History and High Heels: Queen Elizabeth II Re-Imagined

It was on this day in history, 61 years ago that Queen Elizabeth II was officially crowned reigning monarch of Britain at the young age of 25. The ceremony is one that has traditions dating back more than a millennium. Millions of Britons and foreign dignitaries came to watch the coronation of the eldest daughter of Prince George. QE2 has lead such an interesting and thrilling life, so read on to learn 7 interesting tidbits about the royal in celebration of this momentous moment in history!

1. Queen Elizabeth is famous for her love of corgis and has owned more than 30 over the years. Her first was given to her as a gift for her 18th birthday and named Susan. She was reportedly once upbraided by a footman for giving her dogs whisky.

2. Since 1952, Elizabeth has received more than 404,500 honors and awards. She is one of the most beloved and successful monarchs in Britain.

3. There have been 12 United States presidents in power during her reign.

4. Elizabeth is the only female member of the royal family to have joined the military. At 18, she enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service and trained as a mechanic for World War II.

5. In a symbol of solidarity with the rationing campaigns in Britain, Elizabeth used rationing coupons to buy the material for her wedding dress.

6. In 1982, the Queen had an unplanned visit from an intruder. She awoke in the night to a visitor from a mental hospital sitting on her bed. She calmly talked with the man about his personal issues for over ten minutes until a footman seized the unwanted houseguest.

7. In 2003, the Queen sat for her first and only hologram portrait. It was made up of 10,000 photos of her layered together to make a 3D image. Throughout her reign, she has sat for only 129 official portraits.

To further celebrate the Queen, here's a fun re-imagining of the royal style complete with classic cap sleeve dresses in bold colors and fun British accessories!