document_title: Demographics of Belgium

question_text: who formed the majority in terms of population in belgium

text: Demographics of Belgium

text: Population[edit]

text:
Historical population

Year
Pop.
±%

1846
4,337,196
—

1856
4,529,460
+4.4%

1866
4,827,833
+6.6%

1876
5,336,185
+10.5%

1880
5,520,009
+3.4%

1890
6,069,321
+10.0%

1900
6,693,548
+10.3%

1910
7,423,784
+10.9%

1920
7,465,782
+0.6%

1930
8,092,004
+8.4%

1947
8,512,195
+5.2%

1961
9,189,741
+8.0%

1970
9,650,944
+5.0%

1981
9,848,647
+2.0%

1991
9,978,681
+1.3%

2001
10,296,350
+3.2%

2011
11,000,638
+6.8%

2017
11,322,088
+2.9%

Source: Statistics Belgium

text: Belgium had a population of 11,190,846 people on 1 January 2015 as compared to the 10,839,905 people on 1 January 2010, an increase of 601,000 in comparison to 2000 (10,239,085 inhabitants). Between 1990 (9,947,782 inhabitants) and 2000 the increase was only 291,000. The population of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels on January 1, 2010 was 6,251,983 (57.7%), 3,498,384 (32.3%) and 1,089,538 (10.1%), respectively.

text: Immigration[edit]

text: This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2017)

text: In the beginning of 2012, people of foreign background and their descendants were estimated to have formed 25% of the total population.[2]

text: Of these 'New Belgians', 1,200,000 (49%) are of European ancestry and 1,350,000 (51%)[3] are from non-Western countries.

text: Since the relaxation of the Belgian nationality law more than 1.3 million migrants have acquired Belgian citizenship and are now considered new Belgians. 89.2% of inhabitants of Turkish origin have been naturalized, as have 88.4% of people of Moroccan background, 75.4% of Italians, 56.2% of the French and 47.8% of Dutch people.[3]

text: In 2007, there were 1.38 million foreign-born residents in Belgium, corresponding to 12.9% of the total population. Of these, 685 000 (6.4%) were born outside the EU and 695 000 (6.5%) were born in another EU Member State.[4]

text: Vital statistics[edit]

text: Births and deaths[edit]

text: Note: Territorial changes in East-Belgium occurred in 1925, 1940 and 1944.

text:
Average population (x 1,000)
Live births
Deaths
Natural change
Crude birth rate (per 1,000)
Crude death rate (per 1,000)
Natural change (per 1,000)
Fertility rates

