In Memoriam: Elizabeth Regina II Quiz

Answer: 17 Bruton Street

Queen Elizabeth II came into the world at 17 Bruton Street, which is in the Mayfair district of London, England. This is a private townhouse which was owned by her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and not a royal palace or castle.

Her father was the Duke of York, who would later become King George VI, following the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII. At the time of her birth, Elizabeth was third in line to the throne. That's why her birthplace was relatively modest, compared to the other, more grand residences she occupied during her reign.

Answer: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Queen Elizabeth II's husband was Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. She was just eight years old and Philip 13 when they met at the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark to Prince George, Duke of Kent, at Westminster Abbey in 1934. She was a bridesmaid and he was a guest. They met again in 1939 when she was 13 and he was an 18-year-old naval cadet at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. Elizabeth was smitten with him and they began writing to each other regularly. This blossomed into romance over the years.

They officially announced their engagement on 9 July 1947. The proposal actually happened in September 1946 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, but her father, King George VI, asked them to wait until after Elizabeth's 21st birthday to make it public. Their marriage took place on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey in London. It was a grand post-war celebration, marking the beginning of the longest royal marriage in British history.

Answer: Geoffrey Francis Fisher

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey in London on June 2nd, 1953. She was crowned by the senior bishop of the Church of England, Geoffrey Francis Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury. During the ceremony he placed the St Edward's Crown on her head and anointed her with holy oil, which is regarded as the most sacred part of the rite.

The event, steeped in tradition, was the first British coronation to be shown on television and was watched by millions, allowing them to witness this historic chapter in the Queen's life.

Answer: Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward

Queen Elizabeth II had four children. Her eldest son, Prince Charles, was born on 14th November 1948, before she ascended the throne. He was followed by her only daughter, Princess Anne, born on 15th August 1950. Prince Andrew, Duke of York, arrived on 19th February 1960, and the youngest, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on 10th March 1964.

Charles married Lady Diana Spencer on 29th July 1981 and they had two sons, William and Henry (Harry). They divorced in 1996 after 15 years of marriage, having been separated for four years. Tragically, Diana lost her life in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Charles then married Camilla Parker Bowles in April, 2005. Following the death of his mother in September 2022, Prince Charles ascended the throne, becoming King Charles III. Camilla became Queen Consort.

Answer: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Queen Elizabeth's favourite breed of dog was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. She was first introduced to the breed when her father, King George VI bought one named Dookie, for her and her sister Margaret in 1933. She was seven years old at the time. Her love for them deepened when she was given one as an 18th birthday present and she named her new canine companion Susan.

So beloved was Susan by Elizabeth that she even accompanied her on her honeymoon in 1947. From Susan's lineage, over 14 generations of corgis were bred, and Elizabeth owned more than 30 during her reign. She later added dorgis to the royal pack, a dachshund corgi mix. In her final years, she also kept a cocker spaniel.

Answer: Balmoral Castle

Queen Elizabeth II spent her summers at Balmoral Castle, her private estate in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The castle is not part of the Crown Estate; it is privately owned by the Royal Family and was purchased for Queen Victoria by her husband, Prince Albert, in 1852.

The Queen usually stayed at Balmoral from late July to early October. Free from public duties and surrounded by family, she enjoyed picnics, walks, barbecues, and horseback rides across the estate. During her stay, she also attended the Braemar Gathering (the annual Highland Games) and worshiped at Crathie Kirk, the local Church of Scotland parish. Balmoral Castle was one of Queen Elizabeth's favourite places. She considered it her sanctuary, and it was there, on 8th September 2022, that she passed away, marking the end of her historic 70-year reign.

Answer: Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill, who began serving his second term as Prime Minister in 1951, was in office when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952. He was widely regarded as her favourite. Despite the 52-year age gap - he was 77 and she just 25 - they got along exceptionally well. She valued his experience, wisdom, eloquence and wit, as well as his deep respect for the monarchy. He, in turn, was charmed by her poise and sense of duty. Their weekly audiences often ran far longer than usual, filled with lively conversation and mutual admiration.

When Churchill retired in 1955, the Queen sent him a handwritten letter expressing how much she would miss him; and broke with tradition by attending his farewell dinner. Upon his death in 1965, she granted him the rare honour of a state funeral, held at St Paul's Cathedral on 30 January. He was then laid to rest at St Martin's Church in Bladon, Oxfordshire, near his birthplace at Blenheim Palace.

Answer: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth II's parents were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. George was born Albert Frederick Arthur George on 14 December 1895 at Sandringham, Norfolk. He was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary; and was known by the nickname 'Bertie'. Her mother was born Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon on 4 August 1900 at St Paul's Walden Bury, a country house near Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. She was the ninth child of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.

Following the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, George, as next in line, ascended the throne as King George VI of the United Kingdom. He and Elizabeth were crowned on 12 May 1937 at Westminster Abbey. King George was shy and reserved by nature, a somewhat reluctant monarch. He also had a pronounced stammer, which he worked hard to overcome, receiving help from an Australian speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Although he never fully lost his stammer, the therapy greatly improved his public speaking, enabling him to deliver important wartime speeches.

Following his death at age 56 on 6 February 1952, due to health complications, Elizabeth officially became known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at Royal Lodge, Windsor, on 30 March 2002, at the age of 101.

Answer: Platinum Jubilee

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne of the United Kingdom. She was the first British monarch to reach this milestone, making her the longest-reigning monarch in the nation's history. A special four-day UK bank holiday weekend, from 2 to 5 June 2022, was held to commemorate the occasion. It featured national and community events, including:

- Platinum Party at the Palace: A star-studded concert at Buckingham Palace
- The Big Jubilee Lunch: Street parties across the UK
- Platinum Jubilee Pageant: A grand parade through London with music, dance, and performances
- Trooping the Colour: The Queen's traditional birthday parade

Also, over 3,500 beacons were lit across the UK and Commonwealth nations. Countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand held their own tributes to honour the occasion.

Answer: King George VI Memorial Chapel

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, at 3:10 p.m. at Balmoral Castle, Scotland. Over the last several months her health had been declining, as she began to look frail and noticeably thinner, relying on a walking stick for support. This led to her having to cancel several public engagements.

Her body lay in state in Westminster Hall for four days, allowing the public to pay their respects. Following this, her coffin was carried on a State Gun Carriage, drawn by Royal Navy sailors, through London, with senior members of the Royal Family walking behind it to Westminster Abbey, where her state funeral was held. It was attended by global leaders, clergy and members of the Royal Family. As a mark of respect, a two-minute silence was observed across the UK during the funeral.

From there her body was taken to Windsor Castle where a Committal Service, held at Windsor Chapel, was attended by close family and Royal members. That evening, she was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, a small annexe within St George's Chapel, where she now lies alongside her husband Prince Philip, her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret.