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ON THIS DAY
EDITORS' BLOG
Last Updated:
Tuesday, 18 April 2006, 09:14 GMT 10:14 UK
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The Queen at 80: Timeline
21 April, 1926
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is born to Elizabeth nee Bowes Lyon and Albert Duke of York King George Vs second son.
21 August, 1930
A sister for Elizabeth Margaret Rose is born.
20 January, 1936
King George V dies. He is succeeded by Elizabeths uncle who becomes Edward VIII.
11 December, 1936
Edward VIII abdicates so he can marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Elizabeths father becomes king.
12 May, 1937
Coronation of King George VI.
1 September, 1939
Germany invades Poland precipitating World War II.
7 September, 1940
Blitz begins on London. The King and Queen stay in the city. The princesses are evacuated to Windsor.
October, 1940
Elizabeth makes her first broadcast to the nation a message to children especially evacuees.
21 April, 1944
She receives her first corgi Susan as an 18th birthday present.
1945
Elizabeth joins the Auxiliary Territorial Service learning how to drive and maintain vehicles.
8 May, 1945
People rejoice as the war ends in Europe.
April, 1947
During her first official overseas visit to South Africa Elizabeth makes a speech dedicating herself to the Commonwealth.
20 November, 1947
Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten her third cousin.
14 November, 1948
Princess Elizabeth gives birth to a boy Charles Philip Arthur George.
15 August, 1950
A second child for Elizabeth and Philip. She is named Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise.
6 February, 1952
King George VI dies of lung cancer aged 56. Elizabeth who was in Kenya at the time becomes Queen.
16 April, 1953
The Queen names and launches Royal Yacht Britannia.
2 June, 1953
Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Millions watch on television.
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0In a radio broadcast The Queen said "Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust." LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0An estimated three million people lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the new monarch as she made her way to and from Buckingham Palace in the golden state coach. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0
24 November, 1953
Begins her first Commonwealth tour which lasts six months and takes her as far as Australia New Zealand and Fiji.
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The Queen's first Commonwealth tour included visits to Bermuda Jamaica Panama Fiji Tonga New Zealand Australia the Cocos Islands Ceylon Aden Uganda Libya Malta and Gibraltar. The total distance covered was 43618 miles.
19 February, 1960
Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward is born.
6 May, 1960
Princess Margaret marries photographer Anthony Armstrong Jones.
10 March, 1964
Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis is born.
21 June, 1969
BBC broadcasts Royal Family a documentary with unprecedented access to the familys daily life.
April, 1970
First walkabout during a state visit of Australia and New Zealand. The Queen meets crowds of wellwishers.
14 November, 1973
Princess Anne marries Captain Mark Phillips.
February, 1974
Queen interrupts a tour of Australia and Indonesia as a snap election is called at home.
June, 1977
Silver Jubilee celebrations take place across the country.
13 June, 1981
Marcus Serjeant 17 fires blank shots at the Queen as she rides to the Trooping of the Colour ceremony.
29 July, 1981
Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
April, 1982
Prince Andrew is among the British forces sent to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentina.
21 June, 1982
Diana gives birth to Prince William Arthur Philip Louis.
9 July, 1982
Intruder Michael Fagan breaks into the Queens bedroom while she is sleeping.
23 July, 1986
Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson.
20 November, 1992
Fire devastates parts of Windsor Castle.
24 November, 1992
In a speech at the Guildhall the Queen says the year has been an annus horribilis.
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The Windsor Castle fire was the culmination of a year which saw three of the Queen's children split from their spouses. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0In March Prince Andrew and his wife Sarah announced they were to separate. In April Princess Anne and Mark Phillips were divorced after separating three years earlier. In December Prime Minister John Major announced in the Commons that Charles and Diana were to separate.
April, 1993
Queen starts paying tax on her personal income after offering to do so.
28 August, 1996
Charles and Diana divorce.
31 August, 1997
Diana Princess of Wales dies in a car crash in Paris. The Queen comes under fire for a perceived lack of mourning.
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The Queen was at her summer residence in Balmoral when Diana died. The official royal response seemed at odds with huge outpouring of public grief. The Queen was criticised in the press for not immediately issuing a statement and for following protocol that flags on royal property are not flown at half mast. She did bow to pressure on both these points she gave a live address to the nation and the Union Flag was flown at half mast on the day of the funeral.
19 June, 1999
Prince Edward marries Sophie RhysJones.
9 February, 2002
Princess Margaret the Queens younger sister dies after suffering a stroke.
30 March, 2002
The Queen Mother dies in her sleep at the age of 101.
June, 2002
The years Golden Jubilee events culminate in the first week of June including a starstudded Party at the Palace.
12 December, 2003
The Queen has a knee operation the second in a year and some minor skin lesions removed from her face.
9 April, 2005
Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles.
21 April, 2006
The Queen celebrates her 80th birthday.
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'Darling Mama'
Prince Charles pays tribute as the Queen watches fireworks before dinner.
Vintage cars mark birthday
Cheers greet Windsor walkabout
Queen meets BBC stars
Queen hails her 99 'exact twins'
Queen 'will do her job for life'
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Gowns and gems displayed
Rolf shows off Queen's portrait
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