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Front: Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen of United Kingdom, British colonies and Commonwealth of Nations

She was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, daughter of King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

The young Princess Elizabeth was educated at home under the supervision of her mother. She studied history with C. H. K. Marten, Provost of Eton, and religion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. She speaks fluent French.

Princess Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service during WWII where she was known as No 230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor, and was trained as a driver. She was the first female member of the royal family to actually serve in the military.

Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 November 1947. The Duke is Queen Elizabeth's third cousin. They share Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother.

Elizabeth became the Queen upon the death of her father on 6 February 1952. Officially she is the Queen regnant of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. She also holds the positions of Head of the Commonwealth and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Back: Britainnia seated with shield

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Front: Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen of United Kingdom, British colonies and Commonwealth of Nations

Back: Isaac Newton (1643-1727), English physicist, mathematician and astronomer

Newton was born in Lincolnshire, England. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge where he lived 1661-1696. During this period he produced the bulk of his scientific works. In 1696 he was appointed Master of the Royal Mint, and moved to London, where he resided until his death.

Newton invented integral calculus and jointly with Leibnitz, differential calculus. He defined the laws of motion and universal gravitation that he used to predict precisely the motions of stars, and the planets around the sun. Newton was the first scientist accorded the honor of being buried in Westminster Abbey when he died.

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Front: Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen of United Kingdom, British colonies and Commonwealth of Nations

Back: Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882), British naturalist

Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England. He was the British naturalist who became famous for his theories of evolution and natural selection. Darwin believed all living things on earth evolved over millions of years from a few common ancestors.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland (including England, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland) is a constitutional monarchy located off the northwest coast of the European continent. In the 19th century Britain was the world foremost colonial power. By the mid-20th century, most of the territories formerly comprising the British empire had gained independence, and the empire had evolved into the Commonwealth of nations.

The Bank of England notes are used throughout United Kingdom. However, Northern Ireland and Scotland also use banknotes issued by local banks.

For a more detailed country profile, see CIA World Factbook on United Kingdom.