Major Controversies Surrounding Elizabeth II: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth II reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022. She ruled 32 sovereign states during her lifetime, and 15 at the time of her death. Her reign, lasting 70 years and 214 days, is the longest of any British monarch and the second-longest of any sovereign. She also holds the record as the longest-reigning queen regnant in history.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1957: First Major Personal Criticism of Elizabeth

In 1957, Elizabeth faced her first major personal criticism when Lord Altrincham accused her of being "out of touch" in a magazine. This criticism sparked public outrage and debate.

1957: Criticism from Lord Altrincham

In 1957, Lord Altrincham criticised Elizabeth's speeches, saying they sounded like those of a "priggish schoolgirl".

1963: Macmillan's Resignation and Appointment of Alec Douglas-Home

In 1963, Macmillan resigned, advising Elizabeth to appoint Alec Douglas-Home as the prime minister, which she did. This appointment led to further criticism regarding the selection process.

1966: Aberfan Mining Disaster

In 1966, Elizabeth was criticized for waiting eight days before visiting the village of Aberfan, where a mining disaster killed 116 children and 28 adults. The delay was later regretted.

1977: Trudeau pirouetting behind Elizabeth

In 1977, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau pirouetted behind Elizabeth's back at Buckingham Palace. This was seen as a sign of disrespect.

1983: Mental Health Act 1983

Jaswant Singh Chail, who attempted to assassinate the Queen, was placed under a hybrid order under section 45A of the Mental Health Act 1983, ordering that he remain at Broadmoor Hospital to be transferred into custody only after receiving psychiatric treatment.

1984: Miners' Strike Comment

During a royal tour of The Times' offices in 1984, when asked about the miners' strike of 1984–85, Elizabeth replied that it was "all about one man" (a reference to Arthur Scargill).

July 1986: Worries over Thatcher's policies

In July 1986, The Sunday Times reported that Elizabeth II was worried about Margaret Thatcher's economic policies, which she believed fostered social divisions. She was also alarmed by high unemployment, riots, the miners' strike violence, and Thatcher's refusal to sanction South Africa's apartheid regime.

September 1986: Royal Family Media Coverage

In September 1986, Donald Trelford wrote in The Observer that the media coverage of the royal family had become so intense that the boundary between fact and fiction was blurred, with some papers not caring about the truth of their stories.

1987: Criticism and Political Events

In 1987, Elizabeth II became a target of satire after younger royals participated in 'It's a Royal Knockout.' She publicly supported divisive constitutional amendments in Canada, drawing criticism. Additionally, the elected Fijian government was deposed in a military coup, and Elizabeth supported the Governor-General's attempts to negotiate a settlement.

November 1992: Annus Horribilis Speech

In November 1992, Elizabeth II described 1992 as her 'annus horribilis' during a speech marking her Ruby Jubilee. This was due to increased republican sentiment, press scrutiny of her wealth, marital issues within her family, a fire at Windsor Castle, and general criticism of the monarchy. In the same month, demonstrators threw eggs at The Queen during a state visit to Dresden.

October 1995: Hoax Call Incident

In October 1995, Elizabeth II was tricked by a radio host impersonating the Canadian prime minister, during which she expressed support for Canadian unity regarding Quebec's referendum.

October 1997: State Visit to India

In October 1997, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made a state visit to India, which included a controversial visit to the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to pay her respects.

2003: Lawsuit against Daily Mirror

In 2003, Elizabeth II sued the Daily Mirror for breach of confidence after a reporter posed as a footman at Buckingham Palace and obtained an injunction preventing the newspaper from publishing gathered information.

May 2007: Report on Frustration with Blair's Policies

In May 2007, The Daily Telegraph reported that Elizabeth II was "exasperated and frustrated" by Tony Blair's policies, particularly concerning the British Armed Forces' involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2014: Scottish Independence Referendum Comment

After the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron was overheard saying that Elizabeth was pleased with the outcome. She had arguably issued a public coded statement about the referendum by telling one woman outside Balmoral Kirk that she hoped people would think "very carefully" about the outcome.

February 2023: Jaswant Singh Chail Pleads Guilty

In February 2023, Jaswant Singh Chail pleaded guilty to attempting to injure or alarm the sovereign, and was sentenced in October to a 9-year custodial sentence plus an additional 5 years on extended licence. The sentencing judge also placed Chail under a hybrid order under section 45A of the Mental Health Act 1983, ordering that he remain at Broadmoor Hospital to be transferred into custody only after receiving psychiatric treatment.