Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth II: 10 Facts You Probably Don't Know About The Queen

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  • 1/10
    1. Her middle names are Alexandra Mary: After her paternal great-grandmother and paternal grandmother.
    1/10 1. Her middle names are Alexandra Mary: After her paternal great-grandmother and paternal grandmother.
  • 2/10
    2. She’s the patron of more than 600 charities: Everything from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to the English Table Tennis Association.
    2/10 2. She’s the patron of more than 600 charities: Everything from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to the English Table Tennis Association.
  • 3/10
    3. She may be sweet and lovable, but don't mess with the Queen! In 1982, an intruder invaded her bedroom. Not flinching, the royal remained calm, and even had a conversation with the deranged man until the police arrived seven minutes later.
    3/10 3. She may be sweet and lovable, but don't mess with the Queen! In 1982, an intruder invaded her bedroom. Not flinching, the royal remained calm, and even had a conversation with the deranged man until the police arrived seven minutes later.
  • 4/10
    4. She became Queen when she was 25 years old.
    4/10 4. She became Queen when she was 25 years old.
  • 5/10
    5. She’s head of state of 15 Commonwealth countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St Lucia and The Bahamas.
    5/10 5. She’s head of state of 15 Commonwealth countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St Lucia and The Bahamas.
  • 6/10
    7. To her husband, she’s just a sausage: Prince Philip’s pet names for The Queen are said to include ‘sausage’ and ‘cabbage’.
    6/10 7. To her husband, she’s just a sausage: Prince Philip’s pet names for The Queen are said to include ‘sausage’ and ‘cabbage’.
  • 7/10
    6. She speaks ‘handbag’: Rumour has it if she wants to leave a dinner in five minutes, she puts her bag on the table to tell her staff she’s ready to leave. She moves it from arm to arm to tell aides she is tired of talking to someone.
    7/10 6. She speaks ‘handbag’: Rumour has it if she wants to leave a dinner in five minutes, she puts her bag on the table to tell her staff she’s ready to leave. She moves it from arm to arm to tell aides she is tired of talking to someone.
  • 8/10
    8. She spends hump day with the PM: Most Wednesdays, at 6.30pm, she has a meeting with the Prime Minister. Nobody except the two of them knows what is said during this time – these meetings are confidential.
    8/10 8. She spends hump day with the PM: Most Wednesdays, at 6.30pm, she has a meeting with the Prime Minister. Nobody except the two of them knows what is said during this time – these meetings are confidential.
  • 9/10
    9. The Queen’s cousin, Margaret Rhodes, told The Independent that Her Majesty performs the same excessive daily drinking ritual everyday: "Before lunch she enjoys a gin and Dubonnet on the rocks with a slice of lemon. She also likes to have wine with lunch, and finally, a glass of champagne to finish off the day."
    9/10 9. The Queen’s cousin, Margaret Rhodes, told The Independent that Her Majesty performs the same excessive daily drinking ritual everyday: "Before lunch she enjoys a gin and Dubonnet on the rocks with a slice of lemon. She also likes to have wine with lunch, and finally, a glass of champagne to finish off the day."
  • 10/10
    She loves a crime thriller: Some of her favourite authors are PD James, Agatha Christie and Dick Francis.
    10/10 She loves a crime thriller: Some of her favourite authors are PD James, Agatha Christie and Dick Francis.

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Today marks the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Here's 10 random facts you may not know about her Majesty! 

Photos: Getty Images