Queen Elizabeth-II

 

                    

               

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning modern monarch in British history, redefined what it meant to be a monarch and navigated a tremendous amount of change. Born in 1926, she ascended to the throne at age 25, and reigned for over 7 decades before passing away at the age of 96 on September 8th, 2022.

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has died at 96 years old. The longest reigning Monarch in British history dedicated a life to public and voluntary service as one of the most important elements of her work. 

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II after 70 years on the throne has meant that not just a monarch is gone at the age of 96, but decades of stability and continuity are suddenly gone, too. Correspondent Lee Cowan talks with the Queen's former chaplain, Gavin Ashenden; historian Sir David Cannadine; and Erin Vanderhoof (of the Vanity Fair podcast "Dynasty") about how the Queen's duty, poise, charisma, and adherence to tradition served her, and her subjects, during her seven-decade reign.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (April 21, 1926) is Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Her father ascended the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, with whom she had four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, as well as Head of the Commonwealth. On 9 April 2021, after over 73 years of marriage, her husband, Prince Philip, died at the age of 99.

Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, the longest-serving female head of state in history, the oldest living and longest-reigning current monarch, and the oldest and longest-serving incumbent head of state.