Top 10 Firsts from Queen Elizabeth II's Reign
#10: Opening Buckingham Palace to the Public (1993)
1992 was not a good year for the Monarchy. After a fire ravaged Windsor Castle, the Royals faced backlash for assuming taxpayers would foot the bill. They also tried to set up a public fund, but that failed too. So, in 1993 the Queen decided to open the Palace gates to the public for the first time. Visitors would pay an admittance fee to explore the 19 State Rooms in the Royal abode. They’d initially hoped for 400,000 visitors to help them reach their goal. However, within a week, they received three years’ worth of bookings. What started as a short-term plan became an annual Summer season tradition. Just don’t expect any Royal sightings as the Palace only opens when they’re not home.
#9: Addressing the U.S. Congress (1991)
On May 16, 1991, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British Monarch to speak at a Joint Session of Congress. About 800 people filled the room to hear what the British Royal had to say, and she was met with a lengthy standing ovation before she’d uttered a word. The Queen opened with a perfectly delivered joke demonstrating a comedic side that most of us didn’t get to enjoy nearly enough. She went on to talk about the two countries and their shared “spirit of democracy.” She also addressed the recent Gulf War and both British and American involvement in the conflict. The Queen is famously apolitical, at least publically, so this was a pretty big deal.
#8: Sending Her First Email (1976)
Queen Elizabeth was fortunate to see the world propel into the modern age during her lengthy reign. She joined several other heads of state in sending goodwill messages to the astronauts embarking on the 1969 era-defining Space Mission. Then in 1976, she became the first Monarch to send an email. This was before the World Wide Web we know today even existed. During a visit to a telecommunications research facility, she was introduced to ARPANET, a predecessor to the internet you’re using right now. Her email announced a new programming language, and she signed off with a casual “Elizabeth R.” The Queen continued to embrace modern communication, sending her first Tweet in 2014 and creating her first Instagram post in 2019.
#7: Becoming a Pop Culture Icon
As the pop culture scene began to explode, the Queen happily played her part. She became a muse for some of the world’s most celebrated artists, an inspiration for countless films and TV shows, and even admired the Iron Throne while touring the “Game of Thrones” set. Also, remember when she engaged in humorous transatlantic smack talk? Of course, we will never forget her starring role at the 2012 Olympics. Apparently, she surprised the crew by expressing her desire to be involved. In 2022 she showed off her acting chops again in an adorable skit with Paddington Bear in honor of her Platinum Jubliee. Supposedly it made quite the impact, and mourners have been asked to stop leaving marmalade sandwiches outside the palace gates.
#6: The First Televised Christmas Broadcast
The Queen’s grandfather, King George V, instigated the first Christmas Broadcast in 1932. His granddaughter continued the tradition, but in 1957, she traded the airwaves for television. Millions of viewers watched the Queen in her festively decorated home, reflect on the past year, and offer holiday greetings. Although the royals had never been seen on TV like this before, Queen Elizabeth was a natural. In 1960, she began to pre-record her messages for convenience and also so she could extend her well wishes across the Commonwealth. In 2021, her speech drew in more spectators than any other program, with nine million viewers across the U.K. The tradition will likely live on, but Christmas won’t be the same.
#5: The First British Monarch to Visit the Republic of Ireland in 100 Years (2011)
After visiting 117 countries and amassing more than a million miles, The Queen holds the title of the best-traveled Monarch. In 1965 she made a historic trip to West Germany, and in 1986, she became the first British Monarch to visit mainland China . But in 2011, Queen Elizabeth made headlines as the first British Monarch to visit the Emerald Isle in 100 years. It was a significant gesture that saw the Royal extend an olive branch to the neighboring island. She arrived dressed in Emerald green, incorporated the Irish language into her speech, and laid a wreath for those who died fighting for Irish independence. She acknowledged the two nations’ turbulent past and expressed hope for a stronger and better relationship in the future.
#4: Introducing the Royal Walkabouts (1970)
These days we’re used to seeing Royals meet and greet well-wishers who gather to see them. But, would you believe that this tradition is actually relatively new? In the past, the Royal family would be driven past by cars, and you could only hope to catch a glimpse of them. However, Queen Elizabeth II changed all that during a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 1970. She reportedly said she wanted to say hello to the crowds who’d come to see her; thus, a new tradition was born. The Royal Walkabout has since become a common practice, and fans can now shake hands with Royal family members and engage them in short conversations — just don’t ask for a selfie.
#3: Joining the Armed Services (1945)
Princess Elizabeth was just 13 years old when World War Two broke out in 1939. In 1940, she and her sister Princess Margaret broadcast a message of hope and encouragement to Britain’s youth through the BBC radio program “Children’s Hour.” As the conflict pursued, so did her dedication to the war effort. She wanted to enlist in the armed forces, but her family needed some convincing since no female royal had ever done so. Eventually, the 19-year-old princess joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territory Service, training as a mechanic and driver and quickly rising through the ranks. To the press, she affectionately became known as “Princess Auto Mechanic.” Her dedication and support for the armed service remained prevalent throughout her life.
#2: Televising Her Coronation (1953)
Although televisions had been around for a while, by 1953, they weren’t yet a staple in people’s homes. However, that all changed when the incoming Queen decided to break Royal protocol and broadcast her Coronation. This would be the first time cameras were permitted in Westminister Abbey and the first major event to be broadcast internationally. Royal fans went out and either bought or rented TV sets while others gathered in communal places like pubs and theaters to watch this momentous occasion. More than 20 million people tuned in worldwide, and TV viewership outnumbered radio listeners for the first time. The Coronation is also credited with ushering in the age of television. And today’s influencers thought they were trendsetters!
#1: The First Monarch to Celebrate a Platinum Jubilee (2022)
In February 2022, the Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate 70 years on the throne. 70 years in the same job! Can you even imagine? That’s a lot of Mondays! Still, there was a lot to celebrate, and she did it in style, culminating with a four-day weekend filled with entertainment and various engagements. Artists gathered to perform in her honor, and events and street parties were hosted nationwide. There was also a pageant highlighting milestones from her impressive reign. Given the unprecedented circumstances of her ascension to the throne, it’s unlikely we’ll see another Monarch reach this milestone in our lifetime. Queen Elizabeth had an incredibly unique reign, and her legacy will never be forgotten.