is regarded as the first unofficial. Georgian era(the first four kings were called Georges) - a period of strengthening parliamentarism in Great Britain, the weakening of royal power, and the formation of British democracy. Under them, the industrial revolution took place and capitalism began to develop rapidly. This is the period of the Enlightenment and revolutions in Europe, the war for the independence of the American colonies, the conquest of India and the French Revolution.

George III concluded the Act of Union of 1800 and officially renounced his rights to the French throne.

After some political intrigue, after 1834 no monarch could appoint or dismiss a prime minister against the will of the House of Commons. During the reign of William IV, the Great Reform Act was passed, which reformed parliamentary representation by giving more rights to the House of Commons.

Reform of the British Empire

Inheritance

Succession is carried out in accordance with the Act of Succession 1701. Main articles: Line of succession to the British throne, Coronation of the British monarch

Regency

According to the Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, the power of a monarch under 18 years of age, or physically or mentally incompetent, must be exercised by a regent. Incapacity must be certified by at least three of the following: the Sovereign's consort, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Keeper of the Rolls. To complete the regency, a declaration is also required from three of the same persons.

When a regency is necessary, the next eligible person in the line of succession becomes regent; parliamentary voting or any other procedure is not needed. The Regent must be over 21 years of age (18 in the case of a direct heir or otherwise), have British citizenship, and be a resident of the UK. Under these rules, the only regent was the future George IV, who reigned when his father George III went mad (1811-1820).

However, the Regency Act 1953 says that if the Queen's successor needs a regency, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) will be regent. If the queen herself needs a regency, the next in line of government will be the regent (except for the queen's children and grandchildren - then Prince Philip will be the regent).

During temporary physical incapacity or absence from the kingdom, the Sovereign may delegate his functions to a Councilor of the State, a spouse, or the first of the four eligible in the line of succession. The requirements for a state councilor are the same as for a regent. Currently, there are five state advisers:

Political role

In theory, the powers of the monarch are extensive, in practice they are limited. The sovereign acts within the framework of conventions and precedents, almost always exercising royal prerogatives on the advice of the prime minister and other ministers. They are also responsible to the House of Commons, elected by the people.

The sovereign is responsible for appointing a new prime minister if necessary; The formal appointment takes place in a ceremony called Kissing Hands. By unwritten constitutional convention, the Sovereign appoints those who can gain support in the House of Commons: usually the head of the majority party in that House. If there is no majority party (an unlikely event due to the English First Past the Post electoral system), two or more groups can form a coalition and its leader will become prime minister.

In a hung parliament, where no party or coalition has a majority, the monarch has greater freedom to choose a candidate for the post of prime minister who, in his opinion, can command the support of the majority in parliament. From 1945 to 2010, such a situation arose only once - in 1974, when Harold Wilson became prime minister after the 1974 general election, in which his Labor Party did not win a majority. (Instead of early elections initiated by a minority government, the monarch has the right to delay the dissolution of parliament and allow opposition parties form a coalition government.)

The Sovereign appoints and dismisses the Cabinet and other ministries on the advice of the Prime Minister. That is, it is the Prime Minister who now determines the composition of the Cabinet.

Theoretically, the monarch can dismiss the prime minister, but conventions and precedent prohibit this. The last monarch to dismiss a prime minister was William IV, in 1834. In practice, the prime minister's term ends only with his death or resignation. (In some circumstances, the prime minister must resign; see Prime Minister of Great Britain).

The monarch meets weekly with the prime minister; Regular meetings are also held with other members of the Cabinet. The monarch can express his vision, although ultimately he must accept the decisions of the prime minister and the Cabinet. Nineteenth-century constitutional thinker Walter Bagehot sums up the concept this way: “The sovereign in a constitutional monarchy has three powers: to consult, to encourage, and to warn.”

The monarch has a similar relationship with the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales. The Sovereign appoints the First Minister of Scotland, but on the nomination of the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister of Wales, on the other hand, is directly elected by the National Assembly for Wales. In Scottish affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Scottish Executive. In Welsh affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, as Welsh autonomy is limited. Northern Ireland does not currently have a devolved government; its assembly and executive body were dissolved.

The sovereign also plays the role of head of state. The Oath of Allegiance is made to the Queen, not to Parliament or the nation. Moreover, the British anthem - God save the queen(or, accordingly, the King). The face of the Monarch is depicted on postage stamps, coins, and on banknotes issued by the Bank of England (banknotes of other banks, the Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Ulster, do not have an image of the Sovereign).

Royal prerogatives

Main article: Royal prerogatives

The powers vested in the Crown are called Royal prerogatives.

