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La puissance d'une langue - Le dessous des cartes

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La puissance d'une langue - Le dessous des cartes

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Le dessous des cartes - L’essentiel - Elisabeth 2 : la puissance d’une langue - Regarder l’émission complète | ARTE

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La mort d’Elizabeth II est devenue un événement géopolitique. Londres prépare les “funérailles du siècle” : des dizaines de chefs d’État sont attendus le 19 septembre. Voilà qui rappelle la puissance du soft power britannique. Il faut y lire l’héritage d’une ancienne superpuissance coloniale, mais a…

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The British crown jewels and Queen Elizabeth II's private jewelry collection are worth billions-here's who will inherit these treasures

As the world mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on Sept. 8, 2022, questions abound about what will happen to the crown jewels, a dazzling collection of crowns, scepters, orbs, medals and rings handed down by British monarchs throughout history. Most notable were Queen Eliza beth II 's tiaras, which she wore at state banquets, diplomatic receptions and galas.

"Now that King Charles III is the new monarch, they will pass directly to him," says Lauren Kiehna, historian and writer of the website The Court Jeweller. As she explains, the British crown jewels are part of the Royal Collection, and they are not owned by the state.

Fascination over the royal regalia is not surprising. But what many people may not realize is that the queen also had a personal collection of jewelry and gemstones worth millions of dollars, part of what made Queen Elizabeth's net worth so high. Who in the royal family tree will wear and be bequeathed these treasures is anyone's guess. Here's a look at both collections, including how much they're worth and which of Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren and extended family members are likely to get what.

What are the British crown jewels?

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The crown jewels of the United Kingdom symbolize the monarch's right and authority to sit on the throne. They are a collection of more than 100 royal ceremonial objects and more than 23,000 gemstones that have been acquired by English kings and queens, most since 1660. These crown jewels include regalia used at coronations, crowns acquired by various monarchs, church and banqueting plates, insignia, robes and a unique collection of medals and royal christening fonts.

There are strict rules surrounding the crown jewels, and only three people in the world are allowed to touch them: the current monarch (that's now King Charles III), the Archbishop of Canterbury and the crown jeweler.

For more than 800 years, the crown jewels have lived in the Tower of London. And they're kept under close guard, leaving the fortress only for official portraits and ceremonial events, like coronations, royal baptisms and the opening of British Parliament.

How much are the British crown jewels worth?

An almost priceless collection, the royal crown jewels are worth anywhere from $1.2 to $5.8 billion. Here are the most well known (and valuable) of the bunch.

St. Edward's Crown

One of the most important pieces in the crown jewels of England, St. Edward's Crown leaves the Tower of London for coronation ceremonies. Charles will wear it when he's crowned king, fitting, since his namesake had a hand in its creation.

Charles II commissioned the crown in 1661. It is made of nearly 5 pounds of solid gold set with more than 444 precious and semi-precious stones. The velvet cap wears an ermine trim, and a diamond-set cross pattée sits atop a sphere at the intersection of the arches. It's worth an estimated $57 million. It was last used to crown a young Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

The queen wore the St. Edward's Crown for only a few moments. At more than 5 pounds, it's quite heavy and cumbersome. "You can't look down to read the speech-you have to take the speech up," Elizabeth told the Smithsonian Channel. "Because if you did, your neck would break and [the crown] would fall off."

Imperial State Crown

A monarch will wear this crown-which was placed on the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II in tribute-when leaving Westminster Abbey after the coronation. It's also appropriate for other state occasions, including the annual opening of Parliament.

It remains to be seen whether Charles will use it for his own coronation. According to the Historic Royal Palaces charity, the Imperial State Crown is made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls and 4 rubies. It contains some of the most famous gems in the world, including the Black Prince's Ruby, the 104-carat Stuart Sapphire and the 105.6-carat Cullinan II diamond.

It was made for the coronation of Elizabeth's father, King George VI, in 1937, replacing the crown made for Queen Victoria in 1838. Today, jewelry experts estimate the crown is worth a stunning $3.4 to $5.7 billion.

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

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The government of the Transvaal in South Africa gifted a spectacular African diamond of more than 3,000 carats to King Edward VII as a birthday gift in 1905. Amsterdam jeweler Royal Asscher cut the magnificent diamond into nine large stones and almost 100 smaller brilliants.

Today, the nine larger diamonds, collectively known as the Cullinan Diamonds, are used in a variety of pieces-seven as part of the queen's personal collection and the remaining two as part of the crown jewels. The most magnificent of all was placed in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in 1910 for George V.

The bejeweled golden scepter has been used at every coronation since Charles II's in 1661. It weighs 3 pounds and is laden with 333 diamonds, 31 rubies, 15 emeralds, 7 sapphires and other precious gemstones. Most notably, though, it includes the Great Star of Africa-also known as the Cullinan I, the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. It's a whopping 530.2 carats!

The Cullinan I alone is worth an estimated $400 million. Considering the value of the gemstones, the sceptre is likely worth several million dollars more.

The Sovereign's Orb

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The Sovereign's Orb is a hollow gold sphere with a band of emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Topped with a cross, it serves to remind the monarch that their power comes from God. During the coronation, the sovereign holds the orb in their right hand.

When Charles I had the orb made in 1661, he spent 1,150 pounds on it. That's the equivalent of nearly $290,000 today. But the orb itself is worth much more because of its historical significance and the value of its gold and gemstones.

How much is Queen Elizabeth's personal jewelry collection worth?

Tim Graham/Getty Images

The crown jewels aren't the only gems stoking envy across the world: There's also Elizabeth's private jewelry collection. It includes diamond tiaras, necklaces and brooches, and experts estimate its worth is in the millions.

"Nearly every piece of jewelry in the queen's collection has significance, including sentimental gifts from family members, diplomatic presents from foreign leaders and anniversary tributes from organizations and individuals," says Kiehna. "She owned and wore jewels that belonged to Queen Adelaide, Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother."

Here's a look at some of her most valuable jewels.

The King Faisal Diamond Necklace

Tim Graham/Getty Images

Famed jeweler Harry Winston designed this 84-carat diamond necklace, which the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia gave to the queen in 1967. She frequently wore it herself but also lent it to the late Princess Diana and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

The Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace

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The Nizam of Hyderabad, the ruler of a former Indian state, gifted Elizabeth this stunning platinum necklace, set with 300 diamonds, in 1947. That's the year India-a former British colony-gained independence and was partitioned into India and Pakistan.

The Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace is one of the most valuable necklaces in the queen's collection, with an estimated worth of $76.3 million, according to Market Realist.

The Lover's Knot Tiara

Tim Graham/Getty Images

Who could forget the tiara with diamonds and dangling pearls? Elizabeth inherited the tiara from her grandmother, Queen Mary, when she died. But the piece gain worldwide fame when the queen loaned it to her then-daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. It left the spotlight until, years later, Princess Kate (then the Duchess of Cambridge) wore it to a royal reception. The tiara is so well known that the Royal Canadian Mint even has a collector's coin featuring elements of it.

Though we don't know exactly how much the stunning tiara is worth, jewelry experts have estimated it's in the $1 million to $2 million range.

The Diamond Diadem

If Queen Elizabeth was known for one thing (other than her royal corgis), it was her A-plus accessories game. She wore this item on the way to her coronation in 1953, and it certainly made a statement. The heirloom, which belonged to King George IV, is made of silver and gold and set with 1,333 diamonds and 169 pearls. If you look closely, you'll see a rose, a thistle and two shamrocks in the design-the national emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch

Cole Bennetts/Getty Images

The queen's Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch holds the largest pink diamond in the world, valued at about $28.7 million, Kiehna says. The diamond was discovered in 1947 in a Tanzania mine owned by Canadian geologist John Williamson. He gave the queen the uncut, 54.5-carat diamond as a wedding gift, though she later had it cut and added to a diamond brooch.

Ever notice the queen wearing a platinum brooch in the shape of a flower? If you can look past the bling-it features more than 200 diamonds-you'll notice the pink diamond in the center. This, as you've probably guessed, is the Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch.

Who gets to wear the jewels?

The crown jewels are part of the Royal Collection, which the monarch doesn't personally own. (It's worth noting, however, that there's debate as to whether Britain owns the pieces at all. Many were stolen from countries Britain colonized.) The Royal Collection is held in trust by the queen or king for the nation. That said, the royals don't let just anybody wear the crown jewels.

Experts expect that Charles will wear the crowns that have adorned the heads of England's monarchs for centuries during his coronation ceremony and during state ceremonies and galas. Camilla, the former Dutchess of Cornwall and now the Queen Consort, is likely to be crowned alongside her husband in Westminster Abbey. In the past, Queen Consorts have had their own crowns made for such occasions, but she'll most likely wear the late queen's St. Edward's Crown.

As for Elizabeth's personal treasures, experts believe that will also end up with Charles. "The new king is also likely to inherit Queen Elizabeth II's entire private jewelry collection," says Kiehna. "And I think he will follow in his mother's footsteps by loaning out pieces to various family members rather than gifting jewels outright." That means King Charles III will be the one who ultimately decides which royal family members and other relatives can borrow jewelry from this private collection.

We may see the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales wearing small pieces from Elizabeth's collection, perhaps brooches to start. "Eventually, we'll see them wear some of the grand tiaras and necklaces for gala occasions, like state banquets," Kiehna predicts.

The main reason all the jewelry is likely going to King Charles III? Under British law, the monarch doesn't have to pay an inheritance tax on these items. No other royal family member would be exempt from that tax.
Additional reporting by Kimberly Holland. Sources:

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How Much Are the British Crown Jewels Worth-and Who Gets Them Now?

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The British crown jewels and Queen Elizabeth II's private jewelry collection are worth billions-here's who will inherit these treasures As the world mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on Sept.

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The life of Queen Elizabeth II - a timeline

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The life of Queen Elizabeth II - a timeline

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Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor is born at 2.40am at 17 Bruton Street, London, her maternal grandparents' house. It was home to her parents, Elizabeth (née Bowes-Lyon), and Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. She was third in line to the throne behind her father and Edward, Prince of Wales.

Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret Rose, is born.

George V dies. Edward VIII becomes king.

Edward VIII abdicates so that he can marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Bertie, the Duke of York, is formally proclaimed King George VI. Princess Elizabeth is now heiress presumptive.

Elizabeth becomes a Girl Guide at the age of 11.

Coronation of George VI at Westminster Abbey.

Elizabeth celebrates her 13th birthday, and begins a course of study at home under the vice-provost of Eton College.

Princess Elizabeth meets Cadet Capt Philip of Greece at the Royal Dartmouth naval college.
Britain declares war on Germany.
The blitz on London begins. While the King and Queen stay in the city, Elizabeth and Margaret are evacuated to Windsor.
Elizabeth makes her first broadcast to the nation.
On her 16th birthday, Elizabeth carries out her first public engagement when she inspects the Grenadier Guards, of which she had been appointed colonel-in-chief.

Elizabeth receives her first corgi, Susan, as an 18th birthday present.

Elizabeth joins the Auxiliary Territorial Service, learning how to drive and maintain vehicles.
VE Day.
Elizabeth makes her first overseas visit, to South Africa, and gives a speech dedicating herself to the Commonwealth.

Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lt Philip Mountbatten, her third cousin.

The couple marry at Westminster Abbey. He is thenceforth known as the Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Charles is born.

Princess Anne, now the Princess Royal, is born.

Elizabeth and Philip leave for a tour of east Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

George VI dies and Elizabeth II succeeds to the throne. She is in Kenya when her father dies - the first British monarch since George I to be out of the country at the time of succession.

Funeral of George VI takes place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Proclamation issued declaring the family's dynastic surname will remain Windsor.

Coronation of Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in the first televised coronation service.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh embark on a tour of the Commonwealth.

The royal couple return to England after six months abroad.

Princess Margaret in a limousine on her way to Clarence House after a weekend in the country where Peter Townsend was also a guest, 17 October 1955 Photograph: Monty Fresco/Getty

Princess Margaret releases a statement confirming she will not marry Gp Capt Peter Townsend. Her relationship with him had been controversial because he was divorced, and her request to marry him - with its echoes of the abdication crisis - had been opposed by large sections of the establishment.

Britain and France invade Egypt in a botched attempt to seize control of the Suez canal. Lord Mountbatten later claimed the Queen disapproved of the venture.

The Queen visits New York and addresses the UN general assembly.

Prince Andrew, now the Duke of York, is born.

Princess Margaret marries the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones.

Prince Edward, now the Earl of Wessex, is born.

The Queen visits West Germany, the first British monarch to do so since the first world war.

The Queen launches the Cunard cruise liner the Queen Elizabeth II (popularly known as the QE2).

First broadcast of Royal Family, a documentary with unprecedented access to the family's daily life.

Prince Charles is invested Prince of Wales. Lord Snowdon designs a new coronet for the occasion as the Duke of Windsor took the previous one with him to Paris.

First walkabout during a state visit of Australia and New Zealand.

The Queen opens Jørn Utzon's Sydney Opera House in Australia.

Princess Anne marries Capt Mark Phillips.

The Queen's tour of Australia and Polynesia is interrupted after the prime minister Edward Heath calls a snap general election. She flies back to Britain.

The Queen refuses to intervene in an Australian constitutional crisis when the prime minister Gough Whitlam is dismissed by the governor general Sir John Kerr.

Queen's silver jubilee. More than a million people line the streets of London, and a chain of beacons is lit across the country.

Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle, is killed by an IRA bomb off the coast of Sligo in the west of Ireland.

Sir Anthony Blunt, the former surveyor of the Queen's pictures, is exposed as a communist spy.

Prince Charles announces his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer.

Charles and Diana marry in St Paul's Cathedral, London.

Shots are fired at the Queen as she attends Trooping the Colour. Marcus Serjeant, a 17-year-old air cadet from Folkestone, Kent, pleads guilty under the 1842 Treason Act and is jailed for five years. The shots were blanks.

Diana gives birth to Prince William.

Michael Fagan breaks into the Queen's bedroom during the early hours, evading alarms, guards and police. He sits on the edge of her bed, talking for 10 minutes, before being led away by footman Paul Whybrew, given a whisky and arrested.

Diana gives birth to Prince Harry.

