FACTS ABOUT HER MAJESTY
Buckingham Palace served as Her Majesty’s official residence throughout most of her reign. She made Windsor Castle her base during the pandemic.
Balmoral Castle in Scotland was one of the queen’s favourite places. As a child she spent holidays visiting her mother’s family at Glamis Castle in Angus.
Her Majesty was No 372 on the UK Sunday Times’ list of the 1 000 richest people in the UK. She carried cash only on Sundays for church service donations. A police protection officer would take care of the bill if she needed to pay for anything.
Elizabeth was 10 when her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated the throne and changed the course of her life, making her the heir presumptive.
Her wedding cake weighed 226kg and stood more than 2,7m high. It was made using ingredients from across the world, including South Africa.
Elizabeth got her nickname, Lilibet, from her sister, Margaret, who as a child couldn’t pronounce her name properly. Philip called her by that name until his dying day.
The queen celebrated two birthdays: her birthday was on 21 April and her “official” birthday was on the second Saturday in June, when the weather is usually warmer.