These include rights (such as making treaties or sending ambassadors) and responsibilities (such as defending the kingdom and keeping the Queen at peace). The constitutionality of the British monarchy is expressed in the fact that royal prerogatives are exercised on the advice of ministers. Parliamentary approval is not required; moreover, the Consent of the Crown must be obtained by either House before even debating a bill affecting prerogatives or interests. Prerogatives have limits. For example, the monarch cannot impose new taxes; this requires an Act of Parliament.

It is also the prerogative of the monarch to convene, prolong and dissolve Parliament. The moment of dissolution depends on many factors; Usually the prime minister chooses the moment of the best political conditions for his party. The conditions under which the Sovereign may refuse dissolution are unclear (see Lascal's Principles). After a five-year period, however, Parliament is automatically dissolved under the Parliament Act 1911.

All parliamentary acts are adopted in the name of the monarch (the admission formula is part of the act). Royal assent is required before a bill becomes law (the Sovereign may assent, withdraw, or abstain).

In household matters, the powers are broad. Appointment of ministers, privy councillors, members of executive bodies and other officials. The Prime Minister and some other ministries do this for her. In addition, the monarch is the head of the armed forces (British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force). The prerogative of the Sovereign is to declare war, make peace, and direct military actions.

The prerogatives also concern foreign affairs: discuss the terms and ratify treaties, alliances, international agreements; Parliamentary approval is not needed to exercise these prerogatives. However, the treaty cannot change the internal laws of the kingdom - in this case an act of parliament is needed. The Sovereign also accredits British high commissioners and ambassadors, and receives foreign diplomats. British passports are issued in the name of the monarch.

Also the Sovereign is revered source of justice, and appoints judges for all types of cases. Personally, the monarch does not administer justice; judicial functions and punishments are performed in her name. The general law is that the Crown "can do no wrong"; The monarch cannot be tried in his own court for criminal offenses. The Crown Proceedings Act 1947 allows civil actions against the Crown in public matters (i.e. against the government); but not against the person of the monarch. The Sovereign has the "prerogative of mercy" and can forgive crimes against the Crown (before, after and during the trial). The Statute of Westminster 1931 and the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927, which made the king no longer king V dominions, and king of the dominions, that is, the king became the king of each separate kingdom. Although it is somewhat misleading to equate the crown of the United Kingdom proper with the crowns of the individual kingdoms, they are both referred to for convenience as the British crown.

With the growth of autonomy of the dominions, the role of the metropolis became minimal. The Crown remained the only official link between Britain and the self-governing dominions. But this connection was reinforced by common traditions in politics, culture, everyday life and in the English language. In 1952, at the Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, Elizabeth II was proclaimed head of the association not by right of succession, but by general consent of the member states.

Finance

Parliament pays most of the Sovereign's official expenses from the budget. The Civil List is the amount that covers most expenses, including recruitment, state visits, social events, and official entertainment. The size of the civil list is fixed by parliament every 10 years; unspent money is carried over to the next period. The civil list in 2003 was approximately £9.9 million. In addition, every year the Sovereign receives an assistance grant from the budget for property maintenance. Property Services Grant-in-Aid , 15.3 million f.st. in the -2004 tax year) to pay for the maintenance of royal residences, as well as a royal travel grant. Royal Travel Grant-in-Aid; £5.9 million).

Previously, the monarch covered official expenses from the income of her inheritance, including the Crown Estate. In 1760, King George III agreed to replace the income from the inheritance with a civil list; this agreement is still valid. Currently, income from the Crown Estate significantly exceeds the civil list and grants: in 2003-2004 it brought in more than £170 million. to the Treasury, and parliamentary funding amounted to about 40 million pounds sterling. The monarch owns the estate, but cannot sell it; the estate must be passed on to the next monarch.

These residences belong to the Crown; they will be passed on to future rulers and cannot be sold. The monarch also owns private residences. Sandringham House, a private country house near the village of Sandringham, Norfolk, used from Christmas until the end of January. During August and September, the monarch resides at Balmoral Castle.

Dominion coat of arms

The dominion coat of arms is used in countries that were former colonies of Great Britain, such as Canada, Australia

Elizabeth the Second is healthy, everything is fine with her. However, in the UK they have already begun to prepare for her death. To begin with, we determined a code word. This is what will be communicated to everyone who should when this unpleasant event occurs. For what? So that no one guesses ahead of time. Thus, the death of Elizabeth's father, King George VI, was signaled with the words "Hyde Park Corner."