Andrew marries publishing executive Sarah Ferguson, known as Fergie.

The first instalment of the serialisation of Andrew Morton's book, Diana: Her True Story, appears in the Sunday Times, revealing that Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles continued to have an affair during his marriage to Diana, that Diana tried to kill herself and had bulimia. It later emerges that much of the information had been supplied by Diana herself.

Windsor Castle is partly destroyed by fire.

The Queen gives a speech at Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession. In it, she refers to recent events as part of an "annus horribilis".

The prime minister John Major announces in the House of Commons that Charles and Diana are to separate.

Buckingham Palace is opened to the general public for the first time to help fund the restoration of Windsor Castle.

The Queen and the French president François Mitterrand open the Channel Tunnel.

Charles and Diana's marriage is dissolved

Diana dies in a car crash in Paris. The Queen stays in seclusion for several days, and is heavily criticised in the press for her silence. Then, on the eve of Diana's funeral, she does a walkabout to meet mourners outside Buckingham Palace and gives a televised address, speaking "as your Queen and as a grandmother" and paying tribute to Diana. "She was an exceptional and gifted human being," she said. "In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness."

Her Majesty's yacht Britannia is decommissioned; the government decides against funding a replacement.

The Queen's speech at the opening of parliament announces plans to abolish the traditional rights of 700 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords.

The Queen opens the national assembly in Wales.

The Queen opens the Scottish parliament.

Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret, dies.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, dies.

Elizabeth launches her golden jubilee celebrations with a speech to both houses of parliament.

Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall. The Queen attends the service of blessing held for the couple at St George's Chapel.

The Queen celebrates her 80th birthday.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh mark their 60th wedding anniversary.

Elizabeth II surpasses Victoria to become the UK's oldest reigning monarch.

The Queen cancels a planned Christmas party at Buckingham Palace after deciding it would be inappropriate to celebrate as Britons feel the effects of the economic crisis.

Prince William, second in line to the throne, marries Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey.

The Queen visits Ireland, becoming the first British monarch to do so since its independence in 1921. She expresses sympathy to those who suffered during hundreds of years of conflict between the two neighbours.

The 60th anniversary of the death of George VI and of Elizabeth's accession to the throne.

Events take place throughout the country to celebrate Elizabeth's diamond jubilee, including a pageant of 670 boats sailing along the Thames in London.

The Queen opens the London Olympics. In her first acting role, a film shows her leaving Buckingham Palace with James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, and appearing to parachute into the stadium in Stratford, east London.

The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 receives royal assent, so that the eldest child inherits the throne regardless of gender. The act also ends the disqualification from the line of succession of a person married to a Catholic.

The Queen joins 2,000 guests for a service at Westminster Abbey to mark 60 years since her coronation.

The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a son at 4.24pm. Prince George is third in line to the throne.

The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a daughter at 8.34am. Princess Charlotte is fourth in line to the throne.

The Queen surpasses her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, and becomes Britain's longest ever reigning monarch.

The Queen celebrates her 90th birthday.

Prince Philip, aged 96, retires from his official royal duties as the Queen's consort, having completed 22,219 solo engagements and 5,493 speeches since 1952.

The Queen becomes the first British monarch to commemorate a sapphire jubilee.

The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary after 70 years of marriage. She is the first British monarch to do so.

The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a second son at 11.01am. Prince Louis is fifth in line to the throne.

Prince Harry, sixth in line to the throne, marries Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

The Duchess of Sussex gives birth to a son at 5.26am. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor is seventh in line to the throne.

The Queen in effect suspends Prince Andrew from duties by giving him permission to "step back from public duties for the foreseeable future" after intense public reaction to a BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they will step back from their roles in public life as senior members of the royal family, and will divide their time between the UK and North America. The couple confirm they will become financially independent and cease to represent the Queen. They retain their HRH stylings but are not permitted to use them.

The Queen and Prince Philip move to Windsor Castle and sequester there as a precaution as the coronavirus hits the UK. Public engagements are cancelled and Windsor Castle follows a strict sanitary protocol nicknamed HMS Bubble.

The Queen gives a rare televised address to the nation, the fifth in her 68-year reign, as an unprecedented lockdown is enforced. The monarch thanks her subjects for following government rules to stay at home, praises key workers, and asks people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return". She adds: "We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."The broadcast is watched by an estimated 24 million viewers.

In a hotly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex claims members of the royal family had openly expressed concerns about how dark her son Archie's skin would be and says they had tried to deny him a royal title. Both Meghan and Prince Harry make a point of praising the Queen and instead direct their criticism at the royal household. Two days later, the Queen issues a statement saying "the issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning" and that "some recollections may vary".

Prince Philip dies "peacefully" at the age of 99 at Windsor Castle, two months before his 100th birthday. The Queen, who was at his bedside, describes his death as leaving "a huge void" in her life. Philip is the longest-serving royal consort in history.

Funeral of Prince Philip at Windsor. He had indicated wishes for a smaller funeral, though amendments were still made to bring his service in line with Covid regulations, including quarantine for members of his family travelling from abroad.

The Duchess of Sussex gives birth to a daughter. Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor is eighth in line to the throne.

The Queen reluctantly cancels a planned two-day visit to Northern Ireland after advice from her doctors that she should rest.

The Queen spends a night at King Edward VII's hospital after being admitted for "preliminary investigations" having cancelled a two-day trip to Northern Ireland on the advice of doctors that she should rest for a few days. A palace source said a "cautious approach" had been taken by the medical team aiding the monarch and the overnight stay was for practical reasons, adding that she returned to Windsor and was undertaking "light duties" the next day. It was her first overnight stay in hospital since 2013, when she was treated for gastroenteritis.

The Queen further distances the monarchy from the Duke of York by stripping him of his military affiliations and royal patronages. The palace also says he will not use the style His Royal Highness in any official capacity. The move means Prince Andrew is completely removed from royal life.

Prince Andrew settles the sexual assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum, avoiding having to give evidence in a trial and protecting the royal family from further reputational damage.

The Queen celebrates her platinum jubilee after a record 70 years on the throne. She crowns the historic celebrations with a last-minute appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, bringing to a close four days of festivities over a bumper bank holiday weekend. In a written message, she says she is "humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate".

In a break from tradition as a result of her ongoing mobility issues, the Queen appoints the 15th prime minister of her reign, Liz Truss, at Balmoral Castle rather than Buckingham Palace. The outgoing prime minister, Boris Johnson, also travels to Scotland to offer his resignation to the Queen. The following day she postpones a privy council meeting, which she was due to attend virtually, under doctors' advice to rest.

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The life of Queen Elizabeth II - a timeline

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Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor is born at 2.40am at 17 Bruton Street, London, her maternal grandparents' house. It was home to her parents, Elizabeth (née Bowes-Lyon), and Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. She was third in line to the throne behind her father and Edward, Prince of Wales.

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Historic Royal Palaces joins millions of people around the world in mourning the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty was our longest reigning monarch and will be remembered for a remarkable lifetime of service.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, as a mark of respect, all of our six sites were closed on Friday 9 September and will be closed again on Monday 19 September, the day of the state funeral. For further information, please read our FAQs page.

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Historic Royal Palaces joins millions of people around the world in mourning the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty was our longest reigning monarch and will be remembered for a remarkable lifetime of service. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

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British Royal Ceremonies and Their Symbolism

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British Royal Ceremonies and Their Symbolism

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When it comes to royal succession, ceremony is sacred. And for the British monarchy, a key element of ceremony are objects that have become imbued with symbolism over the centuries. During Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and King Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey, regalia are featured as the United Kingdom mourns its queen and prepares to anoint the new monarch as the God-given ruler of the kingdom and head of the Church of England.

Here are five royal objects and what they symbolize:

1. The Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown, which is on display on top of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, was designed for King George IV's coronation in 1937. It is the crown the monarch wears as they leave Westminster Abbey after the coronation ceremony and the one used in ceremonial occasions like the State Opening of Parliament.

Like St. Edward's Crown, it is a closed imperial crown with arches that form a cross above the sovereign's head. "It reflects the idea that nobody has authority over you except God. You are not subordinate to the pope or another king to whom you would swear fealty," says Andrew R. Walkling, a professor at Binghamton University focused on early modern Britain and the English Court.

Queen Elizabeth II called the Imperial State crown "unwieldy" during an interview with the BBC, and it's easy to see why: Its 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, four rubies, and 269 pearls are quite a load to bear and weigh in at over 1 kilogram. The crown is also heavy with history: Henry V allegedly wore The Black Prince's Ruby at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, and St. Edward's Sapphire, which adorns the cross above the monde, is said to be taken from the saint's ring.

The orb and cross made from over 650 diamonds was once part of Queen Victoria's State Crown of 1838, and the four pearls beneath it are rumored to have belonged to Elizabeth I.

Did you know? During World War II, some of the crown jewels-including the Black Prince's Ruby-were hidden in a biscuit tin at Windsor Castle to prevent them from falling into Nazi hands.

2. St. Edward's Crown

St. Edward's Crown was made in 1661 for Charles II to replace the crown melted down by parliamentarians during the interregnum. The original was worn by Edward the Confessor and considered a holy relic after his canonization in 1161.

"The whole point of recreating the regalia and making it look as much as possible like the originals is to gloss over the interregnum," says Walkling.

"When Charles II became king in 1660, he did not date his reign from the moment of his restoration; he dates it from the moment of his father's execution. They wanted to create as much continuity as possible," Walkling says.

St. Edward's Crown was damaged in 1671 when parliamentarian Thomas Blood flattened it with a mallet and stuffed it beneath his cloak in an attempt to steal it. He was later pardoned and the crown returned to its original glory.

St. Edward's Crown is used for the moment of coronation and is otherwise kept on display in the Tower of London, where visitors can see its solid gold frame, ermine band, and the over 400 stones that make it sparkle.

3. The Coronation Spoon

The oldest piece of coronation regalia is the coronation spoon from the 12 th century. It is used to anoint the new monarch with holy oil, "thus infusing him or her with God's spirit and rendering them unassailable," explains Tracy Borman, author of Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy. She says the ritual can trace its roots to Saxon chieftains who were anointed with oil from a horn, similar to the ritual described in the Old Testament Book of Kings to anoint King Solomon. The Act of Consecration is considered so sacred that it was the only part of Elizabeth II's coronation ceremony hidden from cameras.

There's a dark reason why the spoon is so much older than all the other elements of the coronation regalia: The monarchy was temporarily abolished during the English Civil Wars. After King Charles I was beheaded, the coronation regalia was melted down to make coins and the gems sold. The spoon was spared, bought for 16 shillings by a Mr. Kynnersley, who had been in charge of Charles I's wardrobe. He returned the spoon when Charles II was crowned king during the English Restoration.
WATCH: History Rewind: Coronation of Elizabeth II, 1953
4. The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

"The sceptre is part of a longstanding tradition of a staff as a symbol of office. You can see it in ancient Egyptian paintings and Persian relief carvings," says Walkling. During Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the sceptre is among the objects adorning her coffin.

At the coronation ceremony, the Bishop of Canterbury hands the sceptre to the new monarch and says: "Receive the rod of Equity and Mercy. Be so merciful that you be not too remiss; so execute justice that you forget not mercy. Punish the wicked, protect and cherish the just, and lead your people in the way wherein they should go."

Monarchs have added to the sceptre's design over time. In 1820, George IV added a rose, thistle and shamrock representing England, Scotland and Ireland, but the most famous modification was George V's 1910 addition of the 530.2 Cullinan I diamond, known as The Great Star of Africa, the largest colorless cut diamond in the world.

5. Sovereign's Orb

The orb topped with a cross has been a Christian symbol of authority since the Middle Ages. The Sovereign's Orb is on display on top of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin.

"The orb that the monarch carries stands for Christian sovereignty and, since the Reformation, his or her headship of the Church of England," says Borman. The Sovereign's Orb is made of hallowed gold with jeweled bands dividing into three parts representing the three known continents at the time of its creation.

During coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury places the orb in the monarch's right hand and says: "Receive this orb set under the cross and remember that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of Christ our Redeemer."

Did you know? From the early 18th century through the early 20th, jewels for the regalia were not permanently affixed but rather rented before coronations.

Additional jewels and crowns have been added to the collection through conquest and as royal needs changed-for example, a second orb and sceptre was commissioned in 1689 for the coronation of joint sovereigns William III and Mary II. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, calls for the return of some of the gems to their countries of origin, like the Kohinoor diamond from India, have brought renewed controversy to crown jewels assembled during centuries of colonialism.

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5 Objects Used in British Royal Ceremonies and Their Symbolism

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When it comes to royal succession, ceremony is sacred. And for the British monarchy, a key element of ceremony are objects that have become imbued with symbolism over the centuries.

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The Wealth Of Queen Elizabeth II, Explained | WSJ

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Queen Launches New Royal Yacht "Britannia" (1953)

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She was traveling the moment she ascended to the throne, and for much of the next seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II criss-crossed the world.
Newly married and still just a princess, Britain's future monarch was in Kenya with husband Prince Philip in February 1952 when she learned of her father's death and her new regal status.

During her reign she would visit more than 120 countries, witnessing first-hand the revolutions in global travel that shrank the world as her own influence over it diminished.

The Queen lived through the advent of the Jet Age, flew supersonic on the Concorde, saw regimes change, countries form and dissolve, the end of the British Empire and the rise of globalization.

Here are some of the most memorable travel moments from her 70 years as monarch.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the length of time between British royal visits to Ireland.

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Queen Elizabeth II lived through the advent of the Jet Age, the end of the British Empire and the rise of globalization. Here are some of the most memorable travel moments from her 70 years as monarch.

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The Queen (2006) Official Trailer - Helen Mirren Movie HD

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At the age of just 25, Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She came to the throne after the death of her father, King...

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The Crown Season 4 | Official Trailer | Netflix

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Queen Elizabeth II. almost died | The Simpsons

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Queen Elizabeth II - Google Arts & Culture

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Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms.

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Written by Nick Glass, CNN

It was one of those photogenic if historically insignificant moments when one (bona fide) icon fleetingly met another. Queen Elizabeth II met Marilyn Monroe at a London film premiere in 1956. The women probably had precious little in common aside from their age (both were then 30), global fame and glamour. A cameraman recorded the moment for posterity and, as luck would have it, Andy Warhol went on to make silkscreen prints of both women.

