Queen Elizabeth II is the current reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, along with fifteen other nations in the Commonwealth. She is also the Head of the Commonwealth and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth's role in the United Kingdom is largely ceremonial, and sometimes diplomatic.

Queen Elizabeth was born HRH Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York on 26 April, 1926. Her parents were the future George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, better-known as the Queen Mother. At the time of her birth she was third in line to the throne but not expected to become Queen; her uncle, King Edward VIII's, abdication changed history.

The Queen had a sister, the Princess Margaret, who died in 2002, the same year their mother, the Queen Mother died. She married Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, now known as Prince Philip or HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 November 1947. Between 1948 and 1964 they had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

In 1952, King George died and Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 25 years (the Silver Jubilee) of being the UK Queen in 1977, and 50 years (the Golden Jubilee) in 2002. As of the end of 2009 she is the third longest-ruling monarch in British history, second only to George III and Queen Victoria.