Elizabeth was married to Prince Philip of Edinburgh from Greece on November 20, 1947 at the young age of 21. Her father was an avid smoker and died of lung cancer 5 years after Elizabeth and Philip were married. After the death of Elizabeth's father on June 6, 1952, she became the next heir to the throne. She became the queen of: England, all the of United Kingdom, Australia, Canada , and New Zealand on February 6,1953. She also became head of the Commonwealth.
During Elizabeth's Reign she has experienced many things that most rulers have not experienced:
- She lived through the devultion of the UK
- She lived through the Canadian patriation
- She watched the deconsulation of Africa
- She outlived her great, great, grandmother Queen Victoria
- She speaks fluent French
- She has received over 404,500 honors and awards since the year 1952 at the beginning of her reign
- She is the oldest reigning monarch and longest reigning female leader figure in history
- 12 states have become independent during her rule