Warhol's silkscreen prints of Marilyn are among the first he ever published, executed in the months immediately after her death in 1962. His silkscreen prints of the Queen, however, are among his last and are less well-known. They were produced in 1985, as part of his "Reigning Queens" series, just two years before his own death.

With the Queen's silkscreen, Warhol was -- as always -- playing with the idea of celebrity and dissecting the relationship between subject and public persona. The image is based on an official photographic portrait taken in 1975, shortly before her 49th birthday. The Queen, wearing a tiara, is blue-eyed, regal and handsome, but also outlined and abstracted in blocks of color.

The image is artificial, seductive and memorable. The prints -- some of which were sprinkled with diamond dust, and were issued in different colors in sets of four -- came in a limited edition of 40. Better late than never, the Royal Collection Trust finally acquired a set for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

In making screen prints of her, Warhol bequeathed us an image for art history and -- it could be argued -- of eternal regal glamour. As with Marilyn, we are left with Elizabeth as a Warhol icon. Just as Henry VIII was immortalized (huge, menacing, thick-necked, pasty-faced and piggy-eyed) by his court painter, Hans Holbein the Younger, might this prove to be a defining image of Elizabeth II half a millennium hence? Warhol evidently felt a celebrity kinship with his subject, once remarking that he wanted to be "as famous as the Queen of England."

As the British historian David Cannadine once noted, the Queen was "probably the most visually depicted and represented individual ever to have existed across the entire span of human history." She reigned for so long that we can only hazard a guess as to the number of images.

Propaganda images of Mao Zedong (who was also a Warhol subject between 1972 and 1973) were much disseminated during his lifetime, but he was always made to look the same: the benevolent founding father of the Chinese nation. With the Queen, however, the images vary in likeness and medium -- paintings, photographs, sculptures and holograms, as well that famously irreverent record cover for the Sex Pistols' 1977 single "God Save the Queen," where her eyes and mouth are obliterated by the names of the song and band.

The Queen never had a court painter as such. The nearest candidate was probably the Italian artist Pietro Annigoni, who painted a portrait of her between 1954 and 1955, and again in 1969. His first portrait of the young Queen particularly captured the public imagination. Framed against what could pass for an Italian Renaissance landscape and dressed in Garter robes, she gazes beyond us dreamily yet certainly.

The American photographer, Annie Leibowitz depicted her in a similar way half a century later, in 2007. Cloaked and solitary, the silver-haired matriarch looks straight down the camera's lens. By then, she'd got used to it all, having been endlessly photographed. She'd also been delivering Christmas messages on television since 1957.

During her reign, formal painted portraiture was largely superseded by photography. And at the outset, artifice ruled. The society photographer Dorothy Wilding, who took the accession photographs in 1952, focused on Elizabeth's youth and beauty, and had some prints hand-colored. Fashion photographer Cecil Beaton, who took the Coronation pictures in 1953 (and was practically court photographer in all but name), went further still. He promoted a fairytale vision, opting for theatrical backgrounds and some judicious retouching.

Later British photographers -- notably Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon and the Queen's former brother-in-law; and Patrick Lichfield, one of her cousins and the Earl of Lichfield -- went for informality and naturalism, and we got to know her a little better in the process. We were offered glimpses of the Queen and her family in domestic situations, at play as well as at work. Television crews began to be given unusual access for documentaries.

But perhaps the real revolution in our perception of the Queen came from members of the press -- and their telephoto lenses. They supplied some of the off-guard, more intimate walkabout moments. We got to see her reacting in shock to the Windsor Castle fire in 1992, solemnly and quietly inspecting the sea of floral tributes to Princess Diana outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in 1997, and shedding a tear at her sister's funeral in 2002. These images made her seem more human and sympathetic.

Two of the great (and most commercially successful) artists of the 20th century both tackled portraits of the Queen but in very different ways. In 1967, Gerhard Richter produced an oil painting based on a published photograph. (The year before, he had captured her in a lithograph.)

As was the German artist's way, his image was faintly blurred, the colors and her features exaggerated. The Queen looks unreal, if not surreal. She's still recognizable but somehow creepily not herself; she appears uncomfortable, as if suppressing a nervous giggle. It's unclear why Richter painted her like this -- he never offered an explanation.

In 2000, Lucian Freud began painting the Queen. It wasn't a commission in a formal sense. The Queen's former private secretary (and friend of Freud's) Robert Fellowes, had pursued the idea for some years. It took much negotiation, but around the time of Fellowes' retirement in early 1999, Freud finally agreed to do a portrait.

The sittings were spread over many months, between May 2000 and December 2001. When they began, the artist was 77; the Queen was 74. The result, painted in heavy impasto, was tiny (just 9 by 6 inches) and predictably controversial. Freud's painterly forensic eye was unflinching.

Freud had requested she wear the diadem crown, as seen in some of Wilding's photographs. The crown is worn at a slight angle. She is pensive, a little downcast, a little weary perhaps. She has seen and been through a lot. The painting was -- as many newspapers pointed out -- unflattering, the antithesis of Annigoni's dreamy 1950s portrait. Freud made a gift of the painting to the Royal Collection. The Queen never publicly commented on it.

Would it have been to Prince Philip's taste? Probably not. As an amateur painter himself, he knew precisely what he liked. His private collection includes a painting of the Queen on horseback at the Trooping the Color ceremony. It was painted by his friend, the post-impressionist English artist and royal favorite Edward Seago. In Grenadier Guards uniform (white feathered hat and red coat), the Queen looked simply and recognizably magnificent.
Top image: A print of Queen Elizabeth by Andy Warhol is adjusted by an employee of Bonhams Auctioneers.

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how artists portrayed queen elizabeth ii through her reign - cnn

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Picturing the Queen: How artists portrayed Queen Elizabeth II through her reign

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Written by Nick Glass, CNN It was one of those photogenic if historically insignificant moments when one (bona fide) icon fleetingly met another. Queen Elizabeth II met Marilyn Monroe at a London film premiere in 1956. The women probably had precious little in common aside from their age (both were then 30), global fame and glamour.

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All of us at Art UK are deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch who has ruled over our country for the last 70 years. In this Curation we have drawn together from across the United Kingdom a selection of our favourite paintings and sculptures of her to mark the end of this second Elizabethan Age. The significance of the Queen's reign has been captured in these artworks, which celebrate her unprecedented public service.

Artists featured in this Curation: Michael Leonard (b.1933), William Lamb (1893-1951), Herbert James Gunn (1893-1964), Edward Irvine Halliday (1902-1984), Kenneth Hauff (1913-1967), Johannes Tessema, Pietro Annigoni (1910-1988), Julian Barrow (1939-2013), John Wonnacott (b.1940), Douglas Jennings (b.1966), and 1 more See all

This informal portrait by Scottish painter Herbert James Gunn shows Princess Elizabeth taking tea at the Royal Lodge with her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister, Princess Margaret. The relaxed poses and domestic setting hint at how the future Queen became seen as a reassuring and relatable figure.

When the Second World War broke out, the royal family made the decision to remain in London. Princess Elizabeth won the nation's respect and admiration by contributing to the war effort as a member of the ATS (auxiliary territorial service).

This sculpture by Douglas Jennings is thought to be the only seated sculpture of Elizabeth II, originally commissioned to celebrate her 90th birthday and later to celebrate our longest reigning monarch. She is portrayed wearing her Order of the Garter robes.

Elizabeth II (1926-2022) 2016-2018
Douglas Jennings (b.1966) and HVH Art Foundry
Bronze & Portland stone
H 257 cm

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Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy. Close All of us at Art UK are deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch who has ruled over our country for the last 70 years.

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Artists discuss how they turned the queen into an icon

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Artists discuss how they turned the queen into an icon

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Artists discuss how they turned the queen into an icon.

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Queen Elizabeth II of Britain was one of the world’s most photographed and painted people. Three artists explain how they made portraits of the monarch that stood out from the crowd.

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La reine Elizabeth II s'est éteinte hier, jeudi 8 septembre à l'âge de 96 ans. Icône populaire et symbole de la nation britannique, elle a inspiré de nombreux artistes au cours de son règne. Retour sur 10 portraits incontournables de sa Majesté.

Reine du Royaume-Uni et des autres royaumes du Commonwealth, Elizabeth II (1926-2022) s'est éteinte le jeudi 8 septembre, à l'âge de 96 ans, au château de Balmoral. Couronnée à tout juste 25 ans, la souveraine a régné pendant 70 ans sur l'empire britannique, assurant la continuité et la longévité de la dynastie des Windsor. Gardienne des collections royales, elle possédait le plus vaste et important patrimoine artistique privé au monde. Symbole de la monarchie à la garde-robe unique, elle a également inspiré de nombreux artistes, peintres, photographes, Street Artistes ou caricaturistes, depuis Cecil Beaton jusqu'à Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud et Banksy. Découvrez notre sélection de 10 portraits inoubliables.

1. 1947 : Queen Elizabeth II by Dorothy Wilding

2. 1953 : Cecil Beaton, Queen Elizabeth II, 2 June

3. 1969 : Pietro Annigoni, Queen Elizabeth II

4. 1977 : Jamie Reid Sex Pistols, God Save the Queen

Jamie Reid's cut-and-paste aesthetic developed from his interest in radical politics. The infamous promotional poster for Sex Pistols' single God Save The Queen showcased the political slant to his avant-garde art. pic.twitter.com/aGg3tEeurv

- V&A (@V_and_A) May 26, 2019

5. 1985 : Andy Warhol, Reigning Queens: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Andy Warhol, "Reigning Queens: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom", 1985, © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. pic.twitter.com/zZuGcxHpmz

- The Andy Warhol Museum (@TheWarholMuseum) September 8, 2022

6. 1989 : Richard Stone, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

7. 2001 : Lucian Freud, Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), beloved the world over, has an inimitable legacy with a reign spanning over seventy years. Among the great patrons of the arts, the Queen was also inspiration to many of the leading artists of our time, not least Lucian Freud. pic.twitter.com/625wyle8eS

- Sotheby's (@Sothebys) September 8, 2022

8. 2007 : Annie Leibovitz, Portrait of HRH Queen Elizabeth II

9. 2012 : Banksy, The Queen, Bristol

10. 2018 : Chris Levine, Lightness of Being

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De Warhol au Street Art : la reine Elizabeth II en 10 portraits inoubliables | Connaissance des Arts

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Reine du Royaume-Uni et des autres royaumes du Commonwealth, Elizabeth II (1926-2022) s'est éteinte le jeudi 8 septembre, à l'âge de 96 ans, au château de

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Meet history’s longest-reigning British monarch!

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https://www.onestopenglish.com/download?ac=66478

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On September 8, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. At 96 years of age and reigning as queen for 70 years, she
was the longest-living, longest-reigning British monarch. And while she and her famous family regularly made headlines, fans learned more about her (dramatized) past thanks to Netflix's The Crown (with Imelda Staunton playing the queen in season 5, which will take on a new poignancy with Her Majesty's recent passing).

In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark. The couple has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. When her father died in 1952, Elizabeth, then 25, became the head of the Commonwealth. The following year, Elizabeth was crowned and officially recognized as sovereign. Since then, the queen has served in her role as the queen of England, and in 2017, she became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee-a celebration to mark 65 years of her reign. This year's summer was the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70 years as queen.

On September 6, 2022, while at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, the queen met with newly elected leader of the Conservative Party Liz Truss, where she was invited to become prime minister and form a new government. Just two days later, it was announced that Her Majesty had died peacefully at her beloved Balmoral.

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable life in service, here are some photos of her through her 96 years of life, and 70 years as monarch.

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Queen Elizabeth II's Remarkable Life and Reign in Pictures

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On September 8, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. At 96 years of age and reigning as queen for 70 years, she was the longest-living, longest-reigning British monarch.

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The Queen - a life in official portrait photos

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Some of the world's most illustrious photographers, including Cecil Beaton, Karsh and Lord Snowdon, have photographed the Queen as princess and monarch

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Lesson Plan: The Life and Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II

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Lesson Plan: The Life and Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II

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Lesson Plan: The Life and Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II

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Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on Thursday at the age of 96. Learn about her seven-decade reign, as well as what is next for the British monarchy.

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British Council - The day Elizabeth became queen

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British Council - The day Elizabeth became queen

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What do you know about Queen Elizabeth II? Watch this video to find out how she became Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

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The Queen's Commonwealth Day Message 2021

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The Queen's Commonwealth Day Message 2021

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The Queen's Commonwealth Day Message 2021

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Queen Elizabeth's devotion to her people and the commonwealth

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Queen Elizabeth's devotion to her people and the commonwealth

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Queen Elizabeth's devotion to her people and the commonwealth | ABC News

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The Queen's Relationship With the Commonwealth

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The Queen's Relationship With the Commonwealth

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The Queen's Relationship With the Commonwealth

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World leaders and dignitaries have been paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who has died at the age of 96.

They have honoured her deep sense of duty and her resilience, as well as the Queen's sense of humour and kindness.

France's Emmanuel Macron led the tributes, remembering "a kind-hearted queen" who was "a friend of France".

US President Joe Biden first met Her Majesty 40 years ago and described her as "more than a monarch - she defined an era".

Remembering his visit to the UK in 2021 as president, Mr Biden said "she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom".

"Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity constancy who deepened the bedrock of the Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special," Mr Biden added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered "sincere sympathies to the British government and people" following the Queen's death, adding: "Her passing is a great loss to the British people."

Canada - where Queen Elizabeth was head of state - has seen 12 prime ministers during her reign.

An emotional Justin Trudeau - who has known the Queen for decades, first meeting her as a child when his father was prime minister - said she had "an obvious deep and abiding love for Canadians".

"In a complicated world, her steady grace and resolve brought comfort to us all," the prime minister said, adding that he would miss their "chats" where she was "thoughtful, wise, curious, helpful, funny and so much more".

"She was one of my favourite people in the world, and I will miss her so," he said, holding back tears.

'An extraordinary personality'

Flags have been lowered to half-staff around the world - including at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Queen's "empathy and ability to connect with every passing generation, while remaining rooted in the tradition that truly mattered to her, was an example of true leadership".

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, now the world's only reigning female monarch, wrote to King Charles to express her condolences.

"She was a towering figure among the European monarchs and great inspiration to us all," she wrote.

She called the Queen's 70-year reign in difficult and positive times an "unprecedented and remarkable achievement".

King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands - who is Queen Elizabeth's fifth cousin - said he and Queen Maxima remembered the "steadfast and wise" monarch with "deep respect and great affection".

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, also a distant relative to Her Majesty, said: "She has always been dear to my family and a precious link in our shared family history."

Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, who have long called Queen Elizabeth Aunt Lilibet said they will "miss her dearly".

And Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde said she was "an extraordinary personality... who, throughout her reign, showed dignity, courage and devotion".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid tribute to the Queen's "wonderful humour" and said in a statement that "her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War Two will remain unforgotten".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his "memorable meetings" with the monarch during two UK visits.

"I will never forget her warmth and kindness," he tweeted. "During one of the meetings, she showed me the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her on her wedding. I will always cherish that gesture."

Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent their condolences, with the king describing her as "a role model for leadership that will be immortalised in history".

'A reassuring presence'

As monarch for seven decades, Queen Elizabeth lived through times of extraordinary change, and this was reflected in several tributes.

Mr Macron observed that she "embodied the British nation's continuity and unity for over 70 years" and former US President Barack Obama observed that she lived "through periods of prosperity and stagnation - from the Moon landing to the fall of the Berlin Wall".

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his "deep sorrow". "The death of the queen, who led Britain through turbulent times in the world, is a great loss not only for the British people but also the international community," he told reporters.

Irish President Michael D Higgins honoured the Queen's "extraordinary sense of duty", which he said would "hold a unique place in British history".

"Her reign of 70 years encompassed periods of enormous change, during which she represented a remarkable source of reassurance to the British people," he said in a lengthy statement.

Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, spoke of her reign as one of "historic duration" and described the Queen's passing as "the end of an era".

"Her dedication to duty and public service were self-evident and her wisdom and experience truly unique," Mr Martin said in a statement. He also recalled her "many gracious gestures and warm remarks" during a state visit to Ireland in 2011.

António Guterres, the UN's secretary-general, said Queen Elizabeth was "a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonisation of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth".

In a statement, he paid tribute to "her unwavering, lifelong dedication to serving her people. The world will long remember her devotion and leadership".

Queen Elizabeth visited Australia - another Commonwealth nation where she was head of state - 16 times, the only reigning monarch to head down under.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that many had never known a world without her.

"Though the noise and tumult of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm," he said in a statement.

"She celebrated our good times, she stood with us in the bad. Happy and glorious, but steadfast too."

New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said she was woken to the news of the monarch's death by a police officer shining a torch into her bedroom at 04:50 to wake her up.

"She was extraordinary... The last days of the Queen's life captures who she was in so many ways, working to the very end on behalf of the people she loved," Ms Ardern said.

Queen Elizabeth II met 13 US presidents - beginning with Dwight D Eisenhower- during her reign.

Barack Obama said the Queen had "captivated the world" with a "reign defined by grace, elegance and a tireless work ethic".

"Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humour and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance," Mr Obama, who met the Queen on several occasions, said in a statement.

Donald Trump said he would "never forget Her Majesty's generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humour".

And another former president, George W Bush, reflected fondly on the time he spent having tea with Her Majesty and her corgis, describing her "great intellect, charm and wit".

Israel's President, Isaac Herzog, also acknowledged the enormous change the Queen saw throughout her reign, but said that throughout this, she "remained an icon of stable, responsible leadership and a beacon of morality, humanity and patriotism".

While the Queen did not visit Israel, Princes Charles, Edward, William and the late Prince Philip - whose mother is buried in Jerusalem - did.

"Queen Elizabeth was a historic figure: she lived history, she made history, and with her passing, she leaves a magnificent, inspirational legacy," President Herzog wrote.

King Abdullah II of Jordan said his country "mourns the passing of an iconic leader". He said the Queen, who visited Jordan in 1984, was "a beacon of wisdom and principled leadership... a partner for Jordan and a dear family friend".

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted that it was with "deep sadness" that he learned of "this irreparable loss".

And Russian leader Vladimir Putin who met the Queen several times and once reportedly kept her waiting for 14 minutes, sent his "deepest condolences" to King Charles III.

"The most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom are inextricably linked with the name of Her Majesty," Mr Putin wrote in a statement. "

For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage."

Russia currently has heavy economic sanctions imposed on it by Western nations, including the UK, because of its invasion of Ukraine.

African leaders also shared tributes for Queen Elizabeth - who knew many of them well and, as the head of the Commonwealth, was sympathetic to their cause.

Kenyan President-elect William Ruto praised her "historic legacy" and said Kenyans would "miss the cordial ties she enjoyed" with the country.

Kenya, a former British colony that became independent in 1963, was a very special place for the monarch. For a start, it was where she became Queen. The young princess, then just 25 years old, was on holiday there when her father, King George VI, died in his sleep in 1952.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, which is one of the newest nations to join the Commonwealth, said: "The Queen was a great friend of Africa and Africa showed her affection in return."

And Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo tweeted that his country had fond memories of the two visits the Queen made, remarking on "her friendliness, elegance, style and sheer joy she brought to the performance of her duties".

Her first trip to Ghana, also a former British colony, was controversial and there were concerns for the monarch's safety. Five days earlier, bombs had gone off in the capital, Accra, but the Queen was not deterred, in part because she had already cancelled a previous visit when she became pregnant with Prince Andrew.

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Queen Elizabeth II: World leaders remember a 'kind-hearted Queen'

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World leaders and dignitaries have been paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who has died at the age of 96. They have honoured her deep sense of duty and her resilience, as well as the Queen's sense of humour and kindness. France's Emmanuel Macron led the tributes, remembering "a kind-hearted queen" who was "a friend of France".

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Commonwealth | History, Members, Purpose, Countries, & Facts

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The Commonwealth is a a free association of sovereign states comprising the United Kingdom and a number of its former dependencies who have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and practical cooperation and who acknowledge the British monarch as a symbolic head of their association.

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.

In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. Queen Elizabeth II led always with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty, and the incomparable power of her example. She was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.

As a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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A Proclamation on the Death of Queen Elizabeth II - The White House

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era. In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her.

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Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch died on September 8, setting off a series of well-planned events to mark her passing. The culmination of these events is the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday and her subsequent interment at King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle. The people of the United Kingdom and leaders from around the world will gather in London to pay their respects to the late queen and bid a final farewell.

The beginning of an era

Queen Elizabeth II sat at her desk, undertaking her first duties as monarch. Just hours before, she had been Elizabeth Windsor; now she was queen of the United Kingdom, head of the Commonwealth of Nations, and sovereign of the Commonwealth realms.

It was 1952, and she was in mourning. But despite her grief, the young queen shouldered her new responsibility with grace-and her signature stiff upper lip. "She was sitting erect, fully accepting her destiny," her private secretary later recalled. When he asked her which name she would reign under, she said "My own, of course."

Over the seven decades that followed, Queen Elizabeth II would leave an unmistakable impression on her nation and the rest of the world. Her road to the throne was a twisted one; her reign beset by crises and social cataclysms. But her destiny was to rule through triumph and sorrow, conflict and almost unthinkable change. Along the way, she would become the longest-ruling British monarch-linking past and present and emerging as an indelible figure on the world stage.

A twist of royal fate

Born in London on April 21, 1926, Elizabeth was the granddaughter of a king and daughter of a duke-the newest member of the House of Windsor. Despite her royal pedigree, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary didn't seem destined to the British throne. She was third in line to the monarchy, but it was widely assumed that her uncle Edward would become king, marry, and produce royal heirs of his own. History had other plans for Elizabeth.

When she was nine years old, her uncle took the throne as Edward VIII according to plan. Less than a year later he abdicated, abandoning the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite. Elizabeth's father would become king, and suddenly Elizabeth was next in line to helm Britain's hereditary monarchy.

The lonely princess

Elizabeth had been raised quietly along with her younger sister, Princess Margaret. But when she became heir to the throne, her future reign indelibly shaped young Elizabeth's life. Privately educated in Buckingham Palace and overseen by a beloved governess, she was tutored in her future duties by leading scholars and in religion by the archbishop of Canterbury. She learned from her father, too: Shy, stuttering George VI nonetheless addressed his people regularly and insisted on staying in London during the Blitz of World War II.

Elizabeth was a lonely but dutiful young girl-one biographer noted that her loud cries during her christening as a baby were "the last recorded instance of her surrendering to anything like a tantrum." But the war opened up her horizons.

In 1940, she made her first public speech at age 14, addressing children who had been separated from their parents during the war. "We children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage," she said. "We are trying . . . to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war."

Love and war

The teenage princess took part in the war effort in another way, too. In 1945, Elizabeth made history when she became the first woman in the royal family to serve full-time in Britain's military as a truck driver and mechanic. When the war ended later that year, she wore her uniform and slipped into the celebrating crowds, blending in with the revelers as she basked in the joy and relief of peace.

By then, the seeds of what would become a seven-decade romance had been sown. Elizabeth and Margaret spent much of World War II at Windsor Castle. Elizabeth's third cousin, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark often stayed there when he was on leave from the Royal Navy. After the war, their relationship bloomed.

The dashing, blunt prince-who was exiled to England as an infant amid political strife in Greece and became naturalized as Philip Mountbatten in 1947-was an unlikely match for the reserved queen-to-be. He was relatively poor and seemingly rootless, his childhood marked by instability and trauma. But Elizabeth was captivated, reportedly falling in love at age 13. "She had a protective shell around her, and he brought her out of it," said one observer. They married in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947.

The young queen

As a young wife and mother-Charles III was born in 1948 and Princess Anne followed in 1950-Elizabeth began to step into her aging father's shoes. In 1952, she undertook a world tour in King George VI's stead. During a brief getaway with Philip in Kenya, word arrived that her father had died. The 25-year-old was now a queen.

Elizabeth II, Britain's 61st monarch, would reign over a vast empire and serve as head of the Church of England. At the time of her accession, Britain had more than 70 territories overseas. She was sovereign and head of state of the Commonwealth realms, including Canada and Australia, and the second Head of the Commonwealth of the Commonwealth of Nations, an association of sovereign states mostly linked to the United Kingdom through a history of British colonial rule. But her role was mostly symbolic: Though technically head of state and church, under the United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy she possessed no ability to pass or enforce laws and was responsible for serving as a national figurehead, not a politician.

Elizabeth considered her responsibility as monarch a sacred duty. "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong," she said in a radio address on her 21st birthday, when her father was still king. She would spend the rest of her life living up to that promise.

A glittering coronation

As she mourned her father and acclimated to life as queen, Elizabeth prepared for perhaps the most memorable of the many royal appearances she was to make during her long life: Her coronation, held in Westminster Abbey in June 1953, hewed to time-honored tradition.

The day of the ceremony, the demure young queen, wearing an elaborate white satin dress, took a carriage from Buckingham Palace to the abbey. Inside the abbey, she was blessed and anointed with oil, decked with royal robes, and given a scepter and an orb.

Finally, after a nearly five-pound crown studded with jewels was placed on her head, she received the homage of the royal family and the peerage. Prince Philip was the first to kneel before her, pledging to be her "liege man of life and limb."

Admiring subjects lined the streets of London to celebrate. They weren't the only ones to take in the grandeur-at the queen's insistence, television cameras were allowed inside the church for the first time, and the coronation was broadcast live. An estimated three-quarters of the population of Britain, more than 20 million people, tuned in for the ceremony, and millions more watched from other countries. Her coronation was the world's first must-see television event and ushered in a new, modern monarchy.

Her changing empire

The British Empire of the queen's forebears was changing rapidly as countries asserted their independence in the postwar years. Elizabeth continued to serve as constitutional monarch of a growing number of Commonwealth realms. And as head of the Commonwealth of Nations, she presided over a loose group of mostly former British colonies that had abandoned their colonial relationships with Britain.

After the coronation, Elizabeth and Philip embarked on an unprecedented tour of the Commonwealth. During the trip, the pair traveled more than 40,000 miles and visited 13 countries. It was the first time a reigning monarch had visited either Australia or New Zealand.

The Commonwealth would become one of Elizabeth's most enduring projects. She embraced the association's diversity and fostered close relationships with its leaders. The Commonwealth "bears no resemblance to the Empires of the past," she said. "It is an entirely new conception, built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace. To that new conception of an equal partnership of nations and races I shall give myself heart and soul every day of my life."

Royal duties

A busy travel schedule made up just part of the queen's royal duties. Though the British sovereign must remain externally neutral on matters of state, they retain the right to appoint prime ministers and call a general election. Although those duties are usually no more than ceremonial, they remain a key part of protocol. Monarchs can also advise-or be advised by-their prime ministers.

During her weekly visits with Prime Minister Winston Churchill in her first years as queen, Elizabeth received his tutelage and shared in his notorious sense of fun. Her private secretary recalled hearing "peals of laughter" during their audiences, and the queen wrote that she was "profoundly grateful" for his guidance during her first years as sovereign.

A "priggish schoolgirl"

Despite her outward neutrality, the queen had her detractors-and soon learned that, in times of national strife, the monarchy could be harshly criticized. The first gauntlet came after the Suez Crisis, Britain's disastrous, short-lived invasion of Egypt in 1956. The brief fiasco resulted in a decline in the U.K.'s global status and fueled a political and economic crisis.

After Anthony Eden, the prime minister who had given the invasion the green light, resigned, Elizabeth came under fire for relying on the advice of an insular group of royal insiders in choosing Eden's successor. In 1957, Lord Altrincham, the influential editor of the National and English Review, published sharp criticism of Elizabeth and her "tweedy" advisers. Then he launched into a personal attack on the queen herself, complaining about everything from her voice to her "priggish schoolgirl" demeanor.

The criticism-and the debate it generated-prompted the queen to make lasting changes. Though the queen kept the monarch's prerogative to appoint prime ministers, she would defer to political parties' choice of prime minister for the rest of her life. And, in a nod toward equality, the queen eventually did away with the custom of presenting upper-crust debutantes at court, a long-standing tradition seen by some as evidence of a privilege unfairly extended to an elite minority.

A troubled nation

British society was changing and so was the monarchy. During her reign, Elizabeth faced a seemingly endless parade of crises, from economic malaise in the 1970s and 1980s to the international woes of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic in the 21st century. But some events hit closer to home than others.

One such event was the Aberfan mine disaster in 1966, a landslide in which 144 people, many of them schoolchildren, were killed. After refusing to visit the Welsh community until more than a week after the incident, Elizabeth faced deep criticism for what some saw as leaving her subjects in the lurch. The queen reportedly considered her bungled response to the disaster to be the biggest regret of her reign.

The Troubles, a three-decades-long conflict between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland, was another crucible. The violence left more than 3,600 dead and more than 30,000 injured. The Troubles also touched Elizabeth personally: Her second cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1979. It would take until 2011 for Elizabeth to make an official state visit to the Republic of Ireland, where she offered her sympathy to the victims of the Troubles. Despite her words-the closest a member of the Royal Family ever came to apologizing for Britain's reprisals during the conflict-tensions continued to simmer in Northern Ireland, especially in the throes of Brexit, which threatened trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Pomp and circumstance

As a mother of four-Prince Andrew was born in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964-the queen hewed carefully to her symbolic duties. Every year, she presided at the State Opening of Parliament, delivering a speech to the assembled members of the Houses of Commons and Lords. (During her reign she missed only three appearances; twice while pregnant with her younger sons and once in 2022 as concerns for her health increased.)

State events were filled with pitfalls of procedure and etiquette. But for the queen, there was a practical annoyance: the weight of her nearly five-pound Imperial State Crown. "You can't look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up. Because if you did, your neck would break-it would fall off," she told the BBC in a 2018 documentary. "So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they're quite important things." As the queen aged, she began wearing a lighter-weight diadem to Parliament instead.

Another tradition was the royal Christmas message, a speech broadcast first by radio, then by television to a worldwide audience. During the annual messages, which her grandfather first instituted, Elizabeth offered thanks and encouragement to the people of the Commonwealth and commented on the most pressing issues of the time.

And then there were the jubilees-anniversary celebrations of the queen's ever lengthening rule. The queen would often travel throughout the Commonwealth of Nations during jubilee years, and she used the jubilee celebrations as chances to greet her subjects and focus on the unity and progress of her nation and the Commonwealth.

In 1969, she presided over a very personal ceremony: the investiture of her oldest son, Charles, as Prince of Wales. As her son knelt before her at Caernarfon Castle, she placed a jewel-studded coronet on his head and presented him to the Welsh people as their prince.

Family matters

Over the years, the queen survived multiple assassination attempts. But those were arguably less traumatic than the family conflicts that rocked her personal life and shook public confidence in the monarchy.

The queen's sister, Princess Margaret, caused a furor when tabloids published photos of her cavorting with her lover in 1976. Though Margaret's subsequent divorce scandalized the family, Elizabeth gave it her blessing. It was just a preview of the strife to come.

The fallout of the tempestuous marriage and separation of Charles III and Princess Diana led Elizabeth to refer to 1992 as her "annus horribilis," a year that also included a catastrophic fire at Windsor Castle, the divorce of Princess Anne, and the separation of Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah.

When Diana died in a tragic car crash while being pursued by paparazzi in 1997, her former mother-in-law was condemned for her seeming lack of emotion. But in private, the queen expressed her grief, writing to a friend that Diana's death was "dreadfully sad." In the aftermath, she protected and cared for her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

A stiff upper lip

Elizabeth's troubles didn't end then. Her son Prince Andrew was linked to infamous American financier Jeffrey Epstein and accused of sexually assaulting a minor Epstein had allegedly trafficked. Under increasing public pressure and after a widely criticized television interview in which Prince Andrew downplayed Epstein's actions and denied any wrongdoing, he stepped down from public life in November 2019 and returned his royal patronages and military titles to the queen in January 2022.

In January 2020, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, announced they would step back from the royal family and become financially independent. They also alleged that Meghan, who is biracial, had received racist treatment from members of the royal inner circle. Though the couple's retreat to the United States reportedly came as a blow to the queen, the monarch retained a relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from afar and was said to have been "overjoyed" that the pair named their second child Lilibet.

Another blow came in 2021, when Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, died at age 99. Images of the queen sitting alone at her husband's funeral, which was kept small to conform with the British government's coronavirus-era restrictions, vividly illustrated the queen's loss. But through it all, she presented a placid face to the world.

Intensely private though she was, the queen was also known to be warm and witty. She doted on her corgis and relished her summer retreats to Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she could go on long walks and picnics, drive her Range Rover, and visit with her royal ponies. A committed horsewoman, she was a fixture at horse shows and races and could be spotted in the saddle into her 90s.

But for the woman who committed to serving her country at the age of just 25, her country was never far from her thoughts. She remained active and involved in public events into her mid-90s and never turned away from her responsibilities as queen. "These are the things that, at her age, she shouldn't be doing, yet she's carrying on and doing them," her grandson Prince Harry said in a 2012 interview. So, what did the resilient queen make of her own boundary-breaking life? She reportedly joked, "I have to be seen to be believed."

Elizabeth could find the humor in her complicated destiny. And for those who loved her-her millions of subjects, her loving family, and her fans around the world-she was much more than a figurehead. "In the days when it was a man's world, it was very difficult for her to . . . make a difference," her grandson Prince William said in a 2019 interview. "And she's done it. In her own very unique, distinct way."

To the end, she retained the calm resolve of the young woman who accepted her royal fate so many years before-a life of duty and service, accomplished as no one but Elizabeth could.

Portions of this work have previously appeared in Queen Elizabeth II: A Life in Photographs by Erin Blakemore. Copyright © 2022 National Geographic Partners, LLC.

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Queen Elizabeth II: A lifetime of devotion and service

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The funeral of Britain's longest-ruling monarch concludes a life exemplified by a personal motto of "I serve."

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15 Key Moments in the Reign of Elizabeth II

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15 Key Moments in the Reign of Elizabeth II

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Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled the United Kingdom for seven decades, was such a longstanding institution that it's easy to forget she wasn't supposed to have become queen at all.

Born in 1926, Elizabeth was the daughter of King George V's second son, and had little expectation of succeeding to the throne until her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. After the death of her father, King George VI, 25-year-old Elizabeth was called upon to assume the throne, beginning a momentous reign. In February 2022, the United Kingdom staged a series of celebrations for the queen's Platinum Jubilee -marking 70 years of her service to the British Commonwealth.

Queen Elizabeth II, who died at age 96, proved consistent and enduring. In April 2021, she lost her husband of 73 years, Prince Phillip, when he died at age 99. In February 2022, the Queen contracted the coronavirus, which she later said left her "very tired and exhausted." She installed her 15th prime minister. Liz Truss, just two days before her death.

1. Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation - June 2, 1953

Held at Westminster Abbey, Elizabeth's coronation ceremony was the first to be broadcast live on television. Some 27 million people in the United Kingdom (out of a total population of 36 million) watched the ceremony, and 11 million more listened on the radio. Afterward, some 3 million people lined the route as the queen and her entourage made their slow procession back to Buckingham Palace.

2. First State Visit to West Germany - 1965

In the midst of a decade marked by social and political changes, the queen kept to a busy schedule of diplomatic duties, including a 10-day visit to the Federal Republic of Germany (or West Germany) that was the first official visit there by a British royal since 1913. Her visit marked the 20-year anniversary of the end of World War II, helping to symbolize the reconciliation between the two countries and recognize Germany's re-emergence as a power in Europe and on the world stage.

3. Mining Disaster in Wales - 1966

On October 21, 1966, an avalanche of mud, water and debris from a coal mine buried an elementary school in the South Wales village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults. Though Prince Philip arrived in Aberfan a day after the disaster, the queen herself delayed her visit for over a week, fearing her presence would distract from rescue and recovery efforts. Some of those close to Elizabeth-including her former private secretary, Lord Charteris-have said she regretted the decision not to visit Aberfan sooner.

4. First 'Walkabout' - 1970

During a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand with Philip and Princess Anne in 1970, Elizabeth bucked centuries of royal tradition when she took a casual stroll to greet crowds of people in person, rather than wave to them from a protected distance. Now a regular practice for British royals both abroad and at home, the first "walkabout" in Sydney was proposed by Sir William Heseltine, an Australian who served as the queen's private secretary and was the driving force behind a 1969 TV documentary featuring the royal family, which attracted a global audience of some 40 million people.

5. Silver Jubilee - 1977

On June 7, Elizabeth and Philip rode in the Gold State Coach from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral to officially celebrate her 25th year on the throne. Wearing a bright pink outfit, including a hat decked out with 25 fabric bells, the queen repeated her long-ago pledge to devote her life to service, saying that "Although that vow was made in my salad days when I was green in judgement, I do not regret nor retract one word of it."

6. Prince Charles' Wedding to Lady Diana Spencer - 1981

On July 29, 1981, an estimated 750 million people in 74 countries around the world tuned in to watch Prince Charles, Elizabeth's eldest son, marry Lady Diana Spencer, at St. Paul's Cathedral. The romance between the heir to the British throne and the young "Shy Di" had attracted massive media attention, and their lavish nuptials were considered the "wedding of the century." But while Diana earned the adoration of the public, her marriage to Charles (and her relationship with the royal family) was troubled from the beginning.

7. Visit to China - 1986

In late 1984, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government agreed to return sovereignty over Hong Kong to China beginning July 1, 1997. In 1986, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to visit the Chinese mainland, touring the terracotta warriors in Xi'an, the Great Wall in Beijing and other sites. For the press, the diplomatic importance of the queen's visit was outweighed by her husband's characteristic (and sometimes racist) gaffes: Philip called Beijing "ghastly" and told a group of British students they would get "slitty eyes" if they stayed in China too long.

8. 'Annus Horribilis' - 1992

Charles and Diana's marriage continued to deteriorate, and in 1992 they announced their decision to separate. Prince Andrew, the queen's second son, and his wife, Sarah Ferguson, also separated, while Anne divorced her husband, Mark Phillips. Late that year, a fire broke out in Windsor Castle, destroying more than 100 rooms. In a speech delivered to mark the 40th anniversary of her succession, Queen Elizabeth remarked that 1992 "has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'": Latin for "a horrible year."

9. Response to Princess Diana's death - 1997

Public criticism of the royal family grew more intense after Charles and Diana's divorce in 1996 and especially after Diana's death in a car crash in Paris the following summer. The queen initially remained at her estate in Balmoral, Scotland, and refused to allow the flag to fly at half-mast over Buckingham Palace or address the grieving nation.

At the urging of her advisers, she soon revised her stance on the flag, returned to London to greet crowds of mourners and delivered a rare televised address to a nation devastated by the loss of the "People's Princess."

10. Golden Jubilee - 2002

The queen's celebration of her 50th year on the throne was marred by a double loss, when her younger sister, Princess Margaret, and their mother died within weeks of each other. As the first British monarch since Queen Victoria to celebrate a Golden Jubilee, Elizabeth traveled more than 40,000 miles that year, including visits to the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. She also visited 70 cities and towns in 50 counties in the United Kingdom.

Compared with the tumultuous 1990s, the start of Elizabeth's second half-century as queen coincided with the beginning of more positive relations between Britain and its royal family: In 2005, a majority of the British public supported Charles' wedding to his longtime love, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

11. Visit to the Republic of Ireland - 2011

In May 2011, Elizabeth and Philip visited the Republic of Ireland at the invitation of President Mary McAleese. Though the queen had frequently visited Northern Ireland over the course of her reign, this was her first to the Republic of Ireland, and the first by a British monarch in 100 years. Elizabeth's visit, during which she expressed her "sincere thoughts and deep sympathy" for the victims of the troubled Anglo-Irish past, was widely celebrated as the beginning of a new era of friendship.

12. Birth of Prince George - 2013

In July 2013, the queen welcomed a new great-grandson, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, the first child of Prince William and the former Kate Middleton, who married in 2011. Second in the line of succession after his father, George is widely expected to become king one day. His birth marked the first time since Victoria's reign that three generations of direct heirs to the British throne were alive at the same time.

13. Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's wedding - 2018

Perhaps no other event during Elizabeth's reign symbolized the modernizing monarchy more than the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, a divorced, biracial American actress. Though the queen reportedly gave her quick approval to the match, the relationship between the couple and the British media-as well as the rest of the royal family- grew increasingly tense after their marriage. In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping back from their role as senior royals. They later moved to Markle's native Southern California. Their son, Archie, was born in 2019, followed by their daughter Lilibet in 2021.

14. Prince Philip's death - 2021

On April 9, 2021, Prince Philip, Elizabeth's husband of 73 years, died at the age of 99. The British monarchy's longest-running love story began just before World War II, when 18-year-old Prince Philip of Greece met his third cousin, Princess Elizabeth, during her family's visit to the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, where Philip was studying. On November 14, 1947, the couple were married in Westminster Abbey, and King George VI named Philip as Duke of Edinburgh shortly after that.

For more than a half-century, Prince Philip supported his wife in her royal duties and took on an ambitious slate of obligations of his own. Philip's funeral was held on April 17, 2021. Because of coronavirus restrictions, only 30 guests were invited to attend. Photos of the queen sitting alone in St. George's Chapel struck many as a symbol of her loneliness and grief.

15. Platinum Jubilee - 2022

In February of 2022, England began a series of celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne. On June 2, a military parade featuring 1,400 troops in bearskin caps, musicians and 240 horses, a Royal Air Force flyover and an 82-gun salute were staged to honor the 96-year-old monarch, whose birthday was on April 21. One section of London even featured a parade of corgis (Elizabeth's favorite dog breed), with more than 30 of the short-legged canines "marching" in a procession.

The queen watched the pageantry from the balcony of Buckingham Palace and was joined by four generations of her heirs, including her eldest son, Prince Charles; his eldest son, Prince William; and William's eldest son, Prince George. Despite her age and having just sustained a case of COVID-19, the Queen, dressed in pearls and a light blue dress, coat and hat, wore a broad grin.

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Queen Elizabeth II: 15 Key Moments in Her Reign | HISTORY

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Revisit some of the most historic moments in the reign of Britain's record-setting monarch.

