6 Pioneering Moments In The Life Of Queen Elizabeth II

01/7Pioneering moments in the life of Queen Elizabeth II

Born in 1926 to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen of England is one of the most renowned and respected public figures in the world. Besides being the longest ruling monarch in the British history, she has also gained a lot of admiration and acknowledgement for her patience and perseverance through the years. Having dedicated her life to the service of her country, the Queen has also brought numerous changes and developments in the long-standing traditions of the royal family. That being said, here are some of the pioneering moments in the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

02/7She is the longest reigning monarch in British history

Queen Elizabeth II is undoubtedly the longest reigning monarch not only in the British history but all over the world. She has therefore been served by 14 UK Prime Ministers during her reign, the first being her favourite, Winston Churchill

03/7For the first time ever, the Queen’s coronation ceremony was broadcast on television

In 1953, when the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II was televised, it became one of the ground-breaking moments in the history of British royalty. Watched by over 27 million people in UK alone, the broadcast grabbed a lot of attention throughout the world.

04/7She became the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member

During World War II, Queen Elizabeth II joined the British armed forces. She actively participated in the war and trained to be a mechanic, making her the first female royal to join the armed services.

05/7The Queen sent her first email in 1976

In 1976, even when the internet wasn’t invented at all, Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to send an email. She used a network called ARPANET, a precursor to the World Wide Web as we know it today.

PHOTO: PETER KIRSTEIN

06/7She became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland since 1911

King George V was the last reigning monarch to visit Ireland in 1911, which was then a part of the UK. However, Queen Elizabeth’s first state visit to the now free and Republic of Ireland in 2011, made her the first ever monarch to do so.

07/7The Queen became the first monarch to open the doors of Buckingham Palace to the public

In 1993, Queen Elizabeth II opened the doors of the Buckingham Palace to the general public for the first time ever in the history of British monarchy. The money raised from the entry fees were used to rebuild parts of Windsor Castle that was damaged during a fire in 1992.