historical. iconic. England’s longest-reigning monarch, Elizabeth II, ruled the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for over 70 years, surpassing her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who had a crown on her head (and shoulders) for 64 years.
For history, in addition to reigning in some of the most turbulent periods in the country, overcoming crises (internal, political, economic, family) and leaving his mark on a vast and complete legacy, Isabella II has become in itself a symbol of nobility, global royalty, grace, delivery and debt to the English crown.
She was also the first English monarch to live out her life in front of television cameras, but on the contrary, she always knew (or was able) to put her personal choice, her personal life, the life of the royal family, into a cloak of mystery that eventually ignited curiosity and further enhanced the status of the queen.
It is these secrets, hidden in the shadow of the crown of Isabella II, one of the best preserved, that the CM is now revealing.
1 – married her second cousin
This is true. Elizabeth and Philip of Edinburgh (died 2021 aged 99) had the same great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, and the prince was maternally descended, and Elizabeth II was paternally descended, King George VI. The marriage lasted 73 years.
2 – Love that started in adolescence
Elizabeth and Philip met at the age of 13 and the then king’s daughter immediately fell in love with the handsome young soldier during a visit to the base where the future Prince of Edinburgh was based. They exchanged many secret love letters until Philip asked for the hand of the young Isabelle.
3 – Never went to school
“Lilibet”, as she was affectionately known as a child, never attended any educational institutions. At the time, he had a different type of education: he was taught by private teachers and tutors at Buckingham Palace in areas such as English, history, geography, mathematics, French, German, art, dance and music.
Isabelle attended “classes” with her sister, Princess Margaret. She remembers who taught her that she was “very greedy for knowledge and with a very sharp mind.”
4 – Had an accident at the wedding of my dreams: the tiara broke
Moments before walking down the aisle in November 1947, the tiara worn by then-Princess Isabella broke and there were moments of panic, according to the court. The royal jeweler took immediate action and repaired the precious diamond tiara.
5 – Does not have a last name, but signs “Isabelle R.”
Have you ever wondered what is the last name of Queen Elizabeth II? Well, it’s not. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born, but when she became queen, she “lost” her names. Members of the royal family only have their own name and title of nobility associated with their house (e.g. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge). Elizabeth’s real “name”: Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and their Kingdoms and Territories, Queen, Leader of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
However, the monarch always signed “Isabelle R.”. The letter “R” stands for “regina”, which means “queen” in Latin.
6 – You don’t need a driver’s license to drive or a passport to travel
Isabella II was issued a passport and a driver’s license, but, in fact, she does not need these documents in her name – after all, she will be one of the most famous women in the world. Just because you have a driver but didn’t take your license doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver! During a visit to Saudi Arabia in 2011, the monarch showed off her skills behind the wheel of a powerful Range Rover, and also gave Prince Abdullah a ride.
7 – The suitcase was your secret sign
According to The Telegraph, citing a source who worked closely with the royal family, it was the handbag, which Isabelle never refused, served to give instructions to the staff when she found herself in an uncomfortable situation or at a monotonous meeting or meeting.
If you are having dinner or lunch and you put your suitcase on the table, it means that you want the event to end within five minutes. If you are somewhere and put the suitcase on the floor, it is because you need to be “rescued” from the conversation that you are having at the moment.
Elizabeth II had over 200 handbags from her favorite designer, Launer.
8 – Sense of humor and ability to imitate
The face always seemed heavy, but it was part of the weight of the Crown. Those who lived with Isabella II remember the monarch’s wonderful sense of humor, completely unpredictable, and her ability to imitate, especially with sounds.
Bishop Michael Mann, the Queen’s chaplain, assured the AP that the Queen’s “simulated landing of the Concorde is one of the funniest things anyone can watch.”
In another episode, revealed by a guard, the monarch was approached by a group of tourists near her Balmoral estate. They did not recognize her because her face was covered with a scarf and handkerchief, and they asked her if she had ever crossed paths with the Queen. Isabelle would have laughed and, pointing to the policeman who had come up at that moment, said: “Not me. And he already.”
9. Passion for animals: He had over 30 corgi dogs.
In 1933 Isabelle discovered what would become one of her greatest passions: breeding Welsh Corgi dogs. After her father, King George VI, brought the dog to the palace, Elizabeth was given her own pet dog at the age of 18. She was a dog and her name was Susan.
