12 Interesting Facts About Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II was an exceptional woman who left her mark on the world, beloved by many. And while the majority of those alive today grew up knowing her as the Queen of England, a far-off figure that symbolized nobility and duty and notoriety, many of our understandings of her stopped there.

But who was the woman behind the crown? Who was Elizabeth II, the woman who lived a life so foreign to us? With her passing just a few days ago on September 8th, we compiled a list of 12 interesting, some of them lesser-known, facts about Queen Elizabeth II.

01 | She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Queen Elizabeth II reigned from February 6, 1952, until her death in 2022, making her reign of over 70 years, the longest in British history.

02 | She loved charity.

She supported and worked with over 600 charities during her time on the throne, helping the causes she supported raise over £1.4 billion.

03 | She was homeschooled.

Her Majesty never attended public or private school. Her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, chose to educate her at home, utilizing the best tutors in the world for her education.

04 | She enjoyed acting.

Throughout her reign, the Queen was given the opportunity to show off her acting chops through cameos and sketches, performing opposite characters like James Bond and Paddington Bear. In fact, for the opening visuals for the 2012 London Olympics, when asked if a sketch with James Bond could use her likeness, she suggested that she appear in it herself.

05 | She might have been a fan of The Crown.

One of the most expensive TV shows in history, Netflix’s The Crown, a dramatized depiction of the last century of British royalty, was a smash hit, drawing tens of millions of viewers and countless awards. And while no official word has come from the Palace, credible sources say she watched the first season and, “really liked it.”

06 | She adored corgis.

The Queen had a soft spot for corgis, having owned over 30 throughout her reign, bestowing them with wonderfully unique names like Disco, Lissy, Kelpie, and Noble, just to name a few.

07 | She was the great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

While Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most famous and beloved monarchs in British history, her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, isn’t far behind.

08 | She saw 15 different Prime Ministers during her reign.

Over the course of her 70 years on the British throne, she presided over 15 different Prime Ministers, the first of which being the historic Winston Churchill.

09 | She didn’t have a driver’s license.

It turns out that when you’re the Queen of England, holding a driver’s license isn’t necessary — though she never stopped driving, she was the only person in the UK allowed to drive without a license.

10 | ‘Lilibet’ wasn’t her only nickname.

The Queen was affectionately known as ‘Lilibet’ by her family, but that wasn’t her only nickname. Prince Philip, her husband of 74 years, would sometimes lovingly call her ‘Cabbage.’

11 | She served during WWII.

Elizabeth II was the first female British royal to serve as an active duty military member, working as a mechanic on a number of military vehicles and driving ambulances.

12 | She would start her day with bagpipes.

Her Majesty didn’t need an alarm clock. A tradition started by Queen Victoria, the Queen had a royal bagpiper play within earshot of her window every morning.