Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sad to report that Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history, has passed away at the age of 96. It’s hard to believe this has actually happened. It truly seemed as if she might live forever.
According to a report from The Daily Wire, The Royal Family took to Twitter to share the news about her passing in a statement that said, “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
While the monarchy in British is mostly just a ceremonial institution legally, Queen Elizabeth II managed to work wonders for her nation’s morale throughout the tenure of her reign, especially when the country faced times of political and societal turmoil. One of her greatest achievements actually came early on in her career as she served as a stalwart symbol in light of all of the drama that arose after her ascension to the throne in the early part of the 1950s.
Here are more details from the Daily Wire report:
Her Majesty was active during the entirety of her decades-long reign. The most well-traveled monarch in history, the Queen visited 110 countries and was received so well that major parks, cities, and statues bearing her namesake can be found in nearly every corner of the globe. She was ubiquitous in popular culture, appearing in ceremonies, sporting events, and coins, and was the subject of films and shows. As of 2021, Queen Elizabeth II was named the third most admired woman in a global survey. She was the only royal on the list.
“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change,” said Queen Elizabeth II during a Christmas Broadcast in 2019.
Elizabeth was born in 1926 in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father later became King George VI when his older brother King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. During World War II, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service and worked as a driver and mechanic. She became the first female member of the royal family to serve in the armed forces and, when she died, was the only living head of state to serve.
After Elizabeth turned 21, she vowed to serve the Commonwealth with her life, saying, “I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple. I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
She then renewed that same vow during the Platinum Jubilee celebration earlier in 2022, where she became the very first English monarch to ever reign for 70 years.
“Elizabeth wed Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, in 1947. Philip and Elizabeth first met in 1934 at a royal family wedding but the romantic spark didn’t light until a few years later in 1939 when she was 13 and he was 18. The strapping cadet caught Elizabeth’s eye while she was with her parents visiting Britain’s Royal Naval College,” the report said.
The two were married for a total of 73 years until Prince Philip died last year. The couple had four children: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Prince Charles, who is now expected to ascend the throne.
Taking her place on the throne will be her son, Prince Charles, who will become King Charles III. Say a prayer for the folks in Britain today as they mourn the loss as a nation.