Queen Elizabeth II will mark the diamond jubilee of her accession to the throne this year . Charles and Diana separated after claims of infidelities while Sarah Ferguson was photographed topless with an American financial manager . Born in 1926 , the queen became monarch in 1952 on the death of her father , George VI . Queen 's reign hit low point in 1992 as the marriages of three of her children collapsed . She was forced into retirement and spent most of her time at Balmoral Castle with Prince Charles until his marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles in 1997.
Queen Elizabeth II will mark the diamond jubilee of her accession to the throne this year . Born in 1926 , the queen became monarch in 1952 on the death of her father , George VI . Queen 's reign hit low point in 1992 as the marriages of three of her children collapsed . She was forced into retirement and spent most of her time at Balmoral Castle with Prince Charles until his marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles in 1997.