1900
6,719
193,789
129,046
64,743
28.8
19.2
9.6

1901
6,747
200,077
116,077
84,000
29.7
17.2
12.4

1902
6,848
195,871
119,330
76,541
28.6
17.4
11.2

1903
6,941
192,301
118,675
73,626
27.7
17.1
10.6

1904
7,030
191,721
119,506
72,215
27.3
17.0
10.3

1905
7,118
187,437
118,343
69,094
26.3
16.6
9.7

1906
7,200
186,271
118,884
67,387
25.9
16.5
9.4

1907
7,278
185,138
115,347
69,791
25.4
15.8
9.64

1908
7,352
183,834
121,964
61,870
25.0
16.6
8.4

1909
7,419
176,431
117,571
58,860
23.8
15.8
7.9

1910
7,438
176,413
112,826
63,587
23.7
15.2
8.5

1911
7,457
171,802
122,843
48,959
23.0
16.5
6.6

1912
7,531
171,187
112,378
58,809
22.7
14.9
7.8

1913
7,605
171,099
111,227
59,872
22.5
14.6
7.9

1914
7,662
156,389
108,720
47,669
20.4
14.2
6.2

1915
7,697
124,291
100,674
23,617
16.1
13.1
3.1

1916
7,701
99,360
101,044
-1,684
12.9
13.1
-0.2

1917
7,667
86,675
124,824
-38,149
11.3
16.3
-5.0

1918
7,599
85,056
157,340
-72,284
11.2
20.7
-9.5

1919
7,566
123,314
113,732
9,582
16.3
15.0
1.3

1920
7,491
164,950
102,505
62,445
22.0
13.7
8.3

1921
7,444
164,603
102,908
61,695
22.1
13.8
8.3

1922
7,511
154,871
106,615
48,256
20.6
14.2
6.4

1923
7,573
156,600
100,084
56,516
20.7
13.2
7.5

1924
7,646
154,083
99,653
54,430
20.2
13.0
7.1

1925
7,748
155,330
99,569
55,761
20.0
12.9
7.2

1926
7,843
151,009
101,018
49,991
19.3
12.9
6.4

1927
7,903
146,296
103,007
43,289
18.5
13.0
5.5

1928
7,968
148,071
102,270
45,801
18.6
12.8
5.7

1929
8,032
147,311
115,901
31,410
18.3
14.4
3.9

1930
8,076
152,530
103,397
49,133
18.9
12.8
6.1
2.37

1931
8,126
149,657
103,773
45,884
18.4
12.8
5.6
2.30

1932
8,186
145,835
104,221
41,614
17.8
12.7
5.1
2.22

1933
8,231
136,757
104,640
32,117
16.6
12.7
3.9
2.07

1934
8,262
133,514
96,851
36,663
16.2
11.7
4.4
2.01

1935
8,288
128,432
102,132
26,300
15.5
12.3
3.2
1.92

1936
8,315
127,751
101,595
26,156
15.4
12.2
3.1
1.91

1937
8,346
128,696
104,163
24,533
15.4
12.5
2.9
1.89

1938
8,374
133,610
104,684
28,926
16.0
12.5
3.5
1.96

1939
8,391
130,019
110,393
19,626
15.5
13.2
2.3
2.09

1940
8,301
112,497
125,083
-12,586
13.6
15.1
-1.5
1.67

1941
8,276
100,616
118,670
-18,054
12.2
14.3
-2.2
1.49

1942
8,246
108,603
117,291
-8,688
13.2
14.2
-1.1
1.61

1943
8,241
123,349
107,767
15,582
15.0
13.1
1.9
1.84

1944
8,291
127,122
124,861
2,261
15.3
15.1
0.3
1.89

1945
8,339
130,526
121,155
9,371
15.7
14.5
1.1
1.93

1946
8,367
152,962
110,413
42,549
18.3
13.2
5.1
2.22

1947
8,450
150,227
108,136
42,091
17.8
12.8
5.0
2.16

1948
8,557
150,416
108,016
42,400
17.6
12.6
5.0
2.18

1949
8,614
147,854
111,104
36,750
17.2
12.9
4.3
2.13

1950
8,639
145,672
108,236
37,436
16.9
12.5
4.3
2.34

1951
8,678
142,314
109,763
32,551
16.4
12.6
3.8
2.29

1952
8,730
146,064
104,178
41,886
16.7
11.9
4.8
2.33

1953
8,778
146,125
105,863
40,262
16.6
12.1
4.6
2.33

1954
8,819
148,538
105,033
43,505
16.8
11.9
4.9
2.39

1955
8,868
149,195
108,743
40,452
16.8
12.3
4.6
2.40

1956
8,924
150,210
108,761
41,449
16.8
12.2
4.6
2.42

1957
8,989
152,871
107,840
45,031
17.0
12.0
5.0
2.47

1958
9,053
155,048
106,051
48,997
17.1
11.7
5.4
2.52

1959
9,104
158,237
103,933
54,304
17.4
11.4
6.0
2.59

1960
9,153
154,787
113,938
40,849
16.9
12.4
4.5
2.55

1961
9,184
158,431
106,985
51,446
17.3
11.6
5.6
2.64

1962
9,251
155,061
112,758
42,303
16.8
12.2
4.6
2.59

1963
9,328
159,192
116,718
42,474
17.1
12.5
4.6
2.68

1964
9,428
160,838
110,100
50,738
17.1
11.7
5.4
2.73

1965
9,499
155,496
115,045
40,451
16.4
12.1
4.3
2.60

1966
9,528
151,096
115,613
35,483
15.9
12.1
3.7
2.53

1967
9,581
146,193
115,212
30,981
15.3
12.0
3.2
2.42

1968
9,619
141,984
121,744
20,240
14.8
12.7
2.1
2.31

1969
9,660
141,799
120,471
21,328
14.7
12.5
2.2
2.26

1970
9,656
142,168
118,660
23,508
14.7
12.3
2.4
2.20

1971
9,695
140,966
118,853
22,113
14.5
12.3
2.3
2.18

1972
9,711
136,304
117,424
18,880
14.0
12.1
1.9
2.09

1973
9,742
129,424
118,254
11,170
13.3
12.1
1.1
1.95

1974
9,772
123,674
116,159
7,515
12.7
11.9
0.8
1.83

1975
9,801
119,693
119,425
268
12.2
12.2
0.0
1.74

1976
9,818
121,034
118,641
2,393
12.3
12.1
0.2
1.73

1977
9,830
121,852
112,672
9,180
12.4
11.5
0.9
1.71

1978
9,840
122,592
115,388
7,204
12.5
11.7
0.7
1.69

1979
9,848
123,825
112,010
11,815
12.6
11.4
1.2
1.69

1980
9,849
124,398
113,699
10,699
12.6
11.5
1.1
1.67

1981
9,859
123,792
112,326
11,466
12.6
11.4
1.2
1.67

1982
9,856
120,231
111,871
8,360
12.2
11.4
0.8
1.61

1983
9,856
117,145
114,534
2,611
11.9
11.6
0.3
1.56

1984
9,855
115,715
109,658
6,057
11.7
11.1
0.6
1.59

1985
9,858
114,030
110,770
3,260
11.6
11.2
0.3
1.49

1986
9,862
117,102
111,343
5,759
11.9
11.3
0.6
1.54

1987
9,870
117,334
105,426
11,908
11.9
10.7
1.2
1.55

1988
9,902
119,456
104,552
14,904
12.1
10.6
1.5
1.56

1989
9,938
121,117
107,619
13,498
12.2
10.8
1.4
1.57

1990
9,967
123,726
104,818
18,908
12.4
10.5
1.9
1.62

1991
10,004
126,068
105,150
20,918
12.6
10.5
2.1
1.57

1992
10,045
124,774
104,200
20,574
12.4
10.4
2.0
1.56

1993
10,084
120,998
108,170
12,828
12.0
10.7
1.3
1.61

1994
10,116
116,449
104,894
11,555
11.5
10.4
1.1
1.55

1995
10,137
115,638
105,933
9,705
11.4
10.5
1.0
1.57

1996
10,157
115,214
104,140
11,074
11.3
10.3
1.1
1.55

1997
10,181
115,864
103,802
12,062
11.4
10.2
1.2
1.60

1998
10,203
114,276
104,583
9,693
11.2
10.3
1.0
1.59

1999
10,226
113,469
104,904
8,565
11.1
10.3
0.8
1.62

2000
10,251
114,883
104,903
9,980
11.2
10.2
1.0
1.67

2001
10,278
114,172
103,447
10,725
11.1
10.1
1.0
1.66

2002
10,333
111,225
105,642
5,583
10.8
10.2
0.5
1.66

2003
10,376
112,149
107,039
5,110
10.8
10.3
0.5
1.63

2004
10,421
115,618
101,946
13,672
11.1
9.8
1.3
1.71

2005
10,479
118,002
103,278
14,724
11.3
9.9
1.4
1.75

2006
10,548
121,382
101,587
19,795
11.5
9.6
1.9
1.79

2007
10,626
125,228
102,060
23,168
11.4
9.5
1.9
1.78

2008
10,710
128,049
104,587
23,462
12.0
9.8
2.2
1.86

2009
10,796
127,297
104,509
22,788
11.8
9.7
2.1
1.85

2010
10,840
129,173
105,094
24,079
11.9
9.6
2.3
1.86

2011
10,951
127,665
104,247
23,418
11.6
9.5
2.1
1.81

2012
11,035
126,993
109,034
17,959
11.5
9.9
1.6
1.79

2013
11,099
124,862
109,295
15,567
11.2
9.8
1.4
1.75

2014
11,150
124,415
104,723
19,692
11.1
9.3
1.8
1.73

2015
11,209
121,713
110,508
11,205
10.9
9.8
1.1
1.68

2016
11,267
121,161
108,056
13,105
10.8
9.6
1.2

text: Infant mortality rate[edit]

text:
4.8 in 2010
3.4 in 2011

text: Total fertility rate[edit]

text: The total fertility rate (TFR) gradually increased during the last decade from 1.60 in 1997, 1.65 in 2002 and 1.82 in 2007. The rates in Brussels are higher than the national average (1.79 in 1997, 1.93 in 2002 and 2.09 in 2007), while they are below the average in Flanders (1.54 in 1997, 1.56 in 2002 and 1.77 in 2007), due to the higher percentage of non-European immigrants with higher birth rates in Brussels.[5]

text: Life expectancy[edit]

text:
Male: 74.4 in 1999, 77.2 in 2009
Female: 80.9 in 1999, 82.4 in 2009
Total: 77.7 in 1999, 79.8 in 2009

text: Ethnic groups[edit]

text: The country is populated by a Flemish majority of about 6,400,000 people speaking Dutch, a French-speaking minority of 4,100,000 people (Walloons and French-speakers in Brussels), as well as 73,000 German speaking people in Wallonia, near the German border. However, David Levinson reports that "the Flemish and Walloon groups are described by experts as "communities" rather than as ethnic groups, and individuals can move easily from one community to the other by learning to speak the other language".[6]

text: The largest group of immigrants and their descendants in Belgium are Italians, with more than 450,000[2] people, which is well over 4% of Belgium's total population. The Moroccans are the third-largest group, and the largest Muslim ethnic group, numbering 220,000.[2][7]

text: The rest consists mostly of French-speaking people from Brussels, Turks, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spaniards, Greeks, Bosniaks, Algerians, Congolese, Vietnamese, Poles, Indians, and Guineans (around 23% of Belgium's population is of non-Belgian origin)[8]

text: The exact number of French-speakers in Brussels is hard to determine, but it is estimated that 80% of the people living in Brussels use French and 20% use Dutch in their households, as the sole language or secondary language, while Arabic is also largely spoken. See the Brussels article for more details.

text: Languages[edit]

text: Belgium's three official languages are Dutch, spoken by 59% of the population, French, spoken by 40%, and German, spoken by less than 1%. The vast majority of Belgium's population, 99%, is literate as defined by the Belgian government, i.e. capable of reading and writing in an official language by the time a citizen has reached the age of 15.

text: Religion[edit]

text: 58% of Belgians, are nominally Roman Catholic. Muslims, other Christians and other minority religions comprise 14% of the population. 27% are agnostic, atheist or other non-believers.[9]

text: CIA World Factbook demographic statistics[edit]

text: The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

text: Population[edit]

text: Age structure[edit]

text: Age structure:

text: Median age[edit]

text: Population growth rate[edit]

text: Birth rate[edit]

text: Death rate[edit]

text: Net migration rate[edit]

text: Sex ratio[edit]

text:
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

text: Life expectancy at birth[edit]

text: Literacy[edit]

text:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2003 est.)
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99%

text: Education expenditures[edit]

text: 6.6% of total GDP (2010)

text: Nationality[edit]

text:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian


document_title: Maharashtra Day

question_text: who inagurated the maharashtra state ceremony 1 may 1960

root

text: Maharashtra Day

text: Background[edit]

text: The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 defined boundaries for the states within India on the basis of languages.[3] The Bombay State that was formed as a consequence of this act, however, was composed of different areas where different languages were spoken; Marathi, Gujarati, Kutchi and Konkani. The Sanyukta Maharashtra Samiti was at the forefront of the movement to divide the Bombay State into two states; one composed of areas where people primarily spoke Gujarati and Kutchhi and the other where people primarily spoke Marathi and Konkani.[4][5]

tag: p

text: The state of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed as a result of this movement according to the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 enacted by the Parliament of India on 25 April 1960. The act came into effect on 1 May 1960,[6] hence the reason of annual celebration.

text: Observance[edit]

text: Every year the Government of Maharashtra issues a notification declaring the 1st of May to be a public holiday to be celebrated as Maharashtra Day. This holiday applies to all the schools, offices and companies under the jurisdiction of the State and central Government celebrate this day by organising various programmes.[7]

text: Customs[edit]

text: Every year a parade is held at Shivaji Park where the Governor of Maharashtra makes a speech.

text: Liquor sales to Indians are prohibited on this day across Maharashtra, excluding foreigners.[8]

text: Unique or historical celebrations[edit]

text: The Golden Jubilee celebrations for Maharashtra Day were conducted on 1 May 2011 across Maharashtra.[9][10]

text: Inaugurations and launching of new projects and schemes[edit]

text: In Maharashtra state government and private sector inaugurates and launches various new projects and schemes on 1 May. Annual celebrations of such institutions and projects are also held on Maharashtra Day.

text: The Marathi language Wikipedia was started on 1 May 2003.


document_title: Lennie Briscoe

question_text: how did lenny briscoe leave law and order

text: Lennie Briscoe

text: Law & Order universe[edit]

text: Lennie Briscoe is introduced in the 1992 episode "Point of View" as the new senior detective in the New York City Police Department's 27th Detective Squad in the 27th Police Precinct's station house.[2] In the episode "Virus", his birthday is given as January 2, 1940. His superior officer during his first season on the show is Capt. Donald Cragen (Dann Florek); a year later, Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) takes over the 27th Squad. He was previously assigned as a detective in the 116th Det. Squad in Queens.[3]

text: Briscoe joins the squad after Det. Mike Logan's (Chris Noth) partner, Sgt. Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino), is shot by a black market arms dealer and transfers to a desk job in another precinct.

text: After Logan is transferred to Staten Island in 1995,[4] Det. Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) becomes Briscoe's partner.[5] Four years later, Curtis goes into early retirement to take care of his multiple sclerosis–stricken wife,[6] and he is replaced by Det. Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) in 1999.[7]

text: Character biography[edit]

text: Born on January 2, 1940, Lennie Briscoe grew up in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan.[8] He had a brother.[9] As a child, he attended P.S. 21, as his father had before him,[10] as well as P.S. 189. He attended college at the City College of New York.[11] A veteran of two failed marriages, Briscoe has two daughters by his first wife, the elder Julia and the younger Cathy (Jennifer Bill), and a nephew, Det. Ken Briscoe (played by Orbach's son, Chris). Cathy was born on June 23, 1971 and was murdered on March 4, 1998.[12] By 2002, he had at least two grandchildren.[13]

text: Prior to working for the NYPD, Briscoe worked at his uncle's liquor store[11]

text: Briscoe began working in the NYPD homicide department in 1981.[14] Like most detective characters on the early seasons of the show, Briscoe carries a Smith & Wesson Model 36 revolver as his service weapon.[15]

text: He is a recovering alcoholic. He often makes references to being a "friend of Bill W.", which is a reference to his having attended Alcoholics Anonymous. In the 1996 episode "Aftershock", after witnessing an execution from a case that he helped investigate, Briscoe falls off the wagon with disastrous results; ADA Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) is struck and killed by a drunk driver while driving him home from a bar.[16] He feels responsible for her death,[17] and he remains sober for the rest of his life.

text: His drinking harmed his family; he was often absent from his daughters' lives, and they have distant, fractious relationships with him as adults. Briscoe blames himself, especially when Cathy, a methamphetamine addict, is murdered by a drug dealer named Danny Jones after she testifies against him in court.[18] However, he finds closure when Jones dies from a heroin overdose.[19] It is implied that Briscoe considered having Jones killed. One of Briscoe's former snitches had offered to kill Jones if Briscoe could get his charges reduced. Briscoe is later seen talking to the arresting officer about the snitch, but it is never confirmed if Briscoe did him the favor.[12]

text: Briscoe was raised Catholic, but is Jewish on his father's side and occasionally attends Jewish services as a courtesy to his first wife.[20] His father served in the United States Army during World War II and helped to liberate a Nazi concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.[21] Briscoe's father suffered from Alzheimer's and had died by 1994.[22] Briscoe did not get along with his father and once described him as a "schmuck". Nevertheless, he took several days off when he died.[23]

text: He mentions having voted for Al Gore in the 2000 U.S. presidential election.[23] He supported the Iraq War.[24] He plays golf, and he is also revealed to be a skilled pool player and is shown defeating an opponent in eight-ball after the break without giving up a turn.[25][26]

text: Character highlights[edit]

text: Briscoe is one of many characters on the show to have served in the military; he was at one point a corporal in the United States Army. On several occasions he has referred to his service in the Vietnam War. After leaving the Army, Briscoe joined the NYPD in the 29th Precinct in Manhattan and walked a beat there with stops at the 31st and 33rd Precincts, also in Manhattan, and the 110th and 116th Precincts in Queens, at some point reaching the rank of detective. In the 1999 episode "Marathon", he is revealed to have spent three years in the Anti-Crime Unit. Briscoe's detective shield number is 8220.

text: Briscoe typically has a wise-crack or joke about the victim or circumstances of death at the close of the opening scene, with the joke usually exhibiting a very deadpan delivery while at the same time being highly "on target". He likes music, but mostly music that was popular in his youth; in one episode, Rey Curtis chides his musical taste for stopping with Bobby Darin.[27] Briscoe used to read Langston Hughes back when he was a beatnik "for about five minutes" because "it used to work pretty good on Jewish girls from Riverdale."[28]

text: Many of Briscoe's former partners and colleagues outside the series (offscreen before Briscoe joined the 27th Precinct) have been or ended up becoming corrupt. In the 1993 episode "Jurisdiction", Detective Brian Torelli (Dan Hedaya) forced a confession from a mentally handicapped man; at the end of the episode, Briscoe is present when Internal Affairs arrests Torelli for suborning perjury and obstruction of justice.[29]

text: In the 1994 episode "Kids", the son of police Detetective Ted Parker (Robert Hogan), a former colleague of Briscoe, is arrested for shooting another teenager. Parker and Briscoe have a private conversation during which Parker, speaking hypothetically, essentially relays to Briscoe that his son fired the shots in self defense. At the end of the episode, Parker acknowledges to Briscoe that he used his contacts in his old precinct to engineer the shooting death of a key prosecution witness in his son's case (resulting in a mistrial).[30]

