The members of the Royal Family. Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II’s full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She was born on June 20, 1926. She is the elder daughter of the late King George VI She never went to school and was taught by home tutors. In 1944 she served as a councilor of state while her father was on the war front in Italy. In 1947 she married Prince Philip, her distant relative, a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. Philip adopted his mother’s surname Mountbatten. Later he was created Duke of Edinbergh. A year later she gave birth to a son, Charles. In 1950 she gave a birth to a daughter, Anne. Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on the death of her father in February in 1952. The second son, Andrew, was born to Elizabeth in 1960 and the third, Edward, in 1964.

Queen Elizabeth is very popular and much respected all over the world. She is one of the richest persons in the world. She acts as a patroness for a number of charities and other organizations. She is a symbol of unity and continuity within the Commonwealth of Nations.

The royal family has also undergone changes during Elizabeth’s reign. Since the 1980s the public has become much more informed about the lives of the royal family. Due to the press. Two of the Queen’s sons, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, separated from their wives in 1992. Both separations were much discussed in newspapers. These divorces were surrounded by accusations of infidelity and damaged the reputation of the royal family.

Elizabeth II calls the Windsor family a ‘Firm’. She thinks of it as a business of the royal family is …well probably being royal. Being Queen is a really busy job. Elizabeth II gets up early and begins her day by looking through the newspapers. Then she reads letters from the public ( she gets more than 1000 each week), and tells her staff how she would like them to answer. The Queen has daily meetings with her Private Secretary who helps her to go through her paperwork, and lots of meetings with ambassadors, new judges, and bishops.

In the afternoon Elizabeth II often goes out on public engagements – she gets thousands of invitations each year. She opens hospitals, bridges and factories. Once a week, the Queen has a meeting with the Prime Minister and they discuss government business and important things that are happening in the country.

Being Queen is not a 9 to 5 job, and Elizabeth II has to work from early morning until late at night. And people watch her all the time.

Of course, she has come free time, and some private life, but less than most people. In her spare time she enjoys horse racing, fishing and walking in the countryside. She also enjoys photography and likes taking photos on her travels.

Many people think that the Royals are useless and monarchy is outdated. But the British people seem to like them that way. They like to read about the royal family, royal scandals and shocking secrets. They like to watch royal ceremonies, they are proud of the tradition of monarchy. Britain has had kings and queens for a thousand years – probably they’ll have them for another thousand.

Many other members of the family lead a busy life too. Princess Anne, for example, is Head of the University of London, Colonel of Eleven army regiments, and president of the Save the Children Fund.