20 facts you might not know about the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. Credit: REUTERS/Shaun Curry/Pool

Twenty facts about Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that you probably did not know:

  • She is the second longest serving monarch.

  • Her real birthday is on April 21, but it is celebrated officially in June.

  • The Queen was a Girl Guide and Sea Ranger.

  • She is patron of more than 620 charities and organisations.

  • Since 1952, the Queen has conferred over 404,500 honours and awards.

Bruce Forsyth was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in October 2011. Credit: ITN

  • The Queen speaks fluent French.

  • She is a keen photographer and enjoys taking photographs of her family.

Queen Elizabeth II turns photographer during a visit to the Lindsay Park Stud in South Australia in 1977. Credit: PA

  • The Queen has sat for 129 portraits during her reign, her first was at the age of seven.

  • Since 1952, the Queen has given Royal Assent to more than 3,500 Acts of Parliament. She has also opened Parliament every year except 1959 and 1963, when she was expecting Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.

Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, opening Parliament for the first time in 1952. Credit: PA

  • The Queen sent a message of congratulations to Apollo 11 astronauts for the first moon landing on the 21 July,1969.

  • She has visited Australia 16 times, Canada 26 times, Jamaica six times and New Zealand 10 times.

The Queen greets wishwishers in Melbourne during her sixteenth visit in 2011. Credit: REUTERS/Alex Coppe

  • The Queen learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Army.

  • The first football match the Queen attended was the 1953 FA Cup Final between Blackpool FC and Bolton Wanderers.

Blackpool FC captain Harry Johnston receive the 1953 FA Cup trophy from the Queen. Credit: PA

  • HRH has received a variety of live animals as gifts. They include two live tortoises and Jumbo, the seven-year-old bull elephant from the President of Cameroon.

  • The Queen has attended 35 Royal Variety performances.

Queen Elizabeth II meets American singer Lady Gaga at the Royal Variety Performance in 2009. Credit: REUTERS/Leon Neal

  • The Queen has given out about 90,000 Christmas puddings to staff continuing the custom of King George V and King George VI.

  • The Queen has made a Christmas Broadcast to the Commonwealth every year of her reign except 1969.

  • The first 'Royal walkabout' took place during a visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1970.

Queen Elizabeth II with Princess Anne and Prince Charles pass through the crowds at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney in 1970. Credit: PA

  • The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign. She also introduced a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi" when one of her corgis was mated with a dachshund.

  • She is the first member of the Royal Family to be awarded a gold disc from the recording industry. 100,000 copies of the CD of the 'Party at the Palace', were sold within the first week of release.

Queen Elizabeth II is presented with a gold disc for the DVD and video of Party at the Palace. Credit: PA

Source: www.thediamondjubilee.org and www.royal.gov.uk

Facts correct as of January 2012.