This article is written in British English, which has its own spelling conventions (colour, travelled, centre, defence, artefact, analyse) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.
While the biographies of living persons policy does not apply directly to the subject of this article, it may contain material that relates to living persons, such as friends and family of persons no longer living, or living persons involved in the subject matter. Unsourced or poorly sourced contentious material about living persons must be removed immediately. If such material is re-inserted repeatedly, or if there are other concerns related to this policy, please see this noticeboard.
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Spoken Wikipedia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of articles that are spoken on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Spoken WikipediaWikipedia:WikiProject Spoken WikipediaTemplate:WikiProject Spoken WikipediaSpoken Wikipedia articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject British Royalty (a child project of the Royalty and Nobility Work Group), an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to British Royalty on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you should visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.British RoyaltyWikipedia:WikiProject British RoyaltyTemplate:WikiProject British RoyaltyBritish royalty articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Commonwealth, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the Commonwealth of Nations on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CommonwealthWikipedia:WikiProject CommonwealthTemplate:WikiProject CommonwealthCommonwealth articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Caribbean, an attempt to build a comprehensive guide to the countries of the Caribbean on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit this article, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion. If you are new to editing Wikipedia visit the welcome page to become familiar with the guidelines.CaribbeanWikipedia:WikiProject CaribbeanTemplate:WikiProject CaribbeanCaribbean articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Melanesia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Melanesia on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.MelanesiaWikipedia:WikiProject MelanesiaTemplate:WikiProject MelanesiaMelanesia articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Polynesia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Polynesia on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PolynesiaWikipedia:WikiProject PolynesiaTemplate:WikiProject PolynesiaPolynesia articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Belize, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Belize on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.BelizeWikipedia:WikiProject BelizeTemplate:WikiProject BelizeBelize articles
Elizabeth II is within the scope of WikiProject Australia, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Australia and Australia-related topics. If you would like to participate, visit the project page.AustraliaWikipedia:WikiProject AustraliaTemplate:WikiProject AustraliaAustralia articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Canada, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Canada on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CanadaWikipedia:WikiProject CanadaTemplate:WikiProject CanadaCanada-related articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject United Kingdom, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the United Kingdom on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.United KingdomWikipedia:WikiProject United KingdomTemplate:WikiProject United KingdomUnited Kingdom articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject New Zealand, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of New Zealand and New Zealand-related topics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.New ZealandWikipedia:WikiProject New ZealandTemplate:WikiProject New ZealandNew Zealand articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Grenada, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Grenada on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.GrenadaWikipedia:WikiProject GrenadaTemplate:WikiProject GrenadaGrenada articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Pakistan, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Pakistan on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PakistanWikipedia:WikiProject PakistanTemplate:WikiProject PakistanPakistan articles
Elizabeth II is within the scope of WikiProject Zimbabwe, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe-related topics. If you would like to participate, visit the project page.ZimbabweWikipedia:WikiProject ZimbabweTemplate:WikiProject ZimbabweZimbabwe articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Malta, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Malta on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.MaltaWikipedia:WikiProject MaltaTemplate:WikiProject MaltaMalta articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject South Africa, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of South Africa on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.South AfricaWikipedia:WikiProject South AfricaTemplate:WikiProject South AfricaSouth Africa articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Politics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of politics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PoliticsWikipedia:WikiProject PoliticsTemplate:WikiProject Politicspolitics articles
Elizabeth II is part of the Scouting WikiProject, an effort to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to Scouting and Guiding on the Wikipedia. This includes but is not limited to boy and girl organizations, WAGGGS and WOSM organizations as well as those not so affiliated, country and region-specific topics, and anything else related to Scouting. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.ScoutingWikipedia:WikiProject ScoutingTemplate:WikiProject ScoutingScouting articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Politics of the United Kingdom, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Politics of the United Kingdom on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Politics of the United KingdomWikipedia:WikiProject Politics of the United KingdomTemplate:WikiProject Politics of the United KingdomPolitics of the United Kingdom articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Women's History, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Women's history and related articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Women's HistoryWikipedia:WikiProject Women's HistoryTemplate:WikiProject Women's HistoryWomen's History articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Women, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of women on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.WomenWikipedia:WikiProject WomenTemplate:WikiProject WomenWikiProject Women articles
Jody Serrano (9 September 2022). "How Wikipedia's 'Deaditors' Sprang Into Action on Queen Elizabeth II's Page After Her Death". Gizmodo. While some on the internet were glued to Twitter or the BBC, checking for news or watching the planes en route to Balmoral Castle, one group of dedicated Wikipedia editors sprang into action updating the late queen's page in the minutes after Buckingham Palace announced the news.
