Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom has died at her Scottish estate, Balmoral, at the age of 96 after reigning for 70 years.
The UK’s longest-serving monarch died peacefully on September 8 at Balmoral, where she had spent much of the summer.
The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.
Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family and that her loss would be “deeply felt” around the world.
King Charles said: “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
During the coming period, the king said he and his family would be “comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held”.
The King and his wife, Camilla, now Queen Consort will return to London on September 9, Buckingham Palace said.
Senior royals had gathered at Balmoral after the Queen’s doctors became concerned about her health earlier in the day.
All the Queen’s children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.
Her grandson and now heir to the throne, Prince William, and his brother, Prince Harry, also gathered there.
PM Liz Truss, who was appointed by the Queen on September 6, said the monarch was the rock on which modern Britain was built, who had “provided us with the stability and strength that we needed”.
Speaking about the new King, she said: “We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much, to so many, for so long.
“And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished, by saying the words ‘God save the King’.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975.
She held weekly audiences with her prime minister throughout her reign.
At Buckingham Palace in London, crowds awaiting updates on the Queen’s condition began crying as they heard of her death.
The Union flag on top of the palace was lowered to half-mast at 18:30 BST and an official notice announcing the death was posted outside.
On the Queen’s death, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Cornwall.
The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, in Mayfair, London, on April 21, 1926.
Few could have foreseen she would become monarch but in December 1936 her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated from the throne to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson.
Elizabeth’s father became King George VI and, at age 10, Lilibet, as she was known in the family, became heir to the throne.
Within three years, Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, spent much of wartime at Windsor Castle after their parents rejected suggestions they be evacuated to Canada.
After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service and learned basic motor mechanic and driving skills.
Through the war, she exchanged letters with her third cousin, Philip, Prince of Greece, who was serving in the Royal Navy. Their romance blossomed and the couple married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947, with the prince taking the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
She would later describe him as “my strength and stay” through 74 years of marriage, before his death in 2021, aged 99.
Their first son, Charles, was born in 1948, followed by Princess Anne, in 1950, Prince Andrew, in 1960, and Prince Edward, in 1964. Between them, they gave their parents eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953, aged 27, in front of a then-record TV audience estimated at more than 20 million people.
Subsequent decades would see great change, with the end of the British Empire overseas and the swinging ’60s sweeping away social norms at home.
Elizabeth reformed the monarchy for this less deferential age, engaging with the public through walkabouts, royal visits and attendance at public events. Her commitment to the Commonwealth was a constant – she visited every Commonwealth country at least once.
King Charles,73, becomes head of state in 14 Commonwealth realms.
The Royal Family has now entered a period of mourning.
Official engagements will be canceled and Union flags will be flown at half-mast on royal residences, government buildings, across the Armed Forces and UK posts overseas.
Foreign leaders have paid tribute to the Queen, with President Joe Biden recalling how she stood in solidarity with the US in their “darkest days” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband for 73 years, has died at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace has announced.
A statement issued by the palace just after midday spoke of the Queen’s “deep sorrow” following his death at Windsor Castle on April 9.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband,” the palace said.
“The Royal Family joins with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
The Duke of Edinburgh, who was the longest-serving consort in British history, had returned to Windsor on March 16 after a month in hospital.
PM Boris Johnson said he “inspired the lives of countless young people”.
Speaking at Downing Street, Boris Johnson said that Prince Philip had “earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world”.
Meanwhile, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said he “consistently put the interests of others ahead of his own and, in so doing, provided an outstanding example of Christian service”.
The flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast and a notice was posted on the gates following the announcement of Prince Philip’s death.
Bunches of daffodils, tulips, roses and lilies were among floral tributes placed by people outside the palace, while crowds began to gather at Windsor Castle.
Prince Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen.
The duke and the Queen had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Their first son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, followed by his sister, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in 1950, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, in 1960 and the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, in 1964.
Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on June, 10, 1921.
His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, a younger son of King George I of the Hellenes.
His mother, Princess Alice, was a daughter of Prince Louis of Battenberg and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
In March, the duke left King Edward VII’s hospital in central London after a month-long stay for treatment.
Prince Philip underwent a procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at another London hospital – St Bartholomew’s.
Barbados has decided to remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and become a republic.
The Caribbean island nation’s government said: “The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind.”
The Barbadian government aims to complete the process in time for the 55th anniversary of independence from Britain, in November 2021.
A speech written by PM Mia Mottley said Barbadians wanted a local head of state.
It read: “This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.”
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace said that it was a matter for the government and people of Barbados.
The statement was part of the Throne Speech, which outlines the Barbadian government’s policies and programs ahead of the new session of parliament.
While it is read out by the governor-general, it is written by the country’s prime minister.
The speech also quoted a warning from Errol Barrow, Barbados’s first prime minister after it gained independence, who said that the Caribbean country should not “loiter on colonial premises”.
Errol Barrow’s is not the only voice in Barbados that has been suggesting a move away from the monarchy. A constitutional review commission recommended republican status for Barbados in 1998.
Mia Mottley’s predecessor in officer, Freundel Stuart, also argued for a “move from a monarchical system to a republican form of government in the very near future”.
Barbados would not be the first former British colony in the Caribbean to become a republic. Guyana took that step in 1970, less than four years after gaining independence from Britain. Trinidad and Tobago followed suit in 1976 and Dominica in 1978.
All three stayed within the Commonwealth, an association of former British colonies and current dependencies, along with some countries that have no historical ties to Britain.
Barbados key facts:
Is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands;
Gained its independence from Britain in 1966;
Queen Elizabeth II remains its constitutional monarch;
Once heavily dependent on the sugar exports, its economy has diversified into tourism and finance;
Its prime minister is Mia Mottley, elected in 2018 and the first woman to hold the post.
They will gather with the Queen – who is head of the Commonwealth – the
Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William and Kate Middleton in
the central London cathedral.
It will be the first time Prince Harry and Meghan have appeared with other
members of the Royal Family since announcing their intention to “step
back” as senior royals in January.
