Queen Elizabeth is one of the most influential people globally and a well-known political leader. She has ruled for over 65 years- making her the longest-reigning British monarch. There are many questions about her life, but one question that people often wonder is, “Does Queen Elizabeth have siblings?” It’s not uncommon for people to think about this question as it relates to who will reign after her death.
Biography
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, commonly referred to as Elizabeth II, is Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. This includes Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu [Source].
She was born as Princess Elizabeth of York Mayfair, London, in the United Kingdom on 26 April 1926 and is the Head of the Commonwealth.
Early Life
Elizabeth was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. The parents were later crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. After the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII, King George ascended to the throne in 1936, making Elizabeth an heir to the throne.
She was delivered through Cesarean section at her maternal grandfather’s London house. Later, she was baptized by the Anglican Archbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang. She was named Elizabeth “after her mother; Alexandra after George V’s mother, who had died six months earlier; and Mary after her paternal grandmother.”
As royalty, she was educated at home and ushered into public duties early. Lessons delivered to her focused on history, language, literature, and music. Her governess Marion Crawford published a book on Elizabeth titled ‘The Little Princess,’ and she penned down Elizabeth’s love for horses and dogs and her orderly manner and conduct to responsibility [Source]. She also trained as a mechanic and studied for a driving and vehicle course at Aldershot.
During the Second World War, she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a woman’s branch of the British Army during WW2.
She married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, and these two had four children. Mountbatten died on 9 April 2021.
Military Service
Queen Elizabeth’s education prepared her to understand better historical trends linked to military operations and governing a kingdom. She has instilled the spirit of serving a nation and sacrificing for the people.
This helped her when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a woman’s branch of the British Army during WW2. She served while carrying a Subaltern military rank equivalent to Army Lieutenant and a Junior Commander rank equivalent to Army Captain [Source].
Currently, it is noted that “Today, Queen Elizabeth is colonel-in-chief of 16 British Army regiments and corps, and many Commonwealth units”.
Reign
Queen Elizabeth assumed the throne from her father, King George VI after he died in February 1952. Her reign began on 6 February 1952 up to this day, which means she has been serving for 69 years in counting. Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953.
According to Wikipedia, “Elizabeth is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, the longest-serving female head of state in history, the oldest living and the longest-reigning current monarch, and the oldest and longest-serving incumbent head of state.”
As a leader, she has lived through major political changes, including the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Brexit, devolution of the UK, decolonization of Africa, and Canadian patriation. Historical records also show that “The Queen is also the last surviving head of state to have served during the Second World War” [Source].
Does Queen Elizabeth have siblings?
Queen Elizabeth’s only sibling is Princess Margaret, born in 1930 on 21 August, at Glamis Castle, Scotland. She was the second child of Duke and Duchess of York [Source]. Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones, appointed 1st Earl of Snowdon after their marriage. Bt Margaret was involved in various relationship scandals.
She later died on 9 February 2002 in London after suffering a third stroke.
How many babies did she have?
Queen Elizabeth with Philip Mountbatten, had four children, namely: Charles (Prince of Wales) born on 14 November in 1948, Anne (Princess Royal) born on 15 August 1950, Prince Andrew (Duke of York) born on 19 February 1960, and Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex) born on 10 March 1964 [Source].
