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Queen Elizabeth II
She set the tone for a new age.
Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96. Hours before her death, Buckingham Palace recommended medical supervision for the Queen.
The Queen was the longest reigning monarch of England. She ascended the throne in 1952 at the age of 25. She was the fourth monarch in the House of Windsor and was preceded by her father, George VI, who unexpectedly took over after his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated.
Legislative relationship aside, Elizabeth II, in her 70 years of reign, orchestrated significant changes to the nature of the monarchy. Born in 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor did not expect she would become the Queen. However, the death of her grandfather and abdication of Edward VIII changed her life. Since childhood, the queen seemed to be a source of stability to the English people. She married Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark. The couple had met when Elizabeth was 15; they were married in 1947. From then on, events moved fast. From the Royal Tour in 1951 to the death of King George VI, Elizabeth found herself to be Queen of the United Kingdom suddenly and prematurely.
Queen Elizabeth always excelled. During her reign she displayed a mastery of soft power and created a connection between the monarchy and public never seen before. Her Coronation, formerly a private event, was televised. Since then, she televised events (such as “Walk abouts”), broadcast speeches (such as her famous Christmas speech) and wrote tweets. Voluntary service was introduced as a formal role of the monarch. She maintained these events through times of political instability and personal family turmoil. She was a symbol of stability and continuity in times of crisis. Her wisdom and sense of humanity prevailed, an anchor for the people, contributing to the success of her monarchy. Elizabeth II created a relevant and comparatively current monarchy, at a time when the monarchy was most criticised. The public saw her love for her people transpire and reciprocated.
Her popularity can be identified in her visits to Commonwealth nations, where she was always welcomed with cheers. She visited India in 1961, 1983, and 1997 and Pakistan in 1961 and 1997.
While fulfilling her duties, Queen Elizabeth’s life remained behind closed doors. She was a wife, mother, and grandmother. However, she experienced many milestones and joys with the public. There was her marriage in 1947, her jubilees, her love for horses and her sense of humour.
Here are some quotes about her:
“You knew anything that you said to her stayed in the room.” Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997 - -2007).
“We have lost our anchor”. - Baron Simon McDonald of Salford
“If I wore beige, nobody would know who I am.” - Queen Elizabeth II.
–Dua Zaidi
The first king of England was an Anglo-Saxon. He reigned from 895 to 939 AD and came under the House of Wessex. The current line of English monarchy began with the arrival of William the Conqueror from Normandy in 1066. Since then, 9 Houses have ruled England. The only time England failed to have a monarchy was after the execution of Charles I in 1649. Until 1660, when the monarchy was restored, England was a republic. The powers of the monarchy were first limited with the Magna Carta 1258. Reforms followed to grow the electorate; the most significant change to monarchical powers was the 1702 Act of Settlement. This ensured a parliamentary system of government and a protestant monarchy. The prerogative powers that have remained include opening new sessions of parliament, ratifying (“rubber stamping”) all acts of parliament and weekly meetings with the Prime Minister.
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