<P> Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms . </P> <P> Elizabeth was born in London as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and she was educated privately at home . Her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive . She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service . In 1947, she married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, with whom she has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex . </P> <P> When her father died in February 1952, she became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon . She has reigned through major constitutional changes, such as devolution in the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation, and the decolonisation of Africa . Between 1956 and 1992, the number of her realms varied as territories gained independence and realms, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka), became republics . Her many historic visits and meetings include a state visit to the Republic of Ireland and visits to or from five popes . Significant events have included her coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees in 1977, 2002, and 2012 respectively . In 2017, she became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee . She is the longest - lived and longest - reigning British monarch as well as the world's longest - reigning queen regnant and female head of state, the oldest and longest - reigning current monarch and the longest - serving current head of state . </P> <P> Elizabeth has occasionally faced republican sentiments and press criticism of the royal family, in particular after the breakdown of her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in 1992, and the death in 1997 of her former daughter - in - law Diana, Princess of Wales . However, support for the monarchy remains high, as does her personal popularity . </P>

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