Interesting Facts about Her Majesty

An animal lover since childhood, The Queen takes a keen and highly knowledgeable interest in horses. As an owner and breeder she often visits other race meetings to watch her horses run. She attends the Derby at Epsom, one of the classic flat races in Britain, and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, which has been a Royal occasion since 1911.

The Queen introduced a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi", when one of the corgis mated with a dachshund named Pipkin.

A lesser known interest of the Queen is Scottish country dancing. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, The Queen gives dances known as Gillies' Balls, for neighbours, estate and Castle staff and members of the local community.

The Queen is the only person in Britain who can drive without a licence or a registration number on her car. And she doesn't have a passport.

To formally greet the Queen men should perform a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'.

Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror. She has visited Australia 15 times, Canada 23 times, Jamaica six times and New Zealand ten times. The Queen has launched 23 ships and met five astronauts at Buckingham Palace. She first flew in an aeroplane in July 1945. The Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002, including visiting 70 cities and towns around the UK.

The Queen has a bank account at Coutts & Co. There is a Coutts cash-dispensing machine in Buckingham Palace. Tony Blair was the first prime minister to be born during her reign, which has already seen nine prime ministers.

The Queen has sat through 91 state banquets and posed for 139 official portraits.

Technically The Queen still owns the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters around the UK which are recognised as 'Fishes Royal'. She also owns all wild 'mute' swans living in open water.

The Queen has nine Royal thrones - One at the House of Lords, two at Westminster Abbey, and six in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.

She is a Patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. One of the Queen's birds is called Sandringham Lightning

The Queen is 5ft 4 inches or 160cm tall.