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She visited over 100 countries, travelled more than 1.6 million kilometres, and saw out 15 different prime ministers. While her life was extremely well-documented, there are still tidbits from her life that are lesser known to the public.
The Queen didn’t go to school, but she did have private tutors
She studied select areas, with specialised teachers in subjects which included constitutional history. She also learned French from a succession of native-speaking governesses.
There were twenty Girl Guides, who were children of members of the ‘Royal Household’ and employees of Buckingham Palace.
Princess Elizabeth poses for a photo in a Girl Guides uniform, in Windsor Great Park, in Windsor, England. Source: AP / AP
A headscarf, a Range Rover, and no licence required
While a driver’s test was not needed – Queen Elizabeth knew her way around a car. In 1944, at age 18, then-Princess Elizabeth joined the women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service (the women’s branch of the British Army) during World War II. There she learned car mechanics and truck driving with media at the time dubbing her ‘Princess Auto Mechanic’.
Queen Elizabeth II driving a Daimler saloon car with Prince Charles and Princess Anne as passengers, circa 1957. Source: Getty / Hulton Archive
Queen Elizabeth II drives her Range Rover car as she attends day 4 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2017 in Windsor, England. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Although a royal chauffeur was available to Queen Elizabeth, she was still found behind the wheel every now and then, with her vehicles sometimes pictured ‘customised’ with an ornament of a dog on the bonnet.
Abdullah, then the crown prince, was visiting the Queen’s Balmoral estate in Scotland.
Former British top diplomat Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, in his book Ever the Diplomat: Confessions of a Foreign Office Mandarin, recounted it like this: “The royal Land Rovers were drawn up in front of the castle. As instructed, the Crown Prince climbed into the front seat of the Land Rover, with his interpreter in the seat behind. To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off.
Even as concerns around her health emerged last November, the 95-year-old monarch was soon after seen wearing a headscarf and sunglasses driving around Windsor estate.
A wedding gown bought with coupons
With the British government still recovering from the World War, materials were still scarce, and rationing remained the norm in the United Kingdom. The Royal Family was not exempt.
Queen Elizabeth II paid for the material to make her silk wedding gown with ration coupons. Credit: PA/PA
Princess Elizabeth saved up clothing coupons in order to acquire material to make the gown, which featured a 4.5-metre train. It has been reported that the government allowed her 200 extra ration coupons.
Heart-warmingly, other brides-to-be in England also sent her their coupons, but these were later returned as it was found to be illegal to give these away.
Nicknames for the Queen
The Queen’s late husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, also called her by the nickname. It is now the name of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex’s second child.
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, on their wedding day in 1947. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images
Over the years it was been reported that Prince Philip affectionately called her ‘Cabbage’.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip first met as kids
Queen Elizabeth was eight and Prince Philip was 13 when their paths first crossed. It’s believed the pair properly grew fond of each other a few years later, though, when the royal family visited the Royal Naval College where Prince Philip was a cadet in training. Now she was 13 and he was 18.
The couple married in London’s Westminster Abbey just two years after the end of World War Two. With the UK still reeling from the conflict, their wedding was a rare moment of celebration.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth sent messages with her purse
Royal historians have noted certain signals or cues which subtly send a message to those around her. And it’s all in the bag.
Queen Elizabeth was known to send secret signals with her handbag. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
If the Queen shifts her bag from one hand to the other, it signals that she is ready to end her current conversation, according to royal historian Hugo Vickers, who has spoken publicly about the topic on numerous occasions.
If the bag is placed on a table, the Queen is ready to leave an event in the next five minutes.