Elizabeth II

=== Turbulent years ===
In the wake of coalition victory in the [[Gulf War]], Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address a [[Joint session of the United States Congress|joint meeting]] of the [[United States Congress]] in May 1991.{{Sfn|ps=none|Pimlott|2001|p=538}}

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 199-1992-089-19Acropped.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|alt=Elizabeth, in formal dress, holds a pair of spectacles to her mouth in a thoughtful pose|With Philip in Germany, October 1992]]
On 24&nbsp;November 1992, in a speech to mark the [[Ruby Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Ruby Jubilee]] of her accession, Elizabeth called 1992 her {{Lang|la|[[annus horribilis]]}} (a Latin phrase, meaning "horrible year").<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Connie |date=24 November 1992 |title=Annus horribilis speech |url=https://www.royal.uk/annus-horribilis-speech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103191553/https://www.royal.uk/annus-horribilis-speech |archive-date=3 January 2017 |access-date=18 April 2016 |work=The Royal Family |publisher=Royal Household |mode=cs2}}</ref> [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom|Republican feeling in Britain]] had risen because of press estimates of Elizabeth's private wealth—contradicted by the Palace{{Efn|name=finances|The ''[[Sunday Times Rich List 1989]]'' put her number one on the list with a reported wealth of £5.2&nbsp;billion (approximately £{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|5200000000|1989|r=-6}}}} in today's value),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y|mode=cs2}} but it included state assets like the [[Royal Collection]] that were not hers personally.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 2013 |title=Rich List: Changing face of wealth |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-22188762 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106171208/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-22188762 |archive-date=6 November 2020 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> In 1993, Buckingham Palace called estimates of £100&nbsp;million "grossly overstated".<ref>{{Multiref|[[David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie|Lord Airlie]], the [[lord chamberlain]], quoted in | {{Harvnb|Hoey|2002|p=225}}; {{Harvnb|Pimlott|2001|p=561}}}}</ref> In 1971, [[Jock Colville]], her former private secretary and a director of her bank, [[Coutts]], estimated her wealth at £2&nbsp;million (equivalent to about £{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|2000000|1971|1993|r=-6}}}} in 1993{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y|mode=cs2}}).<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=11 June 1971 |title=£2m estimate of the Queen's wealth 'more likely to be accurate' |work=[[The Times]] |page=1 |mode=cs2}}; | {{Harvnb|Pimlott|2001|p=401}}}}</ref>}}—and reports of affairs and strained marriages among her extended family.{{Sfn|ps=none|Pimlott|2001|pp=519–534}} In March, her second son, Prince Andrew, separated from his wife, [[Sarah, Duchess of York|Sarah]]; her daughter, Princess Anne, divorced Captain [[Mark Phillips]] in April;{{Sfnm|ps=none|Lacey|2002|1p=319|Marr|2011|2p=315|Pimlott|2001|3pp=550–551}} angry demonstrators in [[Dresden]] threw eggs at Elizabeth during a state visit to Germany in October;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stanglin |first=Douglas |date=18 March 2010 |title=German study concludes 25,000 died in Allied bombing of Dresden |url=https://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/03/official-german-study-concludes-25000-died-in-allied-bombing-of-dresden/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515131113/https://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/03/official-german-study-concludes-25000-died-in-allied-bombing-of-dresden/1 |archive-date=15 May 2010 |access-date=19 March 2010 |work=[[USA Today]] |mode=cs2}}</ref> and [[1992 Windsor Castle fire|a large fire broke out at Windsor Castle]], one of her [[official residence]]s, in November. The monarchy came under increased criticism and public scrutiny.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|1p=377|Pimlott|2001|2pp=558–559|Roberts|2000|3p=94|Shawcross|2002|4p=204}} In an unusually personal speech, Elizabeth said that any institution must expect criticism, but suggested it might be done with "a touch of humour, gentleness and understanding".{{Sfn|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|p=377}} Two days later, John Major announced plans to reform the royal finances, drawn up the previous year, including Elizabeth paying [[income tax]] from 1993 onwards, and a reduction in the [[civil list]].{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bradford|2012|1p=229|Lacey|2002|2pp=325–326|Pimlott|2001|3pp=559–561}} In December, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, formally separated.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bradford|2012|1p=226|Hardman|2011|2p=96|Lacey|2002|3p=328|Pimlott|2001|4p=561}} At the end of the year, Elizabeth sued ''The Sun'' newspaper for breach of copyright when it published the text of her [[Royal Christmas Message|annual Christmas message]] two days before it was broadcast. The newspaper was forced to pay her legal fees and donated £200,000 to charity.{{Sfn|ps=none|Pimlott|2001|p=562}} Elizabeth's solicitors had taken successful action against ''The Sun'' five years earlier for breach of copyright after it published a photograph of her daughter-in-law the Duchess of York and her granddaughter [[Princess Beatrice]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 February 1993 |title=Queen Threatens to Sue Newspaper |url=https://apnews.com/article/5b6c71ab1ca6e966a27db134c49909ec |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407111152/https://apnews.com/article/5b6c71ab1ca6e966a27db134c49909ec |archive-date=7 April 2022 |access-date=27 December 2021 |work=Associated Press News |location=London |mode=cs2}}</ref>

