As the nation continues to mourn Queen Elizabeth II's death, people have shared their favourite facts about her reign online to commemorate her legacy. Mumsnet users took to the site to share their favourite anecdotes of the Queen during her 75-year reign, which made her the longest-serving monarch Britain has seen.
Here are facts that online users were shocked to discover about Queen Elizabeth II.
Read more: Queen's bond with Wales shown in poignant pictures charting her record-breaking reign
The Queen needed clothing coupons for her wedding dress
After the Second World War, the then Princess Elizabeth used clothing ration coupons to buy her wedding dress and was supplied 200 extra ration coupons by the government. Heart-warmingly, she was also given hundreds of clothing coupons by brides-to-be from all parts of the UK to help her acquire the dress. However, she had to return the coupons as it was illegal for them to have been given away in the first instance.
One person wrote: “I didn't know she saved clothing coupons to get her wedding dress and sent back spare coupons people sent her because it was against the rules.” Another person added: “I'm gobsmacked that the queen needed clothing coupons for her wedding dress!”
Her birth was witnessed by the Home Secretary at the time
Many users were shocked to discover that the Queen’s birth was witnessed by the Home Secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks, as was required for royal births at the time. However, the custom ended ahead of Prince Charles's birth in 1948.
One mum wrote: “I didn't know that her birth was witnessed by the Home Secretary at the time. Apparently, the Home Secretary had to be present at all monarch's births in order to verify the royal lineage. This law changed when she gave birth to her children. Can you imagine having someone like Priti Patel in the delivery room with you, just observing!”
Many users were also shocked to discover that most royal births were delivered at home. One user wrote: "I had no idea she birthed (the now King) Charles via C-section, at home, IN Buckingham Palace... Imagine!"
She bred dorgis (dachshund/corgi cross)
One user mentioned how they didn’t know how the Queen received her first dorgi. She said: “The Queen's first Dorgi was the result of an accidental mating between Princess Margaret's dachshund, Pipkin and a corgi of hers named Tiny.”
She may have found a subtle way to share her political opinions
One Mumsnet user expressed with delight: “She took the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia out for a drive when she heard that women weren't allowed to drive there. Drove at great speed down narrow roads." Many users noted how this was their “favourite thing about her.”
Other commenters believed that the Queen expressed her views on the Brexit referendum through her hats, saying: “Look at the hat. Look at the EU flag. Then consider the Queen intentionally designed and wore this hat to appear after the Brexit referendum.” Someone else added: “Loved the referendum hat, well played ma'am.”
Those of a certain age have lived through five monarchs
Many people were shocked to find out that their grandparents lived during the reigns of five monarchs. One user commented: “Anyone born prior to January 20th 1936 (the date George V died) will have lived during the reigns of five monarchs of the UK.”
Anyone born in 1936 or before has seen the reign of George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II and now Charles III. Another user said: "Not a fact I didn’t know, but a fact that shocked me today. My 88-year-old grandad informed me King Charles III is his fifth monarch!”
Many users were unaware that her family roots dated back to historic figures. One user said: "I didn’t know that she was descended from the Stuarts until I just heard Ian Blackford speaking in the HoC [House of Commons]. Another wrote: “She is a direct descendant of Mary Queen of Scots.”
And it's hard to put into perspective how much history she saw during her life
A commenter mentioned: “We all know her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill and her last was Liz Truss. But the fact that amazed me was Winston Churchill was born in 1874 and then 101 years later, Liz Truss was born in 1975.” While another person added: “Her first Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, became an MP during the reign of her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.”
One person said: “[I didn’t know] that she was older than Anne Frank, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. To me, those are names from history. I just cannot imagine the number of people she met. From the world's most important to humble. From famous to insignificant. From the 19th century and the 21st century.”
Commenters were also impressed with her service during the Second World War. One user said: “I didn't know she drove an ambulance in WW2 as part of the war effort.” While another added: “She was in the ATS, Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women's army at the time, and it's nice to know she knew how to strip down an engine.”
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