Queen Elizabeth II The Longest Serving Monarch At 92, Throwback Pictures

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the world's longest-reigning monarch,  turned 92 on Saturday. Her birthday was marked with traditional gun salutes and a Commonwealth-themed, star-studded charity concert. Elizabeth II was instrumental in bringing the royals into modern times, after ascending to the throne in 1952 as Britain's empire was in sharp decline. Despite being followed closely in her public appearances, she has succeeded in keeping life behind palace doors relatively secret. The Queen has two birthdays. Besides her actual birthday on April 21, official celebrations involving 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians -- an event known as the "Trooping of the Colour" -- are held usually on the second Saturday of June.
 In 1955, Elizabeth's younger glamorous sister Margaret was forced to call off her proposed marriage to a dashing air force officer, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Although a royal equerry, Townsend was still deemed an unsuitable husband for the queen's sister because he was divorced and he was sent off to Brussels by Buckingham Palace. "I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend," Margaret said in a sad announcement to the nation. "Mindful that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others."    Last week, Queen Elizabeth told leaders from the 53 Commonwealth nations that she wanted her eldest son Prince Charles to succeed her in the symbolic Commonwealth figurehead role. She has been the Commonwealth's symbolic figurehead since her father king George VI's death in 1952. 
 The Queen is a notable lover of corgi.  Her beloved corgi Willow, the last in a royal line of loyal, died recently.

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(With inputs from agencies)