This afternoon, September 8th, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II of England tragically passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Even as the world saw extreme conflict and chaos during her lifetime, Queen Elizabeth remained the UK’s keystone of stability, and, having ruled for 70 years, was the only monarch that most citizens of the UK have ever known.
Her son, now King Charles III, immediately ascended to the throne upon the Queen’s passing. The rest of the royal family made their way today to Balmoral Castle to mourn the death of their beloved family member. Charles described his mother’s passing as “a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” adding: “I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” King Charles will return to London to give a royal address tomorrow in the wake of his mother’s death.
Queen Elizabeth ruled during an extraordinary period in British history. She lived through the Axis Blitz during WWII and took her first step into public life at just 14 years old, when Elizabeth made her first radio address to all of the children forced from their homes by the war. She ascended to the throne at just 27 years old and spent much of her rule modernizing the Crown, the Royal Family, and the United Kingdom.
Queen Elizabeth’s rule saw many other conflicts including the Cold War, the Suez Crisis, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Gulf War, and the War in Afghanistan. Even through so much turbulence, Elizabeth remained a stable force for the British people to rely on, and her impact on history will not soon be forgotten.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss described the Queen’s death as “a huge shock to the nation and to the world.” Truss emphasized Queen Elizabeth’s impact on the UK, describing her as “the rock on which modern Britain was built.”
“Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. She was the very spirit of Great Britain, and that spirit will endure,” the Prime Minister said. “Britain is the great country it is today because of her. “We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation. Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.”
Having ruled for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth’s reign saw 15 UK prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to the newly appointed Liz Truss. The Queen also ruled through 14 US presidential administrations, from Harry Truman to Joe Biden. Prime ministers, presidents, and foreign dignitaries from around the world have expressed their grief and given their condolences to the United Kingdom and its royal family after Elizabeth’s passing.
President Biden and the First Lady gave a written statement following the Queen’s death, stating “Today, the thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.” The President characterized Queen Elizabeth II as “a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also gave his condolences to the British people, saying, “She was one of my favorite people in the world, and I will miss her so.” The British monarch also holds regency over Canada, and Elizabeth was close with many Canadian Prime Ministers. “As her 12th Canadian Prime Minister, I am having trouble believing that my last sit-down with her was my last,” Trudeau said. “In a complicated world, her steady grace and resolve brought comfort and strength to us all. Canada is in mourning.”
Biden and Trudeau have ordered flags to fly at half mast in the US and Canada to show their solidarity with the British people.
Many other world leaders also honored the life and impact of Queen Elizabeth II today, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Irish President Michael D. Higgins, UN Secretary General António Guiterres, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and many former presidents and prime ministers who served around the world during her reign.
Even in her last years as monarch, Queen Elizabeth actively ruled. She was especially unifying as she rallied her people against COVID-19. In one of her last video addresses to the British public, which took place during the pandemic, the Queen was optimistic about the future: “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. We will be with our friends again. We will be with our families again. We will meet again.”
