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Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II Little Known Facts
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12 Things You Might Not Know About Queen Elizabeth II

We wish Elizabeth II a birthday fit for a queen!
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We wish Elizabeth II a birthday fit for a queen! The British monarch turns 87 today, although she will have to wait until June 16 for her official birthday. King Edward VII moved kings' and queens' birthdays to June since he didn't want to celebrate his real birthday when the weather was poor.

Sixty one years ago, Queen Elizabeth II started her reign. Over the past six decades, Queen Elizabeth has witnessed much change across the world and in her own family, while always remaining a constant herself. To mark her birthday, here are some little-known facts that will help you get to know Queen Elizabeth II. And if you'd like to know more, check out must read Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch, by Sally Bedell Smith.

Her Nickname Is Lilibet She Applies Lipstick in Public She Text Messages Her Grandchildren She Spoke to Her Mother Every Day She Was 10 When She Became Heir Presumptive She Worked as a Mechanic During World War II She Married Her Cousin
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Diamond Jubilee Queen Elizabeth
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Look Back at All of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

On Feb. 6, Queen Elizabeth II marked 60 years on the throne.
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On Feb. 6, Queen Elizabeth II marked 60 years on the throne. To commemorate the queen's anniversary — called the Diamond Jubilee — the royal family has been busy taking part in the official Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend celebrations, which just wrapped up in London with a church service, carriage ride, and Buckingham Palace appearance. On Saturday, the royals attended the Epsom Derby, the UK's most famous horse race. Then on Sunday, everyone took to the seas with the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, a river parade that included more than 1,000 boats and ships. Last night, pop royalty gathered for a BBC concert and impressive firework show, where Prince William, Prince Harry, and Kate Middleton rocked out from the audience.

While the Central Weekend is the pinnacle of the Diamond Jubilee, the royal family has been honoring the queen's 60-year reign all year with celebrations throughout the UK and beyond. Last week, Queen Elizabeth was joined by Kate Middleton, as well as Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, for a royal tea party at Buckingham Palace. And other events have included inspecting Gloriana, the new rowing barge built for the Diamond Jubilee. She also headed to Manchester, England, where she even found time to crash a wedding! The couple had invited her royal highness, knowing she would be in town. A lady in waiting sent a letter declining their invite, but plans were in fact made for the queen to surprise them.

Queen Elizabeth really seems to be enjoying herself. You might not know it, but the queen has a laid-back side to her. She reportedly isn't afraid to put on lipstick in public, text message her grandkids, and has a big heart for her racehorses and Corgis. We've rounded up pictures from all the festivities from this past weekend and before! Check them out now.

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Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Address
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Watch the Queen's Jubilee Address

Queen Elizabeth II marked the end of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations today with an address to her people.
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Queen Elizabeth II marked the end of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations today with an address to her people. With a picture of Prince William and Kate Middleton peeking out in the background, she called the four-day affair a humbling experience, saying, "It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbors, and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere." Looking forward, she added, "I hope that memories of all this year's happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come." Until the Platinum Jubilee in 2022! Watch the queen's address, which was uploaded to her YouTube channel, no less.

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Procession
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Her Reign With a Service and Procession on Final Day of Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II's family, along with thousands of Britons, attended a thanksgiving service for the monarch's 60-year reign today at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
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Queen Elizabeth II's family, along with thousands of Britons, attended a thanksgiving service for the monarch's 60-year reign today at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Today had the spirit of last year's royal wedding, with the royal family, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry, dressed in their best to make their way to a service, this time at St. Paul's Cathedral. The queen traveled in her state Bentley with a lady in waiting, of course. The service honored the queen's lifelong dedication and Prime Minister David Cameron gave a reading. After, the royals headed to Buckingham Palace by carriage to take in a Royal Air Force flypast from the balcony.

Sadly, the queen's husband of more than 64 years, Prince Philip, had to miss the festivities after being hospitalized for an infection. Perhaps most unexpected was the queen's choice of carriage companion: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Charles's wife, who could be the next person to hold the title of queen, rode next to Queen Elizabeth during the carriage procession through London. It's no secret that Camilla's long affair with the Prince of Wales has been a source of scandal during the queen's reign, but it appears that all is well with the royal family now. With Charles happily married, along with William and Kate, it seems like the queen can be content with the state of her family and heirs. See photos of today's events now.