In January 1994, Elizabeth broke the [[scaphoid bone]] in her left wrist as the horse she was riding at Sandringham tripped and fell.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 1994 |title=Queen Breaks Wrist in Riding Accident |url=https://apnews.com/article/cf58eee09036d3885bc872e5662ff027 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831195506/https://apnews.com/article/cf58eee09036d3885bc872e5662ff027 |archive-date=31 August 2022 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Associated Press News |mode=cs2}}</ref> In October 1994, she became the first reigning British monarch to set foot on Russian soil.{{Efn|name=russia|The only previous state visit by a British monarch to Russia was made by [[King Edward&nbsp;VII]] in 1908. The King never stepped ashore, and met [[Nicholas&nbsp;II]] on [[royal yacht]]s off the Baltic port of what is now [[Tallinn]], Estonia.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=15 July 1994 |title=Elizabeth&nbsp;II to visit Russia in October |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97450734/queen-russia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606155117/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97450734/queen-russia |archive-date=6 June 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=Evansville Press |page=2 |agency=Associated Press |mode=cs2}}; | {{Harvnb|Tomaszewski|2002|page=22}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sloane |first=Wendy |date=19 October 1994 |title=Not all's forgiven as queen tours a czarless Russia |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1994/1019/19092.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905181532/https://www.csmonitor.com/1994/1019/19092.html |archive-date=5 September 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |location=Moscow |mode=cs2}}</ref> During the [[State visit by Elizabeth II to Russia|four-day visit]], which was considered to be one of the most important foreign trips of Elizabeth's reign,<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 October 1994 |title=British queen in Moscow |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/10/17/British-queen-in-Moscow/3900782366400 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312020810/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/10/17/British-queen-in-Moscow/3900782366400 |archive-date=12 March 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=United Press International |location=Moscow |mode=cs2}}</ref> she and Philip attended events in Moscow and [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=de Waal |first=Thomas |date=15 October 1994 |title=Queen's Visit: Lifting the Clouds of the Past |work=Moscow Times |mode=cs2}}</ref>}} In October 1995, Elizabeth was tricked into a [[hoax call]] by Montreal radio host [[Pierre Brassard]] impersonating Canadian prime minister [[Jean Chrétien]]. Elizabeth, who believed that she was speaking to Chrétien, said she supported Canadian unity and would try to influence [[1995 Quebec referendum|Quebec's referendum]] on proposals to break away from Canada.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=29 October 1995 |title=Allo! Allo! Ici the Queen. Who's This? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/world/allo-allo-ici-the-queen-who-s-this.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606155117/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/world/allo-allo-ici-the-queen-who-s-this.html |archive-date=6 June 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The New York Times |mode=cs2}}; | {{Cite news |date=28 October 1995 |title=Queen falls victim to radio hoaxer |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/queen-falls-victim-to-radio-hoaxer-1579745.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603193700/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/queen-falls-victim-to-radio-hoaxer-1579745.html |archive-date=3 June 2022 |ref=none |mode=cs2}}}}</ref>

In the year that followed, public revelations on the state of Charles and Diana's marriage continued.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|1p=356|Pimlott|2001|2pp=572–577|Roberts|2000|3p=94|Shawcross|2002|4p=168}} In consultation with her husband and John Major, as well as the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] ([[George Carey]]) and her private secretary ([[Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes|Robert Fellowes]]), Elizabeth wrote to Charles and Diana at the end of December 1995, suggesting that a divorce would be advisable.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|1p=357|Pimlott|2001|2p=577}}