text: Another of Briscoe's former partners, Detective John Flynn (Kevin Conway), falsely implicates him in the 1996 episode "Corruption" for taking seized drugs from the 116th Precinct evidence room (given to him by Flynn) during their stint there several years before. Flynn makes this allegation partly to throw off the Hellman Commission, which had been convened to investigate police corruption, including the questionable shooting death of a suspect by Flynn himself at the start of the episode, and partly as revenge against Curtis, who refused to falsely defend Flynn. Briscoe, however, has an alibi—he was having an affair with Officer Betty Abrams (Caroline Kava), a married woman. Against Briscoe's wishes, Abrams testifies before the commission to exonerate him. Because of the affair, however, the commissioners question her credibility. Briscoe finally gets the truth out of Flynn with a hidden wire, but Flynn commits suicide before he can be further prosecuted.[3] Briscoe is ultimately cleared.[31]

text: In the 2000 episode "Amends", Briscoe has another reunion with one of his former colleagues that opens up some ugly history. While investigating a 20-year-old cold case, Briscoe learns that one of his former bosses, Tommy Brannigan (Brad Sullivan), had been convinced by his superior to accept bribes that helped promote him to lieutenant in exchange for letting a murder suspect go free. The now-retired Brannigan ultimately confesses to this in court, which helps Jack McCoy in convicting the suspect of the cold case. Briscoe later forgives Brannigan for his actions.[32]

text: Some decisions in Briscoe's career are controversial. In the 1998 episode "Stalker", a stalker accused of murdering a woman could have gone free because the police concluded that the victim had earlier lied to the police about previously being attacked by the stalker, thereby undermining the victim's credibility. However, after the victim is found murdered, Briscoe approaches McCoy and tells him that he now believes that the victim did not lie to the police concerning the stalker's earlier attacks and that he is willing to take the stand and state that the original police report was incorrect. His then-partner Rey Curtis was called by the defense to testify that he thought the original police report was correct. At the end of the episode, the stalker is found guilty; outside the courtroom, Briscoe and Curtis reconcile.[33]

text: Shortly after Ed Green is assigned as Briscoe's partner, the two nearly come to blows during a particularly difficult investigation of a robbery-homicide in the 1999 episode "Marathon". Their primary suspect confesses as he is being arrested, but because Briscoe is the only officer within earshot, Green, Van Buren, and McCoy are placed in a difficult position with regard to the confession. Again, Briscoe is eventually vindicated, and Green and he work to rebuild their professional rapport.[34]

text: Briscoe retires in the 2004 episode "C.O.D." after 12 years at the 27th Precinct and more than 30 years in the NYPD.[35] His replacement at the 27th Precinct is Det. Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina).

text: Briscoe died at some point between 2004 and 2005 (Orbach himself died on December 28, 2004). Although not addressed directly on the main series until 2008 (and mentioned again in 2009), his death was implied in 2005 and confirmed in 2007 on an episode of the Law & Order: Criminal Intent series. The three official mentions of his death were made by each of his three junior partners on the series, Mike Logan, Rey Curtis, and Ed Green.

text: Spin-offs[edit]

text: On the first season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Briscoe makes three guest appearances assisting his old boss, Captain Cragen (one of these reunions involves re-opening a serial murder case that Briscoe and Logan had failed to solve several years earlier in the 1994 episode "Mayhem"[36]). Briscoe also makes a guest appearance in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Poison", in which he assists the Major Case Squad on a similar case. He also appeared in three episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street.

text: Soon after his retirement, Briscoe joins Law & Order: Trial by Jury, having accepted an appointment as an investigator in the office of New York County District Attorney Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson), with partner Inv. Hector Salazar (Kirk Acevedo). He appears in only the first two episodes of this series - "The Abominable Showman" and "41 Shots".

text: Appearances[edit]

text:
Homicide: Life on the Street

Season Four

Episode 12: "For God and Country"

Season Six

Episode 5: "Baby, It's You"

Season Seven

Episode 15: "Sideshow"

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Season One

Episode 3: "...Or Just Look Like One"
Episode 4: "Hysteria"
Episode 15: "Entitled"

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Season One

Episode 7: "Poison"

tag: ul

text: Death[edit]

text: In 2005, the Lennie Briscoe character was written out after the second episode of Trial By Jury; coinciding with Orbach's death on December 28, 2004, from prostate cancer. The character's departure from the show was originally to be in the episode "Baby Boom" in which members of the DA's office attend a memorial service for him. This scene was in fact filmed, but was not included in the aired episode.

text: In the 2007 Criminal Intent episode "Renewal", Mike Logan mentions that Briscoe has died, but that he still sees him alive in his dreams.[37] In the 2008 Law & Order episode "Burn Card", Ed Green says that he returned to gambling briefly after Briscoe died.[38] In the 2009 Law & Order episode "Fed", Rey Curtis returns to New York to bury his deceased wife Deborah, who had finally succumbed to complications related to multiple sclerosis. He reveals to Lt. Van Buren that he had spoken with Briscoe a few days before his death, and that he was his old wisecracking self right up to the end.[39]

text: Reception[edit]

text:
Lennie Briscoe was voted the 30th-greatest television show character of all time by Bravo TV.[40]
Lennie Briscoe was Law & Order's third-greatest detective on the Hallmark Channel poll in 2010, beaten only by Special Victims Unit Detective Olivia Benson, who came in second, and Criminal Intent Detective Robert Goren, who won the poll.
Lennie Briscoe was ranked number 9 on Sleuth Channel's poll of America's Top Sleuths between Sherlock Holmes at number 10 and Gil Grissom of CSI at number 8.[41]
Lennie Briscoe was named one of TV's Smartest Detectives by AOL TV.[42]
Lennie Briscoe was ranked 15th on TV Guide's list of the 25 greatest TV detectives.[43]


document_title: Elizabeth II

question_text: when did the queen have her first child

question_tokens: when did the queen have her first child

text: Elizabeth II

text: Early life

text: Elizabeth was born at 02:40 (GMT) on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V. Her father, Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), was the second son of the King. Her mother, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth), was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfather's London house: 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair.[2] She was baptised by the Anglican Archbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 29 May,[3][c] and named Elizabeth after her mother, Alexandra after George V's mother, who had died six months earlier, and Mary after her paternal grandmother.[5] Called "Lilibet" by her close family,[6] based on what she called herself at first,[7] she was cherished by her grandfather George V, and during his serious illness in 1929 her regular visits were credited in the popular press and by later biographers with raising his spirits and aiding his recovery.[8]

text: Elizabeth's only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930. The two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford, who was casually known as "Crawfie".[9] Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature and music.[10] Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth and Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to the dismay of the royal family.[11] The book describes Elizabeth's love of horses and dogs, her orderliness, and her attitude of responsibility.[12] Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as "a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant."[13] Her cousin Margaret Rhodes described her as "a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved".[14]

text: Heir presumptive

text: During her grandfather's reign, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, the Duke of York. Although her birth generated public interest, she was not expected to become queen, as the Prince of Wales was still young. Many people believed that he would marry and have children of his own.[15] When her grandfather died in 1936 and her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second-in-line to the throne, after her father. Later that year, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorced socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional crisis.[16] Consequently, Elizabeth's father became king, and she became heir presumptive. If her parents had had a later son, she would have lost her position as first-in-line, as her brother would have been heir apparent and above her in the line of succession.[17]

text: Elizabeth received private tuition in constitutional history from Henry Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton College,[18] and learned French from a succession of native-speaking governesses.[19] A Girl Guides company, the 1st Buckingham Palace Company, was formed specifically so that she could socialise with girls her own age.[20] Later, she was enrolled as a Sea Ranger.[19]

