Long-Lived Facts About Elizabeth II, The Eternal Queen
Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in English history—but things weren’t exactly supposed to happen the way they did. The world was very different back when Elizabeth was born, and no one ever expected her to ascend to the throne.
That is, until a strange twist of fate changed the course of history.
Queen Elizabeth II passed on September 8, 2022, heralding the end of the second Elizabethan Era. Here, we remember her reign.
1. She Wasn't Supposed To Be Queen
Most of us know her simply as “The Queen,” but she was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on April 21, 1926. At the time of her birth, her paternal grandfather George V was king, and her father was his second son. This meant that she was third in line for the throne—and unlikely to ever come close to it. Well, fate had something different in mind.
2. She Had A Sibling Rivalry
The Windsor family has been dotted with royal rebels—hello, Princess Margaret—but growing up, Elizabeth was decidedly not one of them. Even when she was still a child, she seemed to have a sense of her future purpose. Elizabeth was an exceptionally serious and responsible child, with an eye towards order, whereas her younger sister Margaret was more playful and prone to pulling pranks.
These differences would become more prominent as the years wore on…
A Tale of Two Sisters (2015– ) Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, 3DD Productions
3. She Was The King's Favorite
Elizabeth may not have been King George V’s first grandchild, but she quickly became the favorite. While many of his family members seemed to shrink in George V’s presence, Elizabeth did not suffer the same anxiety. She even gave her grandfather an adorable nickname: “Grandpa England”.
In 1929, King George fell gravely ill, and Elizabeth’s parents brought her to his bedside regularly to help buoy his spirits. Sadly, their affectionate bond couldn’t last forever.
4. She Lost A Beloved Family Member
Maybe there was a reason Elizabeth took her duties as a member of the royal family so seriously, even as a child. The King had doubts about his eldest son, Edward VIII, but he always believed in Elizabeth and her father. King George never fully recovered from his illness, and his health deteriorated rapidly in the intervening years.
He passed on in his sleep in January 1936, leaving Elizabeth devastated. With his passing, her uncle Edward VIII ascended to the throne. The Windsors began to move on with their lives—but behind the scenes, trouble was brewing.
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