This is the bonus cache for Adventure Lab "Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II". The final is at coordinates N40 12.ABC W076 44.DEF.
Summarized Background Information:
Queen Elizabeth II died Sept 8, 2022! We fervently believe she would have loved caching. She was a strong supporter of the environment & Corgis make great geodogs. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York states “She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: the most fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness, and a constant steadying presence as our head of state for more than 70 years. She has given her whole life selflessly to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth.”
Elizabeth was born 21 Apr, 1926 to the 2nd son of King George V. Her grandfather died 1936. Her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII. Later he abdicated (royal scandal about divorced US socialite Wallis Simpson). Her father became King George VI.
Britain entered WWII Sept 1939. Many wanted the King’s children evacuated to Canada to avoid the London bombings but Elizabeth’s mother said, "The children won't go without me. I won't leave without the King. And the King will never leave."
At 14, Elizabeth made her 1st broadcast, to children who'd been evacuated. "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers, and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war.”
After the war was her 1st overseas tour to Africa. During the tour on her 21st birthday, she pledged: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."
Elizabeth met Prince Philip of Greece & Denmark, in 1934. In July 1939, at 13 she said she’d fallen in love with him. At 21 her engagement was officially announced, 9 July 1947. Before the marriage, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles. Shortly before the wedding, he was given the title Duke of Edinburgh. They were married on 20 Nov 1947 at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth gave birth to her 1st child, Prince Charles, on 14 November 1948. A 2nd child, Princess Anne, was born on 15 Aug 1950. She had 2 additional children after she became Queen; 3rd child, Prince Andrew, on 19 Feb 1960, and a 4th child, Prince Edward, on 10 March 1964. In 1981 Charles married Diana. The Queen had 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. On Apr 9, 2021, Elizabeth's husband of 73 yrs, died at 99.
She had a great love of the outdoors and animals, particularly horses and dogs. She became hugely knowledgeable as a rider, owner and breeder of horses. She owned more than 30 Corgis and Dorgis during her lifetime.
King George VI was a heavy smoker and was in poor health with lung cancer. Princess Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events. He died 6 Feb 1952 which made Elizabeth the Queen. She was on an official visit to Kenya on a Commonwealth tour when she heard that she had become the Queen. She chose her own name so became Queen Elizabeth II. On 9 Apr 1952 Queen Elizabeth declared that Windsor would continue to be the surname of the royal house instead of using her husband’s surname, Mountbatten.
Although Elizabeth was officially the Queen she did not receive the crown until 1953. The televised coronation ceremony was on June 2,1953 in Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II reigned for over 70 yrs, longer than any other British monarch. She met 13 of the last 14 US Presidents. She held audiences with 15 British prime ministers including Boris Johnson.
Her 1st state visit to W Germany in 1965 was the 20-year anniversary of the end of WWII, symbolizing reconciliation between the 2 countries. In 1966, in Aberfan, Wales, an avalanche of mud, water & debris buried an elementary school, killing 116 children and 28 adults. In 1984, Britain returned sovereignty over Hong Kong to China beginning July 1, 1997. In 1986, Elizabeth was the 1st British monarch to visit the Chinese mainland, touring the terracotta warriors in Xi’an, the Great Wall & other sites. Public criticism grew intense after Diana’s death in a Paris car crash. The queen initially remained in Scotland to look after her grandchildren. She returned to London to greet crowds of mourners & delivered a rare televised address to a nation devastated by the loss of the “People’s Princess.” On May 2011, Elizabeth & Philip visited the Republic of Ireland; the 1st visit by a British monarch in 100 years. She expressed “sincere thoughts and deep sympathy” for the victims of the troubled past. This was celebrated as the beginning of a new era of friendship.
In 2012 the Olympics were in London. The Queen filmed a scene with "James Bond". The pair walked onto a helicopter that flew over Big Ben & the London Eye then over the Olympic Stadium. ‘The Queen’ (a dummy) and Bond jumped out with Union Jack parachutes.
With Covid, televised speeches became more common. “While we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
In her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen showed her humor & love of technology by acting in a skit with Paddington Bear having tea and discussing their love of marmalade sandwiches.
Queen Elizabeth II died Sept 8, 2022 and her oldest son became Charles III.