As the British newspaper reported, Buckingham Palace has prepared several options for the development of events. It is believed that the queen will most likely die after a short illness. The death of the Queen Mother in 2002 is cited as an example. She managed to call some friends to say goodbye and give away her beloved horses. If everything goes like this, then Elizabeth’s closest family members and her doctors will be next to her. The chief gastroenterologist, Professor Thomas, will control access to Her Majesty. He will also decide what information can be shared with the public.

The Queen's personal secretary, Christopher Geidt, should be the first to know about her departure. He will convey this sad news to the Prime Minister, using the code words “London Bridge is falling.” Then the information will go to 15 independent states, where Elizabeth II is also queen, and to the countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Her Majesty's ordinary subjects learn of her death much faster than before. So, on February 6, 1952, George VI was discovered by his footman at 7:30 in the morning. The BBC reported the king's death almost 4 hours later, at 11:15. And when Princess Diana died (this happened at 4 am in Paris), 15 minutes later it was known to journalists accompanying the then British Foreign Secretary in the Philippines.

For many years, the BBC had the right to be the first to report deaths in the royal family. However, now this tradition has been broken. The message will be transmitted to England's Press Association news agency and then distributed to media outlets around the world.

All English TV presenters will be required to wear a black suit and black tie. Residents of the United Kingdom will be allowed to go home from work. Airplane pilots will announce the sad news to passengers. Throughout the country, flags will be lowered and bells will ring. When the previous English monarch died, the bell in London's St. Peter's Cathedral rang every minute for two hours. The Sevastopol bell in Windsor Castle (removed by the British during the Crimean War) struck 56 times - the number of years in the life of George VI.

By the way, British journalists even indicated the estimated date of death of Elizabeth II: “According to the National Statistical Service, a British woman who has reached 91 years old - which is what Korolev will turn in April - on average can live another 4 years and 3 months.” Considering that the Queen Mother's funeral was "rehearsed" for 22 years, it is not surprising that Buckingham Palace is now ready for the departure of her daughter, Elizabeth II. They say that all nine days of mourning are scheduled almost to the minute.

The institution of monarchy has been the most important phenomenon in British social life since the time of the first English king, William the Conqueror, to the present day. What is this - a relic of the past or a symbol of national unity that has more than once united the British in difficult times?..

In our article we tried to give a brief historical background about the ruling dynasty of Windsor and the current reigning monarch - Queen Elizabeth II of England.

You will be able to get acquainted with the regional information necessary for everyone who has seriously decided - the biography of the Queen of Great Britain, interesting facts and even curiosities from the life of the royal family - as well as get acquainted with the original and learn the translation of the national anthem of the British Empire. Let's learn English like royalty!

Royal family name

The surname Windsor arose relatively recently. During the First World War, Elizabeth's future grandfather King George V (cousin of both the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the last German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm), who belonged to the German Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty (the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha), defiantly out of patriotic feelings abandoned his German roots, adopting the surname Windsor [ˈwɪnzə] after the castle that was home to the royal family at the time.

Thus, the beginning of the Windsor surname should be considered 1917 - a fairly young age for a European monarchical dynasty.

Until 1917, members of the royal family (British royals) did not have surnames: they were replaced by the name of the royal house and the name of the lands owned by the dynasty. Therefore, kings and queens signed only with the name - .

After the marriage of Princess Elizabeth Windsor to Prince Philip Mountbatten, it was decided that the heir to the throne would bear the surname Windsor, and descendants without the right to the throne would be called Mountbatten-Windsor.

Other royals have the right to choose their own surname: in addition to the Windsor surname, there are many others in the royal family tree (the surname is often replaced by the title).

Common forms of addressing members of the royal family:

Young heir to the throne

Little Lilipeth, as she was later called in the family, was born on April 21, 1926 in the family of a prince belonging to one of the most ancient and proud monarchies in Europe. And, what is especially important, it is a ruling one, albeit a constitutional one (the monarch governs his state only formally, since the laws are still passed by the parliament elected by the people).

However, the golden-haired girl’s chances of ruling the state were not so great: her father Albert (Bertie) Windsor, Duke of York, was not the heir to the throne.

But chance intervened: the young princess was not yet ten when a romantic and scandalous story took place in the British Kingdom.

In 1936, Albert’s elder brother Edward, by that time already King Edward VIII, decided to marry the American Bessie Wallis Simpson, a divorced woman (twice!), and also suspected of having connections with the military intelligence of Nazi Germany.

As the head of the Church of England, the king could not have demonstrated to his subjects a more flagrant example of a violation of the Seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”: to marry a divorced person (“divorced”), and even twice, and even a member of the royal family (“royal family”), was equated with adultery.

