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The Queen’s most interesting facts ahead of her Platinum Jubilee
The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, on Sunday. Marking 70 years to the service of her people
Queen Elizabeth celebrates 70th reign on Sunday, 6 February. Picture: Twitter @RoyalFamily
British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II is marking a big milestone on Sunday, 6 February, the 70th year of her reign.
The Queen’s coronation took place in June 1953 at Sandringham House, a year after her father King George VI’s passing.
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Usually, the forthcoming Platinum Jubilee has big celebrations such as bank holidays, big parades and many joyous events planned throughout the year to celebrate the milestone.
It was first reported she planned to spend the momentous occasion in her Sandringham home, however on Saturday she had her first public engagement at the estate since October, BBC reported.
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The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, 70 years to the service of her people. Slingo has crunched down numbers of the most important and interesting milestones the monarch has had over the past several decades.
The Queen’s most interesting facts ahead of her Platinum Jubilee:
A patron and president for over 600 charities
The Queen has been involved and volunteered in over 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations.
Double the birthdays
At 95 years old, the Queen has a fair share of big birthday parties in her life, but because of the crown, the tradition of the Queen having two birthdays means she’s had a total of 140 birthdays during her reign.
Born on 21 April, she has kept up the royal tradition of an ‘official’ birthday, with hers typically falling on the second Saturday of June.
94 state visits
The Queen has visited numerous countries around the world and has had 94 official state visits during her reign.
Delivered 69 televised Christmas speeches
Annually, the British public and around worldly citizens have watched the 95-year-old deliver her Christmas speeches since 1969. During these speeches, she touches on events that took place in the past year, including hardships, triumphs and hopes for a better new year. Last year, she paid tribute to her late husband Prince Philip who died aged 99.
23 wax figures for Madame Tussauds London
Madame Tussauds wax figures are known for their depiction of well-known faces across the globe and usually, celebrities only have a few done in their honour. The Queen has 23 figures carved out to look like her, and her star power has attracted many visits, however, the wax figures are also done to keep in touch with her changing appearance over the years.
14 UK Prime Ministers
Over the last 70 years, The Queen has seen many prime ministers come and go in Downing Street. Famously political figures such as Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. The Queen has held a steady hand in the political realm and witnessed 18 elections in the United Kingdom.
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Eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren
Being a mother of three sons, the Queen oldest grandchild Peter Phillips was born in 1977, and seven more followed over the years. Her first great-grandchild, Savannah, was born to Phillips and his now ex-wife Autumn Kelly in 2010.
She now has 12 great-grandchildren in total, famously Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis who are children of Prince Willam and Kate Middleton.
Holds 7 Guinness World Records
The Queen holds seven Guinness World Records, one of them the Royal Highness holds, is the record for most currencies and coins featuring the same individual, 45 countries.
Never used a passport
As passports are issued in Her Majesty’s name, the Queen doesn’t need one to travel overseas. However, the rest of the royal family do require one.
Compiled by Sandisiwe Mbhele