After the service, they are expected to return to their current base in
Canada, where their son, Archie, has remained during the UK trip.
The couple are to begin their new life of personal independence, pursuing
private commercial deals and charity projects.
Prince Harry and Meghan will retain use of Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor, and
aides have said they will be in the UK regularly.
They will still attend some royal events but these will not be classed as
official duties.
The new arrangements will be reviewed next year.
Prince Harry and Meghan have conducted a farewell tour of the UK with
several appearances including the Endeavour Fund Awards and a military musical
festival at the Royal Albert Hall.
Meghan Markle made a surprise visit to a school in Dagenham, east
London, to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry joined Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton to visit a
new motor racing museum at the Silverstone Circuit.
In stepping down as working royals, Prince Harry will relinquish his role as
Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
However, the duke will remain president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Meghan will still be the Trust’s vice-president.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH
titles, receive public funds for royal duties or formally represent Queen
Elizabeth II from spring, the Queen and Buckingham Palace announced on January
18 after reaching a new arrangement.
Earlier this month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention
“to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become
financially independent”.
The couple’s announcement prompted intensive discussions between the prince
and other senior royals, led by the Queen.
In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and
media scrutiny, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to
“the same powerful forces” that led to his mother’s death.
In her statement on January 18, the Queen said she was pleased that a
“constructive and supportive way forward for [her] grandson and his
family” had been found.
The Queen said she recognized the “challenges” they had
experienced “as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two
years”.
Buckingham Palace said the duke and duchess understood that under the new
arrangement, they were required to withdraw from royal duties, including
official military appointments, but would continue to “uphold the values
of Her Majesty”.
According to the statement, Prince Harry and Meghan intend to repay £2.4 million
of taxpayer money used for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage.
The house in Windsor, for which the couple will pay rent, will remain their
family home as they divide their time between the UK and Canada.
Prince Harry and Meghan will continue to maintain their private patronages
and associations – the duke currently holds 16 patronages, including the
Invictus Games Foundation, the Royal Marines and the Rugby Football League; and
the duchess four – the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth
Universities, London-based animal charity Mayhew, and women’s charity Smart
Works.
They will no longer use HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness,
which is part of the title of some members of the Royal Family.
Speaking briefly to reporters at a summit in Berlin, UK’s PM Boris Johnson
said he had been confident the Royal Family would find a way forward for Prince
Harry and Meghan, adding: “I think
the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the
future.”
However in comments made for a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, Meghan’s
father, Thomas Markle, accused the couple of “destroying” the Royal
Family which he called “one of the greatest long-living institutions
ever”.
“Every young girl wants to become
a princess and she got that and now she’s tossing that away,” he said.
“It looks like she’s tossing that
away for money.”
Some questions about Prince Harry and Meghan’s future status remain
unanswered, including what their tax and immigration status will be in the UK
and Canada.
It is not yet known whether Meghan Markle still intends to gain British
citizenship, which would entail her spending a certain amount of time in the
UK.
The Sussexes have already begun a transition phase of living in Canada and
the UK.
The duchess is in Canada, a Commonwealth country, with son Archie, where the
Sussexes were for six weeks over the festive period.
On January 14, Meghan Markle visited a charity in Vancouver which campaigns for teenage girls living in poverty.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH
titles, receive public funds for royal duties or formally represent Queen
Elizabeth II from spring, the Queen and Buckingham Palace announced on January
18 after reaching a new arrangement.
Earlier this month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention
“to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become
financially independent”.
The couple’s announcement prompted intensive discussions between the prince
and other senior royals, led by the Queen.
In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and
media scrutiny, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to
“the same powerful forces” that led to his mother’s death.
In her statement on January 18, the Queen said she was pleased that a
“constructive and supportive way forward for [her] grandson and his
family” had been found.
The Queen said she recognized the “challenges” they had
experienced “as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two
years”.
Buckingham Palace said the duke and duchess understood that under the new
arrangement, they were required to withdraw from royal duties, including
official military appointments, but would continue to “uphold the values
of Her Majesty”.
According to the statement, Prince Harry and Meghan intend to repay £2.4 million
of taxpayer money used for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage.
The house in Windsor, for which the couple will pay rent, will remain their
family home as they divide their time between the UK and Canada.
Prince Harry and Meghan will continue to maintain their private patronages
and associations – the duke currently holds 16 patronages, including the
Invictus Games Foundation, the Royal Marines and the Rugby Football League; and
the duchess four – the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth
Universities, London-based animal charity Mayhew, and women’s charity Smart
Works.
They will no longer use HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness,
which is part of the title of some members of the Royal Family.
Speaking briefly to reporters at a summit in Berlin, UK’s PM Boris Johnson
said he had been confident the Royal Family would find a way forward for Prince
Harry and Meghan, adding: “I think
the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the
future.”
However in comments made for a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, Meghan’s
father, Thomas Markle, accused the couple of “destroying” the Royal
Family which he called “one of the greatest long-living institutions
ever”.
“Every young girl wants to become
a princess and she got that and now she’s tossing that away,” he said.
“It looks like she’s tossing that
away for money.”
Some questions about Prince Harry and Meghan’s future status remain
unanswered, including what their tax and immigration status will be in the UK
and Canada.
It is not yet known whether Meghan Markle still intends to gain British
citizenship, which would entail her spending a certain amount of time in the
UK.
The Sussexes have already begun a transition phase of living in Canada and
the UK.
The duchess is in Canada, a Commonwealth country, with son Archie, where the
Sussexes were for six weeks over the festive period.
On January 14, Meghan Markle visited a charity in Vancouver which campaigns
for teenage girls living in poverty.
Queen Elizabeth II has summoned senior royals
to Sandringham on January 13 for face-to-face talks to discuss the future roles
of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
According to local reports, Prince Harry,
Prince William and Prince Charles will all attend, while Meghan is expected
join the discussion over the phone from Canada.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex say they plan to step back as senior members
of the Royal Family.
There is no suggestion a conclusion will be reached at the meeting.