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Diamond Jubilee Concert Pictures
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Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert Rocks Buckingham Palace

Today, commoners, Queen Elizabeth, and pop royalty gathered at Buckingham Palace for the BBC's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the monarch's 60 years on the throne.
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Today, commoners, Queen Elizabeth, and pop royalty gathered at Buckingham Palace for the BBC's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the monarch's 60 years on the throne. Unfortunately, in the midst of her Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend, the queen is dealing with some trying circumstances, as her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was rushed to the hospital today with a bladder infection. Locals told BBC they feel for the royal couple, especially since Prince Philip will no longer be able to attend the rest of the Central Weekend events that include today's concert and tomorrow's service and carriage ride.

But the show must go on, and the queen still attended the Diamond Jubilee concert today (with earplugs in!) along with young royals Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Zara Phillips, and Princess Beatrice. The star-studded event kicked off at 7:30 p.m. London time, and the public and royal family members alike — 12,000 people in total — jammed to music by Elton John, will.i.am, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, and more on a stage built around the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Before the firework celebration ended the evening, Prince Charles introduced his "mummy," as he called her, and gave a touching speech in her honor. See the concert festivities now!

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Celebrity News For June 4, 2012 Late Edition
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Prince Philip Hospitalized During Queen's Jubilee

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Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
Prince Harry

Queen Elizabeth Hits the High Seas With the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Today Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend festivities continue with the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
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Today Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend festivities continue with the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. After yesterday's Diamond Jubilee Derby, the queen is today accompanied by Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and more members of the royal family on the royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell. The queen and her troop are at the center of a flotilla with more than 1,000 boats floating down the River Thames. This massive flotilla — one of the largest ever to gather on the river — includes rowboats, working boats, passenger boats, and boats filled with members of the armed forces and police. Pippa Middleton is joining her brother, James, and her parents on a vessel, too. See the royals celebrate the queen's 60-year reign with the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant now!

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Royal Wedding Costume Ideas
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Rule the Diamond Jubilee With Royal Look-Alike Inspiration

This weekend is the Diamond Jubilee's big celebration in the UK, and if you're throwing a party for Queen Elizabeth's 60-year reign, you'll need a royally inspired costume!
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This weekend is the Diamond Jubilee's big celebration in the UK, and if you're throwing a party for Queen Elizabeth's 60-year reign, you'll need a royally inspired costume! Whether you hope to channel the newlywed couple on their big day, sister Pippa Middleton in her infamous royal wedding bridesmaid gown, the princely brothers in their military uniforms, or Queen Elizabeth taking her pups for a walk, take some costume tips from the pros — royal look-alikes! These professional impersonators (and even the amateurs) make it their business to know how to replicate the British royal family members down to the last detail, be it their regal wave or pet corgis, so be royally inspired now!

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Diamond Jubilee Derby Pictures
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Stars and Royals Celebrate Queen Elizabeth at the Diamond Jubilee Derby

Today is Queen Elizabeth II's first official event as part of her Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend.
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Today is Queen Elizabeth II's first official event as part of her Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend. It's the 233rd Epsom Derby — this year named the Diamond Jubilee Derby in honor of the queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Epsom Derby kicked off with Ladies Day yesterday, and women sported eccentric hats and plenty of Union Jack attire. As the country's most prestigious horse race, the event draws a who's who of England — including, of course, the royal family. At today's event, Queen Elizabeth presented the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup to the winning horse, Camelot, who was trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by O'Brien's son, Joseph. Katherine Jenkins sang the national anthem, and members of the royal family like Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended the races — along with some stars including Mischa Barton — to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's big event. We've already taken a look back at the royal family's Epsom Derby presence over the years, but now we're offering a glimpse of this year's sightings. Check out the best moments from the Diamond Jubilee Derby now!

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Queen Elizabeth II With Celebrities
the royals

All the Queen's Men: Elizabeth's Encounters With High-Profile Guys

Her royal highness is apparently a James Bond fan, as Queen Elizabeth II personally requested that current MI6 agent Daniel Craig open up the 2012 London Olympics with a short film that may even include a cameo from the queen.
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Her royal highness is apparently a James Bond fan, as Queen Elizabeth II personally requested that current MI6 agent Daniel Craig open up the 2012 London Olympics with a short film that may even include a cameo from the queen. The collaboration is fitting, as the James Bond franchise celebrates its 50th anniversary the same year as the queen celebrates her 60th year on the throne with Diamond Jubilee. And this isn't Queen Elizabeth's first 007 encounter, over the decades she has met with several Bonds, including Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery, and Roger Moore — the latter two of which she knighted! In honor of this weekend's big Diamond Jubilee celebrations, take a look back at the celebrity queen's many meet ups with high-profile men in movies, sports, and politics.

Daniel Craig, 2006 Barack Obama, 2011 Michael Bublé, 2009 Hugh Jackman, 2011 Enrique Iglesias, 2007 Paul McCartney, 2012 Hugh Grant, 2005
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