17. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary⁴ Windsor H.M. Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of her other Realms and Terrotories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, etc. (H.R.H. Prince Albert Fredrick Arthur George³ Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, George Frederick Ernest Albert² Hanover, Albert Edward¹ Wettin) was born London, Middlesex, England 21 April 1926.⁽¹⁶³⁾

She married Philip Mountbatten Duke of Edinburgh Westminister Abbey, Westminister, London, England, 20 Nov 1947. Philip was born at Mon Repos, Corfu, Greece 10 June 1921. Philip is the son of H.R.H. Andreas Glücksburg Prince of Greece and Denmark and Princess Victoria Alice Elisabeth Julie Marie von Battenberg. He was a student at Cheam Preparatory School, 1928 to 1933. He was a student at Salem School, in Germany, 1933 to 1934. He was a student at Gordonstoun School, in Morayshire, 1934. He petitioned the court to become a citizen 28 February 1947. This action was not necessary. He was, by birth, as a descendant of the Electress Sophia, a British subject of the King. He possibly did not know this at the time. It was done in anticipation of his marriage, and he presumably renounced his claims to the thrones of Greece and Denmark at this time. That action is in doubt.

Philip was created H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh by George VI on 19 November 1947. Philip had previously announced that he renounced the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. However, no document has been found in the British, Greek or Danish Royal Archives to this effect, nor did the monarchs of Greece or Denmark ever say that they received such a document. If there is no such document legally executed he remains a prince of Greece and Denmark; he simply declines to use those titles.

At 27 years of age Philip became the father of H.R.H. The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell and Rothesey, Earl of Chester London, Middlesex, England, 14 Nov 1948. At 29 years of age Philip became the father of H.R.H. The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Windsor The Princess Royal London, Middlesex, England, 15 August 1950.⁽¹⁶⁴⁾ At 38 years of age Philip became the father of Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor London, Middlesex, England, 19 Feb 1960. Philip was present at Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor's christening London, Middlesex, England, 8 April 1960.⁽¹⁶⁵⁾ He gave the bride away at the marriage of Margaret Rose Windsor and Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones London, Middlesex, England, 6 May 1960.⁽¹⁶⁶⁾ Philip became George Philip Nicholas Windsor Earl of St. Andrews's godfather at his christening Music Room, Buckingham Palace, London, Middlesex, England, 14 September 1962. At 42 years of age Philip became the father of H.R.H. The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn London, Middlesex, England, 10 March 1964. Philip was present at H.R.H. The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn's christening London, Middlesex, England, 2 May 1964.⁽¹⁶⁷⁾ Another source incorrectly states that he was christened in the private chapel at Windsor Castle.

She was christened into the Church of England, by Dr. Cosmo Lang, at the Chapel Royal, Buckingham Palace, London, Middlesex, England, on 29 May 1926.⁽¹⁶⁸⁾ At 22 years of age Elizabeth II became the mother of H.R.H. The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell and Rothesey, Earl of Chester London, Middlesex, England, 14 Nov 1948. At 24 years of age Elizabeth II became the mother of H.R.H. The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Windsor The Princess Royal London, Middlesex, England, 15 August 1950.⁽¹⁶⁹⁾ Elizabeth II, 25, acceded to the Throne of the British Empire, 6 February 1952, at Treetops Hotel, Sagana Lodge, Sagana River, Nyeri, Kenya. Elizabeth and Philip were on a state visit to the Commonwealth countries in Africa, postponed from the previous year, when her father died. It had been postponed to the then ill health of the king. They left London on 31 January, the king seeing them off, his last public appearence, and the last time Elizabeth saw her father alive. Elizabeth was publically proclaimed on February 6th and 8th, the Accession Council, held in St. James Palace.

Elizabeth II, at 27 years of age, was crowned Queen 2 June 1953 in Westminister Abbey, Westminister, London, England. Elizabeth II created her son Charles the Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester on 26 July 1958.⁽¹⁷⁰⁾ Knight Companion of the Most Nobel Order of the Garter also goes with this title. Charles was in the headmaster's office at Cheam, his boarding school, with several classmates, when the news was announced. The announcement was made at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff Arms Park.

At 33 years of age Elizabeth II became the mother of Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor London, Middlesex, England, 19 Feb 1960. Elizabeth II was present at Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor's christening London, Middlesex, England, 8 April 1960.⁽¹⁷¹⁾ Elizabeth II created Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones a peer with the title of Earl of Snowdon, Viscount Linley, 6 October 1960.⁽¹⁷²⁾ At 37 years of age Elizabeth II became the mother of H.R.H. The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn London, Middlesex, England, 10 March 1964. Elizabeth II was present at H.R.H. The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn's christening London, Middlesex, England, 2 May 1964.⁽¹⁷³⁾ Another source incorrectly states that he was christened in the private chapel at Windsor Castle.

Elizabeth II became James Robert Bruce Ogilvy's godmother at his christening in the Private Chapel, Buckingham Palace, London, Middlesex, England, on 11 May 1964.⁽¹⁷⁴⁾ Elizabeth II invested Charles as the Prince of Wales on 1 July 1969, at Caernarvon Castle, Wales. Lord Snowdon, as constable of the castle, made the arrangements for the ceremony. Charles gave his address to the people first in Welsh and then in English. His Welsh was called fluent and excellent; it was learned at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth.