Prince Harry and Meghan also said they plan to split their time between the
UK and North America, while “continuing to honor our duty to the Queen,
the Commonwealth, and our patronages”.
There are likely to be tax implications to any decision to base themselves outside the UK.
The meeting at the Queen’s estate in Norfolk – being described as the
‘Sandringham summit’ – will be the first time the monarch has come face-to-face
with Prince Harry since the Sussexes’ announcement, which was posted on their
official Instagram account.
The Royal Family was said to be “hurt” at the couple’s statement.
It is understood the Queen was not consulted in advance of their decision.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, William and Harry are expected to review
a range of possibilities for the Sussexes, taking into account plans outlined
by the couple.
If a deal is agreed in the coming days, there is a general understanding
that it will take some time to implement.
Prince Charles is currently in Oman, after travelling overnight to attend the first of three days of official condolences following the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
Queen Elizabeth II has not attended a New Year’s Day church service at Sandringham because of a “lingering heavy cold”.
The Queen also missed the Christmas Day service at her Norfolk estate and has not been seen in public for 12 days.
Meanwhile, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the Queen was “still recuperating”.
Image source Wikimedia
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip left for their Christmas break a day late on December 22, travelling by helicopter instead of train, because of colds. The Duke of Edinburgh has made a full recovery.
When she arrived at the church, Princess Anne was asked how her mother was, to which she replied “better”.
Princess Anne attended the New Year’s Day service alongside her father, Prince Philip, and her brother, Prince Edward, as well as other members of the Royal Family.
Queen Elizabeth’s absence from church on Christmas Day was the first time she had missed the service in many years.
According to the Buckingham Palace, that was a “precautionary measure” in the cold and wet conditions and it had “no sense of undue concern”.
Queen Elizabeth II joked that she is made to feel old by the new Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, aged 43, after he spoke of her historic visits to Canada.
Justin Trudeau had earlier toasted the 89-year-old Queen at a banquet for the leaders of Commonwealth countries, taking place in Malta.
Photo AP
He referred to the Queen’s trips to Canada, including one in 1982 when she was welcomed by his father – the former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
The Queen, flashing a sense of humor, gave a witty and cheeky reply to Justin Trudeau’s toast, saying: “Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister of Canada, for making me feel so old!”
Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to explain his view, saying “on the contrary, you are forever young”.
Queen Elizabeth II will become UK’s longest-reigning monarch on September 9 when she passes the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
Queen Elizabeth II, 89, will have reigned for 63 years and seven months – calculated at 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes at about 17:30 BST.
UK’s PM David Cameron will lead tributes in the House of Commons and there will be a River Thames salute.
The Queen will spend the day on official duties in Scotland.
The exact moment Queen Elizabeth reaches the milestone is not known because her father, George VI, passed away in the early hours of February 6, 1952.
On the Thames, a flotilla of historic vessels, leisure cruisers and passenger boats will take part in a procession between Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.
The bridge will lift as a sign of respect and HMS Belfast will sound a four-gun salute.
The BT Tower in central London will scroll the message “Long may she reign”.
PM David Cameron paid tribute to the Queen at a cabinet meeting on September 8, saying she had a “remarkable record” and was “a symbol of Britain’s enduring spirit admired around the world”.
Buckingham Palace has released an official photograph to mark the occasion, taken by Mary McCartney in the Queen’s private audience room.
This is where the Queen holds weekly audiences with prime ministers of the day, and receives visiting heads of state and government.
It is understood that September 9 will be a normal working day for Queen Elizabeth with no special celebration.
The Queen will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh to open the Scottish Borders Railway and make a steam train journey with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
She is taking her traditional summer break at this time of year at her private Scottish home, Balmoral.
Queen Victoria became queen at the age of 18 and ruled for 63 years, seven months and two days.
Queen Elizabeth’s reign has included 12 prime ministers, two more than served under Victoria.
A 1933 footage showing Queen Elizabeth II performing a Nazi salute has been published by The Sun.
Buckingham Palace said it was “disappointing that film, shot eight decades ago… has been obtained and exploited”.
The Sun has released the footage which shows the Queen aged about 7, with her mother, sister and uncle.
The newspaper has refused to say how it got the footage but said it was an “important and interesting story”.
The black and white footage, which lasts about 17 seconds, shows the Queen playing with a dog on the lawn in the gardens of Balmoral, the Sun says.
The Queen Mother then raises her arm in the style of a Nazi salute and, after glancing towards her mother, the Queen mimics the gesture. Prince Edward, the future Edward VIII, is also seen raising his arm.
The footage is thought to have been shot in 1933 or 1934, when Hitler was rising to prominence as Fuhrer in Germany but the circumstances in which it was shot are unclear.
A Buckingham Palace source said: “Most people will see these pictures in their proper context and time. This is a family playing and momentarily referencing a gesture many would have seen from contemporary news reels.
“No one at that time had any sense how it would evolve. To imply anything else is misleading and dishonest.”
The source added: “The Queen and her family’s service and dedication to the welfare of this nation during the war, and the 63 years the Queen has spent building relations between nations and peoples speaks for itself.”
Buckingham Palace was not denying the footage was authentic but that there were “questions over how this video has been released”.
Dickie Arbiter, a former Buckingham Palace press secretary said the Palace would be investigating.
“They’ll be wondering whether it was in fact something that was held in the Royal Archives at Windsor, or whether it was being held by the Duke of Windsor’s estate,” he said.
“And if it was the Duke of Windsor’s estate, then somebody has clearly taken it from the estate and here it is, 82 years later.
“But a lot of questions have got to be asked and a lot of questions got to be answered.”
Sun managing editor Stig Abell said he did not accept Buckingham Palace’s accusation that the footage has been “exploited”.
He said the newspaper had decided to publish the story because it was of great public importance and the involvement of Prince Edward gave it “historical significance”.
The then Prince of Wales faced numerous accusations of being a Nazi sympathiser and was photographed meeting Hitler in Munich in October 1937.
Stig Abell said: “We are not using it to suggest any impropriety on behalf of them. But it is an important and interesting issue, the extent to which the British aristocracy – notably Edward VIII, in this case – in the 1930s, were sympathetic towards fascism.
