Sixty years of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

For the past two days Britain and the Commonwealth (ex-Empire) nations have been celebrating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee (60 years in power). She is only the second British Monarch after her great-great Grandmother Queen Victoria) to have had a Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen is actually related to our former enemy Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Prussia; the Kaiser's mother and the Queen's great grandfather were brother and sister meaning he was grand-grand (or great-great)-Uncle or cousin twice removed. The Queen had one sister called Margaret who was born in 1930 (4 years after the Queen) and died 2002. The Queen herself married the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip (who is a Prince as his father was son of King George I of Greece and grandson of Christian IX of Denmark) and had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne,Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The Queen has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Contrary to popular belief, the Queen has some power in the changing governments of commonwealth countries:


Giving audiences to Ministers, at which Her Majesty may be consulted, encourage and warn;

Opening each new session of Parliament;

Assenting to Bills passed by Parliament, on the advice of Ministers;

Proroguing or dissolving Parliament before a general election.

The latter two are the 'strong' powers of the Queen, although she has the power to dissolve parliament when she pleases or reject laws, she rarely does for she wishes to remain neutral to the changing governments.

Amongst the excitement of the jubilee celebrations, Prince Philip was sent to hospital with a suspected bladder infection but he seems to be recovering and doing well.

Here's to another ten years to the Queen :)