Everyone and everyone was against the loving couple: the Archbishop of Canterbury, government ministers, and the British people. The king made a choice: after reigning for less than a year, Edward VIII abdicated (“abdicated”) on his own behalf and on behalf of his descendants (“descendants”), declaring the following in a speech on national radio:

And Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor - Bertie, Elizabeth's father - ascended the throne, taking the name George VI and making the eldest of his two daughters heir to the imperial throne.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

When World War II began (1 September 1939), Princess Elizabeth was thirteen. London suffered from enemy bombing and the children of many residents of the capital were evacuated. But Elizabeth’s mother flatly refused to leave London:

In 1940, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth made her first appearance on BBC radio, addressing the children of evacuated towns:

In 1943, at the age of sixteen, the princess made her first public speech to soldiers of the Grenadier Guards, of which she had been a colonel for several months. After completing a driving and mechanics course, five months later the princess was promoted to junior officer (Junior Commander).

But despite the mother’s fears, the marriage turned out to be happy: after the wedding in 1947, according to tradition - in Westminster Abbey of London, the prince and princess - and then the king and queen - lived in peace and harmony for many years , celebrating silver, gold and diamond weddings.

• It is noteworthy that the princess bought fabric for her wedding dress using coupons - in the post-war period in Great Britain there were restrictions on the purchase of food, clothing, shoes, etc.; Out of solidarity with the people, the royal family adhered to the generally accepted card system.

The heir to the dynasty, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, and a few years later Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward were born.

Crown for the queen!

The coronation of the 25-year-old Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon took place on June 2, 1953 (her father died a year earlier, in 1952).

The dress for the ceremony, like the Queen's wedding dress, was created by fashion designer Norman Hartnell. It was a work of art imbued with deep symbolism: the white silk of the robe was embroidered with floral motifs symbolizing the countries of the Commonwealth.

The luxurious royal dress featured: English Tudor rose, Scottish thistle [ˈθɪs(ə)l]), Welsh leek (leek), Irish clover (shamrock), Australian acacia (wattle [ˈwɒt(ə) l]), Canadian maple leaf (maple [ˈmeɪp(ə)l] leaf), New Zealand fern (fern), South African protea (protea), lotus flowers, symbolizing India and Ceylon, as well as the emblems of Pakistan - wheat ( wheat), cotton and jute.

For luck, the creator of the dress, secretly from the customer, placed a leaf of a four-leaf clover on it exactly where the queen's left hand should touch it.

The coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey was not much different from the traditional one, except that it was the first such ceremony to be shown on television.

The coronation was accompanied by magnificent celebrations in all countries of the Commonwealth, and in London, an official coronation luncheon was given in honor of the new queen, at which the chefs delighted the guests with “Coronation Chicken” - a dish created especially for this occasion.

• The royal family lives in Buckingham Palace: it has 775 rooms, served by more than 800 people, each of whom is traditionally sent a Christmas pudding by the Queen once a year.
• The monarchy "costs" the British people just over £36 million a year.
• The Queen's fortune is estimated at £300 million, which gives her the right to take only 257th place in the ranking of the richest people in Britain.
• The crown treasures do not belong to the queen - she only uses them by proxy, without the right to sell or give them away.
• The Queen was born at the end of April, but celebrates her birthday twice a year: the first time - in April with her family, the second, the so-called Queen's Official Birthday - on one of the Sundays in May or June, at the choice of the government .
  Why at the beginning of summer? The official birthday of the monarch was traditionally celebrated with lush open-air festivities, so the choice of the exact date of the royal birthday party always depended on weather conditions - and at this time the weather in London is as dry and sunny as ever.
• In 1981, during the Trooping the Color ceremony dedicated to the Queen's official birthday, while Elizabeth was riding her horse Burmese, six pistol shots were fired (as it later turned out, the attacker fired blank cartridges) . Without losing her presence of mind, the queen continued the ceremony, showing an example of restraint and composure in the face of danger.
• During her reign, the Queen answered more than 3.5 million letters and sent more than 175,000 telegrams to her subjects in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
• The queen's breakfast consists of muesli and oatmeal, yogurt and two types of marmalade - light and dark.
• Elizabeth II is a passionate lover of horses and dogs. Its purebred horses often win races, and its success in breeding new dog breeds is admirable. Officially, the Queen is the creator of the Dorgi and Fergi breeds, which were created by crossing the Corgi breed with other dog breeds.