“That must be a matter of national and public interest to discuss. And I think this video and this footage animates that very clearly.”
Queen Elizabeth was 13 when World War Two broke out and she later served in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service.
In June 2015, the Queen made a state visit to Germany where she visited the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and met some of the survivors and liberators.
The UK is marking Remembrance Sunday with Queen Elizabeth II to lead commemorations later to honor members of the armed forces killed in conflict.
She will be joined by political leaders and veterans for a ceremony at the Cenotaph in London – the focal point of the UK’s Remembrance Sunday services.
Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast will be among the places paying their respects.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One, 70 years since the D-Day landings and the end of Britain’s conflict in Afghanistan.
UK’s PM David Cameron said the anniversaries made 2014’s commemorations “particularly poignant”.
Scotland Yard said there would be “appropriate and proportionate” policing at the Cenotaph after four men were arrested on November 6 in west London and High Wycombe in connection with an alleged Islamist terror plot on British soil.
David Cameron said: “Today we stand united to remember the courageous men and women who have served our country, defended our freedoms and kept us safe.
“We remember all those who have fallen and those who have risked their lives to protect us.
“We owe each and every member of our armed forces and the families who support them a tremendous debt – one that can never be repaid – and I pay huge tribute to their bravery and resolve.”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One, 70 years since the D-Day landings and the end of Britain’s conflict in Afghanistan
Queen Elizabeth will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, along with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and Earl and Countess of Wessex.
After dusk falls, images of falling poppies are to be projected on to Big Ben, officially known as Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower.
On November 8, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family joined veterans and the public at the Royal British Legion’s annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Elsewhere on November 9, a service will also be held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
In Glasgow a two-minute silence will be observed at the cenotaph in George Square, while in Edinburgh a parade will take place from the castle esplanade to the city’s stone of remembrance.
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond will be among those laying wreaths and a ceremonial gun will be fired.
Meanwhile, the National Secular Society has written to the government asking it to review the role of the Church of England at the national ceremony of remembrance, which it argues should be equally inclusive of all citizens, regardless of religion and belief.
The society believes the commemoration should be redesigned to make it an inclusive national event, not led by a single Christian denomination.
Earlier this week, David Cameron announced that a key part of the World War One poppy display at the Tower of London is to remain in place until the end of November.
The installation of ceramic poppies, entitled Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red, is to be dismantled on November 12.
The Wave segment will now stay in place until the end of the month before being sent on a tour across the UK until 2018, when it will be joined by the installation’s Weeping Window segment.
Queen Elizabeth II sent her first tweet through the @BritishMonarchy account heralding the launch of a major new exhibition at London’s Science Museum.
“It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the @ScienceMuseum and I hope people will enjoy visiting. Elizabeth R.”
Queen Elizabeth II sent her first tweet heralding the launch of a major new exhibition at London’s Science Museum
Three years in the planning, the exhibition is one of the most ambitious projects the museum has undertaken.
Alongside historic objects, visitors can enjoy interactive experiences.
The Information Age gallery, opened by Queen Elizabeth on October 24, takes visitors on a journey through the history of modern communications from the telegraph to the smartphone.
Angelina Jolie has been made an honorary dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services to UK foreign policy and charity campaigns.
Angelina Jolie, 39, was presented with the insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George on October 10.
The investiture took place during a private audience at Buckingham Palace.
Angelina Jolie was recognized in the Queen’s Birthday Honors earlier this year.
Angelina Jolie was presented with the insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George during a private audience at Buckingham Palace
The actress is a special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) in 2012.
The award was first announced in June during the week when Angelina Jolie was co-chairing the End Sexual Violence in Conflict (ESVC) global summit in London with then foreign secretary William Hague.
Angelina Jolie said at the time that it meant “a great deal… to receive an honor related to foreign policy”.
Queen Elizabeth II was expected to urge British people to pray and remain united and resolute in the event of the “madness” of nuclear war, papers from 1983 show.
The script for a hypothetical broadcast has the Queen describing the threat to the “brave country” as “greater” than any other in history.
It also mentions the Queen’s son Prince Andrew, then in the Royal Navy.
The speech, devised by Whitehall officials at one of the most fraught Cold War periods, was never recorded.
The document, released by the government under the 30-year rule, was drawn up as part of a war-gaming exercise in the spring of 1983, which worked through potential scenarios.
Among the other pieces of history released from the archives on Thursday were:
Margaret Thatcher blocked a 21-year-old William Hague from a potential job as a Treasury adviser, saying his appointment would be a “gimmick” and could prove “an embarrassment”
The then British PM secretly wanted the Army to move coal around the UK in the event of a miners’ strike
Government officials considered deliberately flooding Essex and Kent to prevent London being swamped by a tidal surge as it waited for the Thames Barrier to be completed
The UK sent a laser weapon designed to “dazzle” Argentine pilots during the Falklands war
A senior government official had urged Margaret Thatcher to seek out a fertile female panda for London Zoo before a visit to China in 1982.
Although it was only a simulation, the text of the Queen’s address – written as if broadcast at midday on Friday 4 March 1983 – seeks to prepare the country for the ordeal of World War III.
In a Whitehall-written script, the Queen speaks of the “madness” of war
The script, which starts off by referring to the Queen’s traditional Christmas address, reads: “The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth.
“Now, this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.
“I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father’s [George VI’s] inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939 [at the start of the World War II].
“Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.
“But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all, the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.”
Striking a personal note, the script continues: “My husband and I share with families up and down the land the fear we feel for sons and daughters, husbands and brothers who have left our side to serve their country.
“My beloved son Andrew is at this moment in action with his unit and we pray continually for his safety and for the safety of all servicemen and women at home and overseas.
“It is this close bond of family life that must be our greatest defence against the unknown.
“If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country’s will to survive cannot be broken.”
The speech concludes by saying the Queen’s message to the nation was “simple”.
It adds: “As we strive together to fight off the new evil, let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be. God Bless you all.”
