ROYAL
VISIT PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 18, 1975
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
A Brief Biography
The Queen was born in London on April 21, 1926, first child of
the Duke and Duchess of York, subsequently King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth.
Five weeks later, she was christened in the chapel of Buckingham
Palace, and was given the names of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.
The Princess spent her first years in London. She had her early
education at home. After her father succeeded to the throne in 1936 and
she became heiress presumptive, her studies were extended to include
lessons on constitutional history and law. She also studied art and music,
learned to ride, enjoyed swimming, and amateur theatricals.
enrolled as a girl guide, and later became a sea ranger.
At 11, she
As the Princess grew older, she began to take part in public life.
Early in 1942, she was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and on
her 16th birthday, carried out her first public engagement, when she inspected
the regiment. She also began, at about this time, to accompany the King and Queen on many of their tours within the United Kingdom. In 1944 shortly
after her 18th birthday, she was appointed a Counsellor of State, during
the King's absence from Britain on a tour, and for the first time, exercised
certain of the functions of the Crown.
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