A birthday is a wonderful occasion. It is a time for celebration, and getting together with family and friends; and for most of us this happens just once a year. However, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has not one, but two birthdays. Here, we explore this tradition and the reasons behind it.
Queen Elizabeth II Through The Decades – The Fifties
Seven Things You May Not Know About Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II’s 95th Birthday Sovereign Range
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 95th birthday this year on April 21st, making her Britain’s oldest reigning monarch. This, together with what has been an incredible 69-year reign so far, makes her quite a remarkable presence and one that Britain will rejoice and celebrate in April this year.
In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the couple has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. In 1953, Elizabeth was crowned and officially recognized as sovereign. Since then, the Queen has served in her role as the Queen of England, and in 2018, she became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee—a celebration to mark 65 years of her reign.
Queen Elizabeth II: Pre Decimal vs Decimal Coins
There were 12 pennies to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound. There were also Half Crowns, Three Pennies, Sixpences and Farthings. Prior to the decimal era, many had problems dealing with the complicated system, with Sir John Bowring, a Member of Parliament at the time, being one of the first calling to change to a currency based on units of ten.