In August 1997, a year after the divorce, Diana [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|was killed]] in a car crash in Paris. Elizabeth was on holiday with her extended family at Balmoral. Diana's two sons, Princes William and [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex|Harry]], wanted to attend church, so Elizabeth and Philip took them that morning.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|1p=358|Hardman|2011|2p=101|Pimlott|2001|3p=610}} Afterwards, for five days, the royal couple shielded their grandsons from the intense press interest by keeping them at Balmoral where they could grieve in private,{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bond|2006|1p=134|Brandreth|2004|2p=358|Marr|2011|3p=338|Pimlott|2001|4p=615}} but the royal family's silence and seclusion, and the failure to fly a flag at [[half-mast]] over Buckingham Palace, caused public dismay.<ref name=MacQueen />{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bond|2006|1p=134|Brandreth|2004|2p=358|Lacey|2002|3pp=6–7|Pimlott|2001|4p=616|Roberts|2000|5p=98|Shawcross|2002|6p=8}} Pressured by the hostile reaction, Elizabeth agreed to return to London and address the nation in a [[Addresses to the nation by Elizabeth II|live television broadcast]] on 5&nbsp;September, the day before [[Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales|Diana's funeral]].{{Sfnm|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|1pp=358–359|Lacey|2002|2pp=8–9|Pimlott|2001|3pp=621–622}} In the broadcast, she expressed admiration for Diana and her feelings "as a grandmother" for the two princes.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bond|2006|1p=134|Brandreth|2004|2p=359|Lacey|2002|3pp=13–15|Pimlott|2001|4pp=623–624}} As a result, much of the public hostility evaporated.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bond|2006|1p=134|Brandreth|2004|2p=359|Lacey|2002|3pp=13–15|Pimlott|2001|4pp=623–624}}

In October 1997, Elizabeth and Philip made a state visit to India, which included a controversial visit to the site of the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre]] to pay her respects. Protesters chanted "Killer Queen, go back",<ref name="goback">{{Cite news |date=14 October 1997 |title=Indian group calls off protest, accepts queen's regrets |url=https://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9710/14/india.queen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503202629/https://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9710/14/india.queen |archive-date=3 May 2021 |access-date=3 May 2021 |publisher=CNN |location=Amritsar, India |mode=cs2}}</ref> and there were demands for her to apologise for the action of British troops 78 years earlier.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news |last=Burns |first=John F. |date=15 October 1997 |title=In India, Queen Bows Her Head Over a Massacre in 1919 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/15/world/in-india-queen-bows-her-head-over-a-massacre-in-1919.html?smid=pl-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517191611/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/15/world/in-india-queen-bows-her-head-over-a-massacre-in-1919.html?smid=pl-share |archive-date=17 May 2013 |access-date=12 February 2013 |work=The New York Times |mode=cs2}}</ref> At the memorial in the park, she and Philip laid a [[wreath]] and stood for a 30‑second [[moment of silence]].<ref name="NYT" /> As a result, much of the fury among the public softened, and the protests were called off.<ref name="goback" /> That November, the royal couple held a reception at [[Banqueting House]] to mark their golden wedding anniversary.<ref name="G-Wedding-Anniversary">{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Connie |date=20 November 1997 |title=A speech by The Queen on her Golden Wedding Anniversary |url=https://www.royal.uk/golden-wedding-speech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110073945/https://www.royal.uk/golden-wedding-speech |archive-date=10 January 2019 |access-date=10 February 2017 |work=The Royal Family |publisher=Royal Household |mode=cs2}}</ref> Elizabeth made a speech and praised Philip for his role as consort, referring to him as "my strength and stay".<ref name="G-Wedding-Anniversary" />

In 1999, as part of the process of [[devolution in the United Kingdom]], Elizabeth formally opened newly established legislatures for Wales and Scotland: the [[National Assembly for Wales]] at [[Cardiff]] in May,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Geoffrey |date=27 May 1999 |title=Welsh crown day with a song |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/may/27/wales.devolution1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163608/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/may/27/wales.devolution1 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |access-date=16 September 2022 |work=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref> and the [[Scottish Parliament]] at [[Edinburgh]] in July.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Engel |first=Matthew |date=2 July 1999 |title=Something for everyone as Scots at last put history behind them |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/jul/02/scotlanddevolution.devolution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914185759/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/jul/02/scotlanddevolution.devolution |archive-date=14 September 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022 |work=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref>