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The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis ...and she feeds them herself

About our Queen

June 1955 (Norway)

1st

97th

June 2015 (Germany)

97 State visitsThe Queen has made

all over the world

64 years

63 years

59 years

Elizabeth II

Victoria

George III

Longest reigning monarch in British history

Credit: 1 The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images 2 Popperfoto/Getty Images 3 CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images

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The CoronationElizabeth became Queen on 6 February 1952, but she wasn’t crowned until 2 June 1953. That’s because there was so much to get ready. When it fi nally happened, it was watched by more than 27 million people – many were watching TV for the very fi rst time!

The ceremony was full of grandeur, of soaring music and stunning robes. It was an important event for the whole of the UK, and for those other countries where Elizabeth is Queen. However, for Elizabeth, it was important because she was promising to serve her people as a servant of God.

William Shawcross, a royal biographer, wrote about the Coronation service:

It was the moment when the holy oil was applied to her, rather than her crowning with St Edward’s Crown of solid gold, that was of supreme importance for the Queen. Indeed it was the most solemn and important moment of her entire life.

Anointing with holy oil is to show that the Queen's power to serve her people comes from God.

The St Edward’s Crown, used at the Coronation, weighs more than 2.2 kilogrammes.weighs more than weighs more than 2.2 kilogrammes.2.2 kilogrammes.weighs more than 2.2 kilogrammes.weighs more than

That’s about the same as one large pineapple

Credit: GraphicaArtis/Getty Images Credit: GraphicaArtis/Getty Images

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Every day the Queen receives her red box, full of confidential papers from the government. She reads all these papers, even when she’s on holiday. She is called “Reader Number 1”!

Every week she meets the Prime Minister. No one knows what they talk about, but Prime Ministers often say how helpful these meetings are.

The Queen also reads as many of her letters as she can. She even replies to some herself, while the other replies are written by her staff.

She makes official visits to other countries and receives

politicians and royalty who visit Britain. These visits are full of gifts and banquets, photocalls and important discussions, all to help Britain make and keep friends in the world.

The Queen visits hundreds of places such as schools, businesses, care homes, youth projects, theatres and more, celebrating people who work in all areas of life.

The Queen visits a primary school in 2010

The Queen welcomes US President Barack Obama in 2011

The Queen at work

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The Queen reads her official papers

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There are lots of things we don’t know about the Queen. However, there is one thing that is clear: her faith in Jesus.

When she makes her annual Christmas Day broadcast, she often talks about Jesus. Jesus is, she has said, a great comfort, a profound influence, the Prince of Peace and a Saviour with the power to forgive. In 2011, the Queen said:

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.

The Queen relies on her faith. It helps her to remain strong as she serves God and her people. She told everyone about it in her Christmas message of 2002:

I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings and to put my trust in God.

Over and over, Elizabeth II has honoured the God she serves.

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