The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth Facts & Worksheets

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon or also known as the Queen Mother, Duchess of York, and Queen Elizabeth. She was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, the current queen of the United Kingdom, and the wife of King George VI.

See the fact file below for more information on Queen Elizabeth or alternatively, you can download our 30-page Queen Elizabeth worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE QUEEN’S EARLY LIFE

• She was born in the year 1900, on the 4th of August in St. Paul’s Walden Bury Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, and died in Windsor, Berkshire, on March 30th, 2002 at the age of 101. 
• When she was ten years old, she was educated at her home and was fluent in French. She also enjoyed field sports, ponies, and dogs.
• On her 14th birthday, the First World War happened, and the Glamis Castle where she lived became a hospital. Although she was too young to work as a nurse, she assisted with welfare works.

THE QUEEN’S FAMILY AND MARRIAGE

• Queens Elizabeth’s family came from the descendants of the Royal House of Scotland.
• Her father was Claude George Bowes-Lyon, the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and her mother was Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck, a descendant of the British Prime Minister.
• Elizabeth spent her childhood years in St Paul’s Walden and Glamis Castle in Scotland, the earl’s family residence.
• In 1921,  Prince Albert proposed to Elizabeth, but she declined, saying she was “afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak, and act as I believe I really ought to.”
• Elizabeth married Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V, on the 26th of April 1923. This was a famous break from the established tradition of an English Prince marrying into a foreign family.
• On April 21, 1926, she gave birth to Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the future Queen Elizabeth II. She then gave birth to her second daughter, Princess Margaret Rose, on August 21, 1930.

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S LEGACY

• Elizabeth’s reputation as queen consort was boosted during World War II as she refused to leave London during the German air raid and even after Buckingham Palace was bombed.
• Many people credit her for establishing the modern British monarchy’s tone by reducing formalities and establishing extraordinary public relations.
• The Queen Mother resumed her official activities in the UK and abroad after the king’s death. Over 40 official visits overseas were made, including her visit to Canada in 1989 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her first visit there.
• The Queen was the patron of almost 350 different organizations. This included her being the Commandant-in-Chief of the Army and Air Force Women’s Services, as well as the Royal Navy Women’s services.
• On December 14th, 1936, the Queen Mother became a Lady of the Garter. The king also made her the First Lady of the Thistle. 
• She served as the President of the British Red Cross Society and the Commandant-in-Chief of the St. John Brigade’s Nursing Division.
• She was also the Commandant-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force Central Flying School and the Colonel-in-Chief of the Honorary Colonel of the various UK and international regiments. 

THE QUEEN’S TITLES

• Elizabeth began to be titled Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, shortly after George VI’s death. Because the conventional style for a widow of a monarch, “Queen Elizabeth” would have been too similar to her eldest daughter, now Queen Elizabeth II.
• Throughout the queen’s life, she gained different titles, styles, honors, and arms. From 1900 to 1904 she was called The Honourable Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. She was then called Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon from 1904 to 1923. When she married Albert, Duke of York, she was called, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York, from 1923 to 1936. She was called Her Majesty The Queen, from 1936 to 1952. When Queen Elizabeth II took over the crown, she was called Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, from 1952 to 2002. 

THE QUEEN’S ROLE

• The Queen’s role included opening each new session of Parliament, granting Royal Assent to legislation, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.
• The Queen had a special relationship with the Prime Minister, as she retained the right to appoint and met with regularly.

THE QUEEN’S OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS

• Her husband’s succession, George VI, and the renunciation of the throne from Edward VIII did not give George VI adequate preparation, which made Elizabeth not forgive Edward.
• This made George appear unfit for the role of the king. However, due to Elizabeth’s support, she helped him grow into a confident and esteemed monarch. She also urged George to seek treatment for his stutter.
• The Queen’s first public appearance was on June 30th, 1923, in an RAF pageant at Hendon.
• The King and Queen traveled to Belgrade six months after their wedding to be the sponsors at the baptism of the future King Peter II of Yugoslavia. 
• In 1927, the King and the Queen embarked on a six-month world tour, which was during the inauguration of Australia’s new capital, Canberra, by the Duke of Edinburgh.
• When World War II broke out in 1939, there was a talk that the Queen should move to North America or Canada with her daughters, to which she replied, ‘The children won’t go without me. I won’t leave the King. And the King will never leave.’
• The last big public event the Queen and King attended together was the inauguration of the Festival of Britain in May 1951.
• The king died peacefully at Sandringham House in Norfolk on February 6, 1952.
• Queen Elizabeth transferred from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House in St. James’s Palace in 1952. She also bought the Castle of Mey in the far north-east of Scotland in 1953 and spent August and October there every Year. 
• Queen Elizabeth also found time to follow her passion for the countryside and sport, in which she became skilled in fishing and a leading owner of steeplechasers. 
• Throughout World War II, the Queen and her daughters experienced the same risks and problems as the rest of the country.
• In September of 1940, the Queen was in Buckingham Palace when it was bombed. Following the air raids, she and the king visited the seriously devastated areas around the country.
• The Queen and King embarked on an extended tour in South Africa in 1947.
• The King and Queen had their Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1948. The king made an announcement to the Nation about how he received inspiration from his marriage. 

Queen Elizabeth Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Queen Elizabeth who was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, the current queen of England.

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Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• The Queen Elizabeth Facts
• E.L.I.Z.A.B.E.T.H
• The Queen’s Life
• Elizabeth’s Timeline
• The Legacy Years
• A Queen is…
• What is Elizabeth Doing?
• The Royal Family Search
• The Queen’s Family Tree
• I am the King/Queen!
• My Mom as Queen Mother

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Princess Elizabeth become queen and not The Queen Mother?

The line of succession passes from parent to child and not to the spouse. When King George VI died, the crown passed to their eldest daughter who became Queen Elizabeth II, and she became The Queen Mother. It would’ve been passed down to the son if they had one.

Was The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth a commoner?

Like Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, The Queen Mother was technically born a commoner, a descendant of the Royal House of Scotland, but she never had a title until later.

What happened to The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth?

The Queen Mother died in her sleep in Windsor, Berkshire, on March 30th, 2002 at the age of 101.

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