14 interesting facts you never knew about Queen Elizabeth II
- 1/14
6) The Queen can speak fluent French
According to Express, the Queen is likely to have learned French as a small child from her tutor and governess, Marion Crawford. When visiting France, the Queen will always speak the language.
Bettmann - Getty Images - 2/14
1) The Queen bought her wedding dress with WWII ration coupons
According to British Heritage, the Queen purchased the material for her wedding dress using ration coupons and had to return donations from women around the UK.
Contributor - Getty Images - 3/14
2) The Queen's first horse was called Peggy
The Queen was given her first horse, a Shetland pony called Peggy, by her grandfather King George V, and has been riding them ever since.
READ MORE: 17 photos that prove the Queen really loves horses
Universal History Archive - Getty Images - 4/14
3) The Queen has owned over 30 Corgis in total
We know the Queen loves Corgis, but did you know she has owned over 30 across her life?
"Her Majesty the Queen is a fantastic dog trainer," Roger Mugford, the Queen's former Corgi trainer previously told Country Living. "When I visited her, she had nine dogs and they were incredibly well controlled, well managed and obedient."
Contributor - Getty Images - 5/14
4) The Queen doesn't need a license to drive
The Queen is the only person in the UK who does not need to have a driver's license in order to drive on public roads.
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images - 6/14
5) The Queen studied constitutional history and law
After her father became King in 1936, Princess Elizabeth began studying constitutional history and law. Her Majesty also studied French, German and music when she was educated at home.
Fox Photos - Getty Images - 7/14
7) She is better travelled than any British monarch before her
According to the official Royal Family website, Her Majesty is better travelled than any British monarch before her. Within the Commonwealth alone, she has made over 150 visits during her reign.
Anwar Hussein - Getty Images - 8/14
8) She volunteered as a truck driver during World War II
Before she became Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth volunteered as a truck driver and mechanic during World War II. This made her the first female member of the royal family to serve in the military.
Bryn Colton - Getty Images - 9/14
9) Her Majesty has carried out more than 21,000 engagements
The Queen has carried out more than 21,000 engagements over her 70-reign.
Neil Mockford - Getty Images - 10/14
10) The Queen has sat for over 200 official portraits
Her Majesty has sat for a whopping 200 official portraits over her lifetime. The first one ever taken was in 1933, when she was just seven-years-old by Anglo-Hungarian artist Philip Alexius de Laszlo.
Hagen Hopkins - Getty Images - 11/14
11) Her Majesty made her first radio broadcast aged 14
The Queen might be known for her radio and television broadcasts, but she first spoke on the radio aged just 14.
Speaking about children being evacuated, she said on BBC's Children's Hour: "I can truthfully say to you all that we children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage. We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war."
Hulton Archive - Getty Images - 12/14
12) Her Majesty has travelled to more than 100 countries
Impressively, the Queen has travelled to more than 100 countries during her reign. She has been to Canada 22 times and France 13 — more than any other country in Europe.
Anwar Hussein - Getty Images - 13/14
13) The Queen's first Christmas broadcast was in 1952
After her Accession on 6th February 1952, the Queen broadcast her first Christmas Message live on the radio from her study at Sandringham, Norfolk.
Fox Photos - Getty Images - 14/14
14) The Queen opened Sydney Opera House
The Queen opened the now-iconic Australian landmark, Sydney Opera House, on 20th October, 1973.
Matt King - Getty Images