Queen Elizabeth II : NPR

'The Crown' Says One Dance Changed History. The Truth Isn't So Simple

Queen Elizabeth II dances with Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah at a ball in Accra, Ghana, in 1961. Central Press/Getty Images hide caption

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Central Press/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

'The Crown' Says One Dance Changed History. The Truth Isn't So Simple

January 21, 2018 • What the Netflix show gets right — and wrong — about Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ghana in 1961.

A Somber Queen's Speech Unveils A Brexit-Centric Agenda In The U.K.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles attend the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday in London. This year, the ceremony was scaled back, with the queen arriving by car rather than carriage and not wearing the crown or robes of state. WPA Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Two-Way

A Somber Queen's Speech Unveils A Brexit-Centric Agenda In The U.K.

June 21, 2017 • The queen ditched the crown and royal robes for the speech, which lays out priorities for the new legislative session. On the agenda: Brexit, Brexit, Brexit — and a few other items, of course.

Martin McGuinness, A Former IRA Leader And A Peacemaker, Dies At 66

Martin McGuinness, seen here arriving at 10 Downing Street in central London last October for meetings in his role as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, has died at age 66. Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Martin McGuinness, A Former IRA Leader And A Peacemaker, Dies At 66

March 21, 2017 • The unusual arc of Martin McGuinness's public life culminated in his 2012 meeting with Queen Elizabeth II; both of them called it an important moment for peace.

Vindication For The 'Mad King'? New Archive Gives George III A Second Chance

King George III: Mad, villainous brute — or flawed, misunderstood man? A new, publicly available archive aims to give scholars and dabblers alike a chance to decide for themselves. This image was rendered in 1795, more than a decade after George nearly abdicated. William Perther/Library of Congress hide caption

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William Perther/Library of Congress

The Two-Way

Vindication For The 'Mad King'? New Archive Gives George III A Second Chance

January 28, 2017 • History hasn't been kind to the British royal who lost the Colonies. But a project that launched Saturday plans to digitize over 350,000 letters and papers that may humanize the much-maligned monarch.

U.K.'s Queen Misses Christmas Service But Offers Message Of 'Great Love'

Queen Elizabeth II after recording her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth at Buckingham Palace on Dec. 24, 2016 in London, England. Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.K.'s Queen Misses Christmas Service But Offers Message Of 'Great Love'

December 25, 2016 • A cold prevented the queen from attending services for the first time anyone can remember. Her prerecorded message offered encouragement to those overwhelmed by the world's problems.

'British Bake Off' Winner Takes On The Toughest Judge Of All: The Queen

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II cuts into a birthday cake baked by Nadiya Hussain (left), winner of The Great British Bake Off, during celebrations of the queen's 90th birthday in Windsor, England. John Stillwell/AP hide caption

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John Stillwell/AP

The Salt

'British Bake Off' Winner Takes On The Toughest Judge Of All: The Queen

April 21, 2016 • This year the task of coming up with a birthday cake fit for a queen fell to Nadiya Hussain, the winner of the most recent season of the wildly popular TV show The Great British Bake Off.

'British Bake Off' Winner Takes On The Toughest Judge Of All: The Queen

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Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Longest-Serving British Monarch

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends the opening ceremony for the Borders Railway route at Tweedbank station, Scotland, on Wednesday. Scott Heppell/AP hide caption

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Scott Heppell/AP

The Two-Way

Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Longest-Serving British Monarch

September 9, 2015 • Elizabeth became queen in 1952 when she was just 25 years old. Sixty-four years later, only one other monarch in the world has a longer streak.

Queen Elizabeth II and royal family members watch from a balcony at Buckingham Palace during her annual birthday parade in June. Chris Jackson/Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Parallels

A Milestone For A Beloved Monarch

September 9, 2015 • Queen Elizabeth II today becomes Great Britain's longest-reigning royal, overtaking Victoria, who ruled for 63 years, seven months and two days. She's marking the occasion by opening a railway line.

A Milestone For A Beloved Monarch

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Staff At Britain's Windsor Castle May Strike Over Low Wages

Windsor Castle, home to the British monarchy for hundreds of years, was built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s, according to the monarchy's official website. W. Buss/De Agostini/Getty Images hide caption

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The Two-Way

Staff At Britain's Windsor Castle May Strike Over Low Wages

March 31, 2015 • It's the first time Queen Elizabeth has faced a possible strike by employees of the royal family. At issue is whether employees should be expected to take on extra duties for no additional pay.

No, Queen Elizabeth Is Not Down To Her 'Last Million'

Queen Elizabeth II. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP hide caption

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

The Two-Way

No, Queen Elizabeth Is Not Down To Her 'Last Million'

January 28, 2014 • She's not going to be a pauper anytime soon. Yes, the royal household has drawn down its rainy day fund. But the queen is still worth about $500 million — not counting the billions more in assets that belong to the crown estate.

James Bond Parachutist At London Olympics Dies In Accident

Stuntman Mark Sutton, doubling for actor Daniel Craig (or, as James Bond) during the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics last summer. Ian Langsdon/EPA /LANDOV hide caption

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Ian Langsdon/EPA /LANDOV

The Two-Way

James Bond Parachutist At London Olympics Dies In Accident

August 15, 2013 • Mark Sutton doubled for 007 at the London Games, when Bond and "Queen Elizabeth II" parachuted into the stadium. Sutton died Wednesday while wingsuit flying in Switzerland.

Queen's Speech For WWIII: British Must 'Prepare To Survive'

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (second left) stands with West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (left), U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at London's Buckingham Palace on June 10, 1984. AP hide caption

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