Full name:  Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) Born:  21st April 1926 Place of Birth:  London Ascended to the throne:  6th February 1952, aged 25 years Crowned:  2nd June 1953, at Westminster Abbey Reign:  62 years

As the second longest serving Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21st April 1926 in London to The Duke and Duchess of York.

Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the throne, so it was unexpected that she would become Queen. In 1936, Elizabeth's father acceded to the throne after his brother abdicated.

In 1945, Elizabeth trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (WATS).

In 1947 Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh. They had four children; Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.

George VI died in 1952, and Princess Elizabeth immediately became Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953, and the ceremony was broadcast around the world for the first time.

Disaster struck in 1992, when a devastating fire broke out in Windsor Castle, in the same year the respective marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne disintegrated

In 2002, and 2012, the Queen celebrated her Golden, then Diamond Jubilee. The Queen, who was aged 85 on accession day is the oldest monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen has introduced, and supported many reforms to the monarchy during her reign, as well as UK visits, numerous foreign tours, and maintaining her duties as head of state, and her role as head of Commonwealth. She supported the idea that the eldest child, regardless of gender, can take the throne.