text: In 1939, Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and the United States. As in 1927, when her parents had toured Australia and New Zealand, Elizabeth remained in Britain, since her father thought her too young to undertake public tours.[21] Elizabeth "looked tearful" as her parents departed.[22] They corresponded regularly,[22] and she and her parents made the first royal transatlantic telephone call on 18 May.[21]

text: Second World War

text: In September 1939, Britain entered the Second World War, which lasted until 1945. During the war, many of London's children were evacuated to avoid the frequent aerial bombing. The suggestion by senior politician Lord Hailsham[23] that the two princesses should be evacuated to Canada was rejected by Elizabeth's mother, who declared, "The children won't go without me. I won't leave without the King. And the King will never leave."[24] Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, until Christmas 1939, when they moved to Sandringham House, Norfolk.[25] From February to May 1940, they lived at Royal Lodge, Windsor, until moving to Windsor Castle, where they lived for most of the next five years.[26] At Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas in aid of the Queen's Wool Fund, which bought yarn to knit into military garments.[27] In 1940, the 14-year-old Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour, addressing other children who had been evacuated from the cities.[28] She stated: "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well."[28]

text: In 1943, Elizabeth undertook her first solo public appearance on a visit to the Grenadier Guards, of which she had been appointed colonel the previous year.[29] As she approached her 18th birthday, parliament changed the law so that she could act as one of five Counsellors of State in the event of her father's incapacity or absence abroad, such as his visit to Italy in July 1944.[30] In February 1945, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service as an honorary second subaltern with the service number of 230873.[31] She trained as a driver and mechanic and was promoted to honorary junior commander five months later.[32][33]

text: At the end of the war in Europe, on Victory in Europe Day, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret mingled anonymously with the celebratory crowds in the streets of London. Elizabeth later said in a rare interview, "We asked my parents if we could go out and see for ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised ... I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief."[34]

text: During the war, plans were drawn up to quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Wales. Proposals, such as appointing her Constable of Caernarfon Castle or a patron of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League of Youth), were abandoned for various reasons, which included a fear of associating Elizabeth with conscientious objectors in the Urdd, at a time when Britain was at war.[35] Welsh politicians suggested that she be made Princess of Wales on her 18th birthday. Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison supported the idea, but the King rejected it because he felt such a title belonged solely to the wife of a Prince of Wales and the Prince of Wales had always been the heir apparent.[36] In 1946, she was inducted into the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.[37]

text: Princess Elizabeth went in 1947 on her first overseas tour, accompanying her parents through southern Africa. During the tour, in a broadcast to the British Commonwealth on her 21st birthday, she made the following pledge: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."[38]

text: Marriage

text: Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and 1937.[39] They are second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark and third cousins through Queen Victoria. After another meeting at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth – though only 13 years old – said she fell in love with Philip and they began to exchange letters.[40] She was 21 when their engagement was officially announced on 9 July 1947.[41]

text: The engagement was not without controversy; Philip had no financial standing, was foreign-born (though a British subject who had served in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War), and had sisters who had married German noblemen with Nazi links.[42] Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of the King's advisors did not think him good enough for her. He was a prince without a home or kingdom. Some of the papers played long and loud tunes on the string of Philip's foreign origin."[43] Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother initially opposed the union, dubbing Philip "The Hun".[44] In later life, however, the Queen Mother told biographer Tim Heald that Philip was "an English gentleman".[45]

text: Before the marriage, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles, officially converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and adopted the style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, taking the surname of his mother's British family.[46] Just before the wedding, he was created Duke of Edinburgh and granted the style His Royal Highness.[47]

text: Elizabeth and Philip were married on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. They received 2500 wedding gifts from around the world.[48] Because Britain had not yet completely recovered from the devastation of the war, Elizabeth required ration coupons to buy the material for her gown, which was designed by Norman Hartnell.[49] In post-war Britain, it was not acceptable for the Duke of Edinburgh's German relations, including his three surviving sisters, to be invited to the wedding.[50] The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, was not invited either.[51]

text: Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles, on 14 November 1948. One month earlier, the King had issued letters patent allowing her children to use the style and title of a royal prince or princess, to which they otherwise would not have been entitled as their father was no longer a royal prince.[52] A second child, Princess Anne, was born in 1950.[53]

text: Following their wedding, the couple leased Windlesham Moor, near Windsor Castle, until July 1949,[48] when they took up residence at Clarence House in London. At various times between 1949 and 1951, the Duke of Edinburgh was stationed in the British Crown Colony of Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived intermittently in Malta for several months at a time in the hamlet of Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten. The children remained in Britain.[54]

text: Reign

text: Accession and coronation

text: During 1951, George VI's health declined and Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events. When she toured Canada and visited President Harry S. Truman in Washington, D.C., in October 1951, her private secretary, Martin Charteris, carried a draft accession declaration in case the King died while she was on tour.[55] In early 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set out for a tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of Kenya. On 6 February 1952, they had just returned to their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, after a night spent at Treetops Hotel, when word arrived of the death of the King and consequently Elizabeth's immediate accession to the throne. Philip broke the news to the new Queen.[56] Martin Charteris asked her to choose a regnal name; she chose to remain Elizabeth, "of course".[57] She was proclaimed queen throughout her realms and the royal party hastily returned to the United Kingdom.[58] She and the Duke of Edinburgh moved into Buckingham Palace.[59]

text: With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed probable that the royal house would bear her husband's name, becoming the House of Mountbatten, in line with the custom of a wife taking her husband's surname on marriage. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary, favoured the retention of the House of Windsor, and so on 9 April 1952 Elizabeth issued a declaration that Windsor would continue to be the name of the royal house. The Duke complained, "I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children."[60] In 1960, after the death of Queen Mary in 1953 and the resignation of Churchill in 1955, the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was adopted for Philip and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do not carry royal titles.[61]

text: Amid preparations for the coronation, Princess Margaret informed her sister that she wished to marry Peter Townsend, a divorcé‚ 16 years Margaret's senior, with two sons from his previous marriage. The Queen asked them to wait for a year; in the words of Martin Charteris, "the Queen was naturally sympathetic towards the Princess, but I think she thought – she hoped – given time, the affair would peter out."[62] Senior politicians were against the match and the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce. If Margaret had contracted a civil marriage, she would have been expected to renounce her right of succession.[63] Eventually, she decided to abandon her plans with Townsend.[64] In 1960, she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was created Earl of Snowdon the following year. They divorced in 1978; she did not remarry.[65]

text: Despite the death of Queen Mary on 24 March, the coronation on 2 June 1953 went ahead as planned, as Mary had asked before she died.[66] The ceremony in Westminster Abbey, with the exception of the anointing and communion, was televised for the first time.[67][d] Elizabeth's coronation gown was embroidered on her instructions with the floral emblems of Commonwealth countries:[71] English Tudor rose; Scots thistle; Welsh leek; Irish shamrock; Australian wattle; Canadian maple leaf; New Zealand silver fern; South African protea; lotus flowers for India and Ceylon; and Pakistan's wheat, cotton, and jute.[72]

text: Continuing evolution of the Commonwealth

text: From Elizabeth's birth onwards, the British Empire continued its transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations.[73] By the time of her accession in 1952, her role as head of multiple independent states was already established.[74] In 1953, the Queen and her husband embarked on a seven-month round-the-world tour, visiting 13 countries and covering more than 40,000 miles by land, sea and air.[75] She became the first reigning monarch of Australia and New Zealand to visit those nations.[76] During the tour, crowds were immense; three-quarters of the population of Australia were estimated to have seen her.[77] Throughout her reign, the Queen has made hundreds of state visits to other countries and tours of the Commonwealth; she is the most widely travelled head of state.[78]

text: In 1956, the British and French prime ministers, Sir Anthony Eden and Guy Mollet, discussed the possibility of France joining the Commonwealth. The proposal was never accepted and the following year France signed the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union.[79] In November 1956, Britain and France invaded Egypt in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture the Suez Canal. Lord Mountbatten claimed the Queen was opposed to the invasion, though Eden denied it. Eden resigned two months later.[80]

text: The absence of a formal mechanism within the Conservative Party for choosing a leader meant that, following Eden's resignation, it fell to the Queen to decide whom to commission to form a government. Eden recommended that she consult Lord Salisbury, the Lord President of the Council. Lord Salisbury and Lord Kilmuir, the Lord Chancellor, consulted the British Cabinet, Winston Churchill, and the Chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, resulting in the Queen appointing their recommended candidate: Harold Macmillan.[81]

text: The Suez crisis and the choice of Eden's successor led in 1957 to the first major personal criticism of the Queen. In a magazine, which he owned and edited,[82] Lord Altrincham accused her of being "out of touch".[83] Altrincham was denounced by public figures and slapped by a member of the public appalled by his comments.[84] Six years later, in 1963, Macmillan resigned and advised the Queen to appoint the Earl of Home as prime minister, advice that she followed.[85] The Queen again came under criticism for appointing the prime minister on the advice of a small number of ministers or a single minister.[85] In 1965, the Conservatives adopted a formal mechanism for electing a leader, thus relieving her of involvement.[86]

text:
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Queen Elizabeth II's Address to the United Nations General Assembly

tag: table

text: In 1957, she made a state visit to the United States, where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the Commonwealth. On the same tour, she opened the 23rd Canadian Parliament, becoming the first monarch of Canada to open a parliamentary session.[87] Two years later, solely in her capacity as Queen of Canada, she revisited the United States and toured Canada.[87][88] In 1961, she toured Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Iran.[89] On a visit to Ghana the same year, she dismissed fears for her safety, even though her host, President Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced her as head of state, was a target for assassins.[90] Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Queen has been absolutely determined all through ... She is impatient of the attitude towards her to treat her as ... a film star ... She has indeed 'the heart and stomach of a man' ... She loves her duty and means to be a Queen."[90] Before her tour through parts of Quebec in 1964, the press reported that extremists within the Quebec separatist movement were plotting Elizabeth's assassination.[91][92] No attempt was made, but a riot did break out while she was in Montreal; the Queen's "calmness and courage in the face of the violence" was noted.[93]

text: Elizabeth's pregnancies with Princes Andrew and Edward, in 1959 and 1963, mark the only times she has not performed the State Opening of the British parliament during her reign.[94] In addition to performing traditional ceremonies, she also instituted new practices. Her first royal walkabout, meeting ordinary members of the public, took place during a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1970.[95]

text: Acceleration of decolonisation

text: The 1960s and 1970s saw an acceleration in the decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean. Over 20 countries gained independence from Britain as part of a planned transition to self-government. In 1965, however, the Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, in opposition to moves towards majority rule, declared unilateral independence from Britain while still expressing "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth. Although the Queen dismissed him in a formal declaration, and the international community applied sanctions against Rhodesia, his regime survived for over a decade.[96] As Britain's ties to its former empire weakened, the British government sought entry to the European Community, a goal it achieved in 1973.[97]

text: In February 1974, the British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, advised the Queen to call a general election in the middle of her tour of the Austronesian Pacific Rim, requiring her to fly back to Britain.[98] The election resulted in a hung parliament; Heath's Conservatives were not the largest party, but could stay in office if they formed a coalition with the Liberals. Heath only resigned when discussions on forming a coalition foundered, after which the Queen asked the Leader of the Opposition, Labour's Harold Wilson, to form a government.[99]

text: A year later, at the height of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, the Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, was dismissed from his post by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, after the Opposition-controlled Senate rejected Whitlam's budget proposals.[100] As Whitlam had a majority in the House of Representatives, Speaker Gordon Scholes appealed to the Queen to reverse Kerr's decision. She declined, stating that she would not interfere in decisions reserved by the Constitution of Australia for the governor-general.[101] The crisis fuelled Australian republicanism.[100]

text: Silver Jubilee

text: In 1977, Elizabeth marked the Silver Jubilee of her accession. Parties and events took place throughout the Commonwealth, many coinciding with her associated national and Commonwealth tours. The celebrations re-affirmed the Queen's popularity, despite virtually coincident negative press coverage of Princess Margaret's separation from her husband.[102] In 1978, the Queen endured a state visit to the United Kingdom by Romania's communist leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, and his wife, Elena,[103] though privately she thought they had "blood on their hands".[104] The following year brought two blows: one was the unmasking of Anthony Blunt, former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, as a communist spy; the other was the assassination of her relative and in-law Lord Mountbatten by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.[105]

text: According to Paul Martin, Sr., by the end of the 1970s the Queen was worried that the Crown "had little meaning for" Pierre Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister.[106] Tony Benn said that the Queen found Trudeau "rather disappointing".[106] Trudeau's supposed republicanism seemed to be confirmed by his antics, such as sliding down banisters at Buckingham Palace and pirouetting behind the Queen's back in 1977, and the removal of various Canadian royal symbols during his term of office.[106] In 1980, Canadian politicians sent to London to discuss the patriation of the Canadian constitution found the Queen "better informed ... than any of the British politicians or bureaucrats".[106] She was particularly interested after the failure of Bill C-60, which would have affected her role as head of state.[106] Patriation removed the role of the British parliament from the Canadian constitution, but the monarchy was retained. Trudeau said in his memoirs that the Queen favoured his attempt to reform the constitution and that he was impressed by "the grace she displayed in public" and "the wisdom she showed in private".[107]

text: During the 1981 Trooping the Colour ceremony, six weeks before the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, six shots were fired at the Queen from close range as she rode down The Mall on her horse, Burmese. Police later discovered that the shots were blanks. The 17-year-old assailant, Marcus Sarjeant, was sentenced to five years in prison and released after three.[108] The Queen's composure and skill in controlling her mount were widely praised.[109]

text: From April to September 1982, the Queen was anxious[110] but proud[111] of her son, Prince Andrew, who was serving with British forces during the Falklands War. On 9 July, the Queen awoke in her bedroom at Buckingham Palace to find an intruder, Michael Fagan, in the room with her. In a serious lapse of security, assistance only arrived after two calls to the Palace police switchboard.[112] After hosting US President Ronald Reagan at Windsor Castle in 1982 and visiting his California ranch in 1983, the Queen was angered when his administration ordered the invasion of Grenada, one of her Caribbean realms, without informing her.[113]

text: Intense media interest in the opinions and private lives of the royal family during the 1980s led to a series of sensational stories in the press, not all of which were entirely true.[114] As Kelvin MacKenzie, editor of The Sun, told his staff: "Give me a Sunday for Monday splash on the Royals. Don't worry if it's not true—so long as there's not too much of a fuss about it afterwards."[115] Newspaper editor Donald Trelford wrote in The Observer of 21 September 1986: "The royal soap opera has now reached such a pitch of public interest that the boundary between fact and fiction has been lost sight of ... it is not just that some papers don't check their facts or accept denials: they don't care if the stories are true or not." It was reported, most notably in The Sunday Times of 20 July 1986, that the Queen was worried that Margaret Thatcher's economic policies fostered social divisions and was alarmed by high unemployment, a series of riots, the violence of a miners' strike, and Thatcher's refusal to apply sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. The sources of the rumours included royal aide Michael Shea and Commonwealth Secretary-General Shridath Ramphal, but Shea claimed his remarks were taken out of context and embellished by speculation.[116] Thatcher reputedly said the Queen would vote for the Social Democratic Party – Thatcher's political opponents.[117] Thatcher's biographer John Campbell claimed "the report was a piece of journalistic mischief-making".[118] Belying reports of acrimony between them, Thatcher later conveyed her personal admiration for the Queen,[119] and the Queen gave two honours in her personal gift – membership in the Order of Merit and the Order of the Garter – to Thatcher after her replacement as prime minister by John Major.[120] Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said Elizabeth was a "behind the scenes force" in ending apartheid.[121][122]

