# Elizabeth II - Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms

URL: https://english-history.com/rulers/elizabeth-ii
Reign: 1952 - 2022
Born-Died: 1926 - 2022
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II

Elizabeth II became queen in 1952 and reigned for more than seventy years, the longest reign in British history. Her constitutional role remained formally limited, but she became a central symbol of continuity as Britain, the Commonwealth and society changed profoundly.

## Succession
- Preceded by: [George VI](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-vi)
- Succeeded by: [Charles III](https://english-history.com/rulers/charles-iii)

## Timeline events during this reign
- 1952 - [Elizabeth II becomes queen](https://english-history.com/timeline/1952-elizabeth-ii-becomes-queen)
- 1953 - [Coronation of Elizabeth II](https://english-history.com/timeline/1953-coronation-of-elizabeth-ii)
- 1956 - [Suez Crisis](https://english-history.com/timeline/1956-suez-crisis)
- 1957 - [Britain tests a hydrogen bomb](https://english-history.com/timeline/1957-britain-tests-a-hydrogen-bomb)
- 1958 - [Notting Hill racial riots](https://english-history.com/timeline/1958-notting-hill-racial-riots)
- 1960 - [Macmillan delivers the 'Wind of Change' speech](https://english-history.com/timeline/1960-macmillan-delivers-the-wind-of-change-speech)
- 1961 - [Britain applies to join the European Economic Community](https://english-history.com/timeline/1961-britain-applies-to-join-the-european-economic-community)
- 1964 - [Labour returns under Harold Wilson](https://english-history.com/timeline/1964-labour-returns-under-harold-wilson)
- 1965 - [Race Relations Act](https://english-history.com/timeline/1965-race-relations-act)
- 1967 - [Abortion Act](https://english-history.com/timeline/1967-abortion-act)
- 1967 - [Sexual Offences Act partially decriminalizes sex between men](https://english-history.com/timeline/1967-sexual-offences-act-partially-decriminalizes-sex-between-men)
- 1968 - [Race Relations Act expands anti-discrimination law](https://english-history.com/timeline/1968-race-relations-act-expands-anti-discrimination-law)
- 1969 - [British troops are deployed to Northern Ireland](https://english-history.com/timeline/1969-british-troops-are-deployed-to-northern-ireland)
- 1971 - [Decimalisation of the pound](https://english-history.com/timeline/1971-decimalisation-of-the-pound)
- 1972 - [Bloody Sunday](https://english-history.com/timeline/1972-bloody-sunday)
- 1973 - [United Kingdom joins the European Communities](https://english-history.com/timeline/1973-united-kingdom-joins-the-european-communities)
- 1975 - [Referendum confirms European Community membership](https://english-history.com/timeline/1975-referendum-confirms-european-community-membership)
- 1978 - [Winter of Discontent](https://english-history.com/timeline/1978-winter-of-discontent)
- 1979 - [Margaret Thatcher becomes prime minister](https://english-history.com/timeline/1979-margaret-thatcher-becomes-prime-minister)
- 1981 - [Brixton disturbances](https://english-history.com/timeline/1981-brixton-disturbances)
- 1982 - [Falklands War](https://english-history.com/timeline/1982-falklands-war)
- 1984 - [Miners' Strike](https://english-history.com/timeline/1984-miners-strike)
- 1986 - [Big Bang deregulates the City of London](https://english-history.com/timeline/1986-big-bang-deregulates-the-city-of-london)
- 1990 - [Margaret Thatcher resigns](https://english-history.com/timeline/1990-margaret-thatcher-resigns)
- 1992 - [Black Wednesday](https://english-history.com/timeline/1992-black-wednesday)
- 1997 - [Labour wins a landslide under Tony Blair](https://english-history.com/timeline/1997-labour-wins-a-landslide-under-tony-blair)
- 1998 - [Good Friday Agreement](https://english-history.com/timeline/1998-good-friday-agreement)
- 1998 - [Devolution legislation creates new institutions](https://english-history.com/timeline/1998-devolution-legislation-creates-new-institutions)
- 1999 - [Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly open](https://english-history.com/timeline/1999-scottish-parliament-and-welsh-assembly-open)
- 2001 - [United Kingdom joins military operations in Afghanistan](https://english-history.com/timeline/2001-united-kingdom-joins-military-operations-in-afghanistan)
- 2003 - [Britain participates in the invasion of Iraq](https://english-history.com/timeline/2003-britain-participates-in-the-invasion-of-iraq)
- 2005 - [London bombings](https://english-history.com/timeline/2005-london-bombings)
- 2008 - [Global financial crisis hits Britain](https://english-history.com/timeline/2008-global-financial-crisis-hits-britain)
- 2010 - [Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition is formed](https://english-history.com/timeline/2010-conservative-liberal-democrat-coalition-is-formed)
- 2014 - [Scottish independence referendum](https://english-history.com/timeline/2014-scottish-independence-referendum)
- 2016 - [European Union membership referendum](https://english-history.com/timeline/2016-european-union-membership-referendum)
- 2016 - [Theresa May becomes prime minister](https://english-history.com/timeline/2016-theresa-may-becomes-prime-minister)
- 2017 - [Grenfell Tower fire](https://english-history.com/timeline/2017-grenfell-tower-fire)
- 2019 - [Boris Johnson becomes prime minister](https://english-history.com/timeline/2019-boris-johnson-becomes-prime-minister)
- 2020 - [United Kingdom leaves the European Union](https://english-history.com/timeline/2020-united-kingdom-leaves-the-european-union)
- 2020 - [COVID-19 lockdown begins](https://english-history.com/timeline/2020-covid-19-lockdown-begins)
- 2022 - [Elizabeth II dies](https://english-history.com/timeline/2022-elizabeth-ii-dies)
- 2022 - [Charles III becomes king](https://english-history.com/timeline/2022-charles-iii-becomes-king)
- 2022 - [Rishi Sunak becomes prime minister](https://english-history.com/timeline/2022-rishi-sunak-becomes-prime-minister)