Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II became the Queen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and various other countries in 1952. One of the longest-serving British monarchs, her reign continued into the 21st century. The Queen has had several direct and indirect encounters with the Doctor during her reign.

20th century
The Wire attempted to take the energy from the millions of Humans watching her 1953 coronation on their televisions. However, the Doctor foiled the Wire's plans. (DW: The Idiot's Lantern)

In 1988, her path almost crossed that of the Doctor (who did not recognize her) at Windsor Castle. (DW: Silver Nemesis)

In 1997, Queen Elizabeth was deposed by Lord Xznaal in May, but was later restored to the throne and her Recoronation was held on 23rd November. (NA: The Dying Days)

21st century
In 2001, Dr. Who, a fictional duplicate of the Doctor, tried several times to assassinate her, convinced she was the leader of an oppressive regime. During an appearance in Sheffield he eventually succeeded, but the self-doubts of his accomplice Jason, coupled with his own essentially fictional nature, meant that the Queen survived after all. (NA: Head Games)

On Christmas Day 2006, blood control powers of the Sycorax (operating out of a ship hovering over London) threatened to make Elizabeth II jump off a roof and kill herself, along with the rest of the British royal family. (DW: The Christmas Invasion) After the Battle of Canary Wharf (DW: Doomsday) in 2007, the Queen ordered the immediate closure of Torchwood 1 (WEB: torchwood.org.uk). The Following "Christmas Star" incident later in 2007 (DW: The Runaway Bride), also in London, led to the evacuation of citizens when the next Christmas came around in 2008. The Queen, however, staunchly decided to remain in Buckingham Palace.

During the evacuation, the Starship Titanic began to fall out of Earth's orbit, with Buckingham Palace as its impact site. The Doctor contacted the Palace and uttered a pre-arranged code number that resulted in the immediate evacuation of the Queen and her staff. The Queen could be heard thanking the Doctor by name as his piloting skills averted a crash (DW: Voyage of the Damned).


 * It's not known if Elizabeth II harbours any of the same suspicion of the Doctor as her ancestor, Queen Victoria (per DW: Tooth and Claw, TW: Fragments). The fact that during her reign the Doctor was active as UNIT's scientific advisor, and as late as his tenth incarnation possessed the ability to order the evacuation of Buckingham Palace, suggests at least some trust existed.

Other references
The regime of a fascist parallel England had the British royal family executed. Presumably, this would have included Queen Elizabeth. (DW: Inferno)

The Doctor theorized that the royal family including Elizabeth II were Werewolves after Queen Victoria was attacked by one. (DW: Tooth and Claw)

Elizabeth II is not on the throne on the parallel Earth known as Pete's World; on that world, Great Britain is a republic governed by a president. (DW: Rise of the Cybermen)

Elizabeth II is also apparently no longer on the throne at the time the Doctor reunited with The Brigadier for an adventure "several years" into Ace's future. (DW: Battlefield; a reference is made to a king in this serial)

In Donna's World the starship Titanic did hit Buckingham Palace, presumably killing the Queen if she had been present as she had been in the "normal" timeline.

Elizabeth II and Doctor Who
Elizabeth II reportedly enjoyed viewing classic Doctor Who and, when she met members of the Radiophonic Workshop commented on their connection with the series. The British press has reported that she now watches the new series.

Elizabeth II on Doctor Who
Mary Reynolds, uncredited, played the Queen in Silver Nemesis. Jessica Martin portrayed her in Voyage of the Damned. Archival footage of the Queen's coronation appeared in The Idiot's Lantern. Reportedly, John Nathan Turner attempted to get the Queen to appear as herself in Silver Nemesis, but was unsuccessful.

Behind the Scenes

 * According to the book The Writer's Tale, Russell T. Davies originally planned to end Voyage of the Damned with the Titanic actually destroying part of Buckingham Palace (though the Queen escapes). Rather than cheering the Doctor from the ground, Elizabeth -- in keeping with her ancestors Victoria and Elizabeth I -- would have been heard cursing the Doctor. This ending was scrapped as being too negative and special effects-intensive.


 * An actor playing Elizabeth appeared in a comedy sketch with Catherine Tate.