On Sept. 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away, ending her seven-decade reign over Britain; she was 96 years old. 

The queen was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and after her death, King Charles III was promptly named the monarch of Britain. According to USA Today, Charles “was officially announced as Britain’s new king Saturday in a ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism.” Following the announcement, the queen’s funeral date was set, along with the declaration of a bank holiday on the same day in order to honor Her Majesty. The funeral will follow a blend of ancient traditions and modern practices such as flags flying at half-mast, tolling bells and a seven-day mourning period following the funeral.

The queen’s death has come as a shock to the entire world, and many world leaders have spoken on the matter, giving their condolences to the royal family. 

 “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, her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” said U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. 

 The U.S. has shown its continued support of Britain, and Biden is expected to attend the queen’s funeral. Pope Francis also shared his condolences, saying he will “willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the nation and the Commonwealth.” Furthermore, Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, stated, “I wish you courage and resilience in the face of this difficult, irreparable loss. May I ask you to pass on sincere condolences and support to members of the royal family and the entire people of Great Britain.”

Throughout her 70-year reign over Britain, Queen Elizabeth II had many accomplishments. When World War II broke out in 1939, the young queen found herself feeling a sense of duty and decided that once she was of age, she would enlist in the military despite her family’s wishes against it. Although she was not in combat, the Auxiliary Territorial Service was where she found herself after training as a mechanic. Her loyalty to her country made her popular among the people. 

Another one of her accomplishments during her reign was the stability she brought to Britain. Before she took the throne, there was a period of uncertainty within Britain due to the war and her father, the king, dying at a young age. 

According to Grunge, “… Elizabeth provided exactly what was necessary for this post-war period: stability. Her steady, calm approach to her new role gave the nation exactly what was needed as it emerged from a particularly chaotic period, and remained exactly what the country needed as a series of new crises descended on it, including economic woes and a shrinking role on the world stage. With the necessity of the royal family always in question, according to The Independent, the stability brought by Elizabeth can be seen as crucial.”

The death of Queen Elizabeth II will forever be a reminder of the importance of alliance and persistence. Despite all of the challenges that come with ruling a whole country, the queen will always be remembered with honor and love, and I offer my deepest condolences to everyone affected by her death.