Queen Elizabeth II: Ten Facts from Accidental Queen to Royal Bagpiper

Queen Elizabeth II, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, was third in line to the throne at birth but became queen after a series of events: her grandfather King George V died on January 20, 1936; her uncle Edward VIII abdicated on December 10, 1936; and her father King George VI died on February 6, 1952. She was crowned on June 2, 1953, in the first televised coronation. Known for nicknames like Lilibet, Gan-Gan, and 'cabbage' (from Prince Philip), she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 as a driver and mechanic, becoming the first female royal in an active, full-time military role. She held over fifty military ranks. A corgi enthusiast, she owned more than thirty Pembroke Welsh Corgis, starting with Susan, a gift for her 18th birthday; her final corgis, Muick and Sandy, were entrusted to Sarah Ferguson. She celebrated two birthdays: her actual one on April 21 privately and a public one in June with Trooping the Colour. She wore only Essie's Ballet Slippers nail polish, priced at £7.99. She enjoyed a dry martini and champagne but was advised in 2021 to give up alcohol except on special occasions. She used Launer handbags to signal staff. She was the longest-reigning British monarch, ruling almost 71 years, and the second-longest in world history after Louis XIV. Each morning she was awakened at 7:30 AM by a personal bagpiper, a role created in 1843; Pipe Major Paul Burns played at her funeral in 2022.