Did you know?

• On February 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth received the news of her father's death and her own accession to the throne. Her coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953.
  
  
• Her Canadian Royal Style and Titles are: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
  
  
• The Queen's working day begins like many people's - at her desk. After scanning newspapers, The Queen reads her correspondence.
  
  
• The Queen is patron of more than 620 charities and organizations around the world, including 33 charitable and military organizations in Canada.
  
  
• Every day, The Queen receives between 200 and 300 (sometimes more) letters from the public. The Queen reads some herself and tells members of her staff how she would like to reply. Almost every letter is answered by staff.
  
  
• The Queen speaks fluent French and often speaks French during Royal tours.
  
  
• The Queen is Honorary Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Her Majesty also serves as Colonel in Chief, Captain General and Air Commodore in Chief of 13 units of the Canadian Forces.
  
  
• One of the most familiar Royal emblems is the effigy of The Queen featured on all Canadian coins.
  
  
• The Queen learned to drive in 1945 when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service of the British Army.
  
  
• The Queen's birthday is marked by a public holiday each year in Canada on Victoria Day. This holiday dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), whose birthday, May 24, was declared a Canadian holiday in 1845.
  
  
• The Queen sent her first email in 1976 from an Army base. Her Majesty launched the first official website of The British Monarchy in 1997, and now has a YouTube channel.
  
  
• The Queen uses her personal Canadian flag during visits to Canada.
  
  
• The Queen was a Girl Guide (1937) and Sea Ranger (1943).
  
  
• Many Governors General and Prime Ministers have said how interested and well informed Her Majesty is about Canada and current issues. The first Canadian Governor General to serve The Queen was Vincent Massey and the first Prime Minister was Louis St. Laurent.
  
  
• The Queen has an extensive collection of jewelry, most of which are Crown Jewels, including the largest pink diamond in the world.
  
  
• In 1976, The Queen opened the Olympic Games in Montreal in which her daughter, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, was competing on the British equestrian team. Members of the Royal Family joined The Queen in Montreal to cheer on Princess Anne.
  
  
• The Queen owns nine dogs - five corgis and four "dorgis". This new breed of dog resulted when one of Her Majesty's corgis mated with a dachshund belonging to Princess Margaret, The Queen's sister.
  
  
• When Canada celebrates The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, it will be the second Diamond Jubilee in Canadian history, after Queen Victoria's in 1897.