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Just over a month ago, Britain's Queen Elizabeth the second turned 86. She's now spent six decades as Queen of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the other countries of the Commonwealth. She is a familiar face across the world, and the broad narrative of her life is well-known-- not least the more tumultuous episodes involving her offspring's marriages, indiscretions and divorces, and the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales. But to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee, we now bring you an A to Z guide to some of the less familiar, though no less revealing, aspects of her royal life.
A is for Anniversary: 60 years separate these two portraits. Most British people have only known one Queen,Elizabeth II. Only her illustrious ancestor Victoria has reigned longer -- 64 years on the throne.
B is for BritaNnia: the name of her yacht. Decommissioned in 1997, it is the only time the Queen has shed a tear in public. A floating palace in which she sailed the world, it was capable of carrying 5 tonnes of cargo,including the famed Rolls Royce Phantom V.
C is for Corgi: her favorite dogs. Young Elizabeth received her first at 7 years old, a gift from her beloved father.
Since then, the family has expanded, and any true royalist tends to have a collection too.
D is for Diana. A ray of sunshine for many, she represents the Queen's darker years. Britons were initially shocked by the Queen's detachment when the princess died. But since then, she has managed to regain her popularity, with more than 80% of her subject's content.
K is for Kids and Kate, four children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. And three divorces. Thankfully, her grandchildren have improved the Queen's image, particularly the Royal Family’s latest addition, Kate the commoner, now one of the Royal's best assets.
G is for Gin. Unknown by many of her Majesty's subjects, it is her favorite tipple. According to her biographers,she enjoys a daily glass, along with her husband, Prince Philip.
H is for Hats. Her collection is endless. The key ingredient: it must be visible from a distance. Each of the Queen's outfit reflects the requirements of the day: in this instance, green for Ireland, for her first trip to the country, last year.
R is for the Racing post, her favorite newspaper. The Queen breeds racing horses, who have won several prestigious derbies.
And finally W is for Windsor, one of her palaces, which also include Holyrood and Balmoral in Scotland.
Her London home is Buckingham Palace which, according to her biographers, she hates because of its deserted corridors. But the Palace is the palace of Kings and Queens, so it where she spends much of her time. Duty always comes first.
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