In the war-gaming exercise, Orange bloc forces – representing the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies – launch a chemical weapon attack on the UK.
Blue forces – representing NATO – retaliate with a “limited-yield” nuclear strike, forcing Orange to initiate a peace process.
The exercise came in the year that US President Ronald Reagan both enraged and alarmed Moscow with his denunciation of the Soviet Union as the “evil empire”, his plans for a “Star Wars” ballistic missile shield in space, and the deployment of US nuclear cruise missiles to Europe – including to RAF Greenham Common.
Tensions increased when the Soviets shot down a South Korean airliner that strayed into their airspace, killing all 269 on board.
A NATO military exercise, codenamed Able Archer, then nearly triggered an actual conflict with the Soviet leadership apparently convinced it was cover for a genuine attack.
The Soviet Union and the US later negotiated a reduction in the number of nuclear weapons, as the Cold War came to an end.
Queen Elizabeth II has paid a visit to her new great-grandson, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The half-hour visit to Kensington Palace came after Prince William, Kate Middleton and the royal baby spent their first night at home.
They left St Mary’s Hospital in west London on Tuesday evening, where Prince William told reporters they were yet to name the third in line to the throne.
The Queen visited without her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he continues to recover from abdominal surgery.
She made the short journey from Buckingham Palace in a dark green Bentley.
The private meeting comes as the monarch prepares to leave for Balmoral in Scotland on Friday, where she has her traditional summer break.
The Queen had said she was “thrilled” at the arrival of her third great-grandchild during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening.
Louise Butt, a guest at the event for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, said the monarch had also described the baby as a “big boy” and had said that “the first born is very special”.
There has been no word yet from the duke, who is expected to take about two months to convalesce following exploratory abdominal surgery last month.
The Queen was not the first to meet the royal baby prince.
Queen Elizabeth II has paid a visit to her new great-grandson, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Prince Charles and Camilla, and Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, paid visits to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Later that day, Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton, accompanied by boyfriend Nico Jackson, went to Kensington Palace to meet her day-old nephew.
Prince Charles said the baby was “marvelous” while Carole Middleton said he was “absolutely beautiful”.
Prince William was at the hospital for the birth at 16:24 BST on Monday, and stayed with his wife and son, who weighed 8lb 6oz (3.8kg), overnight.
They left at 19:15 BST on Tuesday – just under 27 hours after the baby’s arrival.
Kate Middleton and Prince William described becoming parents as “very emotional”.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said on Wednesday it was “now private and quiet time for them to get to know their son”.
Although the couple have yet to decide on a name it is known that the newest royal will be known as HRH Prince (name) of Cambridge.
George is the bookmakers’ favorite for the first name of the prince, who is destined to be king one day. James and Alexander are among other names on a short price.
Royal fans waited seven days before the name of a newborn Prince William was announced in 1982, and there was a wait of a month following the Prince Charles’s birth in 1948.
All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, regardless of parentage, must be registered within 42 days at the hospital or a local register office.
Queen Elizabeth II said she hopes Kate Middleton’s baby is born soon, because she is due to go on holiday.
The comment was made to a 10-year-old schoolgirl while on a series of engagements in Cumbria.
Wiggonby Church of England Primary School pupil Fay Batey asked if the Queen wanted the royal baby to be a boy or a girl.
The Queen replied: “I don’t think I mind. I would very much like it to arrive. I’m going on holiday.”
Queen Elizabeth II said she hopes Kate Middleton’s baby is born soon, because she is due to go on holiday
According to Buckingham Palace, the Queen will soon be heading off to her private Balmoral estate in Scotland, where she traditionally spends her summer holiday.
Hundreds of people had crowded into a market square in Kendal to see the Queen and the Princess Royal.
The royal party went on a brief walkabout during the 20 minute tour and received two posies from local schoolchildren.
The royal visitors were greeted by loud cheers and Union flags as they arrived from nearby Oxenholme railway station.
The Queen was later presented with a hamper showcasing local produce from the Made in Cumbria chamber of commerce collective.
Retail manager Tracey Graham said: “She was thrilled with the damson gin and said she would be keeping that for herself.”
Kate Middleton made her last public appearance before the birth of her first child when she joined thousands of well-wishers to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday at the Trooping the Color parade today.
Wearing a pale pink Alexander McQueen coat and matching hat, the Duchess of Cambridge, who is eight months pregnant, travelled to the pageant in a carriage with the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry.
Kate Middelton smiled and waved at the crowds lining the route as the carriage drove to the televised military spectacle which is held every year at Horse Guards Parade in London’s Whitehall.
But it would appear the chilly weather was a bit too cold for the royal family, and they covered their laps with blue blankets.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her birthday with traditional pomp and circumstance – but without her husband by her side.
Prince Philip remains in the hospital, recovering from exploratory abdominal surgery.
Instead the Queen invited her cousin, the Duke of Kent, to join her in her glass coach for the short journey from Buckingham Palace along The Mall.
It is thought to be only the third time that Prince Philip has missed the event after not attending in 1962 and 1968 when he was away on royal tours.
She first took the royal salute in 1951 – when she deputized for her sick father, King George VI – and has continued receiving the mark of respect every year except 1955 when there was a national rail strike.
Kate Middleton made her last public appearance before the birth of her first child when she joined thousands of well-wishers to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday at the Trooping the Color parade
The Queen, dressed in a royal blue Angela Kelly coat and hat with a matching lace dress, looked on under cloudy skies which parted now and then to reveal the sun.
Other royals watching included the Duke of York and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex with their daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor.
The Queen took the royal salute as members of the royal family looked on.
Taking part in the ceremony on horseback are the Prince Charles – who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal – who is Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Prince William – who is Colonel of the Irish Guards.
More than 1,000 soldiers, horses and musicians are taking part in the parade known as “Trooping the Color”, an annual ceremony marking the queen’s official birthday.
The ceremony is also an important social occasion for the Guardsmen taking part and gives their wives, girlfriends, and relatives the chance to celebrate the achievements of the young men and enjoy the spectacle.