How to address the queen

You can write to Her Majesty at the following address:
Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
If you wish to adhere to all the rules of etiquette when communicating in writing with the Queen, address your addressee Madam, and end your message with the following phrase:

However, you may well adhere to a free style of presentation: after all, it is known that the queen even understands, because she often has to “SMS” with her older grandchildren.

Elizabeth II bears many titles and honorary titles, including the seemingly “masculine” titles of Duke of Normandy and Lord of Maine. But the official website of the British monarchy, when communicating with the queen, advises at the beginning of the conversation to simply address her: Your Majesty ("Your Majesty"), and after that - Madam or Ma "am. By the way, it is becoming increasingly popular with the queen, do not miss your chance:

National anthem of the British Empire

Its origin dates back to the eighteenth century. Depending on the gender of the monarch - and there are 40 monarchs in the United Kingdom: 34 kings and 6 queens, including the current one - the anthem was called God Save The King or God Save The Queen. queen"). The authorship of the words and music has not been established.

God save the queen!

(free translation)

God save our merciful queen!
Long live our noble queen!
God save the queen!
Bless her with victories,
Happiness and glory
And long reign over us,
God save the queen!

With your chosen gifts
Shower her with Thy mercy,
May she reign for a long time.
May she protect our laws,
To always give us a reason
Sing with your heart and voice:
"God save the queen!"

There are many different variations of the British anthem: we have given only a short official version, but you can find expanded and modified versions in the English-language Wikipedia.

From the point of view of English grammar, the British anthem is interesting primarily for two reasons:

1. The use of archaisms (the shortened version included only the obsolete form of the pronoun your - thy [ðʌɪ]).
2. Widespread use of the subjunctive mood - the Present Subjunctive, the subjunctive mood of the present tense - which is formed using the infinitive of the semantic verb without the particle to and means wish:
   God to save the Queen! God to bless you!

• Wherein:
  The verb be remains unchanged regardless of person:
  I will be
  he, she, it be
  we, you, they be
• In other cases, compared to the indicative mood, verbs in the 3rd person have singular. there is no ending -s:
  he/she/it makes s
• The modal verb may is also used in wishes:
  May the force be with you! - May the force be with you!

So, God save the Queen! Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, Her Majesty Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her Other Kingdoms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, Defender of the Faith.

A symbol of the English state, a mother of four children, a persistent and courageous person, a passionate animal lover and a woman pleasant in every way!

In contact with

Monarchy

Britain is a country of traditions, and one of the strongest traditions is the monarchy. Looking at the modern British monarchy, we are faced with a clear contradiction between fundamental law and reality.

Her Majesty's Subjects

If we formally follow the letter of the law, the Queen has almost absolute power, and at the same time the country looks completely undemocratic. The American Constitution declares that the government is formed by the people and serves the people. In Britain, not only is there not a single law that would state anything like this, but there is also no official legal concept of “the people”. Residents of Britain are officially "Her Royal Majesty's subjects." At the same time, in accordance with one of the principles of English legislation, the monarch is above the law, that is, he can commit actions and deeds not provided for by law and even punishable.

Every autumn, Queen Elizabeth II gives a speech to Parliament in which she says exactly what “her government” should do over the next year. And according to the constitution, this is truly her government. She is free to appoint anyone to the role of head of this government. This is her prime minister. The rest of the ministers are appointed in the same way. These are her ministers, and if she is dissatisfied with any of them, then he is simply fired. The same applies to parliament. According to the letter of the law, he “serves the Crown” (and not at all the “country”, not the “people”). It is the Queen who convenes Parliament. She dissolves it before the next elections. No decision of Parliament becomes law until the Queen agrees to it. And the Queen personifies the law in court. If in the United States the police apprehend a person and bring him before the court, the court formally brings charges on behalf of the people. In other countries, the indictment may be on behalf of the state. In Britain, the charge is brought “in the name of the Crown.” And if the defendant is found guilty, he is sent to one of Her Majesty's prisons.

Parade "Trouping?de?color"

Reality

Of course, in reality everything is different. The Queen cannot appoint the Prime Minister at her discretion. She must find a candidate that will be supported by a majority of the House of Commons (the elected house of Parliament). According to the law, “her government” can levy taxes only with the consent of this chamber, and if the prime minister does not have the support of a majority there, the government will be blocked. Therefore, the Queen chooses the leader of the strongest party in the House of Commons for this role. And he appoints the rest of the government, although formally he only advises the Queen who to appoint to these posts.

