At the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth II, who has ruled England for the longest, passed away peacefully on Thursday at Balmoral Castle. During her 70 years as ruler, the kingdom she reigned over underwent great change and upheaval. She was praised for her constant, calming presence throughout the entire process. An international outpouring of mourning followed her passing.
On September 6, only two days before she passed away, the queen named Liz Truss as the 15th British prime minister, although the queen herself never intended to rule. Her brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated the kingdom after choosing to wed American divorcee Wallis Simpson, and her father, King George V, succeeded him. Following the passing of her father in 1952, Elizabeth was just 25 when she ascended to the queen.
The British people’s unwavering fealty to the queen had been replaced by a range of feelings, from devoted and frequently adoring tolerance to unrestrained contempt, which is just as revealing in the histories of her rule. More than ever, the monarchy had to defend its position in the eyes of a sometimes suspicious public.
Queen Elizabeth II rose to prominence as history’s most traveled and visible monarch. Her personality, though, is still a mystery. She is well known for her love of corgis, horse racing, and spending time with her grandkids and great-grandchildren. But because she rarely expressed a personal viewpoint, it is more challenging to ascertain her opinions on the significant political and social developments she observed throughout the course of her reign. (Even though the UK chose to exit the EU in 2016, the queen maintained her impartiality so well that it took her years to openly accept the outcome.) Screenwriters have speculated on the numerous private talks that occurred in works like the 2006 movie The Queen and the Netflix series The Crown due to the cloak of secrecy surrounding them.
How will people remember Queen Elizabeth II? There was discussion of a “new Elizabethan” period in the 1950s. But the queen’s subtle influence was overshadowed by too many significant historical occurrences in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The queen, however, remained a well-respected and adored figure despite all of these changes. Her largest contribution may be bringing the monarchy into the twenty-first century at a time when there are fewer royal families than ever.
What legacy will Queen Elizabeth II leave behind? A “new Elizabethan” era was discussed in the 1950s. But the modest impact of the queen was eclipsed by too many historical occurrences in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. But despite all of these changes, the queen continued to be a well-liked and respected figure. Her greatest contribution to history may be bringing the monarchy into the twenty-first century at a time when there are fewer monarchies in the globe than ever.
Both for Queen Elizabeth as a person and for the position she held, there was such a strong affection. And now that they are no longer around, it will be intriguing to observe how King Charles III would sustain the British people’s tolerance for this institution, which has occasionally been dubbed archaic and outmoded by critics. There have been times when it has drawn heavy fire from the court of public opinion. Most of the time, Queen Elizabeth was able to rise above and remain above the fray, but her descendants were undoubtedly not exempt.
Despite this, Queen Elizabeth continues to be a queen of unmatched accomplishment. Princess Elizabeth was just 13 years old in 1939, the year when World War II began. The National World War II Museum highlighted that while her father King George VI and his wife, Elizabeth, remained at Buckingham Palace during the Blitz in 1940 in solidarity with the rest of the populace, the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were evacuated to Windsor Castle, 20 miles away.
Elizabeth experienced a strong feeling of duty as the conflict continued. She reportedly intended to enlist as soon as she turned 18 in 1944, but the royal family forbade it because it might endanger the heir to the kingdom, according to Biography. Elizabeth persisted in her efforts despite being told repeatedly “no.” Elizabeth was given permission to enlist in the military in 1945 when she was 18 years old. She enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Territory Service (ATS) and completed a six-week auto mechanic training program.
One of Queen Elizabeth’s biggest accomplishments was just being a reliable, steady ruler, which may not seem like a huge thing. There had been a time of uncertainty before her ascent. She was just 10 years old when her uncle King Edward VIII resigned, according to CBS News, which caused chaos in the monarchy. Her father assumed the role of King George VI, but according to Vanity Fair, he did it very grudgingly since he dreaded the limelight and felt unprepared.
In this post-war era, stability was just what Elizabeth gave. She provided the nation with precisely what it needed as it emerged from a particularly tumultuous time, and she continued to provide exactly what the nation needed when a succession of new crises, such as economic difficulties and a declining place on the global arena, came upon it. According to The Independent, Elizabeth’s stability is essential since the need for the royal family is constantly questioned.
Almost the whole British Empire underwent a transformation into a voluntary association of sovereign states under the direction of Queen Elizabeth. Only a handful of islands remain in the British “empire,” and her own power is essentially reduced to ceremonial status. But unlike previous empires that have literally burned to the ground, Elizabeth mostly presided over the quiet, orderly demise of hers.
With a legacy of stability, succession, modernity and humanity — Queen Elizabeth will most certainly go down in history as a monarch for the ages.
