Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, shortly after celebrating the Platinum Jubilee, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of her reign. We retrace and remember the most important moments in her existence.
Considered the longest reigning British monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, beginning a reign that is considered a true institution.
The first years
Born in 1926, Elizabeth was the daughter of the second son of King George V and Elizabeth Bowles Lyon, who gave her and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose, an exemplary upbringing at home. During the Second World War, they both spent much of their time sheltered from the bombing of London and separated from their parents, living at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and in the Royal Lodge and Windsor Castle.
The abdication of Edward VIII
Elizabeth was the daughter of King George V ‘s second son , so she was not the natural heir to the throne . Only in 1936 her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry the American socialite Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth’s father ascended the throne with the name of George VI of her, making her heir to the crown.
Marriage with Prince Philip
Upon returning from an official visit to South Africa with her parents and sister, Princess Elizabeth announced her engagement to a distant cousin, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten of the Royal Navy, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. The wedding took place in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The two had four children: Carlo, Anna, Andrea and Edoardo.
The coronation
After the death of her father, King George VI , in 1952 , Elizabeth was called to the throne at the age of 25 , starting an epoch-making reign that continues to this day. Her coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, the first of her to be televised.
On the first official visit to West Germany
In the face of numerous social and political changes, Queen Elizabeth paid a 10-day visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany, which was the first official visit by a British royal to the country since 1913. The visit coincided with the 20th anniversary of the end of the Second World War , marking the reconciliation between the two countries.
The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana
On July 29, 1981, Queen Elizabeth attended the wedding of Prince Charles , her eldest son, to Lady Diana Spencer in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Called the “wedding of the century,” it attracted extraordinary media attention, and had over 750 million viewers worldwide.
On the first visit to China
At the end of 1984, the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher agreed to return sovereignty over Hong Kong to China starting in 1997: Queen Elizabeth therefore became the first British monarch to travel to China, in 1986, visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, the Great Wall in Beijing and other historical sites.
The Golden Jubilee
In 2002, Queen Elizabeth traveled more than 64,000 kilometers, including visits to the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne. She also visited 70 towns and villages in 50 UK counties.
The weddings of Prince William and Prince Harry
Two of the most important and significant events in the Queen’s life, following the wedding of Prince Charles, were the weddings of her grandchildren. Prince William married Kate Middleton in April 2011, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in May 2018. Harry and Meghan later decided to temporarily renounce their royal privileges and duties in 2020, a decision that Queen Elizabeth was forced to validate.
The disappearance of Prince Philip
On April 9, 2021 , Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth for 73 years, passed away . For more than half a century, Prince Philip has supported his wife in his royal duties and has made a number of personal duties and commitments his own.
The Platinum Jubilee
In mid-2022, Queen Elizabeth had celebrated the Platinum Jubilee for her 70th year on the British throne , making her the longest-serving monarch of Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations. The biggest party, Jubilee Days, took place between June 2nd and 6th, both in the UK and its overseas domains.
Death of the Queen
Queen Elizabeth II spent her last days at Balmoral Castle, the famous royal residence in Scotland. There she died on 8 September 2022 in serenity, cic, surrounded by the affection of her dear ones.
