The Royal Family

No visit to London would be complete without mentioning the famous British royal family. They have long commanded the admiration and respect of the British people, who are always on the lookout for the news or scandals that regularly make headlines about them. It should be noted that Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning British monarch in the country’s history, surpassing even Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years in the 19th century. Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926, crowned in 1952 and reigned for more than 70 years! A record unseen in the history of England! In 2022, she became the first British monarch to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee through various events across the country. This unique celebration is the perfect opportunity to learn more about this iconic queen, who died in 2022 at the age of 96. It’s worth mentioning that Elizabeth II, born in 1926, was third in line to the throne after her uncle, who was heir to the throne, and her father. Nothing predestined her to become Queen . Upon the King’s death, her uncle acceded to the throne, a short-lived succession since he abdicated only a few months later: in fact, he is the only monarch in British history to have voluntarily renounced the throne! Why, you may ask? Well, because he was in love with a woman who, having divorced her former husband, was not accepted by the British government. The king was forced to choose between the throne or his love for this woman. He opted for the latter, leaving the throne to George VI, Elizabeth’s father. However, the latter died in 1952, so it was his eldest daughter who became Queen, under the name of Elizabeth II, at only 25 years of age. In 1947 she married Prince Philip, who became Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she had been in love since the tender age of 13. Together they had four children, including Prince Charles who, with his famous wife Diana Spencer, nicknamed the ‘Princess of Hearts’, had two sons, William, Duke of Cambridge, and Harry, Duke of Sussex.  Before her tragic death at the age of 36, Diana Spencer, or Lady Di, was also one of the most famous and, above all, beloved member of the royal family. She died in a tragic car accident in 1997, and her funeral in London was attended by over 3 million people and broadcast on television. The ceremony was watched by no less than 2.5 billion viewers from all over the world. A high-profile event that once again demonstrated the extent to which the British royal family is followed, not only in England but around the world. To this day, they remain one of the most mediatised family in the world, closely watched by the British population!