The nation is mourning the passing of Her Majesty the Queen who died at Balmoral on 8 September. Among her rich and varied range of interests was a deep passion for the British countryside, for shooting, fishing and gundogs. Her Majesty was born on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather King George VI. She was not initially expected to take the throne as her uncle, who ruled briefly as Edward VIII, was widely expected to have an heir. However this did not come to pass and his abdication saw Princess Elizabeth become heir apparent. At the outbreak of the Second World War plans were drawn up to evacuate both her and her sister Princess Margaret to Canada. However her mother refused to contemplate the idea saying: “The children won’t go without me. I won’t leave without the King. And the King will never leave.” It was an example of service which was to stay with Her Majesty throughout her life and reign. On 20 November 1949 she married naval of