Queen Elizabeth II Only the fifth British monarch to ever reach a Golden Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II is known for her extensive travel and has met more of her subjects than any other British royal.

Feb. 6, 1952 While visiting Kenya on the first leg of an African tour, King George VI dies unexpectedly after years of ill health. His daughter Elizabeth becomes queen at age 25.

June 2, 1953 Following the funeral and 16 weeks of mourning for King George VI, national celebration and street parties honor the coronation of Elizabeth II.

Feb. 19, 1960 Elizabeth's second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is born. The queen becomes the first reigning sovereign to give birth in 97 years.

March 10, 1964 The queen's last child is born, Prince Edward.

1969 Invited by the queen, a television documentary is made showing the blissful domestic life inside the home of the Windsors. Called "Royal Family," the film draws 40 million viewers in Britain alone. On July 1, in a televised ceremony watched by millions worldwide, the queen invests her eldest child, Prince Charles, as Prince of Wales, formally making him heir to the throne.

June 1970 Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II travels to parts of the British Commonwealth and the world never visited before by a British monarch. While touring in New Zealand, the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, initiate the "walkabout" - allowing them to meet many people while walking along crowds of admirers. It becomes a regular part of the queen's touring agenda.

Dec. 1971 Complaints from the royal family about not having enough funds spur an investigation into the queen's financial situation and exemption from taxes. After two years of debate and study on the issue, the queen's allowance is doubled as the first increase since 1952.

Nov. 14, 1973 Princess Anne, the only daughter of the queen, marries Captain Mark Phillips.

1977 The queen celebrates her Silver Jubilee - 25 years as sovereign. Celebrations throughout the kingdom honor her. She uses the anniversary to launch an aggressive tour of the Commonwealth encompassing 56,000 miles.

June 1981 Bystander Marcus Sergeant fires blank shots in the direction of the queen while she rides to the Trooping of the Color parade.

July 29, 1981 Prince Charles, heir to the throne, marries Diana Spencer.

April 1982 British troops travel to the South Atlantic to battle Argentina for the Falkland Islands, which had been part of the British Commonwealth. The islands remain under British control. Prince Andrew pilots a helicopter during the war. The next month, Pope John Paul II visits Great Britain - the first pope in 450 years to do so.

April 17, 1982 The queen signs an act transferring sovereignty of the 1867 Canadian constitution from Britain to Canada. The transfer means that Britain no longer has the right to approve amendments to the Canadian constitution.

July 9, 1982 Michael Fagan breaks into Buckingham Palace and confronts the queen in her bedroom. The monarch speaks calmly to the man until police arrive.

March 2, 1986 Australia's constitutional ties are formally ended with Britain when the queen signs the Australia Bill in Canberra.

July 23, 1986 Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson.

June 13, 1987 The Queen confers the title of Princess Royal on Princess Anne in recognition of her "devotion to duty and to public service."

Jan. 1991 British forces assist Allied action to drive out Iraqi armies from occupied Kuwait.

1992 Dubbed by Elizabeth "annus horribilis," the year brings family strife as Princess Diana leaks details of her marital woes for a book and the Duke and Duchess of York separate. The bad tidings continue when Windsor Castle, beloved by the queen, is partially destroyed by fire. And finally, after increasing public criticism, Elizabeth agrees to pay taxes.

1995 Elizabeth marks the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II with national celebrations. In December, the queen writes to Charles and Diana advising them to divorce. The next August, the couple divorces.

Aug. 31, 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales is killed in a car crash. Her death causes widespread mourning. The queen pays a warm tribute to the life and work of the late princess in a broadcast to the nation.

1999 Constitu- tional history is made when the queen transfers constitutional power to Scotland and Wales. She welcomes the new assemblies calling them "a bridge into the future" and a "threshold of a new constitutional age."

June 19, 1999 The queen's youngest child, Prince Edward, marries Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones.

Aug. 4, 2000 Britain celebrates the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Feb. 6, 2002 The Queen celebrates her 50th anniversary of accession to the throne. In June, celebrations will be held throughout the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Only four other British monarchs have achieved this milestone.