Queen Elizabeth II

Hello, my dear friends. You might know me from pictures on coins or stamps, but I want to tell you my story myself. My name is Elizabeth, and for a very long time, I was the Queen of the United Kingdom. I was born on a spring day, April 21, 1926, to my loving parents, the Duke and Duchess of York. As a little girl, I couldn't quite say my own name, so it came out as 'Lilibet,' a nickname my family used for the rest of my life. My younger sister, Margaret, and I had a happy, quiet childhood. We played with our dogs and our ponies, and I never, ever thought I would one day wear the crown. You see, my uncle, Edward, was the one who was meant to be king. My father was his younger brother, so I was not expected to rule.

But when I was ten years old, in 1936, something happened that changed everything. My uncle, who had become King Edward VIII, made a very difficult choice. He fell in love with a woman he was not allowed to marry and still be king, so he decided to give up the throne. Just like that, my whole world turned upside down. My dear, kind father suddenly became King George VI. That meant that one day, I would be queen. I remember looking at my sister and realizing our quiet life was over. A new, much bigger path was laid out before me, and I had to learn what it meant to serve my country.

Soon after my father became king, the world faced a very scary time called World War II. Even though I was just a young princess, I wanted to help. In 1940, when I was 14, I gave my very first radio broadcast. I spoke to all the children in Britain, many of whom had been sent away from their homes to stay safe from the bombings. I wanted them to know that we were all in it together and that everything would be alright in the end. As I grew older, I wanted to do even more. When I turned 18, in 1945, I insisted on joining the army. I became a mechanic and a truck driver in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. It felt wonderful to wear a uniform and work alongside other people to help our country. It was during these years that my heart was also captured by a handsome young naval officer, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. We had known each other for years, and we had fallen in love. We were married in 1947, and it felt like a ray of sunshine after the dark years of the war.

In 1952, my life changed forever once again. I was on a trip to Kenya with Philip when we received the terrible news that my father, the king, had passed away in his sleep. I was only 25 years old. I had left England as a princess, but I flew back home as the Queen. It was a very sad time, and the weight of my new duties felt as heavy as a mountain. The next year, in 1953, was my Coronation. It was a huge ceremony at Westminster Abbey, and people all over the world watched it on television. I remember the feel of the very heavy St. Edward's Crown being placed on my head. On that day, I made a solemn promise. I dedicated my whole life, whether it be long or short, to the service of my people. It was a promise I intended to keep. Being queen was a big job, but I was also a wife and a mother. Philip and I had four children, and I tried my best to balance my royal duties with my family life. And I must not forget my other great love—my corgis! They were my faithful companions throughout my life, and their little trotting feet were a familiar sound in the palace halls.

My reign was very, very long—over 70 years, longer than any other British monarch. During that time, the world changed in ways I could have never imagined. We saw new inventions, new countries being formed, and new ways of living. Through it all, I tried to be a steady and constant presence for my people. We celebrated wonderful moments together, like my Jubilees, which were big parties to mark my 25th, 50th, 60th, and even 70th year as queen. My life ended on September 8, 2022, but looking back, I hope my story shows you the importance of keeping your promises. I hope it inspires you to live a life of service to others, facing each new day with courage, a bit of good humor, and a great deal of kindness.