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Ceremonial and events guidance following the death of Her Majesty The Queen

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List of ceremonies and events taking place across the UK to allow people to pay tribute to the life of Her Majesty The Queen and mark the Accession of His Majesty King Charles III.

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(Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; she was born on 21 April 1926 and died on 8 September 2022)

She was the Queen of the United Kingdom, and the other Commonwealth realms.

The Commonwealth of Nations (The "Commonwealth") is a confederation of countries. Originally, it was called the British Commonwealth. It was founded in 1926 when the British Empire began to break-up. Now, there are 53 member countries of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth of Nations is not a political organization. Queen Elizabeth II is also head of state of 16 Commonwealth countries. Canada and Australia are two of the largest realms.

She became Queen when her father, King George VI, died on 6 February 1952.

Since 9 September 2015, Elizabeth II has ruled longer than any other king or queen in the history of the United Kingdom. She has also ruled longer than any other living king or queen in the world, since the death of Thailand's King Rama IX

on 13 October 2016.

As Head of State, The Monarch has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters.

By convention, The Monarch does not vote or stand for election, however they do have important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the government of the UK.

The Monarch's duties include opening each new session of Parliament, granting Royal Assent to legislation, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.

Elizabeth was born in her grandparents' home in London on 21 April 1926.

Her father was Prince Albert, Duke of York, who later became George VI. His brother was the Prince of Wales. Her mother was Elizabeth, Duchess of York. Princess Elizabeth was the granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was named after her mother. Her nickname was "Lilibet".

Elizabeth's grandfather, King George V, died in 1936. Her uncle became King Edward VIII.

Edward VIII (23 June 1894 - 28 May 1972) was King of the United Kingdom, from 20 January 1936 until 11 December 1936.

Edward abdicated (resigned) from the throne, because he wanted to marry an American woman, Wallis Simpson.

Wallis Simpson had been married twice before. As King, he was Head of the Church of England, and the Church did not support divorce. After abdicating as king, he was known as His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor. His wife was not allowed to be called "Her Royal Highness".

Elizabeth's father the Duke of York, became King George VI in 1936.

Elizabeth was 13 years old when World War II started. London was bombed. Princess Elizabeth joined the British army in 1945. She drove a truck. She was a mechanic.

Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947.

Prince Philip was born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark. Just before they were married, he officially became a citizen of the United Kingdom, and changed his name to Philip Mountbatten. He became the Duke of Edinburgh on the day he married, and became a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957.

Charles, Prince of Wales, was born on 14 November 1948

Elizabeth was crowned queen on 2 June 1953. The ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey.

In 1952, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip moved into Buckingham Palace in central London. This is the main official home of the monarch.

Ever since she became the Queen, Elizabeth has spent about three hours every day "doing the boxes". A job she learnt with her fatherThe "boxes" are two large red boxes that are brought to her from the Parliament every day. They are full of state papers sent to her from her various departments, embassies, and government offices.

Elizabeth II, as the Monarch of the United Kingdom, is the "Supreme Governor" of the Church of England and sworn protector of the Church of Scotland. She is very interested in the Church of England, but the Archbishop of Canterbury runs the church.

The Queen often meets with leaders from other religions as well.

In 1980, she became the first British Monarch to visit the Vatican, where she was welcomed by Pope John Paul II.

The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year.

Although her actual birthday is on 21 April, she also has an official birthday that is celebrated every year on the second Saturday of June.

Sovereigns whose real birthdays fall in colder months have often celebrated an official birthday on a different date in the hope of good weather for their birthday parade, known as the Trooping the Colour.

Andy Warhol - Reigning Queens : Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (1985)

Chris Levine - Lightness Of Being (2008)

Banksy - The Queen (2012)

Chelsea Flower Show - 2016

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(Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; she was born on 21 April 1926 and died on 8 September 2022) She was the Queen of the United Kingdom, and the other Commonwealth realms. The Commonwealth of Nations (The "Commonwealth") is a confederation of countries. Originally, it was called the British Commonwealth.

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Instagram - Official account of The Royal Family. 

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Instagram - Official account of The Royal Family. 

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https://www.instagram.com/theroyalfamily/?hl=fr

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https://www.royal.uk/queens-life-and-reign-1

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Learn and revise about Thomas Becket and Henry II's fight between Church and monarch with BBC Bitesize KS3 History.

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National Geographic kids - 15 fun facts about the Queen

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National Geographic kids - 15 fun facts about the Queen

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Why Must Everyone Mourn The Queen’s Passing?

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Why Must Everyone Mourn The Queen’s Passing?

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Why Must Everyone Mourn The Queen’s Passing? - Between The Scenes | The Daily Show

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LONDON - Speeches from Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, punctuated key moments of her 70years on the throne - giving insights into her family, faith and sense of duty.

Her remarks provide snapshots of what was going on in her personal life and British public life. Here are some of the most memorable.

On her 21st birthday: April 21, 1947

Princess Elizabeth was on a tour of South Africa with her parents and younger sister Margaret when she turned 21 years old. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, she dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth, in one of her earliest public addresses.

"This is a happy day for me; but it is also one that brings serious thoughts, thoughts of life looming ahead with all its challenges and with all its opportunity," the young Elizabeth said.

Still a princess, she went on to make a profound royal pledge: "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

On her Coronation Day: June 2, 1953

The queen ascended to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, but her coronation took place in 1953, when she was 27. Her husband, Philip, had urged that the event be televised for the first time, and millions in the United Kingdom and abroad watched the broadcast by the BBC from London's Westminster Abbey.

Following the event that placed the royal family firmly in people's living rooms, Elizabeth, in a broadcast to the nation that evening, reflected on the day's momentous events.

"Although my experience is so short and my task so new, I have in my parents and grandparents an example which I can follow with certainty and with confidence," she said. "As this day draws to its close, I know that my abiding memory of it will be, not only the solemnity and beauty of the ceremony, but the inspiration of your loyalty and affection. I thank you all from a full heart."

'Annus Horribilis': Nov. 24, 1992

In 1992, the queen gave a speech in London to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession to the throne, wherein she famously defined the year in Latin as an "annus horribilis" - or a horrible year.

She remarked: "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis.' I suspect that I am not alone in thinking it so."

Her speech came days after a major fire at Windsor Castle, a royal residence, and after three of her children's marriages, including that of Prince Charles and Diana, collapsed, generating reams of tabloid headlines that cast a critical spotlight on British royal life.

Maintaining a quintessential British stiff upper lip, the monarch welcomed scrutiny of her role. "Criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life," she said. "No institution - city, monarchy, whatever - should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don't."

She added, "But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society, and that scrutiny, by one part of another, can be just as effective if it is made with a touch of gentleness, good humor and understanding."

She did not repeat the Latin phrase again publicly, but some royal pundits speculated that she may have been tempted to do so in 2019, after her husband was involved in a public car crash, her grandsons Princes William and Harry publicly fell out, and her second son Prince Andrew became entangled in links to the disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

On the death of Princess Diana: Sept. 5, 1997

After the death of Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris shook the world, the queen spoke to the nation live from Buckingham Palace.

"Since last Sunday's dreadful news we have seen, throughout Britain and around the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana's death. We have all been trying in our different ways to cope," she said.

"I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her - for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys," the queen said in an effort to comfort a stunned nation after facing media criticism for being slow to publicly react.

"No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her. I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death," she said.

Diana died at 36 and left behind two young princes, who have both since spoken about how her death affected the way they shape their royal roles and public life.

On the death of Prince Philip: April 9, 2021

Buckingham Palace announced the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on April 9, 2021.

"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband," the palace statement said. Philip died at Windsor Castle, and his funeral days later and during the coronavirus pandemic was televised globally. The event yielded moving images of the elderly queen, now a widow, starkly sitting alone in keeping with pandemic restrictions.

Elizabeth, whom Philip affectionately called Lilibet, had spoken of him in 1997 when the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, calling him her "strength and stay."

At the time, she recounted events over the 50 years of their marriage, including the end of the Cold War, the Beatles, humans traveling to the moon, the introduction of television, mobile phones and the internet, and England's winning the soccer World Cup, as well as "the joys of having children and grandchildren" together.

"All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner. He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments, but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

After her husband's death, she did not directly address the nation, but a phrase resurfaced that the queen had previously sent in a message to the United States following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: "Grief is the price we pay for love," she said.

Annual Christmas speeches

The queen gave thousands of speeches at royal engagements to heads of state and diplomats, when inaugurating buildings and boats, and annually at Christmas. The latter grew to become a social staple and British holiday tradition, as her yuletide speeches were peppered with words of wisdom, faith and occasionally personal reflections from the nonagenarian.

"In the old days, the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield, and his leadership at all times was close and personal. Today things are very different," she said in her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957. "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations."

In 1974, her Christmas message alluded to violence in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East, and she encouraged people globally to seek the path of peace and reconciliation. "We may hold different points of view, but it is in times of stress and difficulty that we most need to remember that we have much more in common than there is dividing us," she said.

In 2002, despite celebrating 50 years on the throne during her Golden Jubilee, she also mourned the death of her mother and sister within a few weeks of each other. In her Christmas message that year, she reflected on the need for humanity amid crisis.

"Our modern world places such heavy demands on our time and attention that the need to remember our responsibilities to others is greater than ever," she said.

And finally, perhaps for many, a quip that the queen made to her aides, as reported by her royal biographer, may be her most charming comment. "I have to be seen to be believed," she joked.

Celebration of her Platinum Jubilee: Feb. 6, 2022

In February, the queen reached a historic milestone: becoming the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her reign. The United Kingdom celebrated during a four-day holiday in June with pomp and ceremony, street parties, musical concerts and military parades.

It was the last time the queen would publicly stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, alongside her family, waving to millions of people who had flocked to see her.

"I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me," she said, "and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm."

Elizabeth previously celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977, Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

She died at her home in Balmoral Castle, Scotland, at 96.

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Queen Elizabeth II, in her own words: Her most memorable remarks

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LONDON - Speeches from Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, punctuated key moments of her 70years on the throne - giving insights into her family, faith and sense of duty. Her remarks provide snapshots of what was going on in her personal life and British public life.

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You will have seen Queen Elizabeth II's face on coins and stamps, and her coat of arms on postboxes, or food like tomato ketchup.

Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, aged 96, and now her son, Charles III is the new King.

This means eventually the Queen's coat of arms will be replaced with the King's, and his face will eventually be on our coins and banknotes.

There are lots of things that will change but some of them will take a bit of time.

Getty Images

Eventually we will see King Charles III's face on our letters and packages

Since 1967, all stamps in the UK have had a side profile of Queen Elizabeth somewhere on them.

The Royal Mail - which manages post - says it will not stop producing stamps with her face on.

Don't worry if you still have stamps, as you're able to use them up until the end of January 2023.

King Charles III's face will feature on the new stamps, which are starting to be made.

There's also going to be a special stamp released to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II.

Getty Images

There are 29 billion coins in the UK at the moment - and every single one has Queen Elizabeth's face on.

We don't know when the Royal Mint - which makes all our coins - will start making coins with King Charles III on them.

The Queen has appeared on all Bank of England notes since 1960 (notes issued by Scottish and Northern Irish banks do not show the monarch).

There are about 4.5 billion individual Bank of England notes worth about £80bn in circulation at the moment.

All notes and coins will remain still be ok to use. The Bank of England will give lots of notice if that is to change.

Because of how difficult it can be to make new coins and banknotes, it's likely cash with the Queen's face on will be able to be used for a while!

The "Royal seal of approval"

You might not have heard of the Royal Warrant of Appointment, but it's on a lot of items you might have at home.

On ketchup bottles, cereal packets, and even bottles of perfume, you might be able to find the Queen's coat of arms.

As these all currently say "By appointment to her majesty the Queen", which will change now King Charles is in charge.

This label shows that the item supplies to Royal households.

There are currently around 800 companies with Royal Warrants.

All passports are still valid, but new ones will now say "His Majesty" instead of "Her Majesty" on the front cover.

The National Anthem has already been updated to "God Save the King" and that version will be sung after Charles is officially proclaimed King in a formal ceremony.

Because Queen Elizabeth II ruled for 70 years, this will be the first time those lyrics have been sung since 1952!

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Stamps, coins, postboxes and logos to change after Queen's death - CBBC Newsround

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You will have seen Queen Elizabeth II's face on coins and stamps, and her coat of arms on postboxes, or food like tomato ketchup. Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, aged 96, and now her son, Charles III is the new King.

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The home of news and fun facts for kids. Find out what is going on, with stories, pictures and videos. Try a quiz or one of our free games.

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Following the abdication of her uncle as King, Elizabeth was no longer just a member of one of the world's most famous royal families... she was its next heir and the future Queen of the United Kingdom!

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Find out about the life of Queen Elizabeth II in our Newsround Special show.

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Get the latest BBC News on Queen Elizabeth II: breaking news, features, analysis and debate plus audio and video content

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How The Front Pages Are Covering The Death Of Queen Elizabeth II

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How The Front Pages Are Covering The Death Of Queen Elizabeth II

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The death of Queen Elizabeth II is one that most newsrooms had braced themselves for. Regardless, the news that the Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral, at the age of 96, still brought the UK to a standstill.

A monarch who ascended to the throne at just 25 years old and would go on to live a remarkable life in full view of the world press, her death is world history and publications are marking the event with front pages that for some will become collectibles and historic archives.

Here's how Britain's longest-reigning monarch was honored on the front pages.

The Times, along with many other publications, went with nostalgia and opted to use photographer Cecil Beaton's portrait of a young Elizabeth II on the day of her coronation in 1953.

For the back page, the paper included a quote from the Queen's 1957 Christmas Day broadcast, the first to be televised, which would go on to become a British tradition.

"I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands, and to all the peoples of our brotherhood nations."

The Daily Telegraph shared a black and white image of the Queen alongside one of her most famous quotes, "Grief is the price we pay for love." The line was an excerpt from her message to grieving Americans following the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Beaton's portrait featured on the front of the i, which acknowledged the 10 days of mourning the nation had entered. The paper also used its front cover to acknowledge the major changes which had occurred over the space of 48 hours. The nation welcomed a new prime minister, Liz Truss, on Tuesday and a new King on Thursday.

