Elizabeth II's Events Trivia Quiz

The Abdication Crisis refers to the events in 1936 when George V died and his eldest son King Edward VIII chose to abdicate the throne. His decision was driven by his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, which was considered controversial and unacceptable at the time. The abdication crisis placed immense pressure on George VI who had to navigate the challenges of a world on the brink of war and manage the transition from his brother's controversial reign.

Despite his initial hesitations and lack of preparation for the role, George VI rose to the occasion and became a symbol of stability and resilience for the British people during a difficult period. His daughter, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, was born on 21 April 1926. As her uncle was expected to ascend the throne her first 10 years passed quite peacefully. Along with her younger sister Princess Margaret she was educated at home throughout the 1930s.

The abdication of Edward VIII and coronation of her father George VI placed her as the heir presumptive as first in line to the throne and changed the course of her life forever.

World War II was obviously a huge event in the life of the then Princess Elizabeth as it was throughout the country and she did her best, with the rest of the Royal Family, to boost the public morale. The family stayed in London during the Blitz and visited the bombed areas of London and met the families most affected by them.

In 1940, at the age of 14, she made a radio broadcast to the children of the Commonwealth delivering a message of reassurance and hope and expressing solidarity with those affected by the war. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 when she was 18 and trained as both a driver and mechanic. This sense of duty and service would stay with her throughout her long reign.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, first met when they were young - the initial meeting took place in 1934 when Elizabeth was only eight years old and Philip was 13. They were both attending the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark to Prince George, Duke of Kent; the bride being Philip's cousin and the groom Elizabeth's uncle.

Philip, who was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in June 1921, had been exiled from Greece a year later and his family had settled in France. It wasn't until during World War II, that their romantic relationship developed. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip corresponded through letters while he served in the Navy. Their engagement was officially announced on 9 July 1947. Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles and took the surname Mountbatten.

The wedding took place on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey in London. This event was a moment of joy and celebration for a country recovering from the ravages of the war. However, due to post-war austerity measures, the wedding was a relatively simple affair compared to royal weddings before and after it. Princess Elizabeth even used clothing ration coupons to purchase the material for her wedding dress.

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on 14 November 1948. His birth was a significant event for the royal family and the United Kingdom. It marked a continuation of the line of succession - he became the heir apparent to the throne from the moment of his birth.

The couple would go on to have 3 more children: Princess Anne born on 15 August 1950. Prince Andrew born on 19 February 1960 and Prince Edward born on 10 March 1964. Andrew and Edward were born after she ascended the throne.

King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on 6 February 1952. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were in Kenya on a Commonwealth tour at the time. She flew home immediately as Queen Elizabeth II, the event thrusting her into the role of the monarch at only 25. Her official coronation ceremony took place in the following year, on 2 June 1953.

The Suez Crisis of 1956 was a complex political situation involving Egypt, Israel, the United Kingdom and France. It began when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, which had previously been controlled by British and French companies. In response, Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula; and the UK and France, seeking to regain control of the canal, intervened militarily.

The crisis had significant geopolitical implications. The United States and the Soviet Union opposed the military actions of their allies fearing that it could escalate into a larger conflict. Under pressure from them the three invading nations eventually withdrew their forces.

The Suez Crisis had a profound impact on Queen Elizabeth II in terms of the changing nature of imperial power. The fact that the crisis unfolded without consulting or informing the Queen showcased the diminishing role of the British monarchy in matters of state. It highlighted the shift from imperial power to a more independent role for former colonies. This event is often seen as a symbolic turning point in the decline of the British Empire.

Margaret Thatcher was the first female to serve as Prime Minister in the UK and she was in office from 1979 to 1990. Her government implemented a series of conservative economic reforms known as 'Thatcherisms.' This included reducing the power of labour unions, privatizing state-owned industries and promoting free-market policies. These measures aimed to curb inflation and stimulate economic growth. Her policies were divisive, leading to social and economic changes that sparked both support and opposition. She took a tough stance on issues like unemployment and social welfare which stirred controversy. Her legacy is complex, with some praising her for revitalizing the British economy and restoring national pride, while others criticize the social impacts of her policies.

The relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher has been a subject of some speculation and discussion. While the Queen and the Prime Minister typically meet regularly for private audiences to discuss government matters, details of their conversations are generally kept confidential.

It is known that there were some differences in style and approach between the two women. One notable incident that attracted public attention was the introduction of the Community Charge, commonly known as the "poll tax," during Thatcher's tenure. The policy was controversial and led to widespread protests. It is reported that the Queen raised concerns about the impact of the policy on ordinary citizens during one of her weekly meetings with the Prime Minister.

