Elizabeth curled up by her mother’s side. She was still such a little girl, only four years old, and her mother was warm and comfortable. “Elizabeth,” smiled her mother, “meet your baby sister, Margaret.”

It was the moment Elizabeth had been waiting for excitedly for months. Her very own baby sister! When the nurse came in and gave the newborn baby to her mother, Elizabeth looked a wonderful first look at the baby, and took a big breath. She was a big sister now. “Mama, I will take good care of little Margaret,” she said. “I know you will, my darling,” her mother replied softly and pulled Elizabeth in for a tight cuddle.

Later that evening her father swept her up into his arms and twirled. “So Lilibet!” he danced. “A baby sister to bring even more joy into our home!”

Elizabeth giggled. Her home was happy and calm. She had her father, mother, and Margaret. As the years went by they were best friends, surrounded with love.

Soon Elizabeth was seven years old. “Here is another friend for you,” she was told as she held her very own puppy. What excitement as the little Corgi ran and bounced on its short little legs! Very soon she was in love with the Corgi that she named Dookie, and she held this love for corgis for the rest of her life, and would always have them as pets.

These happy childhood years passed by with lessons from her mother, reading, and time spent outside with Margaret riding ponies and going on bicycle rides and walks. Her cousin would come to play with them. “You are jolly and happy!” her cousin would say. “Yet also very sensible and well-behaved!”

Yes, Elizabeth was quite sensible. It was clear to see, especially when Margaret was around. Margaret was the one who was bright and dazzling and wanted to make everyone laugh and admire her. Elizabeth also enjoyed people’s company, but in a quieter way.

This was the childhood Elizabeth had for her first ten years. All this time her grandfather had been the King of England, and she had often spent time with him. He was the father of her father. She was, in fact, a princess, so she was used to spending time in castles, too. But it was very unlikely that she would ever become queen. When the king died it would be her father’s older brother who would become king. So she knew she would be able to live a quiet, peaceful and happy life in the countryside if she wanted to.

A few more years passed before her grandfather died and her uncle had become king, like expected. But then, not like anyone expected, her uncle fell in love with a beautiful woman from America. She had already been married two times, so the English royal family told him he was not allowed to marry her and make her the queen of England. As the king he was also the head of their church and had to make a good example.

He had to choose: be the King of England or marry the woman he loved. He chose love, was married, and they lived happily in France together.

So the king had fallen in love and had left the throne! His little brother was next in line to become the King of England. This was Elizabeth’s very own papa. Suddenly, she was the next in line to the throne - the heir! The coronation ceremony for her father to receive the crown took place inside Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth later wrote that the ceremony felt like it was under a “Haze of Wonder.” She later joined her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, dressed in full coronation regalia and a crown, as was Margaret, and she again felt a strange sense of wonder as they waved to the cheering people of London.

Elizabeth’s carefree childhood days were over now, and she began to prepare to be the Queen of England one day. The first Buckingham Palace Girl Guides were created so Elizabeth could make friends and play with girls of the same age. She took special lessons in constitutional governance, that is, what a king or queen needs to do to rule a country, and learnt to speak French. She just hoped her father would live a long time while she dreamt of living a life quietly in the countryside.