The Queen has attended 34 Royal Variety performances.

The Queen has opened 15 bridges in the United Kingdom during her reign.

The Queen has given over 91 State banquets during her reign.

Since 1952, The Queen has undertaken 78 State Visits accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh with the most recent being to Singapore in March, 2006.

The Queen has launched 23 ships in her lifetime. The first was HMS Vanguard which she launched, as Princess Elizabeth, on November 30 1944 in Clydebank. The first ship which she launched as Queen was Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, which was also launched from Clydebank.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have sent about 37,500 Christmas cards during The Queen's reign.

The Queen has given out about 78,000 Christmas puddings to staff continuing the custom of King George V and King George VI. In addition, The Queen gives all her staff a gift at Christmas time.

Every year The Queen sends Christmas trees to Westminster Abbey, Wellington Barracks, St Paul's Cathedral, St Giles, Edinburgh, The Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, Crathie Church and local schools and churches in the Sandringham area.

The Queen learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Army.

The Queen was a Girl Guide (1937) and Sea Ranger (1943).