Instagram bug finally bites Queen Elizabeth II, joins the app
What's the story
Queen Elizabeth II made her much-awaited Instagram debut last week, delighting her followers. She was at the London's Science Museum, when she made her first post, in which she shared a letter from Charles Babbage to her great-great grandfather Prince Albert. In the post she wrote, "Science Museum has long championed technology, innovation and inspired the next generation of inventors." Read more for details.
Instagram Post
Queen Elizabeth's first Instagram post announced via a video
Background
Charles Babbage: Mechanical engineer, father of the computer, mathematician
For the uninitiated, Babbage was a mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer from England. He is considered as the father of computers. In the 19th century, he designed the 'Difference Engine', an automatic mechanical calculator. Prince Albert had the honor to see its first prototype back in 1843. In his letter to Albert, Babbage presented his invention of the Difference Engine's successor, 'Analytical Engine'.
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Augusta Ada King helped Babbage in shaping up Analytical Engine
Babbage was helped by Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, an English mathematician and writer, in giving shape to the Analytical Engine. Ada was the first to recognize that the machine had applications beyond pure calculation, and published the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine. As a result, she is sometimes regarded as the first computer programmer.
Event
Queen was in museum to celebrate the technology of communications
Back to the Queen, she was at the museum to celebrate technology of communications, and opened Smith Center, a series of evocative rooms and a yard, which was formerly part of a Victorian post office. She was learning about children's computer coding initiatives, when she found the letter from the Royal Archives. It was on display in the museum's 'Making the Modern World' gallery.
Information
The Queen joined social media in 2014, posted first tweet
However, the 92-year-old Queen made her first post from the Royal Family's official account and is actually not on Instagram herself. Notably, this is not the first tryst with social media for the Queen. She posted her first tweet way back in 2014.