10 intriguing facts that you probably don't know about the Queen of England
Queen Elizabeth II is undeniably one of the most renowned and respected public figures in the world. From being the world’s longest reigning monarch to one of the greatest visionaries of her time, she chose to devote her life to the service of her country and outlived and endured many revolutionary changes in the history of mankind.
Apart from being one of the most popular persons on the planet, the Queen is also very private about her life. While we may be very familiar with her public appearances, there’s a lot more about the Queen that you may have missed. Here are some intriguing facts about the Queen of England that will help you know her better.
Photo: Getty images
Queen Elizabeth II never attended a school
It may come as a surprise to most of us, but our beloved Queen never went to school. That’s not to say that she isn’t educated. She and her sister, Princess Margaret, received private tutoring at the palace.
Photo by Royal Collection Trust
She joined the armed services during World War II
During World War II, Queen Elizabeth II joined the British armed forces and trained to be a mechanic, making her the first female royal to join the armed services.
The Queen celebrates two birthdays
Being a member of the royal family has its own perks. For instance, the Queen gets to celebrate her birthday twice a year. While her real birthday is on 21st of April, which she usually spends privately with her family, her official birthday falls on the second Saturday of June.
Her husband, Prince Philip, is her third cousin
While many of us may not be aware of this fact, but Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband is her third cousin related through Queen Victoria.
Photo: Official Instagram of The British Royal Family
She has survived an attempted assassination
Like many other head of states, the Queen of England has also survived an assassination attempt. During a royal procession led by the Queen on a horseback, a man named Marcus Sarjeant, fired a number of blanks at the Queen. It was revealed later that the man was obsessed with the assassinations of figures like John Lennon and John F. Kennedy.
Photo: Official Instagram of The British Royal family
During her reign, she has been served by 14 UK Prime Ministers
Having been served by 14 UK Prime Ministers during her reign, the Queen of England is indeed the longest reigning monarch in the world. Amongst all the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill is said to be the Queen’s favourite.
Left image: Official Instagram of the British Royal Family/ Right image: Wikipedia
The Queen has her own poet laureate
Did you know that the Queen has her own personal poet? Currently, the honorary position is held by Simon Armitage, who replaced Carol Ann Duff in May 2019. Apart from the handsome salary, the poet also receives additional perks, one of which is bottle of sherry.
The Queen does not possess a passport, but can travel anywhere in the World
One of the most interesting yet rewarding advantage of being the Queen, is that she doesn’t need a passport to travel the world.
She is the only person, who can drive without a driver’s license
Similarly, the Queen does not require a driver’s license or license plate on her car to drive through the streets of England.
The Queen sent her first email in 1976
Dating back to 1976, Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to send an email. What’s more astonishing is that the internet wasn’t invented during that time. She used a network called ARPANET, a precursor to the World Wide Web as we know it today.
Photo: Official Instagram of the British Royal Family
- By Tenzin Chodon