Annie Rauwerda (9 September 2022). "Who the hell updated Queen Elizabeth II's Wikipedia page so quickly?". Input. Upon Queen Elizabeth II's death, the world was quick to note the free encyclopedia's up-to-the-minute coverage. "WIKIPEDIA DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME," someone tweeted. "Someone was in there watching her last breaths with a computer on wikipedia ready to just press enter," another joked.
Jeff Parsons (9 September 2022). "How Wikipedia responded when news of the Queen's death broke". Metro (British newspaper). In the case of the Queen's death, the legion of volunteers that keep up the 'Free Encyclopedia' sprang into action to keep it updated. The first edit made to the Queen's Wikipedia page came just minutes after the first sources broke the news.
I would be in favour of changing the image of Elizabeth II to a photo from sometime in the middle of her reign, as that’s what most people will remember her as.
18 months ago now, but I agree. Choice of photo for an infobox can be subjective, so I’m not keen on re-opening the issue once a consensus was reached. Mr Serjeant Buzfuz (talk) 14:10, 15 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Completely understand that, and if a consensus was reached then that must be accepted. I just think that the photo of the 33 year old Queen is not a good representation for how the majority of the public will remember her, but as you say it is definitely subjective. Waverland (talk) 14:22, 15 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I completely agree with @Waverland, But I think it's time to open an RFC. I've never liked the portrait for many reasons (The fact that it is a Painting, rather than an actual photograph is one of those reasons). I'm still not budging from my original opinion (an opinion I formed 18 months ago when the image was first changed). And I feel like it should be changed to at least a Photograph of the Queen rather than a Painting Pepper Gaming (talk) 19:53, 15 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
"But I think it's time to open an RFC. I've never liked the portrait for many reasons (The fact that it is a Painting, rather than an actual photograph is one of those reasons). I'm still not budging from my original opinion (an opinion I formed 18 months ago when the image was first changed)."
The last RFC voted for this one by a vote, as I recall, of 16 to 12. A year is long enough for minds to change or new views to come from new editors. I see nothing wrong with a new RFC.--Wehwalt (talk) 00:41, 17 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
We've already been through this, multiple times. The 1959 image is what got consensus. PS - I highly doubt you'd get a consensus to replace the image, with a portrait. GoodDay (talk) 10:21, 17 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
completely understandable, but I think you misunderstood what was being said. there was no discussion to replace the current photo with a portrait, rather confusion over whether the current image was a photograph or a painting. Waverland (talk) 15:42, 17 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
All that is needed is the same level of consensus that got this on the page, that is a majority vote in a preference poll. Wehwalt (talk) 16:40, 17 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@GoodDay Can I ask what you mean by "I highly doubt you'd get a consensus to replace the image, with a portrait"
Do you mean with replacing the current (1959) image with a Painting/Drawing?
(And to clarify, part of the reason why I was opposed to the 1959 image in the first place was because I originally thought it was a Painting/Drawn portrait Pepper Gaming (talk) 11:43, 18 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I still don't understand how it can be mistaken for a painting. What aspects look painted? The light play on the jewels, the hair detail, and everything else show it to be a photograph. Cremastra (talk) 23:34, 1 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
In both the short description and certain other spots I have attempted to simply add the line "and the other Commonwealth Realms" or equivalent as this is important information. However, each time I have attempted this it has been removed.
So, I have come down to the talk section in order to discuss this.
I firmly believe that it would better reflect the fact that the Commonwealth Realms are of equal status to that of the United Kingdom.
Each crown that Her Majesty had is equal in status to that of the UK and thus should be treated as such in the short description and whenever appropriate to do so, as opposed to being excluded from relevant spots. Since this article isn't just about Her Majesty as the Queen of the UK, rather being about Her Majesty as a whole, including all her Queenly titles, I truly think that it would be better if the Commonwealth Realms were given equal prevalence to the UK.
I see no reason why this isn't an entirely reasonable request as, like I said, all of these crowns are entirely equal to each other.