Many of the spectators in the stands overlooking the parade ground were dressed in morning suits or smart suits, while women wore dresses topped with hats and fascinators.
After the parade ended, the Queen was cheered by crowds gathered along the Mall as she was driven back to Buckingham Palace, where she watched an aerial display by the RAF.
Following the parade, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the Queen’s official birthday.
The royals then gathered on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the traditional RAF flypast.
Thousands of spectators crowded around the front of the palace and on The Mall, many cheering as a succession of planes roared overhead.
Among the featured 32 aircraft were 13 different types – from the famous Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster aircraft of the RAF Memorial Flight – to modern multi-role Typhoon fighters.
The Red Arrows completed the flypast – leaving a trail of red, white and blue smoke which swept across the sky behind them.
After the splendid ceremony, the Queen paid a visit to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is recovering from exploratory abdominal surgery at a London hospital.
Queen Elizabeth II has joined 2,000 guests for a service at Westminster Abbey to mark 60 years since her Coronation.
Some of those who took part in the 1953 service were among the congregation.
Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby said the event honored “60 years of commitment”.
The Queen was accompanied by more than 20 members of her family, including Prince Philip who pulled out of an engagement on Monday night because he was feeling unwell.
Several key items from the Coronation were placed in Westminster Abbey for the service.
They included the heavy, solid gold St Edward’s Crown, displayed on the High Altar – the first time it has left the Tower of London since 1953.
Beside it was the Ampulla, the gold, eagle-shaped bottle from which the holy oil was poured for the Queen’s anointing.
The Coronation Chair, one of the oldest pieces of English furniture still in use, was also on show.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh entered Westminster Abbey to the same music that greeted her in 1953.
Back in 1953, at the age of 27, she was the 38th sovereign to be crowned in an abbey that has been the scene of such ceremonies since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066.
The Archbishop of Canterbury told those gathered in the abbey that the Coronation had been “an ordination, a setting aside of a person for service”.
Dr. Justin Welby said that during the ceremony the Queen knelt at the abbey’s altar and prayed.
“We do not know what was prayed. Her Majesty knelt at the beginning of a path of demanding devotion and utter self-sacrifice, a path she did not choose, yet to which she was called by God.
“Today we celebrate 60 years since that moment, 60 years of commitment.”
Queen Elizabeth II has joined 2,000 guests for a service at Westminster Abbey to mark 60 years since her Coronation
At the time the Coronation was a major television spectacle, with an estimated 27 million Britons tuning in.
The weather was dull and wet, but warm sunshine greeted those gathering in London for the anniversary on Tuesday.
The Archbishop said the Coronation had been “the first time the whole nation had watched anything as it happened”.
He called it “pomp and ceremony on a rainy June day, all so very British, wrapped in time and custom”.
Her Majesty wore an Angela Kelly dress, hat and coat – made from oyster-colored silk-satin brocade – for the anniversary service.
The Queen was joined at the abbey by the Prince of Wales – who was just four in 1953 – and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Duke of Cambridge and the pregnant Kate Middleton.
It is the first time Kate Middleton and Prince William, whose first baby is due next month, have attended a public event at the abbey since they married there two years ago.
Other royals present include Prince Harry, the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, the Princess Royal and Zara Phillips with her husband Mike Tindall.
The congregation sang the National Anthem before UK Prime Minister David Cameron gave a reading from the Book of Kings.
Secretary general of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma also gave a reading.
Actress Claire Skinner read a poem called The Throne, written for the anniversary by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend John Hall, said the service marked “60 years of duty done with a glad heart”.
Lady Glenconner was one of the Queen’s six maids of honor in 1953.
She said: “I remember standing by the door… I remember a roar coming round, we could hear everybody shouting. Then suddenly around the corner came this amazing golden coach, it was like a fairy tale.
“She was so beautiful. When she got out of the coach, the tiny waist she had, the wonderful complexion, she just looked the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”
The Queen, whose reign began in 1952, practiced wearing the crown around Buckingham Palace in the weeks before her Coronation, including at her children’s bath time.
The Coronation was a strictly Anglican Christian event, but 60 years later Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other faiths were represented.
Last year’s Diamond Jubilee marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.
Prince Philip had been due to accompany the Queen to a gala reception for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) at St James’s Palace in London on Monday but was unwell.
Margaret Thatcher’s death news has been broadcasted all over the world but a Taiwanese news station aired footage of Queen Elizabeth II while reporting the death of the former British Prime Minister.
CTi Cable flashed a headline declaring “Margaret Thatcher Dies of Stroke” while running two clips of the Queen shaking hands with members of the public.
The newscaster said: “We’ve learned the breaking news that ex Prime Minister, the Iron Lady, Thatcher, died at home in London due to stroke today, the 8th, this morning, at the age of 88.
CTi Cable flashed a headline declaring “Margaret Thatcher Dies of Stroke” while running two clips of the Queen shaking hands with members of the public
“A spokesperson for Thatcher has publicly confirmed this news. What we know is that Thatcher has been suffering ill health in recent years.
“Since more than 10 years ago, she’s suffered numerous minor strokes. Just last December, she had surgery in London to remove a bladder tumor.”
It is not known why Cti Cable gave her age as 88, but it could either be an error or down to the Chinese custom of counting one’s age as starting with one when you are born.
The station apologized last night after viewers criticized the station for failing to distinguish between Margaret Thatcher and the Queen.
Meanwhile in Thailand, news producers for the country’s army-owned Channel 5 made a similar error, using a photograph of actress Meryl Streep when they reported news of Margaret Thatcher’s death this morning.
For nearly two minutes, the channel displayed Lady Thatcher’s biography alongside a picture of Meryl Streep in character for the film The Iron Lady, which tells the story of Margaret Thatcher’s life.
The production team wrote on Facebook later: “We will improve and develop our work more carefully and are deeply sorry.”
Margaret Thatcher died Monday at the Ritz Hotel in London aged 87 after suffering a massive stroke.
Queen Elizabeth II is often said to have had a less than easy relationship with former premier Margaret Thatcher, her eighth – and longest-serving – prime minister.
