The longest-reigning queen in British history was Queen Elizabeth II. With the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, she marked 70 years in power.
Queen Elizabeth II: Who Was She?
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2, 1953, after taking the throne on February 6, 1952. She was the grandmother of Princes William and Harry as well as the mother of Prince Charles, the successor to the throne. She strove to modernise her reign and be responsive to a changing public while upholding traditions linked with the throne as the longest-serving monarch in British history.
Death of Queen Elizabeth II
At age 96, Elizabeth passed away on September 8, 2022.
It is both incomparable and unfathomable how the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which Buckingham Palace revealed on Thursday, will affect Britain.
The end of a figure who served as a living link to the triumphs of World War II Britain, presided over its clumsy adjustment to a post-colonial, post-imperial era, and saw it through its painful divorce from the European Union is also marked by the passing of a revered monarch — the only one most Britons have ever known.
Early Years
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, in London to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Prince Albert, Duke of York (after known as King George VI).
Most people did not know Elizabeth would grow up to be the queen of Great Britain when she was born. Elizabeth, also known as Lilibet, was able to enjoy her first ten years of life with all the benefits that come with being a princess without the stress of having to be the heir apparent.
Elizabeth’s parents split their time between a residence in London and the family’s residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Tutors taught Elizabeth and Margaret, her younger sister, at home. French, math, and history were among the academic subjects covered, in addition to classes in singing, dancing, and painting.
Elizabeth Sister:
Elizabeth and her sister were evacuated to Windsor Castle prior to the start of World War II, and they mostly kept away from London during that time. She then went on to deliver the first of her well-known radio addresses in 1940, consoling the British youngsters who had been evacuated from their homes and relatives. The 14-year-old princess assured them that “in the end, all will be well; because God will care for us and give us victory and peace” while displaying her poise and firmness.
Elizabeth Govt Responsibilities:
Elizabeth quickly began assuming further governmental responsibilities. Elizabeth’s father appointed her colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards, and in 1942, she made her first public appearance inspecting the troops. She also started going with her dad on business trips to Britain.
To support the war effort, Elizabeth enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945. She received skilled driving and technical training side by side with other British women. Even though her volunteer work was short-lived (just a few months), it gave Elizabeth a window into a distinct, non-royal world. When she and Margaret were permitted to mix invisibly among the populace on Victory in Europe Day, she had yet another memorable encounter outside of the monarchy.
Ascendance to the throne
Elizabeth’s great-grandfather George V passed away in 1936, and Elizabeth’s uncle, Edward VIII, succeeded him as king. But Edward had to decide between the crown and his love for American divorcee Wallis Simpson since he was in love with her. Edward ultimately decided on Simpson and abdicated his throne.
Her life was altered by the incident, which presumptively made her the heir to the British throne. In order to highlight continuity with his father, her father adopted the name George when he was anointed King George VI in 1937. After King George’s death in 1952, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, assumed the title of Queen Mother, and her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, assumed the title of Queen.
Coronation
At the age of 25, Elizabeth has crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey.
When her father, King George VI, passed away on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth took on the duties of the reigning monarch. The coronation ceremony was televised for the first time ever, allowing viewers all around the world to see the pomp and circumstance of the occasion.