text: In 1987, in Canada, Elizabeth publicly supported politically divisive constitutional amendments, prompting criticism from opponents of the proposed changes, including Pierre Trudeau.[121] The same year, the elected Fijian government was deposed in a military coup. As monarch of Fiji, Elizabeth supported the attempts of the Governor-General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, to assert executive power and negotiate a settlement. Coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka deposed Ganilau and declared Fiji a republic.[123] By the start of 1991, republican feeling in Britain had risen because of press estimates of the Queen's private wealth – which were contradicted by the Palace – and reports of affairs and strained marriages among her extended family.[124] The involvement of younger members of the royal family in the charity game show It's a Royal Knockout was ridiculed,[125] and the Queen was the target of satire.[126]

text: In 1991, in the wake of coalition victory in the Gulf War, the Queen became the first British monarch to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress.[127]

text: In a speech on 24 November 1992, to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, Elizabeth called 1992 her annus horribilis, meaning horrible year.[128] In March, her second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and his wife, Sarah, separated; in April, her daughter, Princess Anne, divorced Captain Mark Phillips;[129] during a state visit to Germany in October, angry demonstrators in Dresden threw eggs at her;[130] and, in November, a large fire broke out at Windsor Castle, one of her official residences. The monarchy came under increased criticism and public scrutiny.[131] In an unusually personal speech, the Queen said that any institution must expect criticism, but suggested it be done with "a touch of humour, gentleness and understanding".[132] Two days later, the Prime Minister, John Major, announced reforms to the royal finances planned since the previous year, including the Queen paying income tax from 1993 onwards, and a reduction in the civil list.[133] In December, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, formally separated.[134] The year ended with a lawsuit as the Queen sued The Sun newspaper for breach of copyright when it published the text of her annual Christmas message two days before it was broadcast. The newspaper was forced to pay her legal fees and donated £200,000 to charity.[135]

text: In the years to follow, public revelations on the state of Charles and Diana's marriage continued.[136] Even though support for republicanism in Britain seemed higher than at any time in living memory, republicanism was still a minority viewpoint, and the Queen herself had high approval ratings.[137] Criticism was focused on the institution of the monarchy itself and the Queen's wider family rather than her own behaviour and actions.[138] In consultation with her husband and the Prime Minister, John Major, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and her private secretary, Robert Fellowes, she wrote to Charles and Diana at the end of December 1995, saying that a divorce was desirable.[139]

text: In August 1997, a year after the divorce, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. The Queen was on holiday with her extended family at Balmoral. Diana's two sons by Charles – Princes William and Harry – wanted to attend church and so the Queen and Prince Philip took them that morning.[140] After that single public appearance, for five days the Queen and the Duke shielded their grandsons from the intense press interest by keeping them at Balmoral where they could grieve in private,[141] but the royal family's seclusion and the failure to fly a flag at half-mast over Buckingham Palace caused public dismay.[122][142] Pressured by the hostile reaction, the Queen agreed to return to London and do a live television broadcast on 5 September, the day before Diana's funeral.[143] In the broadcast, she expressed admiration for Diana and her feelings "as a grandmother" for the two princes.[144] As a result, much of the public hostility evaporated.[144]

text: In November 1997, the Queen and her husband held a reception at Banqueting House to mark their golden wedding anniversary.[145] She made a speech and praised Philip for his role as a consort, referring to him as "my strength and stay".[145]

text: Golden Jubilee

text: In 2002, Elizabeth marked her Golden Jubilee. Her sister and mother died in February and March respectively, and the media speculated whether the Jubilee would be a success or a failure.[146] She again undertook an extensive tour of her realms, which began in Jamaica in February, where she called the farewell banquet "memorable" after a power cut plunged the King's House, the official residence of the governor-general, into darkness.[147] As in 1977, there were street parties and commemorative events, and monuments were named to honour the occasion. A million people attended each day of the three-day main Jubilee celebration in London,[148] and the enthusiasm shown by the public for the Queen was greater than many journalists had expected.[149]

text: Though generally healthy throughout her life, in 2003 she had keyhole surgery on both knees. In October 2006, she missed the opening of the new Emirates Stadium because of a strained back muscle that had been troubling her since the summer.[150]

text: In May 2007, The Daily Telegraph, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Queen was "exasperated and frustrated" by the policies of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that she was concerned the British Armed Forces were overstretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that she had raised concerns over rural and countryside issues with Blair.[151] She was, however, said to admire Blair's efforts to achieve peace in Northern Ireland.[152] She became the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary in November 2007.[153] On 20 March 2008, at the Church of Ireland St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, the Queen attended the first Maundy service held outside England and Wales.[154] At the invitation of the Irish President, Mary McAleese, the Queen made the first state visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch in May 2011.[155]

text: The Queen addressed the United Nations for a second time in 2010, again in her capacity as Queen of all Commonwealth realms and Head of the Commonwealth.[156] The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, introduced her as "an anchor for our age".[157] During her visit to New York, which followed a tour of Canada, she officially opened a memorial garden for the British victims of the September 11 attacks.[157] The Queen's visit to Australia in October 2011 – her sixteenth visit since 1954 – was called her "farewell tour" in the press because of her age.[158]

text: Diamond and Sapphire Jubilees and after

text: Her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 marked 60 years on the throne, and celebrations were held throughout her realms, the wider Commonwealth, and beyond. In a message released on Accession Day, Elizabeth wrote:

text: She and her husband undertook an extensive tour of the United Kingdom, while her children and grandchildren embarked on royal tours of other Commonwealth states on her behalf.[160][161] On 4 June, Jubilee beacons were lit around the world.[162] In November, the Queen and her husband celebrated their sapphire wedding anniversary.[163] On 18 December, she became the first British sovereign to attend a peacetime Cabinet meeting since George III in 1781.[164]

text: The Queen, who opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, also opened the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London, making her the first head of state to open two Olympic Games in two different countries.[165] For the London Olympics, she played herself in a short film as part of the opening ceremony, alongside Daniel Craig as James Bond.[166] On 4 April 2013, she received an honorary BAFTA for her patronage of the film industry and was called "the most memorable Bond girl yet" at the award ceremony.[167]

text: On 3 March 2013, Elizabeth was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital as a precaution after developing symptoms of gastroenteritis. She returned to Buckingham Palace the following day.[168] A week later, she signed the new Commonwealth charter.[169] Because of her age and the need for her to limit travelling, in 2013 she chose not to attend the biennial meeting of Commonwealth heads of government for the first time in 40 years. She was represented at the summit in Sri Lanka by her son, Prince Charles.[170]

text: The Queen surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-lived British monarch in December 2007, and the longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015.[171] She was celebrated in Canada as the "longest-reigning sovereign in Canada's modern era".[172] (King Louis XIV of France reigned over Canada (New France) for longer.)[173] She is also the longest-reigning queen regnant in history,[174] and the world's oldest reigning monarch. She became the longest-serving current head of state following the death of King Bhumibol of Thailand on 13 October 2016.[175][176] On 6 February 2017, she became the first British monarch to commemorate a Sapphire Jubilee.[177]

