Oh, to be a royal! it is something that a majority of the human race wish for but unfortunately, the privilege to become one rests on a selected few. It might seem that the bulk of the Monarchs across Europe have relinquished political authority to elected leaders, but that has in no way reduced the appeal of the monarch. You’d think that with changing times they’d be considered relics of the past but the interest in the British royal family doesn’t seem to have wanned. Queen Elizabeth II, Matriarch of the House of Windsor is the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and was born as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on the 21st of April 1926.
How Long Has Queen Elizabeth II Been Married?
Queen Elizabeth II has been blessed with Longevity, both as a reigning monarch and as a wife and mother. At the age of 13, she met Philip, a second cousin who was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece. They fell in love and got married on the 20th of November 1947.
She is the longest-reigning British monarch of all time. She is also the oldest living monarch and has presided over the evolution of the British monarch whilst maintaining its traditions.
How Many Children Does Queen Elizabeth II She Have?
Queen Elizabeth II wedded Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on the 20th of November 1947 at Westminster Abbey, London. The union has been blessed with four children. Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
Charles, Prince of Wales
The Queen’s first child was born Charles Philip Arthur George on the 14th of November 1948. At the age of eight, he was sent off to boarding school rather than learning at home. Charles eventually enrolled at the University of Cambridge where he got a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Anthropology, and History.
Upon graduation, he joined the Royal Air Force serving from 1971 to 1976. At the age of 33, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in a very publicized wedding. The wedding would bring a lot of attention to the monarchy partly due to Diana’s public appeal and the subsequent divorce and later Diana’s death. They had two children William and Harry.
In 1996, Charles and Diana divorced after it became apparent that their relationship had gone sour and was playing out publicly like a bad soap opera. Charles re-married in 2005 to Camilla Parker Bowles.
Anne, Princess Royal
Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise was born on the 15th of August 1950 at Clarence House while her mother was still Princess Elizabeth. She is the only daughter of the Queen. She schooled at Benenden School and while at school she excelled at horse riding, a hobby she would take up as a sport and compete at the highest levels.
As an elite equestrian, she was a vital part of the winning British team at the European Eventing Championship in 1971 winning an individual title at the same competition. Anne was also named the BBC Sports Personality of the year in 1971. She was part of the British team at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and between 1986 and 199, Anne was the President of the Fédération Équestre Internationale.
She met her first husband, an Army officer Capt. Mark Phillips in 1968 at an event for horse riders and enthusiasts. They wedded at Westminster Abbey London and have two children – Peter and a daughter Zara Philips. Anne and Philips divorced and the Princess went on to marry naval officer Timothy Laurence in December that same year.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Born Andrew Albert Christian Edward on the 19th of February 1960, Andrew is the Queen’s third child and second son. He was the first of his siblings born during the reign of their mother as Queen of England. Andrew is widely regarded as the Queen’s favorite child.
He attended primary school at the Heatherdown School in Berkshire after which he proceeded to The Gordonstoun boarding in Northern Scotland, in the footsteps of his father and older brother. After school, Andrew joined the Navy rather than go to University.
For the next two decades, Andrew would go on to have a decent naval career, flying helicopters during the Falkland Islands War. In his later years in service, he would work at the British Defense Ministry. Prince Andrew retired from the military in 2001. The Prince married Sarah Ferguson in July 1986. Their union produced two children- Beatrice and Eugenie. They divorced in 1996.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
The last child of Queen Elizabeth II is Edward Antony Richard Louis who was born on the 10th of March 1964. He attended the Gibbs School in Kensington. Andrew followed family tradition when he moved to Gordonstoun, in northern Scotland for school.
After his A-levels, Edwards who was a keen student enrolled at the Jesus College at the University of Cambridge where he studied History. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986.
Edward joined the Royal Marines but dropped out three months into his 12-month program opting for a career in entertainment. For the next decade, Edward worked as a theater and TV producer, forming his own independent production company Ardent Productions in 1993.
The Prince met Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1994 and they wedded on the 19th of June 1999 in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple has two kids, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