Born six months apart, Margaret Thatcher and the Queen were two women very much making their mark in a man’s world.
Always mindful of her constitutional role and cordial to the last, the British monarch is nevertheless said to have personally disagreed with some of Margaret Thatcher’s more divisive policies and privately expressed her alarm over issues such as unemployment and the miners’ strike.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman issued a statement on Monday saying the Queen was “sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher” and would be sending a private message of sympathy to her family.
Born six months apart, Margaret Thatcher and the Queen were two women very much making their mark in a man’s world
However, there was no confirmation that the Queen would attend the funeral (as she did for Sir Winston Churchill, although that was a state occasion), despite having no public engagements in her diary for either Wednesday or Thursday next week.
Instead, a spokesman said the Queen was “waiting for details about the funeral arrangements from the Government”. While Her Majesty may have found her first female prime minister somewhat frosty, Lady Thatcher’s respect and admiration for the monarch knew no bounds, not least because she had been raised in an intensely patriotic family.
Margaret Thatcher once told author Gyles Brandreth that the talk of a strained relationship with the Queen was “a lot of nonsense” and spoke with admiration about her commitment to the Commonwealth and armed services.
“No one could curtsey lower than Margaret Thatcher,” said another former aide.
Inevitably, after 11 years of almost weekly meetings, the Queen and Margaret Thatcher reached something akin to friendship.
Margaret Thatcher was even said to have jokingly sent the monarch a pair of rubber gloves as a Christmas present after witnessing her doing the washing up following a barbecue at Balmoral without a pair. Other sources say it wasn’t that the two women did not like each other, they were simply very different people.
The Queen is dry and rather witty in private, while Margaret Thatcher always had a tendency to hector, regardless of her audience.
In 1986, their relationship was put under the spotlight when The Sunday Times reported sources close to the Queen saying she was “dismayed” by “uncaring” Margaret Thatcher’s refusal to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa, a decision the monarch feared would split the Commonwealth.
The story caused uproar. The Queen is required constitutionally to keep her opinions private. The quotes were subsequently attributed to the Palace’s press secretary, Michael Shea. The monarch is said to have rung Margaret Thatcher to reassure her that her views were nothing of the sort.
If the relationship was never entirely easy, the two certainly never wavered in their mutual respect. The Queen, in particular, is said to have admired Margaret Thatcher’s grit, determination and enormous achievements.
After Margaret Thatcher’s enforced resignation in 1990, the Queen awarded the baroness the Order of Garter and the Order of Merit – neither of which has been offered to Tony Blair.
The Queen was also a guest of honor at Margaret Thatcher’s 80th birthday celebrations.
Fellow guests were touched at the sight of the Queen taking the hand of Margaret Thatcher as she gently raised her from a deep curtsey, before guiding the already frail baroness through the throng of assembled guests.
Queen Elizabeth II has received an honorary BAFTA award for her lifelong support of the British film and television industry.
Sir Kenneth Branagh presented the Queen with the award in a star-studded gala at Windsor Castle.
BAFTA chairman John Willis described Queen Elizabeth as “the most memorable Bond girl yet” – a reference to her cameo in the London Olympics opening ceremony.
Hollywood director George Lucas, who flew in especially for the event, said the UK had been influential for him.
John Willis said: “We should be proud of our industry. The people here this evening represent a vast variety of skills and ground breaking innovation, they have entertained and informed a generation and inspired generations to come.
“I am delighted that this evening has given us the opportunity to give something back. I have the great honor to announce that we are to present Her Majesty with an honorary BAFTA today, in recognition of her outstanding patronage of the film and television industries.”
Queen Elizabeth II has received an honorary BAFTA award for her lifelong support of the British film and television industry
The Queen, who attended with Prince Philip, featured with Daniel Craig as James Bond at London 2012 – when she appeared to parachute from a helicopter.
To laughter from the audience, actor Kenneth Branagh said: “Your sensational appearance at the opening ceremony of last year’s Olympics was especially memorable.
“So much so that several of my colleagues here tonight want you to know that should you wish to take it further into the world of British films that they have a number of scripts with them here this evening. I have to warn you, Your Majesty, not all of these films are fully financed.”
The 300 guests represented all areas of the industry including actors, directors, writers, producers, costume and set designers, publicists and critics.
Homeland star Damian Lewis, who attended the event with his actress wife Helen McCrory, said: “The arts and film industry punch above their weight with little funding.
“Our arts in this country and theatre and film and TV are some of our greatest exports, to have that recognized by your monarch is important.”
Comedian Billy Connolly attended the reception as did director Terry Gilliam, actress Minnie Driver and actor Idris Elba.
Actor John Hurt also commented on the Queen’s appearance at the Olympics.
“It was a bit of good fun, I thought so – good on her,” he said.
John Hurt revealed he had come to the event from filming Doctor Who, for its 50th anniversary, in Cardiff.
George Lucas said: “I’ve been here since ’75 so for me this is my second home.
“It’s been very influential for me, I’ve shot lots of movies here not only four of the Star Wars films but also Indiana Jones, all kinds of films – it’s been a long road.”
He added: “Many, many years ago Britain didn’t support the film industry and when I came here it was on its last legs and fortunately now it’s a lot steadier.”
Queen Elizabeth II has left hospital in central London after being assessed for gastroenteritis symptoms.
The Queen had been at London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital since Sunday – her first hospital stay in 10 years.
All official engagements for this week, including a visit to Rome, were either cancelled or postponed. She also missed St David’s Day celebrations in Swansea.
Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth, 86, was admitted as a precaution and was otherwise in “good health”.
On Monday afternoon, a Bentley took the Queen to Buckingham Palace, where she will spend the night.
Dressed in a red coat and smiling, the Queen shook hands with hospital staff on the steps outside.
A Palace spokeswoman confirmed the Queen’s diary for this week would remain suspended.
She said: “Engagements cancelled or postponed this week remain so.
“Next week, we’ll have to see, as she has only just been released from hospital.”
