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25 Facts You Never Knew About Queen Elizabeth II

As we celebrate the 88th birthday of the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, we take a look at Queen Elizabeth II’s life, style history and an homage to the some of best British designers.

Over the years, the Queen has become famous for her sartorial choices; bright, block colours, pearl necklaces, pristine white gloves, headscarves and plaid skirts make for an iconic appearance. Dolce & Gabbana even based a whole collection around her!

  1. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born 2.40 am (GMT) on 21 April 1926.
  2. She only has one sibling, Princess Margaret, who was born in 1930.
  3. The Queen actually has two birthdays! Her real birthday, today, and her official birthday on a Saturday in June.
  4. In 1947 Princess Elizabeth went on her first overseas tour, accompanying her parents through southern Africa.
  5. She became queen on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953.
  6. A total of 8,251 guests attended her Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
  7. She usually spends her actual birthday privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.
  8. She is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England.
  9. She has had four children: Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, The Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
  10. She speaks fluent French and often uses the language for Audiences and State Visits. One does not require an interpreter!
  11. She has received over 3 million items of correspondence during her reign.
  12. She is patron of more than 620 charities and organisations.
  13.  She has visited Australia 15 times, Canada 23 times, Jamaica six times and New Zealand 10 times.
  14. She has attended 34 Royal Variety performances.
  15. Her wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell
  16. She has opened 15 bridges in the United Kingdom during her reign.
  17. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have sent about 37,500 Christmas cards during her reign.
  18. She learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Army.
  19. The Queen has sat for the first and only hologram portrait in 2003.
  20. The first football match she attended was the 1953 FA Cup Final.
  21. The Queen was the first British Monarch to visit China when she visited in 1986.
  22. She sent her first email in 1976 from an Army base.
  23. And subsequently launched Buckingham Palace’s first official website in 1997.
  24. The Queen hosted the first women-only event “Women of Achievement” at Buckingham Palace in March, 2004.
  25. Her go-to designers over the years have been her dressmakers over the years have included Sir Hardy Amies, Sir Norman Hartnell, Karl-Ludwig Couture and Maureen Rose.

Shop the best of British designers at The Luxury Closet

Milli Midwood

Freelance Blogger

Milli is a fashion blogger, tea drinker and sun worshiper, who has called Dubai her home for the last 24 years. Likes dog videos, free WiFi, Gucci and hashtags because they look like waffles.

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