The
Queen of England is one of the most iconic and celebrated figures in the world. Known for her elegance, poise, and grace, she has reigned over the United Kingdom for over 69 years, setting countless records and traditions along the way. While many know her as a prominent historical figure, there are countless lesser-known facts about the Queen that are both entertaining and informative. Here are 100 cold hard facts about Queen Elizabeth II that might surprise you.
1. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning British monarch in history with over 69 years on the throne.
2. She was born on April 21, 1926, at 2:40 am in London.
3. The Queen has owned over 30 corgis during her reign.
4. The Queen's official birthday is celebrated in June, but her real birthday is in April.
5. Her nickname as a child was "Lilibet."
6. The Queen was famously played by actress Claire Foy in the Netflix series "The Crown."
7. The Queen has visited more than 120 countries during her reign.
8. She is the head of the Church of England.
9. The Queen is also the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of 54 countries.
10 The Queen has four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
11. She has eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
12. The Queen's wedding cake weighed over 500 pounds.
13. During World War II, the Queen trained as a mechanic and a driver.
14. The Queen has a degree in law from the University of London.
15. Her favorite drink is gin and Dubonnet.
16. The Queen's favorite horse racing event is the Royal Ascot.
17. The Queen has met every U.S. president since Harry Truman, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson.
18. She has her own private ATM in Buckingham Palace.
19. The Queen has visited the Vatican City three times.
20. She has never had a driver's license.
21. The Queen has two birthdays, her real one in April and her official one in June.
22. She is the only person in the UK who doesn't need a passport to travel.
23. The Queen can technically drive without a license.
24. The Queen's coronation was the first to be televised.
25. Her majesty has sent over 50,000 Christmas cards during her reign.
26. Queen Elizabeth II speaks fluent French.
27. Her favorite TV show is reportedly "Downton Abbey."
28. The Queen has owned more than 200 horses during her reign.
29. She also owns a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle.
30. The Queen has never given an interview to the press.
31. The Queen is a trained mechanic and can repair engines.
32. She has a collection of over 100 Launer handbags.
33. The Queen is a descendant of Vlad III, the inspiration for Dracula.
34. She has over 160 honorary degrees from universities around the world.
35. The Queen is the only person in the UK who can drive without a license or number plate on her car.
36. The Queen has a personal fortune estimated at over $500 million.
37. She has been known to enjoy a game of Monopoly.
38. The Queen has a poem named after her in the French language.
39. Her favorite flower is the primrose.
40. The Queen has flown in a helicopter only once.
41. She has her own personal tartan design.
42. The Queen has her own personal poet laureate, currently Simon Armitage.
43. The Queen has never worn jeans in public.
44. She is the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary.
45. The Queen has over 350 royal photos in her private collection.
46. Her favorite food is said to be chocolate biscuit cake.
47. The Queen has had over 30 dogs during her reign.
48. She has received over 4,000 pieces of jewelry.
49. The Queen has never voted in an election.
50. She has a private cinema in Buckingham Palace.
51. The Queen's favorite movie is reportedly "The Sound of Music."
52. The Queen has a collection of over 500 hats.
53. Her majesty is the first monarch to tweet, having sent her first tweet in 2014.
54. The Queen's favorite colors are blue and green.
55. She sends over 700 Christmas puddings to staff and guards each year.
56. The Queen has seen all of the James Bond films.
57. She has over 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are members of the royal family.
58. The Queen's husband, Prince Philip, was made an honorary member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
59. The Queen has never visited the continent of South America.
60. She has her own personal wine label.
61. The Queen has a personal flag called the Royal Standard.
62. Her Majesty is the first British monarch to reach a platinum wedding anniversary.
63. The Queen has received over 138,000 pieces of mail each year.
64. She loves to horse ride.
65. The Queen has attended every Trooping the Colour ceremony during her reign, except for one.
66. Her favorite book is said to be "The Forsyte Saga" by John Galsworthy.
67. The Queen has a personal Wii console.
68. She is the only person in the UK who is exempt from prosecution.
69. The Queen has never been to New Zealand.
70. Her Majesty is a fan of the Scottish sport of curling.
71. The Queen has a collection of over 50 Fabergé eggs.
72. She has never visited Israel.
73. The Queen has appeared on a postage stamp more than any other person in history.
74. Her favorite animal is reportedly the hedgehog.
75. The Queen's favorite Scottish castle is Balmoral.
76. She owns a collection of over 100 works of art.
77. The Queen was the first monarch to send an email, in 1976.
78. Her favorite musical is said to be "My Fair Lady."
79. The Queen loves to read historical fiction.
80. She has her own personal smock dress uniform.
81. The Queen has a personal jewelry collection of over 100 brooches.
82. Her Majesty is the only person in the UK who doesn't require a license to hunt.
83. The Queen has never learned to swim.
84. Her favorite car is a Land Rover.
85. The Queen has a collection of over 100 teapots.
86. She owns a collection of over 30 outfits made by fashion designer Norman Hartnell.
87. The Queen has never visited the continent of Antarctica.
88. The Queen is a huge cricket fan.
89. Her favorite hymn is said to be "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling."
90. The Queen has a personal favorite lipstick color, named "The Balmoral Pink."
91. Her Majesty is the only person in the UK who can drive without a seatbelt.
92. The Queen's favorite sport is reportedly horse racing.
93. She has over 20 pieces of jewelry that belonged to her late mother.
94. The Queen has never undergone plastic surgery.
95. She has her own personal perfume, called "Buckingham Bouquet."
96. Her Majesty has attended every Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting since her coronation.
97. The Queen is a well-known collector of postage stamps.
98. Her favorite bird is the swallow.
99. The Queen is the only person in the UK who can drive without a rearview mirror.
100. Finally, the Queen loves to listen to the music of "The Beatles."
In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth II is a truly remarkable woman with a unique history and countless interests. As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, she has set countless records and traditions that will be remembered for generations to come. Whether she's tending to her beloved corgis, watching a cricket match, or just spending time with her family, there's no doubt that her majesty is one of the most fascinating figures in the world today.