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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,341,285 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The terms British monarch and British monarchy may mean different things in different contexts beyond the United Kingdom. The present monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 6 February 1952. The heir apparent is her eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales and Duke of Rothesay. They and the Queen’s husband and consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, undertake various public duties in accordance with their positions. Elizabeth II is Head of the Commonwealth and also reigns as head of state of 15 other Commonwealth countries. This developed from the former colonial relationship of these countries to Britain, but they are now independent and the monarchy of each is legally distinct. (more…)Recently featured: Reactive attachment disorder – Emma Goldman – Cannibal HolocaustArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:..that Emmy Noether (pictured) was called “the most significant creative mathematical genius thus far produced since the higher education of women began” by Albert Einstein?…that the Poughkeepsie Trust Company building has been described as the Hudson Valley’s first modern skyscraper despite being only six stories high?…that the Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway to Waltham, Quebec was completed in 1888, but not opened until 1894, stopped in 1959, and finally was removed in 1984?…that despite being one of the strongest tropical cyclones to make landfall on Western Australia, Cyclone Glenda caused minimal damage and no deaths?…that broken remains of three medieval high crosses were found in 1874 during the construction of Barnes Hospital in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, but the location of only one is known today?…that the Delhi-Lahore Bus, a symbol of Indo-Pakistani friendship, continued running during the 1999 Kargil War?…that actor Jason Beghe became best friends with John F. Kennedy, Jr. and David Duchovny when they attended Collegiate School in New York City?…that Children At Risk, a Houston-based non-profit, publishes a biannual report, Growing Up In Houston, which tracks 130 Quality of Life Indicators?…that the mine countermeasures ship USS Scout used her sonar to locate hazardous sunken debris off the Louisiana coast after Hurricane Katrina?…that Chillenden Windmill was the last post mill built in Kent, replacing a mill that had blown down in 1868, and that it was itself blown down in 2003?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsFernando Lugo (pictured) wins the presidential election in Paraguay, ending 61 years of single-party rule under the Colorado Party.In auto racing, Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first female driver to win an IndyCar race.An airliner operated by Hewa Bora Airways crashes upon takeoff in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 44 people.An alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi of the People of Freedom party wins the general election in Italy.Trevor Immelman of South Africa wins the 2008 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.Jacques-Édouard Alexis is ousted as Prime Minister of Haiti following riots over the price of food.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…April 21: Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts and Maine (2008); Grounation Day in the Rastafari movement; First day of Ridván in the Bahá’í Faith; Tiradentes Day in Brazil.753 BC – Romulus and Remus founded Rome, according to the calculations by Roman scholar Varro Reatinus.1836 – Texan forces led by Sam Houston (pictured) defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna and his Mexican troops in the Battle of San Jacinto near La Porte, the decisive battle in the Texas Revolution.1894 – Norway formally adopted the Krag-Jørgensen, a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen, as the main firearm of its armed forces.1918 – The German fighter pilot known as “The Red Baron”, the most successful flying ace of World War I with 80 confirmed air combat victories, was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme in France.1967 – Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos overthrew the government of Prime Minister Panagiotis Kanellopoulos in a coup d’état, establishing the Regime of the Colonels in Greece.1970 – In response to a long-running dispute over wheat quotas, the Principality of Hutt River proclaimed their secession from Western Australia, but to this day has never been formally acknowledged by the Commonwealth of Australia or any other international entity.More events: April 20 – April 21 – April 22Archive – By email – More anniversaries…Today’s featured pictureChamp de Mars, Paris (Paris, France), as seen from the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower. In the distance is Tour Montparnasse and the dome on the left is Les Invalides. The École Militaire is at the end of the Champ de Mars. In English the name means “Field of Mars”, from Mars the Roman god of war, from its original use for military training. During the French Revolution, the Champ de Mars was the setting of the Fête de la Fédération, on 14 July 1790.Photo credit: David IliffRecently featured: Hairy Toad Lily – Ocybadistes walkeri – Red lionfishArchive – More featured pictures…