Elizabeth II

=== Beliefs, activities, and interests ===
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II - 1974 Royal Tour of NZ - Oamaru with Mayor Bill Laney (4).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Petting a dog in New Zealand, 1974]]

Elizabeth rarely gave interviews, and little was known of her political opinions, which she did not express explicitly in public. It is against convention to ask or reveal the monarch's views. When ''Times'' journalist [[Paul Routledge]] asked her about the [[miners' strike of 1984–85]] during a royal tour of the newspaper's offices, she replied that it was "all about one man" (a reference to [[Arthur Scargill]]),<ref name="BBCRoutledge1999">{{Cite news |last=Walton |first=John |date=16 January 1999 |title=The author of political scandal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/255159.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218235624/https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/255159.stm |archive-date=18 December 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> with which Routledge disagreed.{{Sfn|ps=none|Routledge|1994|page=xiii}} Routledge was widely criticised in the media for asking the question and claimed that he was unaware of the protocols.{{Sfn|ps=none|Routledge|1994|page=xiii}} After the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] was overheard saying that Elizabeth was pleased with the outcome.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dominiczak |first=Peter |date=24 September 2014 |title=David Cameron: I'm extremely sorry for saying Queen 'purred' over Scottish Independence vote |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/11120146/David-Cameron-Im-extremely-sorry-for-saying-Queen-purred-over-Scottish-Independence-vote.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220109050127/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/11120146/David-Cameron-Im-extremely-sorry-for-saying-Queen-purred-over-Scottish-Independence-vote.html |archive-date=9 January 2022 |access-date=8 October 2018 |work=The Telegraph |mode=cs2}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> She had arguably issued a public coded statement about the referendum by telling one woman outside Balmoral Kirk that she hoped people would think "very carefully" about the outcome. It emerged later that Cameron had specifically requested that she register her concern.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=19 September 2019 |title=David Cameron sought intervention from Queen on Scottish independence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/19/david-cameron-sought-intervention-from-queen-on-scottish-independence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107212310/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/19/david-cameron-sought-intervention-from-queen-on-scottish-independence |archive-date=7 November 2021 |access-date=16 October 2022 |website=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref>

Elizabeth had a deep sense of religious and [[civic duty]], and took her [[Coronation Oath]] seriously.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=19 April 2006 |title=Queen 'will do her job for life' |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4921120.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208145900/https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4921120.stm |archive-date=8 December 2008 |access-date=4 February 2007 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}; | {{Harvnb|Shawcross|2002|pp=194–195}}}}</ref> Aside from her [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom#Religious role|official religious role]] as [[supreme governor]] of the [[State religion|established]] Church of England, she worshipped with that church and with the national [[Church of Scotland]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2010 |title=Our structure |url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-structure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125192732/https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-structure |archive-date=25 January 2020 |access-date=23 April 2022 |publisher=Church of Scotland |mode=cs2}}</ref> She demonstrated support for [[inter-faith]] relations and met with leaders of other churches and religions, including five popes: [[Pius&nbsp;XII]], [[John&nbsp;XXIII]], [[John Paul&nbsp;II]], [[Benedict&nbsp;XVI]] and [[Pope Francis|Francis]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2014 |title=Queen meets Pope Francis at the Vatican |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26867032 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528055839/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26867032 |archive-date=28 May 2017 |access-date=28 March 2017 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> A personal note about her faith often featured in her annual [[Christmas Message]] broadcast to the Commonwealth. In 2000, she said:<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Connie |date=25 December 2000 |title=Christmas Broadcast 2000 |url=https://www.royal.uk/christmas-broadcast-2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507175203/https://www.royal.uk/christmas-broadcast-2000 |archive-date=7 May 2016 |access-date=18 April 2016 |work=The Royal Family |publisher=Royal Household |ref=none |mode=cs2}}; | {{Harvnb|Shawcross|2002|pp=236–237}}}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ's words and example.}}

Elizabeth was [[patron]] of more than 600 organisations and charities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2014 |title=About The Patron's Lunch |url=https://www.thepatronslunch.com/about-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317233039/https://www.thepatronslunch.com/about-2 |archive-date=17 March 2016 |access-date=28 April 2016 |publisher=The Patron's Lunch |mode=cs2}}</ref> The [[Charities Aid Foundation]] estimated that Elizabeth helped raise over £1.4&nbsp;billion for her patronages during her reign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hodge |first=Kate |date=11 June 2012 |title=The Queen has done more for charity than any other monarch in history |url=https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2012/jun/11/queen-charitable-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222170933/https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2012/jun/11/queen-charitable-support |archive-date=22 February 2021 |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref> Her main leisure interests included [[Horses of Elizabeth II|equestrianism]] and dogs, especially her [[Pembroke Welsh Corgi]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |title=80 facts about The Queen |url=https://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Factfiles/80factsaboutTheQueen.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321215851/https://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Factfiles/80factsaboutTheQueen.aspx |archive-date=21 March 2009 |access-date=20 June 2010 |publisher=Royal Household |mode=cs2}}</ref> Her lifelong love of corgis began in 1933 with [[Dookie (dog)|Dookie]], the first of many [[royal corgi]]s.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Harvnb|Bush|2007|page=115}}; | {{Cite news |last=Pierce |first=Andrew |date=1 October 2007 |title=Hug for Queen Elizabeth's first corgi |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564705/Hug-for-Queen-Elizabeths-first-corgi.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/dzjXo |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=21 September 2012 |work=The Telegraph |ref=none |mode=cs2}}{{Cbignore}}}}</ref> Scenes of a relaxed, informal home life were occasionally witnessed; she and her family, from time to time, prepared a meal together and washed the dishes afterwards.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Delacourt |first=Susan |date=25 May 2012 |title=When the Queen is your boss |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/royals/2012/05/25/when_the_queen_is_your_boss.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307084753/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/royals/2012/05/25/when_the_queen_is_your_boss.html |archive-date=7 March 2013 |access-date=27 May 2012 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |mode=cs2}}</ref>