Kamal Haasan takes a trip down memory lane, recalls the time Queen Elizabeth II attended 'Marudhanayagam' shoot

The Queen's love for pooches is an open secret. Everywhere she went, she was accompanied by her little corgis. The late royal's father, King George VI, introduced the breed of corgis (herding dogs with tiny legs) in 1933. Her first pet was a male corgi, Dookie, from a local kennel. Her entire life, she has had more than 30 corgis. She has also owned two 'dorgis', a cross between a dachshund and a corgi.

The Queen was very close to her younger sister Margaret. The sisters spent most of their time together. During Princess Margaret's funeral in 2002, the Queen openly cried - one of the only times she showed her emotions - in a public setting.

The Queen, an equestrian, spent most of her leisure time horse-riding. From education to extra-curricular activities like riding, swiming and dancing, she learnt everything at home. She also studied fine art and music at home.

World War II was one of the defining moments for the Queen in 1939. She joined the women's army service in England - the Auxiliary Territorial Service. During her training, she spent her teenage years in the Army as a driver and a mechanic.

This year, the Queen became the oldest and longest-reigning monarch in British history. Over the years, the Queen never failed to keep a calm mind when dealing with public pressure and media scrutiny. 1992 was her worst year which she described as an “annus horribilis” (horrible year). It was the year the marriages for three of her four children ended.

From being tagged a 'pretty nice girl' by The Beatles in their song 'Her Majesty' to allowing televised royal events, the Queen revolutionised how the public viewed the monarchy. In 1970, she even broke the protocols and mixed with the crowds who were waiting to catch a glimpse of her. The royals continue to follow her tradition.

In 1947, the Queen married Prince Philip Mountbatten of Greece and Denmark when she was 21. She became the queen in 1952. With the responsibilities of the monarchy on her shoulders at the age of 26, she efficiently balanced her work and personal life.

The 1992 fire damaged Windsor Castle, the Queen's weekend residence. The repairs meant paying millions of pounds from taxpayers' money amid a recession. After public outcry, she volunteered to pay income taxes on her personal income. She said she would meet 70 per cent of the cost of restoration work, and she also decided to open her home at Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time to generate extra funds from admission fees.

Often perceived as a person of serious demeanour, the Queen was known to have a mischievous sense of humour and a talent for mimicry in private company. She was the glue that held the entire royal family together.