Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom and has been since 1952.
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II . Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25 , upon the death of her father , King George VI , on 6 February 1952 , and was proclaimed queen by her various privy and executive councils shortly afterwards . Elizabeth II ( Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ; born 21 April 1926 ) has been Queen of the United Kingdom , Canada , Australia , and New Zealand since 6 February 1952 . Times of personal significance have included the births and marriages of her children , her coronation in 1953 , and the celebration of milestones such as her Silver , Golden , and Diamond Jubilees in 1977 , 2002 , and 2012 , respectively . This is a list of British monarchs by longevity since the Union of the Crowns of England , Scotland and Ireland in 1603 . Queen Elizabeth II , the present British monarch ( born 21 April 1926 ; Queen since 6 February 1952 ) , is the longest lived British sovereign , at the age of .