The Daily Express selected a more mature photo of the Queen for its monochrome cover with the headline "our beloved queen is dead." Along with the year of her birth and death, the paper added the line "world mourns the loss of a truly great and inspirational monarch."

"You did your duty, Ma'am," reads the front page of the Daily Star, which paid tribute to the monarch for her work ethic over her 70-year-reign. The tabloid turned its usually red masthead black and used the striking coronation photo for a full-page cover.

Commuter paper the Metro opted for a photo of a carefree, young Princess Elizabeth, wearing what is said to be her favorite and most-worn tiara, the Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara.

The image was captured by Canadian Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh and taken at Clarence House just six months before the death of her father, King George VI, and the beginning of her life as Queen.

The Guardian dedicated the entirety of its front page to the Beaton portrait of the Queen at her coronation, which took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch and was estimated to have been watched by 27 million people.

The iconic image features the Queen dressed in full regalia, with the sovereign orb and scepter in hand.

The Daily Mirror's cover featured the Queen's famous profile, which appears on British stamps and coins all of which will be phased out and replaced with her son's face, King Charles III, marking the end of the second Elizabethan era. The image was taken by the late Patrick Lichfield, a photographer and cousin of the Queen.

The paper chose to pay its respects to the late queen with words of gratitude, simply saying "thank you."

Popular tabloid paper the Sun followed a black-and-white theme, which was broken up by turning its signature tabloid red masthead, purple.

"We loved you Ma'am," said the paper, which opted for a portrait of the Queen in her older years. "The Sun and our readers loved you. We are proud you were our Queen."

The wrap-around cover features lines from King Charles III's tribute to his mother and a photograph of a young Elizabeth on the back.

The Daily Mail went with a richly colored Karsh portrait of a young Princess Elizabeth accompanied by words from columnist Sarah Vine, who wrote "as God Save the Queen played on the radio and TV, as we heard that our beloved monarch had died. a nation's heart broke."

The broadsheet was one of the few publications that featured a photograph of the Queen smiling and in a more candid position. The image was also taken by Lichfield.

In its editorial, the paper paid tribute to a life of duty and the change she preceded over through her 70-year reign.

"Her long reign encompassed the decolonization of much of Africa and Adia, as well as the consolidation of the Commonwealth, it also saw the emergence of the modern monarch, which became the subject of intense media scrutiny, and Britain's evolution into a multicultural and more open society, less bound by tradition."

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Here's How The Front Pages Are Covering The Death Of Queen Elizabeth II

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The death of Queen Elizabeth II is one that most newsrooms had braced themselves for. Regardless, the news that the Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral, at the age of 96, still brought the UK to a standstill.

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The Guardian - Queen's death intensifies criticism of British empire

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The Guardian - Queen's death intensifies criticism of British empire

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Queen’s death intensifies criticism of British empire’s violent atrocities

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American commentators, academics and others are calling into reconsideration of monarchy’s lasting influences

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The Guardian - This is a Britain that has lost its Queen

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The Guardian - This is a Britain that has lost its Queen

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This is a Britain that has lost its Queen – and the luxury of denial about its past | Afua Hirsch

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So long as she reigned, the establishment was able to gloss over the horrors of empire. Now is a time for painful truths, says Guardian columnist Afua Hirsch

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'It's complicated.' Black Britons react to Queen Elizabeth II death

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CBS News - Queen Elizabeth's death revives criticism of monarchy

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CBS News - Queen Elizabeth's death revives criticism of monarchy

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Queen Elizabeth's death revives criticism of monarchy's colonial past and role in the slave trade

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Good Morning America - Challenges for the monarchy following the queen’s death

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Good Morning America - Challenges for the monarchy following the queen’s death

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Challenges for the monarchy following the queen’s death | GMA

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BBC - Queen’s 10 favourite pieces of music revealed

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BBC - Queen’s 10 favourite pieces of music revealed

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Queen’s 10 favourite pieces of music revealed

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Hymns, show tunes and tracks by Gary Barlow and Vera Lynn are among The Queen’s favourite songs, it is revealed.

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The Queen's favourite places to visit around the world

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The Queen's favourite places to visit around the world

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The Queen’s favourite places to visit around the world

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From walking in the Scottish Highlands to a safari getaway in Kenya.

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Remembering Queen Elizabeth II, dead at 96

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The Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

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The Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

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The Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

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Olympics - James Bond and The Queen - London 2012

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Olympics - James Bond and The Queen - London 2012

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James Bond and The Queen London 2012 Performance

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The Royal Family Channel -The Incredible Reign of Her Majesty The Queen 

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The Royal Family Channel -The Incredible Reign of Her Majesty The Queen 

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The Incredible Reign of Her Majesty The Queen

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Sky News - The Queen's life and record-breaking reign in numbers

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Sky News - The Queen's life and record-breaking reign in numbers

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The Queen’s life and record-breaking reign in numbers

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Queen Elizabeth II lived for 96 years, ruled for more than 70 and was married for more than seven decades. Her reign saw her travel the globe, receive tens of thousands of cards – and even accumulate Instagram followers.

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The Guardian - the Queen’s most memorable speeches

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The Guardian - the Queen’s most memorable speeches

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Princess Elizabeth's wartime broadcast on BBC Children's Hour, 13 October 1940

Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister, Margaret Rose, and I feel so much for you as we know from experience what it means to be away from those we love most of all.

All of us children who are still at home think continually of our friends and relations who have gone overseas - who have travelled thousands of miles to find a wartime home and a kindly welcome in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America.

My sister and I feel we know quite a lot about these countries. Our father and mother have so often talked to us of their visits to different parts of the world. So it is not difficult for us to picture the sort of life you are all leading, and to think of all the new sights you must be seeing, and the adventures you must be having.

We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace.

My sister is by my side and we are both going to say goodnight to you. Come on, Margaret. Goodnight, children.

The Queen's first live radio Christmas broadcast, from Sandringham, December 1952

Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of the world. Today I am doing this to you, who are now my people.

At Christmas our thoughts are always full of our homes and our families.

Many grave problems and difficulties confront us all, but with a new faith in the old and splendid beliefs given us by our forefathers, and the strength to venture beyond the safeties of the past, I know we shall be worthy of our duty.

Above all, we must keep alive that courageous spirit of adventure that is the finest quality of youth; and by youth I do not just mean those who are young in years; I mean too all those who are young in heart, no matter how old they may be. That spirit still flourishes in this old country and in all the younger countries of our Commonwealth.

At my coronation next June, I shall dedicate myself anew to your service. I shall do so in the presence of a great congregation, drawn from every part of the Commonwealth and empire, while millions outside Westminster Abbey will hear the promises and the prayers being offered up within its walls, and see much of the ancient ceremony in which kings and queens before me have taken part through century upon century.

Queen's coronation day speech, 2 June 1953

The ceremonies you have seen today are ancient, and some of their origins are veiled in the mists of the past. But their spirit and their meaning shine through the ages never, perhaps, more brightly than now. I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.

I have behind me not only the splendid traditions and the annals of more than a thousand years but the living strength and majesty of the Commonwealth and empire; of societies old and new; of lands and races different in history and origins but all, by God's will, united in spirit and in aim.

Therefore, I am sure that this, my coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendour that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's grace and mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen.

Christmas broadcast on the topic of children's privacy, 1958

We would like our son and daughter to grow up as normally as possible so that they will be able to serve you and the Commonwealth faithfully and well when they are old enough to do so. We believe the public life is not a fair burden to place on growing children.

Christmas broadcast, 1972
In 1972, the Queen and Prince Philip celebrated 25 years of marriage. That year there was also terrible violence in Northern Ireland, and preparations for Britain to join the European Economic Community. The Queen refers to both these news stories in her speech.
One of the great Christian ideals is a happy and lasting marriage between man and wife, but no marriage can hope to succeed without a deliberate effort to be tolerant and understanding. This doesn't come easily to individuals and it certainly doesn't come naturally to communities or nations.

We know only too well that a selfish insistence upon our rights and our own point of view leads to disaster. We all ought to know by now that a civilised and peaceful existence is only possible when people make the effort to understand each other.

Looking at the world, one might be forgiven for believing that many people have never heard of this simple idea. Every day there are reports of violence, lawlessness, and the disregard for human life.

Most of this is excused on purely selfish grounds. I know there are millions of kindly people throughout the world who are saddened with me for all those who suffer from these outrages.

In the United Kingdom we have our own particular sorrows in Northern Ireland and I want to send a special message of sympathy to all those men, women and children who have suffered and endured so much.

But there is a light in this tragic situation. The people are steadfastly carrying on their ordinary business in their factories and places of work.

Voluntary workers, both in and out of uniform, have struggled to keep humanity and commonsense alive. The social services have done their job magnificently. The forces of law and order continue their thankless task with the utmost fortitude in the face of appalling provocation.

Britain is about to join her neighbours in the European Community and you may well ask how this will affect the Commonwealth.

The new links with Europe will not replace those with the Commonwealth. They cannot alter our historical and personal attachments with kinsmen and friends overseas. Old friends will not be lost; Britain will take her Commonwealth links into Europe with her.

Britain and these other European countries see in the community a new opportunity for the future. They believe that the things they have in common are more important than the things which divide them, and that if they work together not only they, but the whole world will benefit.

We are trying to create a wider family of nations and it is particularly at Christmas that this family should feel closest together.

Speech delivered as UK troops are deployed to the Persian Gulf, 24 February 1991

As a nation, we are rightly proud of our armed forces. That pride has been fully justified by their conduct in the Gulf war so far. As they, with our allies, face a fresh and yet sterner challenge, I hope that we can unite, and pray that their success will be as swift as it is certain and that it may be achieved with as small a cost in human life and suffering as possible. Then may the true reward of their courage be granted- a just and lasting peace.

'Annus horribilis': Queen's speech at the Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, 24 November 1992

1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'annus horribilis'. I suspect that I am not alone in thinking it so. Indeed, I suspect that there are very few people or institutions unaffected by these last months of worldwide turmoil and uncertainty. This generosity and whole-hearted kindness of the Corporation of the City to Prince Philip and me would be welcome at any time, but at this particular moment, in the aftermath of Friday's tragic fire at Windsor, it is especially so.

'Annus horribilis': Queen's speech at the Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession

I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge the events of this tumultuous year.

There can be no doubt, of course, that criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution - city, monarchy, whatever - should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don't.

Christmas speech, 1996

In difficult times, it is tempting for all of us, especially those who suffer, to look back and say 'if only'. But to look back in that way is to look down a blind alley. Better to look forward and say 'if only'.

Address to the nation on the death of Diana, 5 September 1997

We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger - and concern for those who remain.

We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.

First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness.

Queen Elizabeth pays tribute to Princess Diana in 1997

I admired and respected her - for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys ...

No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her.

The Queen on her golden wedding anniversary, 20 November 1997

When Prince Philip and I were married on this day 50 years ago, Britain had just endured six years of war, emerging battered but victorious. Prince Philip had served in the Royal Navy in the far east, while I was grappling, in the ATS, with the complexities of the combustion engine and learning to drive an ambulance with care.

All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner.

He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.

Christmas message, 1999

As I look to the future I have no doubt at all that the one certainty is change - and the pace of that change will only seem to increase ...

There are many, for example, of my age or amongst the more vulnerable in society who worry that they will be left behind. The sheer rate of change seems to be sweeping away so much that is familiar and comforting.

But I do not think that we should be over-anxious. We can make sense of the future - if we understand the lessons of the past.

Centenary of the Entente Cordiale, state banquet in Paris, 5 April 2004

If I may be allowed tonight one small British understatement, our historical relationship has not always been smooth. For centuries we fought each other fiercely, often and everywhere - from Hastings to Waterloo, from the heights of Abraham to the mouth of the Nile.

But since 1815 our two nations have not been to war. On the contrary, we have stood together, resolute in defence of liberty and democracy, notably through the terrible global conflicts of the 20th century.

We are both reminded that neither of our two great nations, nor Europe, nor the wider western alliance, can afford the luxury of short-term division or discord, in the face of threats to our security and prosperity that now challenge us all.

Of course, we will never agree on everything. Life would be dull indeed, not least for the rest of the world, if we did not allow ourselves a little space to live up to our national caricatures - British pragmatism and French elan; French conceptualism and British humour; British rain and French sun; I think we should enjoy the complementarity of it all.

I believe our two peoples understand this sometimes more clearly than our governments. Thousands of British are settling, living and working in France, and thousands of French are crossing the Channel to do the same. Millions of British holidaymakers visit France each year.

The Queen and Prince Philip meet war veterans at Arromanches as part of D-day anniversary celebrations on 6 June 2004. Photograph: Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

Our histories have made us frequent rivals, but like our forebears a hundred years ago, we now need to recognise that we are natural 21st-century partners in Europe and the wider world.

Vive la difference, mais vive L'Entente Cordiale.

60th anniversary D-day commemoration in Arromanches, 6 June 2004

This audience knows of the historic significance of what took place here 60 years ago: the sheer size and scope of the operation - it included the largest massed airborne landing yet attempted anywhere and successfully made; the boldness and imagination of the concept; the months of painstaking planning; the endless training and waiting; and then the ferocity of the day itself and the campaign that followed.

None of this meticulous preparation would have achieved anything without the courage and fortitude, and the dogged determination, of the hundreds of thousands of servicemen who landed on the beaches on that day, and then fought their way inland in the face of determined opposition.

After so many frustrating delays, the invasion of Europe, for which everyone in the free world had been praying, had finally started, and everyone hoped that it would lead to a speedy end to the war. My father broadcast to the nation on that day and said: "Once more a supreme test has to be faced. This time the challenge is not to fight to survive, but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause".

There is just one thing more I want to say. What for you is a haunting memory of danger and sacrifice one summer long ago, is for your country, and for generations of your countrymen to come, one of the proudest moments in our long national history.

I take it upon myself to express the immense debt of gratitude we owe to you all. I salute you, and thank you on behalf of our whole nation.

Opening of a memorial fountain to Diana, 6 July 2004

It is sometimes difficult to believe that it is now nearly seven years since we heard the news that Diana, Princess of Wales had been killed in a car crash in Paris.

