GWR 2024 Look Inside - Flipbook - Page 21
The Queen
visited GWR’s
London HQ in 2004
as part of British
Enterprise Day
celebrations.
Aged 25, she ascended to the throne on 6 Feb 1952, upon the death of
her father, George VI. Her coronation the following year was televised
live, prompting many British citizens to buy their 昀椀rst TV sets, and was
watched by millions worldwide. Although the British Empire was by then
in decline, it still had 70 overseas territories; by the close of her reign, the
Queen presided over only around a quarter of those. But she remained
a beloved presence at home and abroad. Testament to this were joyous
celebrations of her four jubilees: Silver (1977), Golden (2002), Diamond
(2012) and Platinum (2022), the latter marking her unprecedented
70 years as the British monarch.
Elizabeth II achieved numerous GWR titles, some of which survive
her. She is history’s longest-reigning queen, having ruled non-stop
for 70 years 214 days – surpassing her closest rival (and great-greatgrandmother) Queen Victoria by around seven years. Elizabeth II also
remains the oldest queen ever, passing while still in active duty
at the age of 96 years 140 days.
During her lifetime, she toured nearly 120 countries
and made 265 o昀케cial overseas visits. In doing so, she
travelled more than 1.6 million km (1 million mi),
equivalent to more than 40 times around
Earth. Ironically, she never needed a British
passport: it bears the words “in the name of
Her Majesty”, so she would have been issuing
one to herself! Her son and successor, King
Charles III, has now inherited her title of
most countries to be head of state of
simultaneously – 15.
T
he passing of Elizabeth II on 8 Sep 2022 evoked widespread
sadness around the world. Her charm and sel昀氀ess devotion to
duty won her countless admirers, while her record-setting long
reign made her a reassuring constant in tumultuous times.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
RECORD-BREAKING ROYAL
1
2
21 Apr 1926
Birth date
Include longestreigning queen
and oldestreigning queen
£365 m ($419 m)
This image of
the Queen was
taken in 2022 by
long-serving GWR
contributor Ranald
Mackechnie.
Estimated
wealth
15, including
Sovereign
Australia, Canada,
states ruled
over at death New Zealand, Belize
and Jamaica
Current
GWR titles
2 Jun 1953
London, UK
Birthplace
Coronation
date
Elizabeth Alexandra
Mary Windsor
VITAL STATISTICS
Name
