Queen Elizabeth II: 1926-2022
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Today we honor Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch, whose 70 years of dedicated service will never be forgotten. and an individual who set the bar for a life devoted to service.
From being the first woman in the Royal family to serve in the British Armed Forces, to supporting changes to modernize the succession law, Her Majesty was a trailblazer through her life. Just as strong as her devotion to her country stood a woman dedicated at her very core to family.
We mourn her passing and offer our condolences to the Royal Family at this very sad time.
If you would like to send a message of condolence directly to the family, please click here. The Royal Family will be given a selection of messages from the public to read.
When Her Majesty was born in London in 1926, her grandfather George V was king. At this stage she was third in line to the throne behind her father Albert and his older brother Edward, and was not expected to ever take the throne.
When King George VI died in early 1936, Edward VIII took the throne, but by the end of that year had abdicated, leaving Elizabeth's father Albert (crowned George VI) to become king.
In 1939, Princess Elizabeth met her future husband Cadet Captain Philip of Greece at the Britannia Royal Naval College.
In 1940 Elizabeth made her first broadcast to the nation, shortly followed by her first public engagement in 1942 at the age of 16.
During World War II, Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Two years later, in 1947, Elizabeth and Philip announced their engagement, marrying later that same year.
In 1948 their first child Prince Charles was born, followed by Princess Anne in 1950.
In 1952, at the age of 25, upon the death of her father, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne, culminating in a coronation ceremony in 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen's third child Prince Andrew was born in 1960, followed by Prince Edward in 1961.
Over the next few decades Her Majesty was given multiple grandchildren, visited countries all over the world and celebrated her silver, golden and diamond jubilees, surpassing Queen Victoria in 2007 as the UK’s oldest reigning monarch.
In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria again, becoming Great Britain's longest reigning monarch, and second longest in the world.
After 70 years of marriage, Her Majesty and Prince Philip celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary in 2017.
After 73 years of marriage, Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle in 2021, two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Between 2-5 June 2022, Britain celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 impressive years on the throne. The nation celebrated with a bank holiday weekend dedicated to Her Majesty, who said in a written note that she was "deeply touched that so many people [had] taken to the streets to celebrate”.
On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, leaving behind a formidable legacy and a nation that will never forget her 70 years of dedicated service. She is succeeded by her son, King Charles III.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
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