Queen Elizabeth II: Biography, Facts, and Answers to Top Questions

The woman behind the crown—her real name, her true love, or her last words—remains partly unknown despite her 70-year reign. This guide pulls together verified facts from official records and trusted sources to answer the questions people search for most.

Reign length: 70 years 214 days (longest of any British monarch) ·
Birth date: 21 April 1926 ·
Death date: 8 September 2022 ·
Coronation date: 2 June 1953 ·
Number of children: 4 ·
Number of great-grandchildren: 13

Seven key facts capture the essentials of Elizabeth II’s life at a glance.

What was the Queen’s real name?

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was the full birth name of the woman the world knew as Queen Elizabeth II. She was born at 2:40 a.m. on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in London, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (National Geographic Kids). Her father later became King George VI, making her heir presumptive after his accession in 1936.

Why is she known as Queen Elizabeth II?

The numeral II distinguishes her from Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603), though there was never a Queen Elizabeth I of the United Kingdom as a political entity—the numbering continues the English monarchy tradition. She automatically became queen upon her father’s death on 6 February 1952 and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953 (The Royal Family).

The pattern: her name reflects family heritage and historical continuity.

What were Queen Elizabeth’s last words?

No official source has ever confirmed the Queen’s last words. The palace’s public statement read: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon” (The Royal Family). Her death certificate, issued by the National Records of Scotland, listed the primary cause of death as simply “old age” (National Records of Scotland, government archives).

What did Queen Elizabeth the first say before she died?

This is a frequently confused query. Queen Elizabeth I’s reputed last words—”All my possessions for a moment of time”—are also unverifiable. Neither Elizabeth I nor Elizabeth II left a recorded final utterance that historians treat as definitive.

The implication: the silence preserves the monarchy’s boundary between public duty and private life.

Who was Elizabeth’s true love?

By any measure, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the central romantic relationship of Elizabeth’s life. She first met him in 1939 when she was 13, and after a wartime correspondence they became engaged in 1946 and married on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey (Britannica).

How did Elizabeth and Philip meet?

The meeting occurred during a royal visit to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. Philip, then an 18-year-old cadet and a prince of Greece and Denmark, was asked to entertain the two princesses. Elizabeth later told friends she fell in love with him that day.

How long were they married?

Elizabeth and Philip were married for 73 years until Philip’s death on 9 April 2021 at age 99. She described him as “my strength and stay” throughout their marriage (The Royal Family).

The implication: for a woman defined by duty, Philip was the one constant personal choice she made and defended against palace tradition.

Did Queen Elizabeth support LGBTQ?

Queen Elizabeth II never made a public statement on LGBTQ rights. The British monarch is bound by constitutional convention to remain politically neutral—the Royal Prerogative prevents the sovereign from commenting on legislation or social policy (The Royal Family).

What was the royal stance on LGBTQ rights?

During her reign, same-sex marriage was legalized in the UK (2014 in England, Scotland, and Wales), but the Queen gave Royal Assent as a procedural matter without public comment. The monarchy’s institutional position is one of official neutrality.

Which royal figures have supported LGBTQ causes?

Prince William and Kate Middleton have shown explicit public support for the LGBTQ community, including visiting LGBTQ charities and appearing on magazine covers highlighting diversity. Princess Anne and Prince Harry have also made supportive statements.

What this means: Elizabeth II’s silence on LGBTQ rights reflects constitutional constraints, not personal views.

What will Kate be called if William becomes king?

Catherine, currently the Duchess of Cambridge, will become Queen Consort when Prince William ascends the throne. Her formal title will be “Queen Catherine,” following the tradition of queens consort taking their husband’s regnal name in feminine form (Britannica).

How do you say ‘hi’ in a royal way?

There is no official royal greeting. Protocol suggests addressing the monarch as “Your Majesty” on first introduction, then “Ma’am” (rhyming with “jam”). For other senior royals, “Your Royal Highness” then “Sir” or “Ma’am.” A simple “Hello” is not forbidden but considered informal.

What is the royal bedtime rule?

A well-circulated anecdote claims royal children are put to bed at 6 p.m. regardless of events. Neither the palace nor any royal biography has confirmed this as a standing rule. It likely originates from a remark by a former royal nanny.

The trade-off: public curiosity about royal titles and etiquette is insatiable, but the palace provides only the thinnest formal guidance. Most “rules” are media inventions with a kernel of tradition.

Timeline of a historic reign

• 21 April 1926 – Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (Britannica)
• 11 December 1936 – Became heir presumptive after uncle Edward VIII abdicated (The Royal Family)
• 6 February 1952 – Became Queen upon death of father George VI (Britannica)
• 2 June 1953 – Coronation at Westminster Abbey (National Geographic Kids)
• 9 April 2021 – Prince Philip died (The Royal Family)
• 6 February 2022 – 70th anniversary of accession (Platinum Jubilee) (Britannica)
• 8 September 2022 – Died at Balmoral Castle (Britannica)

The timeline shows a reign that spanned decades of change, with milestones that defined a generation.

What we know for sure vs. what remains unclear

The contrast confirms that the monarchy preserves a private sphere even in the face of public curiosity.

Voices from the reign

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.”

— Official statement from Buckingham Palace, 8 September 2022 (The Royal Family)

“I present unto you your Queen, the undoubted Queen of this Realm.”

— Archbishop of Canterbury at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 2 June 1953 (The Royal Family)

“I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else—I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”

— Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas broadcast 1957 (Britannica)

For the millions who grew up knowing only one monarch, Elizabeth II’s death ended an era of stability. The practical consequence for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is a transition that had been planned for decades but whose emotional weight still reshapes national identity. For historians, the opening of the Royal Archives will provide the definitive record—but the question of who Elizabeth really was will always carry a personal dimension that official documents cannot answer.

For a more detailed account of her life and passing, see this detailed biography and cause of death article.

Frequently asked questions

The FAQ answers reveal that many common questions have straightforward answers from official records, while others remain private.

Related reading

• Queen Elizabeth II’s life and reign – The Royal Family (official monarchy website)
• Elizabeth II biography – Britannica (leading encyclopedic reference)