Queen Elizabeth the world’s longest-serving monarch passed away at the age of 96. It is noted that the Queen died peacefully at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland according to the royal family.
Originally born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, she was Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Her initial reign of 70 years and 214 days was by far the longest of any British monarch in history. This reign was from February 6, 1952, until her untimely death this Thursday, September 8, 2022. It was also the second longest recorded reign of any monarch of a sovereign country in history.
Tributes To The Queen
The most famous building in Manhattan will be bathed in regal colors this Thursday night in a tribute to the late longtime monarch. Queen Elizabeth was often photographed wearing the color purple, a color closely associated with royalty and wealth for centuries. This is mainly due to the fact that the dye once needed to produce it was very rare and expensive.
The White House lowered its flag to half-staff in honor of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. The lowering, which was captured on video shortly before 3:30 p.m. ET, came just moments after President Biden released his official statement on the monarch’s passing.
Condolences
Pope Francis sent a letter Thursday to King Charles after the death of Queen Elizabeth, paying tribute to his mother’s “steadfast witness of faith” and offering prayers.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I offer heartfelt condolences,” the pope wrote in a telegram. “I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service.”
What is an Heir Presumptive?
Elizabeth was born in Mayfair London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. This describes an heir who stands to inherit the estate, title, or office of an intestate ancestor. Their claim can be defeated if a relative who is closer to the ancestor is born prior to the ancestor’s death.
During her grandfather’s reign, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the British throne, behind her uncle Edward and her father. Although her birth generated public interest, she was not expected to become queen. This was thought to be so since her uncle Edward was still young and likely to marry. He was also suspected to bear children of his own, who would precede Elizabeth in the line of succession.
She was the 32nd great-granddaughter of King Alfred the Great, England’s first monarch. He reigned from 871 to 899. When her grandfather died in the year of 1936 her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII. She then became second in line to the throne, after her father. Later that year, her uncle abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorced socialite. This in turn provoked a constitutional crisis amongst the royal family.
All Hail King George VI
Following this crisis, Elizabeth’s father took the throne and became king. He then adopted the regnal name George VI. Queen Elizabeth had no male sibling which allowed her to become the heir presumptive. If her parents had given birth to a male child he would have been heir apparent. This would obviously place him above her in the line of succession. This process was determined by male-preference primogeniture at the time.
The Royal Years
During the year of 1940, Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast at the ripe age of 14 during the BBC’s Children’s Hour. This broadcast was created to address other children who had been evacuated from the cities.
In 1943, Elizabeth undertook her first solo public appearance on a visit to the Grenadier Guards, which she had been appointed as a colonel the previous year. As she approached her 18th birthday, parliament changed the law so she could act as one of five Counsellors of State. This would be beneficial in the event of her father’s incapacity or absence abroad.
She celebrated six jubilees, her 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 65th, and 70th years on the throne, as well as the marriages of her four children and the births of eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. In 2015, Elizabeth overtook her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria to become the oldest and longest-reigning British monarch.
Her Marriage & Family Life
Elizabeth fell in love with Philip Mountbatten after meeting for the third time at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. Their engagement was announced on July 9, 1947. This was yet another controversial marriage amongst the royal family. Philip had no financial standing, and was foreign-born. He also had sisters who had married German noblemen who had alleged links to the Nazi party.
Shortly before the wedding, he was created Duke of Edinburgh and granted the style of His Royal Highness. Elizabeth and Philip were married on November 20, 1947, at the Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles, on November 14, 1948. A second child, Princess Anne, was born on 15 August 1950. They had four children together. Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex included.
Elizabeth Becomes Queen
In 1952, Elizabeth and Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, began a tour of Australia and New Zealand by stopping in Africa. While they were in Kenya, the news reached them on Feb. 6 that King George had died. At age 25, Elizabeth ascended to the throne and was crowned the following year in the first live television coronation to be broadcast around the world.
In May 2017, just a month before Philip’s 96th birthday, Buckingham Palace announced that the duke was retiring from his royal duties as of September. He later died at age 99 on April 9, 2021. It is noted that the 16th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla, and the duke’s funeral was four days before Elizabeth’s 95th birthday on April 21.
On June 20th the queen planted a specially bred rose named the Duke of Edinburgh in Windsor Castle’s East Terrace Garden. This would have been the day of her husband’s 100th birthday.
Operation London Bridge
Under a long-standing plan known as “Operation London Bridge,” her death ushers in 10 days of national mourning. Her son Charles became king upon her death and will be called King Charles III.