By any standard Diana's tragic death held the attention of the world. Central to this remains the extraordinary effect Diana had on those around her. Her drive to empathise with those in difficulty, hardship or distress, her willingness to embrace a new cause, her shrewd ability to size up all those she met, allowed her not only to touch people's lives but to change them.

This is her wider legacy. But I cannot forget - and nor can those of us here today who knew her much more personally, as sister, wife, mother, or daughter-in-law - the Diana who made such an impact on our lives. Of course, there were difficult times, but memories mellow with the passing of the years. I remember especially the happiness she gave to my two grandsons.

The Queen's 80th birthday speech at Mansion House, 15 June 2006

As one gets older, birthdays seem to come round quicker; they are therefore less obvious excuses for wider celebration than personal moments to count one's blessings. As Groucho Marx once said: "Anyone can get old - all you have to do is live long enough."

Address to the UN general assembly, 2010

I believe I was last here in 1957. Since then, I have travelled widely and met many leaders, ambassadors, and statesmen from around the world. I address you today as Queen of 16 United Nations member states and as head of the Commonwealth of 54 countries.

The achievements of the United Nations are remarkable. When I was first here, there were just three United Nations operations overseas. Now, over 120,000 men and women are deployed in 26 missions across the world. You have helped to reduce conflict; you have offered humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by natural disasters and other emergencies; and you have been deeply committed to tackling the effects of poverty in many parts of the world.

But so much remains to be done. Former secretary general Dag Hammarskjöld once said that "constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon". Good nurses get better with practice; sadly the supply of patients never ceases.

In my lifetime, the United Nation[s] has - has moved from being a high-minded aspiration to being a real force for common good. That of itself has been a signal achievement. But we are not gathered here to reminisce. In tomorrow's world, we must all work together as hard as ever if we are truly to be United Nations.

Speech during the Queen's first visit ever to Ireland, at Dublin Castle, 18 May 2011

Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so much more than neighbours, that make us firm friends and equal partners ...

Of course, the relationship has not always been straightforward; nor has the record over the centuries been entirely benign.

It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss.

These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been injured or their families.

To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy.

With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.

Speech during President Barack Obama's state visit, 24 May 2011

Mr President,

I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs Obama to London.

Your visit to this country inevitably reminds us of our shared history, our common language, and our strong intellectual and cultural links. It also reminds us that your country twice came to the rescue of the free and democratic world when it was facing military disaster. On each occasion, after the end of those destructive wars, the generosity of the United States made a massive contribution to our economic recovery. Today the United States remains our most important ally and our two nations contribute to the security and prosperity of our peoples, and of the world, through shared national interests.

But our relationship goes far beyond our military and diplomatic ties. Entertainment may not be so obviously an example of our close ties, but it forms part of the lives of a great many of our people. Over the years, we have enjoyed some of America's most spectacular musical productions and any number of what we call films - and you might prefer to call movies. In return, British films and theatrical productions have achieved considerable success in your country. This exchange of people and projects has enlarged and invigorated our common language - although I think you will agree we do not always use it in quite the same way!

Queen's address to the Houses of Parliament to mark her diamond jubilee, 20 March 2012

Parliament has survived as an unshakeable cornerstone of our constitution and our way of life. History links monarchs and parliament, a connecting thread from one period to the next. So, in an era when the regular, worthy rhythm of life is less eye-catching than doing something extraordinary, I am reassured that I am merely the second sovereign to celebrate a diamond jubilee.

Since my accession, I have been a regular visitor to the Palace of Westminster and, at the last count, have had the pleasurable duty of treating with 12 prime ministers.

The happy relationship I have enjoyed with parliament has extended well beyond the more than three and a half thousand bills I have signed into law.

We are reminded here of our past, of the continuity of our national story and the virtues of resilience, ingenuity and tolerance which created it. I have been privileged to witness some of that history and, with the support of my family, rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come.

Queen's speech at the Olympic heads of government reception, 27 July 2012

Over recent months, many in these islands have watched with growing excitement the journey of the Olympic torch around the United Kingdom. As the torch has passed through villages and towns it has drawn people together as families and communities. To me, this spirit of togetherness is a most important part of the Olympic ideal; and the British people can be proud of the part they have played in keeping the spirit alive. Many sports played in these Games have their historic roots in this country; and as a nation we have an abiding passion for sport, as well as a tradition of fair play and a good-natured sense of fun.

In all our national Olympics teams there is so much of which we can be proud: groups of young men and women dedicated to excellence and achievement across numerous sporting disciplines. And these teams are ably supported by thousands of organisers, volunteers, and supporters who will be following the action not just at the Olympic venues here in the United Kingdom but throughout the world.

For all these reasons, I wish you and your countries a successful, enjoyable and memorable Games.

'We will meet again': Queen's pandemic speech, recorded at Windsor Castle, 5 April 2020

I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time.A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.

I want to thank everyone on the NHS frontline, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all.

I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.

I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.

That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.

The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children.

It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones.

'We will meet again': Queen addresses the UK over coronavirus crisis - watch in full

This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us.

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. But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.

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'We shall be worthy of our duty': the Queen's most memorable speeches

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From wartime broadcasts to Christmas Day messages, here are excerpts from some of her best-known addresses

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The Economist - Queen Elizabeth II: her reign in numbers

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Queen Elizabeth II: her reign in numbers

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Sky News - The life of Queen Elizabeth II

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Sky News - The life of Queen Elizabeth II

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Obituary: The life of Queen Elizabeth II

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ABC News - How the royal line of succession changes

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ABC News - How the royal line of succession changes

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Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96: How the royal line of succession changes

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BBC - Royal Family tree: Queen's children and grandchildren in line of succession

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BBC - Royal Family tree: Queen's children and grandchildren in line of succession

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Find out more about the Royal Family and the line of succession below.

Charles became King the moment his mother Queen Elizabeth II died.

The now former Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer, who became the Princess of Wales, on 29 July 1981. The couple had two sons, William and Harry. They later separated and their marriage was dissolved in 1996. On 31 August 1997, the princess was killed in a car crash in Paris.

He married Camilla Parker Bowles on 9 April 2005. When Charles became King, she became Queen Consort, as per the wishes of Queen Elizabeth II. Following the coronation she is now known as Queen Camilla.

1. William, Prince of Wales

He was 15 when his mother died. He went on to study at St Andrews University, where he met his future wife, Kate Middleton. The couple were married in 2011.

On his 21st birthday he was appointed a Counsellor of State - standing in for the Queen on official occasions. He and his wife had their first child, George, in July 2013, their second, Charlotte, in 2015 and third, Louis, in 2018.

The prince trained with the Army, Royal Navy and RAF before spending three years as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot with RAF Valley on Anglesey, north Wales. He also worked part-time for two years as a co-pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance alongside his royal duties. He left the role in July 2017 to take on more royal duties on behalf of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

William has inherited his father's Duchy of Cornwall and is now the Prince of Wales. Catherine is now the Princess of Wales.

As heir to the throne, his main duties are to support the King in his royal commitments.

2. Prince George of Wales

Prince George of Wales was born on 22 July 2013 at St Mary's Hospital in London. His father was present for the birth of his son, who weighed 8lb 6oz (3.8kg).

3. Princess Charlotte of Wales

Catherine, Princess of Wales gave birth to her second child, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, on 2 May 2015, again at St Mary's Hospital. William was present for the birth of the 8lb 3oz (3.7kg) baby.

The new Princess of Wales gave birth to her third child, a boy weighing 8lbs 7oz, on 23 April 2018, at St Mary's Hospital in London.

Prince Harry trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and went on to become a lieutenant in the Army, serving as a helicopter pilot.

During his 10 years in the armed forces, Capt Wales, as he became known, saw active service in Afghanistan twice, in 2012 to 2013 as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner. He left the Army in 2015 and now focuses on charitable work, including conservation in Africa and organising the Invictus Games for injured members of the armed forces.

He has been a Counsellor of State since his 21st birthday and stood in for the Queen on official duties.

He married US actress Meghan Markle on 19 May, 2018, at Windsor Castle. In January 2020, the royal couple said they would step back as "senior" royals and divide their time between the UK and North America. They said they intended to "work to become financially independent".

Just over a year later, Buckingham Palace confirmed the couple would not be returning to royal duties, and would give up their honorary military appointments and royal patronages.

6. Prince Archie of Sussex

The Sussexes' first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on 6 May 2019, weighing 7lbs 3oz, with the duke present for his birth.

Archie was not automatically a prince when he was born because he was not a grandson of the monarch. But he gained the right to that title when King Charles acceded to the throne. Harry and Meghan are understood to want their children to decide for themselves whether or not to use their titles when they are older.

7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex

The Duchess of Sussex gave birth to her second child in Santa Barbara, California, on 4 June 2021. Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor - to be known as Lili - is named after the Royal Family's nickname for the Queen and is her 11th great-grandchild.

She was given the middle name Diana in honour of Prince Harry's mother, who died in a car crash in 1997 when he was 12 years old. Like her brother, she gained the right to use the royal title when her grandfather became king.

He was created the Duke of York on his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, who became Duchess of York, in 1986. They had two daughters - Beatrice, in 1988, and Eugenie, in 1990. In March 1992 it was announced the duke and duchess were to separate. They divorced in 1996.

The duke served for 22 years in the Royal Navy and saw active service in the Falklands War in 1982. In addition to royal engagements, he served as a special trade representative for the government until 2011.

Prince Andrew stepped away from royal duties in 2019 after an interview with the BBC about his relationship with US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking and conspiracy charges.

In February, he agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to settle a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by one of Epstein's victims, although he made no admission of liability and had repeatedly denied the allegations.

Princess Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Her full title is Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice.

She married property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, in July 2020. The couple had been due to marry in May, but coronavirus delayed the plans.

10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

Like her sister Princess Beatrice, she has no official surname, but uses York. She married her long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle on 12 October 2018.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's son, August, born on 9 February 2021, was Queen Elizabeth's ninth great-grandchild.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's second son was born on 30 May 2023. It is the first royal birth since the coronation of King Charles, Eugenie's uncle.

Eugenie said the baby's names were inspired by "his great-great-great grandfather George, his grandpa George and my grandpa Ronald".

Major Ronald Ferguson, who died in 2003 was the Duchess of York's father.

14. The Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Edward was given the title Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, almost two years after the death of his father Prince Philip, who previously held the title. It was understood that Philip had wanted Edward to take on the title, but the decision was left to King Charles.

Prince Edward's wife Sophie becomes the Duchess of Edinburgh and the prince's former title, the Earl of Wessex, has now been given to his son James, Viscount Severn. The couple also have a daughter, Lady Louise, born in 2003.

James, Earl of Wessex is the younger child of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. He was given the title after his father Prince Edward became the Duke of Edinburgh in March 2023. When James was born, he was given the title Viscount Severn - a "courtesy" title as son of an earl, rather than using prince. It is thought his parents made this decision to avoid some of the burdens of royal titles.

Born in 2003, Lady Louise Windsor is the elder child of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. However, she is lower in the line of succession than her younger brother because she was born before a law came into force scrapping the system that meant a younger son could displace an older daughter.

Princess Anne has married twice; her first husband Captain Mark Phillips is the father of her two children, Peter and Zara, while her second is Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

The princess was the first royal to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor in an official document, in the marriage register after her wedding to Capt Phillips. She competed in equestrian events for Great Britain in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and is involved with a number of charities, including Save the Children, of which she has been president since 1970.

Peter Phillips is the eldest of the Queen's grandchildren. He married Canadian Autumn Kelly in 2008 and together they have two daughters, Savannah, born in 2010, and Isla, born in 2012.

The children of the Princess Royal do not have royal titles, as they are descended from the female line. Mark Phillips refused the offer of an earldom when he married so their children do not have courtesy titles.

Peter Phillips and his wife announced they were getting divorced in February 2020.

Isla, born in 2012, is the second daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips.

Zara Tindall followed her mother and father with a highly successful riding career - including winning a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics. She married former England rugby player Mike Tindall in 2011 and the couple had their first child, Mia Grace, in 2014.

The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall gave birth to her first child, Mia Grace, in January 2014.

The couple's second child was born on 18 June 2018 at Stroud Maternity Unit, Gloucestershire, weighing 9lb 3oz.

Lena Elizabeth was named in honour of her great-grandmother.

Like her sister, Lena does not have a royal title and so will also be known as Miss Tindall.

Zara and Mike Tindall's son Lucas Philip, their third child - the Queen's 10th great-grandchild - was born on 21 March 2021 weighing 8lbs 4oz.

Read the latest from our royal correspondent Sean Coughlan - sign up here.

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Royal Family tree: King Charles III's closest family and line of succession

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The King, his siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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What Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth II Dies? 

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What Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth II Dies? 

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What Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth II Dies? | Business Insider

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King Charles III makes first address to the UK as sovereign - BBC

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King Charles III makes first address to the UK as sovereign - BBC

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King Charles III makes first address to the UK as sovereign @BBCNews - BBC

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https://www.royal.uk/statement-king-following-death-queen

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BBC News - Queen Elizabeth II has died Buckingham Palace announces

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BBC News - Queen Elizabeth II has died Buckingham Palace announces

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Queen Elizabeth II has died Buckingham Palace announces - BBC News

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Queen Elizabeth II has died, aged 96
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/31694210
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Queen Elizabeth II death : King Charles leads tributes to Queen
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/62836658
Queen Elizabeth II : Tributes pour in for Her Majesty
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Our Queen - A Newsround Special
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King Charles III : First steps as King
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Queen Elizabeth and King Charles : A glossary of what all the words mean
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/62850303
- Activités

Pour le collège A1/A2/B1

activité pour le collège proposée par Mme Achaachi, professeur d'anglais au collège Le Racinay à Rambouillet dans l'académie de Versailles.

activité pour le collège proposée par Mme Vu-Hoang, professeur d'anglais au collège Jean Lurçat à Achères dans l'académie de Versailles.

Pour le lycée B1/B2

activité pour le lycée proposée par Mme Itouchène, professeur d'anglais au lycée Jean-Jacques Rousseau à Sarcelles dans l'académie de Versailles.

activité pour le lycée proposée par Mme Artault, professeur d'anglais au lycée Albert Camus à Colombes dans l'académie de Versailles.

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Ressources autour du décès de la Reine Elisabeth II.