St James's Palace

The Queen's relationship with Parliament is similar. Before the next election, the Prime Minister asks the Queen to allow the dissolution of Parliament, but it is impossible to imagine that the Queen would refuse this request. Theoretically, the monarch has the right not to approve a bill passed through parliament, but in practice this has not happened since 1708. Royal approval of legislation is so formal that the Queen almost never does it personally; the documents are signed for her by an authorized representative.

Thus, the Queen's real power is greatly limited. The message with which she opens the parliamentary session is prepared for her in advance. The Queen does not hide this fact and reads the message verbatim. If she strongly disagrees with a provision, she can interrupt her speech and ask ministers to make appropriate corrections to the wording. This limits its formal ability to influence government activities.

Palace of Westminster. The Royal Gallery, through which the monarch passes for the official opening of Parliament

Yet the Queen performs several important functions. Politicians and lawyers usually emphasize three of them. The first is that the Queen represents the government. This means that people can be as critical as they like of the actions of the government and even demand its resignation, without in any way contradicting their patriotism. A change of government does not in any way disrupt stability in the country. Other countries have to come up with other symbols for these purposes. The Queen's second important function is to ensure that the government does not become dictatorial. If the government succeeds in passing through Parliament (of which ministers are also members) a law that is very unpopular or clearly harmful to the country, the Queen may refuse to approve this law. If the incumbent Prime Minister loses a general election, ceases to lead a powerful party in the House of Commons, and again asks the Queen to dissolve Parliament (to force a new election), the Queen can refuse this request and dismiss the Prime Minister. However, within the framework of modern democracy, various forces balance each other without this. Finally, the Queen represents the country and participates in many different ceremonies and meetings that take up a lot of time. Thanks to this, the government can devote more time to solving pressing issues.

Buckingham Palace. White living room

Royal insignia. The so-called Honors List is published twice a year. People whose names appear on this list are invited to Buckingham Palace, and the Queen bestows on them various titles, such as “Knight of the Order of the Garter”, “Knight of the Order of the Bath”. As a result, various combinations of letters are added to the names of these people, for example KOG (Knight of the Order of the Garter). Life peerages are also claimed, which secures a seat in the House of Lords. Historically, in this way the monarch recognized those who particularly distinguished themselves in their service. Today, the Prime Minister decides who will be awarded which titles. And although the titles themselves no longer have any specific meaning, for many, receiving the title personally from the Queen is a great honor. Titles are mainly reserved for politicians and government officials, but sometimes businessmen, athletes, musicians, etc. receive them.

Buckingham Palace. Throne room

Park created by Christopher Wren

Power of love. Over the past two centuries, the people have consistently demanded high moral standards from their monarchs. In 1936, this forced Edward VIII, Elizabeth II's uncle, to abdicate in order to marry an American, Mrs Simpson. She was twice divorced and, moreover, did not belong to the British aristocracy. The government and the church insisted that Edward refuse the marriage and remain king. But he preferred marriage, and then settled abroad with his wife. Despite the resulting constitutional crisis, Edward subsequently received the title of Duke of Windsor and enjoyed the popularity and sympathy of the British until the end of his days.

St. James's Palace. Tapestry Hall

Royal regalia

Banqueting?house. Ceiling painted by Rubens

Monarchists and anti-monarchists

The question of whether there should be a monarchy or not has not been seriously debated for more than two centuries. A very small number of people in Britain can be classified as outright monarchists or anti-monarchists in the usual sense of those words. Most Britons view the existence of the monarchy with either neutrality or mild approval. Along with this, the question of how the monarchy should be organized is discussed. The Queen continues to maintain her popularity, but the royal family's numerous problems have greatly dampened British enthusiasm. This is especially noticeable if we compare the magnificent celebrations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth's reign with the much more modest celebrations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of her reign. The fact is that since the time of Queen Victoria, people have wanted to see in the life of the royal family a model of truly Christian family life. Some politicians, including conservative members of parliament who traditionally support the monarchy, are raising the question of how much the monarchy costs the country and how justified such expenses are. In response to such speeches and the obvious cooling of the British towards the monarchy, Elizabeth II, exempt from paying taxes, decided to pay taxes on her personal income. Some members of the royal family have stopped receiving money from parliament for entertainment expenses. Shortly after the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the reign, part of Buckingham Palace was opened to the public. The purpose of this move was to raise funds for the renovation of Windsor Castle. This gives an idea of ​​how the royal family's lifestyle is changing. He becomes less majestic and less distant.

Kensington Palace

Windsor castle. Moser Hall

Windsor castle

Plantagenets, Lancasters, Yorks...