I watched the back-and-forth going on about the exact wording of the lead. Wouldn't it be better to discuss it here? Repeatedly reverting creates bad feeling, deters other editors from getting involved, and can be cause for a block. Please don't. John (talk) 17:07, 21 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I agree that "decolonisation of Asia" is not an appropriate phrase as British control of the foreign affairs of Afghanistan and Bhutan, and overt control of Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Bangladesh, and Burma, had come to an end by 1952. However, "handover of Hong Kong" might be a useful addition to the list of notable events in the third paragraph of the introduction. Celia Homeford (talk) 12:27, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Then you will be able to point to the sourced material in the body of the article that supports this summary clause. DrKay (talk) 17:40, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Or per WP:LEADCITE we could take a less combative approach and just add a source to the attempted addition which is so obviously not WP:OR. You should know by now that not being in the body of the article doesn't mean it can't be in the lead. Or are you seriously saying you dispute the factual nature of the list I gave? Based on this incorrect edit summary that list is clearly news to you so maybe you are. DeCausa (talk) 18:54, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Per WP:LEAD, the lead should not contain material not found in the article body. The edit summary merely refers to the 4 largest and comparing them to any 4 of the smallest. I was obviously aware of the list since it was given in a preceding edit summary. Besides, note the list of countries provided by Celia--major, well-known large countries that everyone has heard of. What's on your list? Aden Colony? Brunei? Sarawak? Trucial States? Most people haven't heard of them. Note also the heads of state of many of these countries--Bahrain, Brunei, Kuwait, Malaya, Maldives, Qatar, and the Trucial States--were the same before and after the dates you've given. Elizabeth was not the head of state and was not involved politically in their transition, unlike the African states. The decolonisation of Asia happened predominantly before 1952, not after. It is misleading to suggest otherwise. DrKay (talk) 19:14, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
"Most people haven't haven't heard of..." Singapore, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia, Bahrain...sheesh. Obviously the FA needed edit warring against that disruption. DeCausa (talk) 19:22, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
On reviewing the body of the article I find that the reference to decolonisation of Africa in the lead is no more sourced than the attempted addition of decolonisation of Asia. The only reference to it in the body is in this passage:
The 1960s and 1970s saw an acceleration in the decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean. More than 20 countries gained independence from Britain as part of a planned transition to self-government. In 1965, however, the Rhodesian prime minister, Ian Smith, in opposition to moves towards majority rule, unilaterally declared independence while expressing "loyalty and devotion" to Elizabeth, declaring her "Queen of Rhodesia".
But that is cited to this Guardian article. It fails verification for the first two sentences. The source only discusses Rhodesia not decolonisation in Africa in general. So we have an unsourced reference to African decolonisation in the lead. DeCausa (talk) 21:07, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states over the course of her lifetime and remained the monarch of 15 realms by the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch or female monarch, and the second-longest verified reign of any monarch of a sovereign state in history.
This was the first part of the lead to this level 4 article.
The above is overly wordy. It contains bloated language reflectinmg the deference of certain editors. For example, '...by the time of her death' = when she died. Eg..'verified reign of any monarch of a sovereign state in history'. = she was verified so she must be important' 'any sovereign state' = this makes her more important than a non-sovereign state, even though we won't bother defigning sovereignty here, not that it is in the least bit relevant to the intended meaning. It is also clearly noted in the linked article of long reigning monarchs. Female? Unnecessary, except if you want to stress that the reign was long. It looks as though whoever wrote this was bowing down before their keyboard. Just keep it as simple encyclopedic English that can be understood easily without wading through superfluous puffery. Grammar - remained...by the time of her death, should by...at the time of her death. The last sentence is grammatically wrong too. Roger 8 Roger (talk) 01:57, 20 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The words 'verified' and 'any sovereign state' were used because there are longer reigns than hers or Louis XIV's in antiquity and in non-sovereign states. DrKay (talk) 07:27, 20 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks fopr your reply. Yes, I know that is possibly the reason but it is unnecessary IMO to insert it (the words used are therefore superfluous). People will assume we are not talking about a native chief somewhere or a semi-mythical king in antiquity. There comes a point when explaining everything to be spotlessly precise is counterproductive. There is a link to a list of longest reigning monarchs anyway that will deal with those other cases. I think the main aim should be to make the lead comfortably readable, which adding lots of extra words to convey a meaning does not do. For example, the four jubilees were repeated, four with the type of jubilee and then with the years (which is unnecessary if we know her ascention date - people should know that a silver jubilee is after 25 years, we don't have to tell them, and then tell them that 1952 plus 25 is 1977. This is what I mean by puffery. It comes across that we are trying to force on the reader that in our view she was extra special and so we are justified in using five words to say something when only one is necessary. Roger 8 Roger (talk) 08:29, 20 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Hi All,
I believe the military service of the late Queen, should be featured in the info box, during WW2 (1945) she served in the Women's ATS (A female branch of the British Army at the Time) and was issued with a service number (230873) so was an active duty member of the armed forces which is further backed up by the biography on royal.uk
"The Queen's relationship with the Armed Forces began when, as Princess Elizabeth, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member." - Royal.uk [1]
Considering the inclusion of other British Monarchs service records has been included in their info box I firmly believe the queens should be included also
I have included more sources below as well as the provisional redesign of the infobox proposed
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
It should be telling that the most substantial thing you mention about her service was that she was issued a service number. Contrasting with other monarchs, her service is not a key fact of her biography, and thus shouldn't be included in the infobox. Remsense ‥ 论14:23, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]