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QUEEN ELIZABETH II A modern monarch loved by millions

Buckingham Palace sadly announced Queen Elizabeth II's death at the age of 96. She died peacefully on Thursday, September 8, at Balmoral Castle.

As the longest-reigning British monarch, The Queen had seen many changes in her lifetime. 15 Prime Ministers have come and gone during her reign, and the world she leaves behind is very different to the one she was born into.

This collection of images celebrates the long and dutiful life of The Queen. The Queen's final resting place will be at King Georges VI Chapel in Windsor.

Princess Elizabeth

Young Elizabeth never had to deal with the pressures of being the heir apparent as she never expected to become queen. She was born third in line to the throne.

Even so, Princess Elizabeth appeared to have all the necessary qualities to make a great monarch. Even as a child, she was noted as being conscientious and organised.

When her father became King, her education was ramped up, and she studied constitutional history. It was said that this subject was important to Elizabeth and shaped her understanding of being a modern royal.

During these lessons, she learnt the importance of broadcasting directly to her subjects, which manifested in the planning of her coronation. Princess Elizabeth’s coronation was shared with a wider audience through the relatively new medium of television. An estimated 27 million people in Britain alone watched the coronation.

Elizabeth’s unexpected ascension to the throne

Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch in British history, with more than 70 years on the throne. But she was never meant to become the Queen. When her grandfather George V died in 1936, his eldest son (Elizabeth’s uncle), King Edward VIII, was supposed to reign over the country for years to come.

However, he was smitten with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. There was an issue, though. The Church of England did not allow divorced people to remarry in the church if their ex-spouses were still alive. As a result, Edward was forced to choose between his heart and the throne. He followed his heart.

This had a cascading effect on Princess Elizabeth’s life as it was her father who was crowned King George VI in 1937. And as the eldest child, she had suddenly become the heir apparent.

A life devoted to service

The extraordinary reign of Queen Elizabeth II had seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits. In her first overseas tour of South Africa in 1947, Her Majesty pledged: “I declare before you that my whole life, whether it shall be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”

The statement remained true to the end as she continued to be a champion for unity and compassion in her many state and national duties and charitable services.

A royal wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother

The Queen carried out all of her duties alongside a personal life that had seen her raise four children. She had also welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the Royal Family.

Prince Charles, heir to the throne

Nobody has ever waited so long to become the British monarch - the 72-year-old is the longest-serving heir to the British throne. As questions about the role of the modern monarch become more and more common, all eyes will be on King Charles III and how he will shape the British Royal Family.

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