This afternoon, Buckinham Palace announced the death of the monarch with the longest term in the history of the British monarchy and the second longest among the monarchies in the world: Queen Elizabeth II.
She passed by at her 96 years old weakened by COVID-19 and just one year and a few months since her husband, Philip the Duke of Edimburg, died.
On 2nd June 1953 the world stopped to watch her coronation and today the world (at least the media) stopped their programms to air all news on Her Majesty’s death.
The rock modern Britain was built on
Born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive.
When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth (then 25 years old) became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (known today as Sri Lanka), as well as Head of the Commonwealth.
“We must give nothing less than the whole of ourselves”, She said in one of her many speeches since she was crowned.
Queen Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities and the recent withdrawal from the European Union.
The number of her realms got reduced over time as territories have gained independence and some of them have become republics.
“Queen Elisabeth was the rock on which modern Britain was built.
Our country has grown and flourished under her reign”…”It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elisabeth II leaves a great legacy .
God save the King”, the Prime Minister of the UK declared on Her Majesty’s passing by.
Leaving aside politics Queen Elisabeth II has managed to keep the monarchical institution relevant and connected to the average British citizen despite the deep and many changes UK society has experienced and the many scandals other members of the Royal Family have caused along the almost 70 years she has been holding her throne.
Lady Di’s divorce, her death in a car crush and , Prince Andrew involvement in Weinstein’s sex abuses scandal and Duke Henry and Meghan Merkle’s chosen exit from the Royal Family are among the deepest personal and institutional crisis Queen Elisabeth has dealt doing in each of them her very best to preserve the monarchical institution behind her inscrutable countenance.
Whether during the reconstruction period after the Second World War or calling on English citizens keeping untied to combat the COVID-19 pandemic with success, Queen Elizabeth has remained faithful to her very first oath of serving the country and the British people. She has actually set the royal standard very high for his successor.
Long life to the King
This same evening, Clarence House confirmed that Queen Elisabeth’s eldest son, the Prince of Wales has decided to succeed his mother under the name of King Charles III.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness and all members of my family.
We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Hundreds of heads of state have expressed their mourn and condolences by Queen Elisabeth’s death.
From Vladimir Putin to President Zelensky. From Pope Francis to muslim leaders Jordan King and UAE sheiks, among them. From The White House to The European Union leaders and Institutions are paying tribute to the Queen recognising Elisabeth II’s stature.
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has declared 3 official mouning days in the country paying tribute to QUeen Elisabeth. Argentina has left aside the conflict with UK on the Malvine Islands and payed tribute to the dead Queen.
One minute of silence was kept at today’s football match of the Europe League in memory of the unicque ‘Queen supporter’.
The King and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles Duchess of Cornwall will stay this evening at Balmoral. Both are expected to return Buckingham Palace tomorrow, following the official communication published by Clarence House.
The elder son of Queen Elisabeth II will be the first divorced member of the Royal Family to become the head of the Church of England and to be crowned as King of England.
This will be deepest change for the Royal Institution and the Church of England after Edward VII abdicated to marry Wally Simpson before the II World War.
Image over the headline.- Queen Elisabeth II, the ‘most colorful’ European crowned head in the world, unusually dressed in black and white. Image by Xmetov through Wikimedia Commons. To watch the original photo click here
Related Eastwind links (Spanish edition):
La «marca» Isabel II demuestra una salud de hierro durante el Jubileo de Platino
(Queen Elisabeth II’s brand shows ‘platinum healthy’ at her jubilee)
Related external links:
More on Queen Elisabeth’s life and reign
Queen Elisabeth II a cultural icon (video)
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: A Life of Service (video)
Statement from The King following the death of The Queen
UK Prime Miniter Liz Truss’ statement on Queen Elisabeth’s death:
The White House pays tribute to Queen Elisabeth II
Philip II King of Spain pays tribute to Queen Elisabeth II
Heartfelt letter from Philip II King of Spain to King Charles III on Queen Elisabeth II
Telegram of the Holy Father on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Ursula von der Leyen (President of EU Commission) pays tribute to Queen Elisabeth II:
Statement by EU Council President Charles Michel upon the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
Roberta Metsola (President of EU Parliament) pays tribute to Queen Elisabeth II:
La Casa Rosada (Argentine) mourns Queen Elisabeth II death
President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro’s mourn messages on twitter:
Benjamin Netanyahu (President of Israel):
Volodimyr Zelensky (President of Ukraine) heartfelt message by Queen Elisabeth II’s passing by
Vladimir Putin (President of The Russian Federation) condolences for Queen Elisabeth II death
King Abdullah of Jordan’s mourn message for Queen Elisabeth II’s death