The current Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for fifty-four years. This is one of the few examples of royal longevity in British history. Queen Victoria reigned the longest - 64 years. And the shortest reign was that of Edward VIII - just under 11 months. After Parliament refused to grant permission for his marriage to a divorced American from Baltimore, W. Simpson, he abdicated the throne in favor of his brother George V. And this is not the only case in British history of a conflict between personal feelings and royal duties. When the pope did not consent to Henry VIII's divorce, he broke with Rome, which led to the founding of the Church of England. The role of monarchs in the life of their country is also unequal. But in any case, the change of monarchs and dynasties creates a chronological outline of the history of Britain.

Hampton Palace Court

Royal House Greenwich

The Romans were in Britain until the beginning of the 5th century. There is little reliable information about what happened over the next two centuries. Traditionally, 449 is considered the year in which Britain was invaded by Germanic tribes who came as settlers rather than as plunderers. They were followed by other Teutonic tribes, and these migrations continued for about a century and a half. The tribes that came to Britain at this time are called by a common name - Anglo-Saxons. Unlike the Franks, who invaded Gaul, they did not create their own settlements next to the more advanced Celts and did not assimilate their culture. They preserved their own language, developed their own culture and called the new land in their own way - England, the land of the Angles. Gradually, numerous small areas united and formed kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Sussex, Essex, Wessex and Kent.

Wessex dynasty

871 - 899 Alfred of Wessex

The countdown of royal dynasties naturally begins with Alfred of Wessex. It was he who managed to successfully resist the Scandinavians, defeat them at Edington in 878 and conclude a pact on the division of England. And his successors later reconquered the territories occupied by the Scandinavians.

899 - 924 Edward the Elder

924–939 Æthelstan

939–946 Edmund I

959–975 King Edgar

975–978 Edward the Martyr

The period of Danish raids on England.

1016–1042 Cnut, leader of the Danes

1042–1066 Edward the Confessor

Edward the Confessor, the youngest son of Aethelred II, regained the throne of the Wessex dynasty after its conquest by the Scandinavians.

Norman dynasty

1066–1087 William the Conqueror

Edward the Confessor died without leaving an heir. Harold took the throne. But Duke William of Normandy, who claimed the kingdom, invaded England in the fall of 1066 and defeated Harold and his army at Hastings on October 14. Harold was killed. The royal council recognized William's rights to the throne. England was conquered with extraordinary speed. Since then, William has been called the Conqueror. The Norman Conquest changed the entire course of English history.

1087–1100 William the Red (II)

Second son of William the Conqueror.

1100–1135 Henry I

Younger brother of William II.

1135–1154 Stephen Grandson of William the Conqueror. Henry I died without leaving a direct male heir, but made the barons promise that they would recognize his daughter, Matilda. Breaking their promise, the barons crowned Stephen.

Brighton. Royal Pavilion

Plantagenet Dynasty

1154–1189 Henry II

Matilda's son, known as Henry Plantagenet. Since Stephen's son died, the throne passed to Henry by treaty.

1189 - 1199 Richard I the Lionheart

State institutions functioned so well that the son and heir of Henry II visited England only twice during his entire reign, and then for several months at a time. He spent the rest of his time in the 3rd Crusade and in Europe.

1199–1216 John

Richard's brother.

1216–1272 Henry III

Took the throne at the age of ten.

1272–1307 Edward I

The origin of the title is associated with the name of Edward I Prince of Wales. He conquered Wales, which was nominally the possession of the English king, divided it into counties and annexed it to England in 1284. That same year, Edward's son was born at Caernarfon Castle in Wales. In 1301 he was given the title Prince of Wales, which he held until he became King Edward II. Since then, the title of Prince of Wales has usually been given to the king's eldest sons - the heirs to the throne.

1307–1327 Edward II

Edward was forced to abdicate in January 1327; in September of the same year he was killed.

1327–1377 Edward III

1377–1399 Richard II

The throne was taken by the grandson of Edward III. His father, Edward the Black Prince, died during the lifetime of Edward III.

Chinese corridor in the Royal Pavilion

Lancastrian Dynasty

In 1397, Richard II tried to establish an autocracy. Two years later, while Richard was in Ireland, his exiled cousin Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, also called Henry of Lancaster, landed in England. Richard hurried back, but it was too late. Taken into custody, he was imprisoned in the Tower, where on September 30, 1399 he signed an act of abdication. Richard died in captivity at Pontefract in February 1400. A new dynasty came to power.

1399–1413 Henry IV

1413–1422 Henry V

Son of Henry IV. Under the terms of the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, Henry became regent of France under King Charles VI, and after his death was to take the French throne. However, he died in 1422, two months before the death of Charles VI.

