The matriarch of the royal family, Queen Elizabeth, has reigned over the United Kingdom for more than 65 years. Not only has she managed to successfully reign, but she also did so while raising her four children.
Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey and became the ruling monarch on February 6, 1952, when her father, King George VI, died. She has been married to Prince Philip since 1947.
Over the course of their royal marriage, they have welcomed three sons and one daughter. Here is a look at their children.
Prince Charles
He is known for being the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history and the longest-serving Prince of Wales which he has been since 1958. Charles was educated at home by a governess from age five to eight and then attended Cheam and Gordonstoun schools.
Prince Charles kneels before Queen Elizabeth as she crowns him Prince of Wales at the Investiture at Caernarvon Castle | Getty Images
Prince Charles then went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. He served in the Royal Navy from 1971 until 1976 and captured the world's attention when he began dating.
In July 1981, he famously married the late Princess Diana at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He was age 32 and Diana was only 20. They went on to have two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. However, eleven years after marrying, in December 1992, Charles and Diana officially separated and were divorced by August 1996.
Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales stand on the deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia at the start of their honeymoon | Getty Images
Eight years after Diana tragically passed away in the infamous August 1997 car crash in Paris, Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles had actually dated Camilla before he met Diana.
The two reportedly had continued an affair during his marriage to Lady Di. Charles and Camilla reside in the royal family’s Clarence House mansion.
Clarence House official handout photo of the Prince of Wales and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle | Getty Images
Camilla was also married before to Andrew Parker Bowles and had two adult children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
Both Charles and Camilla regularly attend official engagements and carry out many royal duties. Aside from his royal duties, Charles has authored two books, "A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture" and "The Old Man of Lochnagar."
Princess Anne
Princess Anne, Princess Royal attends day 1 'Champion Day' of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse | Getty Images
Anne, 69, is 12th in the line of royal succession. Anne was primarily educated at her Buckingham Palace home by a governess before she attended Benenden boarding school.
Princess Anne, Princess Royal officially opens the UK Hydrographic Office headquarters | Getty Images
In November 1973, Anne married her first husband, Mark Phillips, at Westminster Abbey. They had two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, together before they divorced in April 1992.
Just a few months after her divorce, Anne married Sir Timothy Laurence, who had previously worked as Queen Elizabeth’s royal equerry, at the Church of Scotland on December 12, 1992. They live together at St James Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne, Princess Royal arrive on day 1 of Royal Ascot | Getty Images
Anne is known for her philanthropic ventures. She is also famous for her impressive talent as an equestrian.
She won the European Eventing Championship in 1971 and even competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Princess Anne now supports the Queen and royal family and regularly attends official engagements and royal tours.
Prince Andrew
rince Andrew, Duke of York visits Mother London on March 13, 2013 in London, England. | Getty Images
The third child of the Queen and Prince Phillip is Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York. He was born on February 19, 1960, at Buckingham Palace.
He is currently sixth in line to the throne. Andrew like his siblings had a governess before he attended Heatherdown Preparatory School in Berkshire, England. He later enrolled at Gordonstoun in Scotland and studied abroad in Canada but chose not to attend college and joined the Royal Navy instead.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York arrives for a reception at the Honourable Artillery Company following the Afghanistan service of commemoration | Getty Images
Andrew served as a helicopter pilot and warship captain and even saw active duty during the Falklands War. In July 1986, Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey and the couple later welcomed two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie into the world.
They divorced in May 1996 but remained close friends. They still live together at the Royal Lodge at Windsor.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the King George VI racing meet at Ascot Racecourse | Getty Images
They also purchased a ski lodge in Switzerland together. Like his siblings, he was expected to carry out royal duties.
Part of his duties included attending various charity events, official outings, and tours abroad on behalf of the Queen. However, Andrew stepped away from official duty in November 2019 after the controversy around his ties to convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Edward
Prince Edward marries Sophie Rhys-Jones at St. George's Chapel | Getty Images
At the time of his birth, Edward was third in the line of succession but he is now ninth to take over the British throne. Edward was homeschooled by a governess before attending Gibbs School, Heatherdown School, Gordonstoun, and the Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex attends day 2 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2017 in Ascot, England. | Getty Images
Edward went on to study at Jesus College, Cambridge where he studied history and earned his Masters of Arts degree. He went on to join the Royal Marines but dropped out of the program’s gruelling training course in 1987.
He then pursued a career in the entertainment business and worked as a theatre production assistant before he left to work on the British TV show "The Grand Knockout Tournament." Edward established the television production company Ardent Productions in 1993 but it was later liquidated in 2009.
In June 1999, Edward married Sophie, Countess of Wessex at St. George’s Chapel. They had two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The family lives at the royal family’s Bagshot Park estate in Surrey, England. Edward has taken over many of his father Prince Philip’s royal duties after the Duke of Edinburgh retired in summer 2017.
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