Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive.
Why did Elizabeth II change her name?
Changing one’s name when assuming the throne has become somewhat customary, however, not everyone follows this tradition. King George VI, Elizabeth’s father, was originally born Albert Frederick Arthur George but chose to use the regal title after becoming king.
Changing one’s name while in power is referred to as having a “regnal name” or “reign name,” and because names are frequently repeated in royal lines, they frequently follow a number to designate each distinct person.
Unlike the name a monarch uses casually in their personal life, the regal name is more formal. Given that certain members of the royal family have somewhat lengthy names, it makes logical for them to choose different ones for their public and personal lives.
However, Elizabeth decided to stick with her given name simply because it was her name. She just didn’t feel the need to choose something else. Her regnal name only adds a number to differentiate her from the first Queen Elizabeth.