1422–1461 Henry VI

The son of Henry V was proclaimed king at eight months of age.

Brighton. Banquet hall of the Royal Pavilion

Linlisgow Palace near Edinburgh

Palace of Holyroodhouse. Official residence of the Royal Family in Scotland

York Dynasty

1461–1483 Edward IV

Son of Richard, Duke of York, who led the opposition forces against Lancastrian rule. This war of dynasties was called the War of the Roses. Richard died at the Battle of Wakefield. The fight was continued by his son Edward, who declared Henry VI deposed and proclaimed himself the new king.

Henry VI managed to restore his own power for a short time (October 3, 1470 - April 11, 1471).

1483–1483 Edward V

Son of Edward IV. He became king at the age of 12, after the death of his father, and was soon overthrown by his uncle Richard, his father's younger brother. That same year, he and his younger brother were killed.

1483–1485 Richard III

Falkland Castle

Tudor Dynasty

Dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603. The Tudors came from the island of Anglesey off the coast of Wales. Their pedigree goes back centuries. The Tudor reign spanned just under a century and a quarter between the accession of Henry VII to the throne on 21 August 1485 and the death of his granddaughter Elizabeth on 24 March 1603. These years are often called the beginning of the heyday of modern England, and 1485 is a turning point in the transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age. The greatest achievement of the Tudors was the unification of the English under a well-organized monarchy, so that England could take its place in Europe as a strong nation-state.

1485–1509 Henry VII

Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Conquered the throne with the sword, defeating Richard III. He is a representative of the line of the first Lancastrians, descended from John of Gaunt, fourth son of Edward III. In 1486 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV of the House of York. Thus the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York came together to form the Tudor dynasty. Due to the fact that Henry was born in Wales, where his father belonged to the Welsh nobility, it became possible to establish closer ties between Wales and England.

1509–1547 Henry VIII

1547–1553 Edward VI

Henry VIII's son by his third wife, Jane Seymour. He ascended the throne at the age of nine and died at the age of 16.

1553–1558 Mary Tudor (Mary I)

Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She escaped from the troops sent to capture her after the death of Edward and was proclaimed queen.

1558–1603 Elizabeth I

Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Stuart Dynasty

The last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I, was succeeded by her cousin James VI, King of Scotland, who ascended to the English throne as James I. With him came the Stuart dynasty.

1603–1625 James I

After Elizabeth's death, the crown passed to James VI of Scotland, son of Mary of Scotland and descendant of Henry VII through his daughter, Margaret, wife of James IV. While remaining James VI of Scotland, the new monarch became known as James I of England.

1625–1649 Charles I

1649–1660 are the years of the republic. From 1653 until his death in 1658, Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of England. The post was inherited by his son Richard. However, in the absence of his father's prestige and the support of the army, he resigned the position on May 24, 1659. The newly elected Parliament voted for the country to be governed by the King, the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and Charles II was proclaimed king on 8 May 1660.

1660–1685 Charles II

He was proclaimed king as a result of the restoration of the monarchy, but he himself counted his reign from the day of his father’s execution.

1685–1688 James II

Charles II had many mistresses, but never had a legitimate heir. Therefore, his younger brother Jacob inherited the throne.

1689–1702 William III of Orange and Mary II (from 1689 to 1694)

The birth of a son to James II meant that after the king's death, the throne would not be inherited by Mary, the wife of William of Orange and James's daughter, but by his son, who would undoubtedly be raised as a Catholic and a future absolute monarch. This forced them to turn to William, who was the king’s son-in-law and nephew at the same time, for help. He landed in England in November 1688. James II fled to France, and the parliament-convention offered William and Mary the crown.

1702–1714 Anna

Youngest daughter of James II. The main event during her reign was the conclusion of the union of England and Scotland in 1707, which led to the formation of a single state - Great Britain.

Brunswick line

1714–1727 George I

To prevent any moves aimed at returning the Jacobites to power, the English Parliament passed an act of succession in 1701, according to which, in the event of the death of William and his heir Anne, the crown was to pass to the granddaughter of James I Sophia, Elector and Dowager Duchess of Hanover, and her heirs. Sophia, like Queen Anne, died in 1714. The throne was taken by her son, who took the title of King George I. He did not speak English. In 1721, the cabinet was headed by Walpole, who became the de facto ruler of Britain.

1727–1760 George II

Son of George I. Took the throne after his father's death. Walpole retained the post of prime minister until 1742, but no longer had his former power.

1760–1820 George III

Grandson of George II. During his reign (1 January 1801), Ireland was united with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From the book History of State and Law of Foreign Countries: Cheat Sheet author author unknown