London Bridge has fallen.
After her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral Castle at the ripe age of 96 on September 8th; her passing was announced by Buckingham Palace later that evening.
Her son, Prince Charles III at 73, becomes King.
Her highness, known in full as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, was born on April 2, 1926 in Mayfair, London to the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Albert and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. She was the eldest of two children.
Queen Elizabeth’s father, officially King George VI, acceded to the throne in December 1936 after her uncle, Edward VIII (former Duke of Windsor), renounced his title, thereby making her line to the throne apparent.
Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1952 after the death of her father a few months prior. At the age of 25, she was crowned and promptly hailed as the Queen of the United Kingdom, as well as the Head of the Commonwealth.
Her title extends to the Head of the Armed Forces, which granted her the sole power to declare war, and the Head of the Church of England, wherein allowed her to appoint archbishops and bishops under the guidance of the serving Prime Minister.
Her main duties included appointing the newly-elected government officials, opening and dissolving the Parliament, and approving bills through Royal Assent. She also frequently travelled to different countries abroad to meet with other state officials.
During her time, there have been 179 prime ministers within the Commonwealth Realm; 15 of which served in the United Kingdom, starting with Winston Churchill (1940-45 and 1951-55) whom she worked with closely immediately after her coronation, to Liz Truss (2022-present), whom she appointed only two days before her death.
Moreover, her reign marked numerous achievements: most notably, the country’s stability post-World War II, which is attributed to her silent leadership, and the growth of the Commonwealth from less than 10 member states to 54 in the present.
Upon hearing of the Queen’s death, people from all over the world—ordinary citizens, state officials and world leaders—expressed their condolences online. In London, thousands lined the streets to pay their respects—lighting candles, and leaving behind heart-felt letters, flowers, and gifts.
Her death, however, was not met without controversy. Others voiced their indifference towards her along with the rest of the British royal family on social media; anti-royal protesters were also seen with some even arrested by authorities.
On September 19, nearly two weeks after the fact, Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey began at 11 am and was televised live on multiple broadcast stations and streaming platforms. It is estimated that 4 billion people tuned in to watch.
Aside from the royal family, world leaders that were also present during the procession included US President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and more.
Sources:
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Queen Elizabeth II, longest-reigning monarch of U.K., dies – The Hindu
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Elizabeth II | Biography, Family, Reign, & Facts | Britannica
— Writer Bianca Eunice M. Calma can be reached at biancaeunice7589@gmail.com. Follow her on instagram @biaxeu and Facebook Bianca Eunice Calma.
— Editor Yu (Lulu) Juan can be reached at juanyu.lulu@gmail.com. Follow her on instagram @juanyu.lulu.
