HM The Queen 80th Birthday
Issue Date:







Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was born in London on 21st April 1926. She was the first child of His Majesty King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. She was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the chapel at Buckingham Palace five weeks later.

Princess Elizabeth was educated at home with her sister, Princess Margaret. In her early teens she studied history, law and also art and music. She was a keen horsewoman in her childhood and remains so to this day. Princess Elizabeth also enjoyed amateur dramatics, was a good swimmer, and became a Girl Guide before eventually becoming a Sea Ranger.

In October 1940 she made her first radio broadcast, through the BBC, to all the children in Britain and the Commonwealth. This was the first formal step towards her devoted duty to the Commonwealth that she is so interested and supportive of today.

During the Second World War she carried out a number of official duties and completed a course with the Mechanical Training Centre of the ATS in 1945, passing out as a fully qualified driver and reaching the rank of Junior Commander.

In 1947 she undertook her first official overseas visit, to South Africa, and made a broadcast to the world dedicating herself to the service of the Commonwealth, a dedication she repeated five years later on her accession to the throne.

On returning to Britain she married Lt Philip Mountbatten who was to become HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

The current duties of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are many and varied. They include regular weekly meetings with the United Kingdom Prime Minster and other government ministers, hosting visiting Heads of State and attending many and varied functions throughout the UK and the rest of the world. She is patron of over 700 organisations and entertains around 48,000 members of the community including many from overseas at Royal Garden Parties and other occasions.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of The Commonwealth and has visited a very large proportion of Commonwealth member countries where amongst other duties she presents honours to those in public life who have distinguished themselves and usually arranges a "walkabout" when she can meet ordinary members of the public.

The Queen has two birthdays. Her actual birthday is on 21st April and her official birthday is 17th June. In this her 80th year, the celebrations will be modest and include a family dinner hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales, services of Thanksgiving, a children's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and a reception hosted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace for other people who will also be 80 on the 21st April 2006.



Technical details:

Layout and Design: CASB Studios
Photographic agencies: Alpha, Camera Press and Tim Graham Picture Library
Printer: BDT International
Stamp Size: 28.45mm x 42.58mm
Souvenir Sheet size: 143mm x 75.00mm
Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14 per 2cms
Colours: 4 Colour Process plus metallic gold
Designs: All designs show images of HMQ taken throughout her life, both formal and informal.



Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited