Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – A Triumphant And Storied Legacy
Queen Elizabeth II was known to be a constant presence in a changing world. Throughout her tenure as Sovereign, Her Majesty saw the world around her evolve and grow and she remained an ever-present figure of continuity and reliability.
REMEMBERING HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Queen Elizabeth II was born April 21, 1926 in Mayfair to the Duke and Duchess of York. The trajectory of Her Majesty’s life would be forever change when her father became Sovereign after the abdication of his older brother, King Edward VIII.
Princess Elizabeth married Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark in 1947. After they wed, Prince Phillip was made Duke Of Edinburgh and renounced his former titles. Together, Her Majesty and the Duke Of Edinburgh would have four children and be succeeded by their eldest son, Charles.
At only 27, Elizabeth II was crowned Her Majesty The Queen at Westminster Abbey following the death of her father King George VI. While embarking for a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1952, news of the death of King George VI put her reign into immediate effect.
The Queen has met with some of the world’s most prominent and historically significant leaders and cultural figures. Her 70 year reign has seen the rise and departure of 15 British prime ministers, 14 US presidents and countless heads of state and government. Yet Queen Elizabeth II remained.
BBC News’ obituary reports the British Empire lost much of its influence and power during her reign, and Queen Elizabeth was present for the evolution of her empire into the Commonwealth as we know it. Her Majesty saw the fall of the Berlin wall, the end of South Africa’s apartheid and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. She also faced much personal adversity.
The Royal Family evolved alongside the world managing to maintain their aspirational image as the leading example of British greatness. But, as with all families, there have been incredibly difficult times that The Royal Family have had to face. The time known as annus horribilis during 1992 saw the Windsors face a handful of divorces between senior members of the family, a fire at Windsor castle and increasing public scrutiny, reports BBC News.
The death of her daughter-in-law Diana caused ripples across the world. The “people’s princess” had a turbulent relationship with The Queen prior to her death, which led to many believing there were existing tensions before her untimely passing. Queen Elizabeth II dispelled these rumours by paying tribute to Diana and meeting with those who grieved her outside the palace.
Queen Elizabeth’s duty was to remain steadfast in the face of rapid change. Her role was not to disrupt institutions or encourage major overhauls but this isn’t to say that she didn’t break from tradition. Her Majesty danced with Kwame Nkrumah, the president of Ghana, in 1962 to help ease tensions between the UK and Ghana. She encouraged economic sanctions for South Africa during apartheid despite PM Margaret Thatcher’s reluctance. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to visit the Republic Of Ireland since it was still part of the UK, reports BBC News.
Her Majesty will be remembered for her commitment to her duties, her love of her people and country and for her legacy as a Queen for the people.
