The Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II is a multinational celebration throughout 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II of the UK to the thrones of seven countries upon the death of her father, King George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II greeted 1.5 million cheering subjects from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday but faced the crowning moment of her diamond jubilee festivities without her ill husband.
The Queen waves to loyal subjects as she wraps up her Diamond Jubilee.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take a carriage ride to Buckingham Palace.
Queen travels in a 1902 State Landau carriage with Prince Charles and Camilla on Tuesday.
Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception at Guildhall to celebrate the Jubilee.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice wave to the crowds as they arrive at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Cousins Harry and William and Kate were greeted by shouts upon their arrival.
William, Kate, Harry and Beatrice join Granny for Jubilee pop concert.
Sir Paul and Annie Lennox meet the woman of the hour backstage at the concert.
Let's put on a royally cute masquerade at St. James's Park.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince Harry, make a dashing trio.
Queen Elizabeth greets pensioners on Chelsea Pier before setting sail.
Prince Charles and wife Camilla stopped by one of the thousands of Jubilee street parties.
Harry stops to greet well-wishers before boarding the royal barge.
Pippa with her parents and brother take in the festivities.
Queen Elizabeth II kicked off her Jubilee celebration with the Epsom Derby.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie joined a large royal party.
Mark Ballas, ballroom alum and singer Katherine Jenkins led a crowd in serenading the queen.
British-born actress Mischa Barton showed her home country pride at the Epsom Derby.
Celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in London
Queen Elizabeth graces the front page of Google in the UK in a doodle marking her diamond jubilee.
Mosaic Picture of Elizabeth II of the UK, produced by Helen Marshall using more than 5000 photos of people for Diamond Jubilee.
Elizabeth was the first child of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, Elizabeth. Her father was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, and her mother was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was born by Caesarean section at 2.40 am on 21 April 1926 at her maternal grandfather's London house: 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair.She was named Elizabeth after her mother, Alexandra after George V's mother, who had died six months earlier.
As a granddaughter of the monarch in the male line, Elizabeth's full style at birth was Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York. She was third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father. In 1936, when her grandfather, George V, died and her uncle Edward succeeded, she became second in line to the throne after her father.
Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and 1937. After another meeting at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth – though only 13 years old – fell in love with Philip, and they began to exchange letters. They married on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey.
On 6 February 1952, after a long illness, King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland dies in his sleep at the royal estate at Sandringham. Princess Elizabeth, the oldest of the king's two daughters and next in line to succeed him, was in Kenya at the time of her father's death; she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953, at age 27.
In 1977, Elizabeth marked the Silver Jubilee of her accession. Parties and events took place throughout the Commonwealth, many coinciding with the Queen's associated national and Commonwealth tours. The celebrations re-affirmed the Queen's popularity, despite virtually coincident negative press coverage of Princess Margaret's separation from her husband.
In 2002, Elizabeth marked her Golden Jubilee as queen. Her sister and mother died in February and March, respectively, and the media speculated as to whether the Jubilee would be a success or a failure.
Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 marks 60 years as queen, with celebrations throughout her realms, the wider Commonwealth, and beyond. On 4 June, Jubilee beacons will be lit around the world.
Full name Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
Born 21 April 1926 (age 86)
Father George VI
Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Reign 6 February 1952 – present
Coronation 2 June 1953
Predecessor George VI
Heir apparent Charles, Prince of Wales
Spouse Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
