Queen Elizabeth II’s father, Prince Albert, was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary.

She has ties with most of the monarchs in Europe. Her ancestors include Queen Victoria (ruled
1837 to 1901) and King George III (ruled 1760 to 1820).
In 1936, the course of Elizabeth's life changed with the death of her grandfather, George V, with
whom she was said to be close. Her uncle became King Edward VIII, but he was in love with
American divorcée Wallis Simpson and had to choose between the crown and his heart. In the end,
Edward chose Simpson and abdicated the crown. Elizabeth's father became King George VI in
1937.
Queen Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten (a surname adopted from his mother's side) in the
autumn of 1947. Elizabeth first met Philip, son of Prince Andrew of Greece, when she was only 13.
She became queen on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953. She is the mother of
Prince Charles, heir to the throne, as well as the grandmother of princes William and Harry. As the
longest-serving monarch in British history, she has tried to make her reign more modern and
sensitive to a changing public while maintaining traditions associated with the crown.
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret
largely stayed out of London, having been relocated to Windsor Castle. From there she made the
first of her famous radio broadcasts, with this particular speech reassuring the children of Britain
who had been evacuated from their homes and families. The 14-year-old princess, showing her
calm and firm personality, told them "that in the end, all will be well; for God will care for us and
give us victory and peace."