The 40th monarch since the English crown was obtained by William the Conquerer, and the longest-living sovereign of Britain to date, nobody can hold a flame to Her Majesty dearest — especially when she's living life by her own rules.
Here are some of the best (and wonderfully unexpected) facts you never knew about The Queen:
1. Her Majesty's first address is now the location of a posh Cantonese restaurant.
The future Queen Elizabeth came into the world at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair to the Duke and Duchess of York. Eventually, their royal house was demolished, but the building erected in its place now holds the world renowned Michelin Star restaurant (and celeb magnet) Hakkasan.
2. Queen Elizabeth became a home owner at 6 years old.
On the young Princess's birthday, the people of Wales presented her a little straw-thatched cottage in Windsor Park nicknamed Y Bwthyn Bach. The name means "The Little House" in Welsh, and it has its own tiny garden with scaled down hedges and flower borders. Today, she owns two homes: Sandringham House in Norfolk and Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
3. The Queen had to collect clothing coupons for her wedding dress.
That's right, even one of the most royal wedding gowns of all time had to be funded with post-World War II clothing ration coupons. However, Her Majesty had a little more to work with for her wedding — she was granted an extra 200 coupons by the government, unlike the common folk.
4. She owns a lot more animals than you think, and she loves corgis.
Queen Elizabeth has the rights to all of the royal fish in U.K. waters. A statute from 1324, during the reign of King Edward II states that, "Also the King shall have ... whales and sturgeons taken in the sea or elsewhere within the realm." The statute is still valid today, and aquatic animals such as sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins are recognized as "Fishes Royal." The Queen also has a thing for corgis, she's owned more than 30 of them in her lifetime.
5. Her Majesty is tech — and media — savvy.
She was the first monarch to ever send an email in 1976. She was visiting the Ministry of Defense's scientific research hub, the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, when she sent the communication from the army base. Her coronation was also the first to be televised, and her and her family were the first British royals to appear in their own TV documentary.
6. Queen Elizabeth is the only British monarch in history who can change a flat tire.
She was properly trained to change flat tires and a spark plug when she served in the wartime Auxiliary Territorial Service as 2nd Lieutenant Elizabeth Windsor.
7. Her nickname is Miss Piggy (but not to us).
At an after-wedding party, The Queen (martini in hand), called to her husband saying, "Oh Philip, do look! I've got my Miss Piggy face on." Not long after, the affectionate nickname caught on in the Royal Family. Even Princess Diana lovingly used the epithet.
8. She laughs in church.
The Queen finds it hilarious when things go wrong in church. Canon Ovenden, Chaplain to the Queen at Windsor, recalls one service when he called out the first hymn and the organist played the wrong tune. "I had to say 'Stop!, start again,' and The Queen loved it."
9. She also finds it amusing when her friends swear.
Her Majesty has been known to laugh out loud when one of her good friends uses language fit for a sailor. In the middle of a conversation with the Queen, her friend will blurt out: "Oh, do f*** off, " and she'll laugh.
10. Her Majesty's outfits are made from fabrics she received as a young woman.
Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth's personal assistant and senior dresser, uses old and new fabrics when designing outfits. Some of the material she incorporates were gifted to the The Queen many years ago, dating back to when she was a Princess.
