INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Queen's Birthday: Queen Elizabeth II has succeeded in keeping life behind palace doors relatively secret.
Her birthday was marked with traditional gun salutes and a Commonwealth-themed, star-studded charity concert
Elizabeth II was instrumental in bringing the royals into modern times, after ascending to the throne in 1952 as Britain's empire was in
Despite being followed closely in her public appearances, she has succeeded in keeping life behind palace doors relatively secret
The Queen has two birthdays
Besides her actual birthday on April 21, official celebrations involving 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians -- an event
1955, Elizabeth's younger glamorous sister Margaret was forced to call off her proposed marriage to a dashing air force officer, Group
Although a royal equerry, Townsend was still deemed an unsuitable husband for the queen's sister because he was divorced and he was sent
off to Brussels by Buckingham Palace
"I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend," Margaret said in a sad announcement to the
"Mindful that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations
coronation.Elizabeth took the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father king George VI, but to allow for a period of national
solemn oaths at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953
It was the first time a coronation had been televised and more than 20 million in Britain watched events live while another 11 million
wanted her eldest son to succeed her, Prince Charles, in the symbolic figurehead role.Last week, Queen Elizabeth told leaders from the 53
Commonwealth nations that she wanted her eldest son Prince Charles to succeed her in the symbolic Commonwealth figurehead role
photographed with her corgis by Annie Leibovitz for 'Vanity Fair' (AFP File Photo)The Queen is a notable lover of corgi
