Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, as her full name at the time, was born in 1926. “Lilibet,” as she was called by her family, had a comfortable life ahead of her as the eldest daughter of the current king’s youngest son. So she had never thought in her life that she would ever become queen. And fortunately, because that brought her certain freedoms that future heirs could only dream of. Like choosing her ideal partner, for example, instead of one that fit the royal picture.
–