Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty became Queen in a tree house. At the time of her father's death she was staying at the Treetops Hotel. It is literally built into the tops of the trees of the Aberdares National Park as a tree house, offering the guests a close view of the local wildlife in complete safety. It was there that, uniquely, she "went up a Princess and came down a Queen". She was the first British monarch since the Act of Union in 1801 to be outside the country at the moment of succession, and also the first in modern times not to know the exact time of her accession (because her father, George VI, had died in his sleep at an unknown time); it fell to Prince Philip To tell her. The night of the King's death, Sir Horace Hearne, then Chief Justice of Kenya, escorted The Princess Elizabeth, as she then was, to a state dinner at the Treetops Hotel. Upon finding out that she was now Queen, she returned immediately to Britain.

Niece of King Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor), Mary the Princess Royal (aka Victoria, 1897-1965), Prince Henry (Duke of Gloucester), Prince George ('Duke of Kent'), and Prince John (1905-1919).

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926 in 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, England as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York).

Not including the United Kingdom, she is Queen of over a dozen countries, including Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Since she does not live in those countries, though she visits often, much of her duties are performed by a Governor General who she appoints on the advice of the Prime Minister of the country in question. It is important to note that neither the sovereign nor the Governors General, have had any hand in governing these countries since the 1930s, and their roles are purely ceremonial.

Learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Son, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, born Nov. 14, 1948.

Daughter, Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, born Aug. 15, 1950.

During her reign, the Queen has met all but one of the last twelve US Presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson being the exception. In chronological order she has met, Harry S. Truman (Canadian Embassy Washington 1951), Dwight D. Eisenhower (St. Lawrence Seaway opening 1959), John F. Kennedy (London 1961), Richard Nixon (UK 1970), Gerald Ford (White House 1976), Jimmy Carter (Buckingham Palace 1977), Ronald Reagan (UK 1982), George Bush (Washington 1991), Bill Clinton (Buckingham Palace 2000), George W. Bush (White House 2007), Barack Obama (London 2016). She also met former US President Herbert Hoover more than 20 years after he left office (New York City 1957).

Ascended British and Commonwealth thrones on February 6th, 1952.

Was crowned in Westminster Abbey in London on June 2, 1953. This coronation became the first major international television broadcast.

Son, Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, born Feb. 19, 1960.

Son, Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, (aka Prince Edward) born March 10, 1964.

Has 8 grandchildren:Prince William Arthur Philip Louis (b. 21 June 1982), and Prince Henry Charles Albert David (b. 15 September 1984, Prince Charles' sons), Peter Mark Andrew Phillips (b. 15 November 1977) and Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (b. 15 May 1981, Princess Anne's children), Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary (b. 8 August 1988) and Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena (b. 23 March 1990, Prince Andrew's daughters), Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary (b. 8 November 2003) and James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn (b. 17 December 2007, Prince Edward's children).

She is the oldest of the five surviving people mentioned by name in the 1989 Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire". The other four are Brigitte Bardot, Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan and Bernard Goetz.

She has owned over 30 corgis over the years, and her four current dogs are named Pharos, Swift, Emma, and Linnet (as of February 2002).

She enjoys watching horse-racing, Doctor Who (2005) and the British comedy Last of the Summer Wine (1973). She is also known to enjoy quiz programmes.

May 4-8. Her Majesty stayed in Jamestown, Virginia to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the colonizing of Jamestown. [May 2007]

The 2009 Sunday Times List estimated her net worth at $442 million.

On September 9, 2015, she surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.