text: Prince Philip retired from his official duties as the Queen's consort in August 2017.[178] The Queen herself does not intend to abdicate,[179] though Prince Charles is expected to take on more of her workload as Elizabeth, who celebrated her 91st birthday in 2017, carries out fewer public engagements.[180] Plans for her death and funeral have been extensively prepared by most British government and media organisations for decades.[181]

text: Public perception and character

text: Since Elizabeth rarely gives interviews, little is known of her personal feelings. As a constitutional monarch, she has not expressed her own political opinions in a public forum. She does have a deep sense of religious and civic duty, and takes her coronation oath seriously.[182] Aside from her official religious role as Supreme Governor of the established Church of England, she is personally a member of that church and the national Church of Scotland.[183] She has demonstrated support for inter-faith relations and has met with leaders of other churches and religions, including five popes: Pius XII, John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.[184] A personal note about her faith often features in her annual Christmas message broadcast to the Commonwealth. In 2000, she spoke about the theological significance of the millennium marking the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus:

text: To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ's words and example.[185]

text: She is patron of over 600 organisations and charities.[186] Her main leisure interests include equestrianism and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh Corgis.[187] Her lifelong love of corgis began in 1933 with Dookie, the first corgi owned by her family.[188][189] Scenes of a relaxed, informal home life have occasionally been witnessed; she and her family, from time to time, prepare a meal together and do the washing up afterwards.[190]

text: In the 1950s, as a young woman at the start of her reign, Elizabeth was depicted as a glamorous "fairytale Queen".[191] After the trauma of the Second World War, it was a time of hope, a period of progress and achievement heralding a "new Elizabethan age".[192] Lord Altrincham's accusation in 1957 that her speeches sounded like those of a "priggish schoolgirl" was an extremely rare criticism.[193] In the late 1960s, attempts to portray a more modern image of the monarchy were made in the television documentary Royal Family and by televising Prince Charles's investiture as Prince of Wales.[194] In public, she took to wearing mostly solid-colour overcoats and decorative hats, which allow her to be seen easily in a crowd.[195]

text: At her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the crowds and celebrations were genuinely enthusiastic,[196] but in the 1980s, public criticism of the royal family increased, as the personal and working lives of Elizabeth's children came under media scrutiny.[197] Elizabeth's popularity sank to a low point in the 1990s. Under pressure from public opinion, she began to pay income tax for the first time, and Buckingham Palace was opened to the public.[198] Discontent with the monarchy reached its peak on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, though Elizabeth's personal popularity and support for the monarchy rebounded after her live television broadcast to the world five days after Diana's death.[199]

text: In November 1999, a referendum in Australia on the future of the Australian monarchy favoured its retention in preference to an indirectly elected head of state.[200] Polls in Britain in 2006 and 2007 revealed strong support for Elizabeth,[201] and in 2012, her Diamond Jubilee year, approval ratings hit 90 percent.[202] Referenda in Tuvalu in 2008 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009 both rejected proposals to become republics.[203]

text: Elizabeth has been portrayed in a variety of media by many notable artists, including painters Pietro Annigoni, Peter Blake, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, Terence Cuneo, Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, Juliet Pannett, and Tai-Shan Schierenberg.[204][205] Notable photographers of Elizabeth have included Cecil Beaton, Yousuf Karsh, Annie Leibovitz, Lord Lichfield, Terry O'Neill, John Swannell, and Dorothy Wilding. The first official portrait of Elizabeth was taken by Marcus Adams in 1926.[206]

text: Finances

text: Elizabeth's personal fortune has been the subject of speculation for many years. In 1971 Jock Colville, who was her former private secretary and a director of her bank, Coutts, estimated her wealth at £2 million (equivalent to about £25 million today[207]).[208][209] In 1993, Buckingham Palace called estimates of £100 million "grossly overstated".[210] In 2002, she inherited an estate worth an estimated £70 million from her mother.[211] The Sunday Times Rich List 2017 estimated her personal wealth at £360 million, making her the 329th richest person in the UK.[212]

text: The Royal Collection, which includes thousands of historic works of art and the Crown Jewels, is not owned by the Queen personally but is held in trust,[213] as are her official residences, such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle,[214] and the Duchy of Lancaster, a property portfolio valued at £472 million in 2015.[215] Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle are personally owned by the Queen.[214] The British Crown Estate – with holdings of £12 billion in 2016[212] – is held in trust and cannot be sold or owned by Elizabeth in a personal capacity.[216]

text: Titles, styles, honours, and arms

text: Titles and styles

text: Elizabeth has held many titles and honorary military positions throughout the Commonwealth, is Sovereign of many orders in her own countries, and has received honours and awards from around the world. In each of her realms she has a distinct title that follows a similar formula: Queen of Jamaica and her other realms and territories in Jamaica, Queen of Australia and her other realms and territories in Australia, etc. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies rather than separate realms, she is known as Duke of Normandy and Lord of Mann, respectively. Additional styles include Defender of the Faith and Duke of Lancaster. When in conversation with the Queen, the practice is to initially address her as Your Majesty and thereafter as Ma'am.[217]

text: Arms

text: From 21 April 1944 until her accession, Elizabeth's arms consisted of a lozenge bearing the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom differenced with a label of three points argent, the centre point bearing a Tudor rose and the first and third a cross of St George.[218] Upon her accession, she inherited the various arms her father held as sovereign. The Queen also possesses royal standards and personal flags for use in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, and elsewhere.[219]

text:
Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth (1944–1947)

Coat of arms of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (1947–1952)

Coat of arms of Elizabeth II in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Coat of arms of Elizabeth II in Scotland

Coat of arms of Elizabeth II in Canada (one of three versions used in her reign)[e]

text: Issue

text:
Name
Birth
Marriage
Their children
Their grandchildren

Date
Spouse

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
14 November 1948
29 July 1981
Divorced 28 August 1996
Lady Diana Spencer
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
Prince George of Cambridge
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Prince Henry of Wales

9 April 2005
Camilla Parker Bowles

Princess Anne, Princess Royal
15 August 1950
14 November 1973
Divorced 28 April 1992
Mark Phillips
Peter Phillips
Savannah Phillips
Isla Phillips

Zara Tindall
Mia Tindall

12 December 1992
Timothy Laurence

Prince Andrew, Duke of York
19 February 1960
23 July 1986
Divorced 30 May 1996
Sarah Ferguson
Princess Beatrice of York

Princess Eugenie of York

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
10 March 1964
19 June 1999
Sophie Rhys-Jones
Lady Louise Windsor

James, Viscount Severn

text: Ancestry

text:
[show]Ancestors of Elizabeth II

‹ The template below (Ahnentafel-compact5) is being considered for merging. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. ›

16. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

8. Edward VII of the United Kingdom

17. Victoria of the United Kingdom (niece of 22)

4. George V of the United Kingdom

18. Christian IX of Denmark

9. Princess Alexandra of Denmark

19. Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel

2. George VI of the United Kingdom

20. Duke Alexander of Württemberg

10. Francis, Duke of Teck

21. Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde

5. Princess Mary of Teck

22. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (uncle of 17)

11. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge

23. Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel

1. Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

24. Thomas Lyon-Bowes, Lord Glamis

12. Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

25. Charlotte Grimstead

6. Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

26. Oswald Smith

13. Frances Dora Smith

27. Henrietta Mildred Hodgson

3. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

28. Lord Charles Cavendish-Bentinck

14. Charles Cavendish-Bentinck

29. Anne Wellesley

7. Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck

30. Edwyn Burnaby

15. Caroline Louisa Burnaby

31. Anne Caroline Salisbury