Queen Elizabeth II: Service and Duty
Buckingham Palace announces the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, at age 96. She devoted over 70 years to modernising and protecting the monarchy, travelling extensively, and serving the public. Her legacy includes a famous quote:
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”
Survived by four children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, she will be deeply missed after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, earlier in 2021. Prince Charles will succeed her as king, followed by his son, Prince William.
Becoming Queen Elizabeth
Princess Elizabeth of York was born in Mayfair on 21 April 1926 and had a privileged upbringing. When her uncle abdicated the throne, her father became King George VI and Elizabeth became the heir. At 14, during World War II, she gave her first public broadcast to uplift the public’s morale. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 and married Prince Philip in 1947, becoming a mother to Charles III and Anne. In 1952, she became Queen following her father's death, and a year later, over 20 million people watched her televised coronation. Her reign was marked by extensive tours, and she embraced television, giving her first televised Christmas message in 1957. She had two more children, Andrew and Edward.
Preserving the Royal Family
Despite the world's modernization, the Queen remained committed to preserving the traditions of the royal family. One of the first challenges she faced was her sister Margaret's desire to marry Anthony Townsend, which was opposed by parliament and the Church of England. Margaret eventually abandoned her plans to marry Townsend.
The Queen tried to balance allowing the public greater access to her family while maintaining their privacy. In 1969, a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the family was reportedly banned from being broadcast again after it revealed too much about their personal lives.
Throughout her reign, the Queen's family has faced public scrutiny, with three of her children undergoing public divorces. Prince Charles' relationship with Princess Diana was heavily scrutinised, including his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. In 1995, Diana gave a bombshell interview in which she revealed her struggles with postnatal depression and bulimia and criticised the royal family for using it against her.
When Diana died in a car accident in Paris in 1997, the Queen was criticised for not speaking out and returning to London earlier. However, she eventually gave a speech acknowledging the public's grief and honouring Diana's memory. Her grandson, Prince William, later described her as trying to protect him and his brother during that difficult time.
In recent years, the Queen's family has continued to attract negative attention. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's public criticisms of the royal family's inner workings and their treatment of Meghan have been highly publicised. Additionally, Prince Andrew's connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a sexual abuse lawsuit in the United States have tarnished the family's reputation. Andrew stepped away from his royal duties in 2019 as a result of the scandal.
An Adored Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II has maintained her popularity and stability in British society, consistently ranking as the most preferred member of the royal family in recent polls. Over her long reign, she has had audiences with 15 prime ministers and has opened every session of parliament except for two instances when she was pregnant with her sons Andrew and Edward. While the Queen has a love for animals and the outdoors and has bred thoroughbred horses and corgis, she has also taken on causes that are important to her, such as addressing world leaders to take action on climate change. Her Platinum Jubilee message expressed gratitude for the support of the public and a commitment to serving them with the help of her family. However, her passing is expected to have a profound impact on the monarchy and the UK as they navigate a new era without the steady and stable leadership that Queen Elizabeth II has provided for so many years.
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