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12 things you never knew about Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth is certainly one of our most loved royals. In fact, there is almost a cult following of Her Majesty and her ancestry. And even if since her childhood, the queen has never had a private life, there are still certain things that not everyone knows about her. Here are twelve things you are sure not to know about the much loved monarch.  

1) She almost wasn’t crowned

From the moment of her birth, the young Queen was only third in the order of succession for the crown, coming after her uncle and her father. Upon the death of her grandfather, it was her uncle, Edward VIII, who took the throne, although he abdicated the position in 1936. It was therefore Elizabeth’s father, George VI, who succeeded him. If her parents had given birth to a boy, Elizabeth would have lost her hereditary rights to the throne. The chances that she would one day become queen were therefore relatively slim.

Credit : Wikimedia Commons

2) She is gifted in mechanics

During the Second World War, Princess Elizabeth joined the military service and became a second lieutenant. She studied mechanics, but also learned how to drive large trucks.

3) She has no passport

Queen Elizabeth has travelled to more than 116 countries, but always without a passport. However, there are British passports issued in her name. It is also worth noting that the Queen does not need to have a driving licence.

4) Her husband is her cousin

Prince Philip is the third cousin of his wife. In fact, they share the same great-great grandparents: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They met in 1939, when Elizabeth was only 13 years old. She immediately fell in love with him and he asked her to marry him in 1946.

Credit : Wikimedia Commons

5) She has seen 13 different British Prime Ministers pass through the ranks

Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom when the Queen was throned. Born in 1953, Tony Blair will be the first Prime Minister to be born during her reign. In total, 13 Prime Ministers have been appointed during her reign -the most recent being Theresa May, appointed in July 2016.

6) She has two birthdays

Born on the 21st April, the Queen celebrates her birthday at this time of year. But that is not all -every second Saturday during the month of June, the British celebrate ‘Trooping the Colour’, which exists since 1748 and is intended to officially celebrate the birthday of the British sovereign of the times.