The attempted assassination of Queen Elizabeth II occurred on 30 March 1981. The Queen was riding on horseback during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London when a 17 year old named Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank shots at her from a starting pistol. Thankfully, the Queen's life was not in real danger as the gun used had blanks and she was unharmed. However, it raised concerns about the security arrangements for public events involving the royal family.

Marcus Sarjeant was charged with treason but was later convicted of a lesser offense under the Treason Act. He was sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to harm the Queen. The incident prompted a review of security measures for public events involving the royal family and lead to improvements in their protection during such occasions.

The Falklands War took place in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The conflict began when Argentine forces invaded the Falklands prompting a swift and decisive response from the UK. The war ended with the British forces successfully reclaiming the Islands but the conflict had a lasting impact on British military policy and international relations. The Queen's role during this period was largely ceremonial but her presence and support contributed to the sense of national resolve during a challenging time.

As the constitutional monarch of the United Kingdom she became a unifying figure for the British people during the crisis. Her son, Prince Andrew, also served in the British Royal Navy and played an active role in the conflict. The Queen's stoic demeanour and support for the military efforts were seen as rallying points for national unity.

"Annus Horribilis" is a Latin phrase meaning 'horrible year.' Queen Elizabeth II used this term in a speech delivered at the Guildhall on 24 November 1992, marking her Ruby Jubilee to describe the difficulties faced by the royal family during that year.

A fire at Windsor Castle in November caused extensive damage and the subject of the expensive restoration became a matter of public discussion. Earlier in the year the royal family experienced a series of private crises that were played out in the public eye amidst much scrutiny and criticism from the press and the public in general. Three of the Queens children - Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew all had serious marital issues that eventually lead to separation and divorce for them all.

In the coming years even more was to follow with Charles and Diana playing out their very private grievances in the press, particularly with Prince Charles's affair and interview in 1994 and Princess Diana's Panorama interview in 1995.

The death of Princess Diana on 31 August 1997 had a profound impact on the British monarchy and stirred significant public emotions. She was highly popular and loved for her charity work and humanitarian efforts. Her tragic and unexpected death led to a huge outpouring of public grief throughout the world and especially in the UK.

The Queen's decision to stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with her family in the immediate aftermath was perceived as cold and detached by some members of the public and she was greatly criticised for staying away from her people in a time of national grief. The public opinion turned against her for the first time as she was accused of being out of touch with the public's sentiments and needs. Responding to the outcry she did move up her return to London where she finally delivered a live national televised speech on the evening of 5 September in which she spoke to the nation both as their Queen and as a grandmother to William and Harry who had just lost their mother and needed her support.

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died on 9 February 2002 at the age of 71 from a stroke. Her health had not been good for the last twenty years of her life and she had suffered 3 strokes in the previous 4 years.

The Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, wife of King George VI, passed away just 7 weeks later on 30 March at the age of 101. She was a much loved figure by the public and her funeral was the size and scope of a state funeral and was watched around the world.

The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a Brexit, short for 'British Exit', in a referendum held in June 2016 but the formal exit took years and wasn't formalised until 31 January 2020. Queen Elizabeth II's role in Brexit was only ceremonial and symbolic.

As a constitutional monarch she does not play an active role in the day-to-day politics of the government but she did give royal assent to the legislation needed for the UK to officially leave the EU.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on 9 April 2021 at the age of 99 after a period of declining health. His death occurred at Windsor Castle and was announced by Buckingham Palace.

Prince Philip had been the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and played a significant role in supporting Queen Elizabeth II throughout their 74 year marriage. His passing marked the end of an era and was met with expressions of condolences from around the world. His funeral took place on 17 April 2021 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle where his body was also interred. The service had a very limited attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was an international celebration marking the 70th anniversary of her accession in February 1952. It was the first time that any monarch in British history celebrated a Platinum Jubilee and the year leading up to it was filled with celebrations throughout the Commonwealth. In the United Kingdom, there was an extra bank holiday creating a four-day Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June. The events were telecast around the world.

The Queen's birthday parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, which usually takes place on the second Saturday of June, was held on Thursday 2 June instead. On Friday 3 June, a service of thanksgiving for the Queen's reign was held at St Paul's Cathedral. which the Queen did not attend after tiring the day before. Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 had members of the royal family attending events throughout the UK.

On Saturday Evening a concert, 'Platinum Party at the Palace', took place at Buckingham Palace. On Sunday the 5th people were encouraged to have a Big Jubilee Lunch. More than 85,000 people signed up to host Big Lunches and 16,000 street parties were held across the United Kingdom. The last event was a pageant featuring approximately 5,000 people from across the UK and the Commonwealth taking place with circus, carnival and costumed performers parading along The Mall with a final balcony appearance by the Queen and her family.

The Queen died in her Platinum Jubilee year on 8 September at the age of 96. Her funeral was held on 19 September 2022 at St Georges Chapel. She was interred with her husband Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel later the same day in a private ceremony attended by her closest family members.