Queen Elizabeth II Birthday: Famous Quotes By The 96-Year-Old Monarch

After the grand Platinum Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II ascending the throne on Feb. 6 this year, the British monarch, who boasts of eight grandchildren and a total of 12 great-grandchildren, is celebrating her 96th birthday on April 21.

The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II was born in 1926 in London and was made a queen after the death of her father, King George VI in 1952. Over the course of her reign, the queen has skillfully handled unprecedented social, cultural, and political change and worked toward the modernization of the institution of monarchy.

In the 70 years of her royal career, Queen Elizabeth II achieved some notable feats including being the first woman to become a full-time active member of the British Armed Forces and being the first monarch to start a parliament in Canada.

To mark the birthday of the most popular British queen ever, listed below are her best quotes (Courtesy: Parade.com)

• "While we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."
• "It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."
• "It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult."
• "When peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place."
• "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations."
• "Often a child’s helplessness and vulnerability bring out the best in us."
• "Right around the world, people gather to compete under standard rules and, in most cases, in a spirit of friendly rivalry. Competitors know that to succeed, they must respect their opponents; very often, they like each other too."
• "I am reminded of a lady of about my age who was asked by an earnest, little granddaughter the other day ‘Granny, can you remember the Stone Age?’ Whilst that may be going a bit far, the older generation are able to give a sense of context as well as the wisdom of experience which can be invaluable"
• "People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world."
• "Over the years, those who have seemed to me to be the most happy, contented and fulfilled have always been the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives."