Early days
1926 Princess Elizabeth was born in London.
1936 Elizabeth's father became king when his older brother stepped down.
1930s Princess Elizabeth was taught at home, not at school.
She studied art and music and enjoyed drama and swimming.
1937 She became a Girl Guide when she was 11.
1940 At 14 she sent a radio message to the children of Britain.
The young princess
1942 Her first public engagement. She inspected the soldiers of the Grenadier Guards on her 16th birthday.
1947 Her first official overseas visit. She celebrated her 21st birthday on a tour of South Africa.
1948 When she was 22 the Queen's first child Prince Charles was born.
1950 Two years later Princess Anne was born.
Elizabeth becomes the Queen
1952 Her father died of cancer and Princess Elizabeth became the Queen.
1953 Her coronation (crowning) took place in Westminster Abbey.
1964 Prince Edward was born.
1965 The Beatles got MBE medals from The Queen.
1973 The spectacular Sydney Opera House in Australia is officially opened by The Queen.
1977 The Queen's Silver Jubilee was celebrated.
1981 Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
1982 Prince Andrew came back safely from the Falklands war.
Difficult times
1992 A fire wrecks part of the Queen's home at Windsor Castle.
1993 The Queen starts to pay income tax to the Government.
1996 Prince Charles got divorced from Princess Diana.
2002 The Queen's younger sister Princess Margaret died following a long illness.
Soon afterwards, the Queen mother died making this a sad year for the Queen.
The Queen's Jubilee Tour dates
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