Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at age 96. Her death ended the longest reign in British history – over 70 years on the throne. She had been queen since 1952, when her father King George VI died and she was just 25 years old. Elizabeth became queen at a time when Britain was recovering from World War II and losing its empire.
She helped modernize the monarchy for changing times. She allowed her coronation to be televised, made the royal family more visible to the public, and supported the transition of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations. As queen, she saw 15 different prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. She remained politically neutral throughout her reign, never expressing personal opinions on government matters. Elizabeth was known for her strong sense of duty.
She promised as a young woman to serve her whole life, and she kept that promise. The queen was married to Prince Philip for 73 years until his death in 2021. They had four children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Her death was mourned around the world. Her state funeral was watched by billions. Her son Charles immediately became King Charles III, beginning a new era for the British monarchy.