Known for the creation of these animals, which she has been engaged in throughout her life, having more than 30 specimens of the species. He even invented a new breed, a cross between a corgi and a dachshund, the dorgi.
10. She owned all the swans and dolphins in the UK.
From the twelfth century, when swans were considered a rare delicacy, the English monarchy demanded them “for all the swans in the country”. Injury to one of them is considered a crime against the Queen or the King.
Isabelle never ate any of her swans, but the tradition of owning these birds has survived. There is even a census of swans, an employee of the Queen, who is responsible for conducting a kind of census of swans and checking their health.
Also, under the royal statute of 1324, the English monarch can claim all “royal fish” such as sturgeon, dolphin, whale or porpoise.
11. Intersected with 15 British prime ministers.
In over 70 years of reign, Elizabeth II hosted 15 different British prime ministers and met 14 US presidents. The latest was the new prime minister, Liz Truss.
12 – The palace has its own ATM.
This is a luxury that is not available to everyone, even the richest. But Elizabeth II had her own ATM at Buckingham Palace, so she didn’t have to go outside to withdraw money or perform other transactions. It is owned by Coutts Bank.
13 – Shouldn’t have paid taxes, but did it anyway
According to the royal family’s website, the sovereign was not required to pay taxes and do the IRS, but she has been doing so since 1993.
14 – Rich, but far from the richest in the UK
He received some of his money from the British taxpayers and most (nearly all) of the property, land, houses, museums, parks and all areas controlled, administered or acquired by the royal family, as well as other investments. In 2019, Forbes estimated his fortune at 500 million euros, but even this is not enough to be the richest person in the UK.
15 – The secret of longevity? Gin before dinner and champagne before bed
According to Elizabeth’s cousin Margaret Rodhes, the Queen followed a very regular regimen of daily drinking. “Shot of gin with Dubonnet [vinho fortificado com especiarias] before dinner, with a slice of lemon and plenty of ice, a glass of wine with meals, a dry martini in the afternoon and a glass of champagne before bed,” said the royal family. Longevity?
16 – Very “thrifty” queen
She had a taste for luxury, but in some aspects of life she was very “thrifty”. Since 1989, I have always used the same nail polish, Essie’s Ballet Slipper color, which costs about 5 euros per bottle.
Savings were taken very seriously at Buckingham Palace: according to Radar Online, who spoke to a source on the royal staff, the Queen refused to spend money on kitchen equipment, so royal cooks use pots and pans that date back to the 1800s and are still in use today. seal of Queen Victoria.
Also with regard to the environment, Isabella II was extremely careful: she did not like wasting electricity. According to the royal adviser, it was common for the queen to walk through the endless corridors, halls and rooms of the palace, turning off the lights unnecessarily. “Sometimes he goes from room to room, turning them off. Often only one light is lit in huge palaces. Luxurious chandeliers are never lit, only on special occasions,” he said.
17 – Passion for horses (and betting….)
Isabelle’s love for horses is well known. A fan of equestrianism, he rode horses, accompanied breeders and had great respect for the animals he kept in the royal stables, as well as regularly attending major equestrian competitions and races throughout the United Kingdom.
The unknown side of this passion is that Isabella II made bets on tests. According to the British Racing Authority, the valuable Thoroughbreds have earned the Queen around €8.5 million in betting.
18 – Message sent to the moon
Before the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed on the moon, several world leaders were asked to write “messages of goodwill” that were recorded on a small silicon disk. The object was picked up by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who left it under an American flag placed on the lunar surface. Elizabeth II was no exception and left her message: “On behalf of the British people, I salute the ingenuity and courage that brought man to the moon. May this achievement increase the knowledge and well-being of mankind.”
19 – Was a truck mechanic and army driver.
Prior to her accession to the throne and during World War II, Elizabeth II served in the British Army and worked as a mechanic and truck driver for the Territorial Relief Services, the women’s branch of the British armed forces.
20 – Celebrated the end of World War II “in disguise” on the streets of London.
A movie was even made based on this episode (with an admixture of fantasy), but it happened: on May 8, 1945, Isabella II and her sister, Princess Margaret, received permission from their parents to leave the palace and join the celebrating crowd. end of World War II on the streets of London.
These two will be “disguised” to go unnoticed among the test subjects. “I remember the rows and rows of people walking hand in hand through Whitehall, and we were all swept over by this wave of happiness and relief,” the BBC monarch recalled in 1985.
Author: Pedro Zagacho Gonçalves([email protected])
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.