Fun Facts – 27 April 2016

Fun fact red stamp text on white

Fun fact red stamp text on white

  • Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday on April 21. She has two days of the year to celebrate her birthday: her official one on April 21, and then another in June.
  • She is the longest reigning English monarch
  • She is the only person in the U.K. who doesn’t legally need a license number or a number plate. Queen Elizabeth learned how to drive during World War II, when she operated a first-aid truck for the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service.
  • As all U.K. passports are issued in the queen’s name, she doesn’t need one herself, although other members of the royal family still have to have them.
  • The Queen has her own cash machine installed in the basement of Buckingham Palace, courtesy of the bank Coutts.
  • In addition to her gang of corgis, the queen also owns all the swans in the River Thames, all the dolphins in British waters, AND sturgeons and whales, too.
  • Though she doesn’t have to, Elizabeth II voluntarily began paying tax in 1992.
  • She’s immune from prosecution. She and her family are also spared from all Freedom of Information requests, meaning they don’t have to give anyone access to their information.
  • She has her own poet – the current poet laureate is Carol Ann Duffy. The honorary position is given to a poet whose work is of national significance.
  • Along with her royal title, the queen is also the head of the Church of England. This means she’s not allowed to convert to any other religion or church. If she does, her title can be removed and another head can be appointed.

Courtesy of elle.com