Elizabeth II created Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott a princess July 1974. The reason publically given was to easily distinguish between Alice and her daughter-in-law, both of whom would carry the title of Duchess of Gloucester. Henceforth she would be known as Princess Alice, a desination that would indicate she was a princess in her own right. If a woman becomes a princess by marriage, her title properly would be (as it was in her case) Princess Henry.

Elizabeth II created Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor a peer, as Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, 23 July 1986, London, Middlesex, England.⁽¹⁷⁵⁾ He was also granted the title of Baron Killyleagh. The titles were given to him as a wedding present an hour before the ceremony.

Elizabeth II created her daughter Anne the Princess Royal 13 June 1987.⁽¹⁷⁶⁾ She made Richard, Duke of Gloucester a Knight of the Order of the Garte 1997. Elizabeth II created her son Edward a peer with the titles of Earl of Wessex, Viscount Severn on 19 June 1999, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. It was also announced that upon the death of his father, and after the title of Duke of Edinburgh was merged with the Crown, Edward would be created Duke of Edinburgh. Also, that it was Edward and Sophie's wish that any children of theirs not carry the style of Royal Highness and not carry the title of Prince or Princess, but be addressed as if they were the children of an earl. The letters patent that Queen Victoria issued concerning royal titles were not amended so legally Edward's children would be Royal Highnesses, princes and princesses, although they would choose not to use those titles, at least during their minority.

Elizabeth II created Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones a life peer with the title of Baron Armstrong-Jones of Nymans on 16 November 1999. He was created a life peer at 3 p.m. This was done so he could continue to sit in the House of Peers following the enactment of The House of Lords Act 1999

She witnessed Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon's death Windsor, Berkshire, England, 30 March 2002.⁽¹⁷⁷⁾ Elizabeth II appointed H.R.H. The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell and Rothesey, Earl of Chester to the Order of Merit 26 June 2002. She recognized Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel Windsor when Princess Alexandra was created a Lady of the Order of the Garter 23 April 2003.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor and Philip Mountbatten Duke of Edinburgh had the following children:

+ 31 i. H.R.H. The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George⁵ Windsor The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell and Rothesey, Earl of Chester was born 14 Nov 1948.

+ 32 ii. H.R.H. The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Windsor The Princess Royal was born 15 August 1950.

+ 33 iii. Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor was born 19 Feb 1960.

34 iv. H.R.H. The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn was born London, Middlesex, England 10 March 1964. He married Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, Berkshire, England, 19 June 1999. The Rt. Rev. Peter Nott, bishop of Norwich presided at the ceremony. Sophie was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England 20 January 1965.⁽¹⁷⁸⁾ Sophie is the daughter of Christopher Rhys-Jones and Mary O'Sullivan. She was a student in Cranbrook, Kent, between 1969-1978. School: Dulwich College Preparatory Scho. Her engagement to Edward was announced at Buckingham Palace, London, Middlesex, England, on 6 January 1999.⁽¹⁷⁹⁾ Sophie became betrothed London, Middlesex, England, 6 January 1999.⁽¹⁸⁰⁾

He was christened into the Church of England by the Rev. Robert Woods, dean of Windsor, in the Music Room, Buckingham Palace, London, Middlesex, England, on 2 May 1964.⁽¹⁸¹⁾ Another source incorrectly states that he was christened in the private chapel at Windsor Castle.

He was a page at the wedding of Captain Mark Anthony Peter Phillips and H.R.H. The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Windsor The Princess Royal 14 November 1973, Westminister, London, England.⁽¹⁸²⁾ Edward became Rose Victoria Birgitte Louise Windsor's godfather at her christening Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England, 13 July 1980.⁽¹⁸³⁾ H.R.H. The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn was the best man at Lady Diana Frances Spencer and H.R.H. The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell and Rothesey, Earl of Chester's wedding Westminister, London, England, 29 July 1981. He was a student at Gordonstoun School, Tayside, Forfarshire, Scotland. He was a student at Jesus College, Cambridge, England, 1986, where he studied history. He was the supporter at Sarah Margaret Ferguson and Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor's wedding Westminister, London, England, 23 July 1986.⁽¹⁸⁴⁾ His engagement to Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was announced at Buckingham Palace, London, Middlesex, England, on 6 January 1999.⁽¹⁸⁵⁾ Edward was created the Earl of Wessex, Viscount Severn by Elizabeth II on 19 June 1999, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. It was also announced that upon the death of his father, and after the title of Duke of Edinburgh was merged with the Crown, Edward would be created Duke of Edinburgh. Also, that it was Edward and Sophie's wish that any children of theirs not carry the style of Royal Highness and not carry the title of Prince or Princess, but be addressed as if they were the children of an earl. The letters patent that Queen Victoria issued concerning royal titles were not amended so legally Edward's children would be Royal Highnesses, princes and princesses, although they would choose not to use those titles, at least during their minority.

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