Queen Elizabeth II has left hospital in central London after being assessed for gastroenteritis symptoms
On Saturday, the Queen had missed the military ceremony in Wales due to the stomach bug.
On Sunday, the Queen was driven from Windsor Castle, where she had been resting, after carrying out a private medal presentation earlier in the day.
A spokesman for the Queen said she was in “good spirits” and her admission was “a precautionary measure”.
Gastroenteritis causes inflammation of the stomach lining and intestines.
The infection can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or contaminated food and drink. Symptoms can include vomiting, fever and stomach ache.
The Queen’s treatment, which has not been disclosed, may have included rehydration and tests to establish if the illness was caused by an infection or an underlying problem.
The Queen last received treatment 10 years ago, again at the King Edward VII’s hospital, for a minor knee operation. At the same time, surgeons removed minor, non-cancerous lesions from her face.
Next weekend, she had been due to spend two days in Rome with the Duke of Edinburgh, at the invitation of Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano.
It is not clear whether the visit will be re-scheduled.
A reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for MPs and MEPs will go ahead with other members of the Royal Family present.
Queen Elizabeth II has been hospitalized as a precaution, while she is assessed for symptoms of gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace says.
The 86-year-old monarch has been taken to King Edward VII Hospital in London, a palace spokesman said.
All official engagements for this week, including the Queen’s trip to Rome, will be either cancelled or postponed.
Queen Elizabeth was driven to hospital by private car on Sunday, and the palace said she was “in good spirits”.
She had earlier carried out a medal presentation at Windsor Castle, where she has been resting over the weekend.
A spokesman for the Queen said she was in “good health”, besides the symptoms of gastroenteritis.
He said: “This is a precautionary measure.
“She was not taken into hospital immediately after feeling the symptoms. This is simply to enable doctors to better assess her.”
The Queen will remain in hospital under observation for about two days.
Queen Elizabeth was last in hospital 10 years ago for a minor knee operation.
News of the Queen’s illness emerged on Friday night, and she was forced to cancel a trip to Swansea on Saturday to mark St David’s Day in a military ceremony.
Queen Elizabeth II has been hospitalized as a precaution, while she is assessed for symptoms of gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis causes inflammation of the stomach lining and intestines.
The infection can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or contaminated food and drink. Symptoms can include vomiting, fever and stomach ache.
Commenting on the monarch’s medical condition, Professor Christopher Hawkey, of the University of Nottingham’s faculty of medicine and health sciences, said: “The likely cause with the Queen is the norovirus, the winter vomiting virus.
“Because it is infectious, we try to not admit people to hospital as it can start the outbreaks we hear of.”
“But not everyone can keep up with oral hydration, so it is pretty routine to go to hospital and have a drip and wait for the thing to pass and keep yourself hydrated,” he added.
The Queen had been due to spend two days in Rome with the Duke of Edinburgh next weekend, at the invitation of Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano.
It is not now clear whether the visit will be re-scheduled.
A reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for MPs and MEPs will go ahead with other members of the royal family present.
The Queen may well have gone to hospital slightly unwillingly, as her inclination is not to make a fuss.
During last year’s celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee, the Queen spent a rain-drenched day journeying down the Thames as part of the river pageant – after which her husband, the 91-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, was taken to hospital with a bladder infection.
Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to cancel a Wales visit on Saturday to celebrate St David’s Day, after developing symptoms of a stomach bug.
Buckingham Palace said the 86-year-old monarch is suffering from gastroenteritis.
The Queen had been due to present members of 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh in Swansea with leeks to mark St David’s Day.
The monarch will now spend the weekend at Windsor and will be “assessed in the coming days”.
It was due to be the first time that the Queen was to present leeks to 3 Royal Welsh, which is the reserve force of the regiment.
However, Saturday’s ceremonies, including a parade to Swansea’s Guildhall, will still take place – despite the Queen’s absence.
The Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis, will take over the ceremonial role.
Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to cancel a Wales visit on Saturday to celebrate St David’s Day, after developing symptoms of a stomach bug
Saturday’s celebrations were due to follow other royal events on St David’s Day itself on Friday in Cardiff.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a service at St John The Baptist City Parish Church, before visiting the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth spent the day at Buckingham Palace where she presented honors to a number of Britain’s 2012 Olympic winners.
Olympians honored included heptathlon winner Jessica Ennis, who received the CBE and Team GB cycling boss Dave Brailsford who was knighted.
The Queen, John Napper’s controversial portrait, which was hidden from view for 60 years because it looked nothing like Queen Elizabeth II, has finally gone on public display.
The portrait, painted by John Napper in 1952, shows Queen Elizabeth II with an extraordinary long neck.
John Napper himself described it as “a beautiful painting of a queen, but not this Queen”.
After spending six decades in council vaults, the portrait went on display in Liverpool’s St George’s Hall on Friday.
The city’s deputy Lord Mayor, Gary Millar, said: “We are very proud that Liverpool now has the original first painting hanging in St George’s Hall, which has been rehung to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
“It will be the first thing people will see if they come to get married or have a civil partnership or attend a citizenship ceremony.
“It is an honor for us to work with the friends of the hall, the staff there and the city council to rehang this beautiful painting.”
The Queen, John Napper’s controversial portrait, which was hidden from view for 60 years because it looked nothing like Queen Elizabeth II, has finally gone on public display
John Napper, who died in 2001, painted a second portrait of The Queen, with a smaller neck, after the original was rejected by the council. That picture still hangs in Liverpool Town Hall.
The artist’s widow, Pauline Napper, told the Daily Telegraph: “I remember the painting well. He was disappointed with the angle at which he painted it, he only had one sitting.
“It was due to be hung up high so that you would look at it from below. If you looked at it from that angle it looked normal.
“Then when they showed it they didn’t put it up high and then it didn’t look like the Queen.”
Pauline Napper added: “It is a beautiful painting, obviously he would have been pleased that it is going on display. I am pleased too, it is a beautiful portrait.”
The public unveiling of the work comes a week after the first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge was panned by some critics.
Paul Emsley’s work, which hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, was accused of making Kate Middleton look older and lifeless.
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